JP2008040935A - Document distribution system, document distribution server and document distribution server program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To distribute a document without considering a printer available for a receiving user. <P>SOLUTION: User specification information for specifying the user to receive information and document information sent to the user are received (S10), the user specified by the user specification information selects an available printer (S12) on the basis of the received user specification information, and transmits the received document information to the selected printer (S22). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a document distribution system, a document distribution server, and a document distribution server program.

  When distributing materials used in a meeting or the like to related parties, there is a method of outputting the information as electronic information to a network printer near the related parties via a network. At this time, if the network printer is shared by a plurality of users, it is relevant to distribute a document (hereinafter referred to as a “confidential document”) containing information that is not viewed by anyone other than those concerned, such as confidential information and important documents. There is a risk that the content may be seen by a user other than the user.

  In Patent Document 1, a password is set for a job number on a host computer or a printer, and a password corresponding to the job number is input from the operation panel of the printer. A method of disabling it is disclosed.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-235974

  By the way, when it is desired to send a confidential document to a plurality of parties, it is necessary to issue a print instruction for the number of those parties. In this case, there is a possibility that the work burden on the user who is the distribution source of the confidential document becomes large.

  In addition, when the user of the transmission source does not know the network printer that can be used by the parties to whom the confidential document is transmitted, it is not possible to determine where the confidential document should be transmitted. Problems that can not be sent may occur.

  In addition, even when the sender user knows the network printers that can be used by the parties involved in the transmission destination, the printer driver is sent as many as the number of network printer models that can be used by the distribution destination user. Must be installed on the computer. This may cause problems of consumption of computer resources and an increase in the burden of printer driver installation.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a document distribution system, a document distribution server, and a document distribution server program.

  The present invention relates to a device for a distributor that outputs user identification information that identifies a user who is a recipient and document identification information that identifies document information or document information, and a user identification that is transmitted from the distributor device. Information receiving means for receiving information and document information or document specifying information, and a printer for selecting a printer usable by the user specified by the user specifying information based on the user specifying information received by the information receiving means A document distribution server comprising: selecting means; and information transmitting means for transmitting document information received by the information receiving means or document information specified by the document specifying information to the printer selected by the printer selecting means. And a document from the document distribution server. A printer having a print information receiving means for receiving bets information is a document distribution system, which comprises a.

  Further, the present invention is based on information receiving means for receiving user specifying information for specifying a user who receives information and document information to be sent to the user, and user specifying information received by the information receiving means. A printer selecting unit that selects a printer that can be used by the user specified by the user specifying information; and information transmission that transmits the document information received by the information receiving unit to the printer selected by the printer selecting unit. And a document delivery server.

  The document distribution server according to the present invention receives, in a computer, user specifying information for specifying a user who receives information and document information sent to the user, and based on the received user specifying information, This can be realized by selecting a printer that can be used by the user specified by the user specifying information and transmitting the received document information to the selected printer.

  According to the present invention, information receiving means for receiving user specifying information for specifying a user who receives information and document specifying information for specifying document information to be sent to the user are received by the information receiving means. Based on the user identification information, a printer selection unit that selects a printer that can be used by the user identified by the user identification information, and the information reception unit receives the printer selected by the printer selection unit. An information transmission means for transmitting the document information specified by the document specification information.

  The document distribution server according to the present invention receives, on a computer, user specifying information for specifying a user who receives information and document specifying information for specifying document information to be sent to the user. Based on the specific information, the printer specified by the user specified by the user specific information is selected, and the document information specified by the received document specific information is transmitted to the selected printer. This can be realized by executing the processing.

  Here, the printer selection unit is received by the information receiving unit with reference to a user database storage unit that stores a user database that associates the user identification information with a printer that can be used by the user identified by the user identification information. The printer associated with the user identification information may be selected.

  User database storage means for associating user identification information with a printer that can be used by a user identified by the user identification information, a printer registered in the user database, and a user printer identified by the user identification information The printer selection unit stores the printer database associated with the user specifying information received by the information receiving unit with reference to a printer database storage unit that stores a printer database for associating The printer may be selected based on the frequency.

  User database storage means for associating user identification information with a printer that can be used by a user identified by the user identification information, a printer registered in the user database, and a user printer identified by the user identification information The printer selection unit refers to the user database held in the user database storage unit and receives the received information in the information reception unit. The printer may be selected based on the printer status information from among the printers associated with the user-specified information.

  The printer selecting means selects all printers associated with the user specifying information received by the information receiving means with reference to a user database held in the user database storage means. Also good.

  The information transmission unit may transmit document information and a print expiration date of the document information to the printer selected by the printer selection unit.

  The information processing unit further includes a protection processing unit that performs processing for security protection on the document information received by the information receiving unit or the document information specified by the document specifying information received by the information receiving unit. The information transmission unit may transmit the document information processed by the protection processing unit to the printer selected by the printer selection unit.

  Further, when the information receiving unit receives a plurality of pieces of user specifying information associated with one document information or one piece of document specifying information, the printer selecting unit receives the plurality of users received by the information receiving unit. It is also possible to select a printer that can be used by the user specified by the user specifying information sequentially selected from the specifying information.

  The information processing unit further includes a print completion notification receiving unit that acquires a print completion notification of the document information transmitted from the information transmission unit, and the printer selection unit is a user other than the user who has received the print completion notification in the print completion notification reception unit. The user may select an available printer.

  According to the first, second, third, twelfth and thirteenth aspects of the present invention, the distribution source user can easily distribute the document without being aware of the printer that can be used by the distribution destination user.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the document distribution process can be performed more simply and at high speed by using the user database.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the output printer can be a printer that is frequently used by the distribution destination user, and the convenience of the distribution destination user can be improved.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, when there are a plurality of printers that can be used by the distribution destination user, it is possible to select and output a printer that is ready for output, which is convenient for the distribution destination user. Can increase the sex.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, when there are a plurality of printers that can be used by the distribution destination user, it is possible to output from all the printers, thereby improving the convenience of the distribution destination user. it can.

  According to the eighth aspect of the invention, it is possible to set a deadline for delivery of confidential documents and the like, and to improve confidentiality.

  According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to collectively perform processing for enhancing security protection of confidential documents and the like on the document distribution server, and to reduce the processing burden on the user of the distribution source.

  According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to sequentially transmit a document to a plurality of distribution destination users.

  According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, it is possible to allow a plurality of distribution destination users to browse documents in order as in circulation.

<Device configuration>
As shown in FIG. 1, the document distribution system according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a distributor computer 10, a confidential document distribution server 12, a network printer 14 (14 a, 14 b...), And a receiver computer 16 ( 16a, 16b... The distributor computer 10, the confidential document distribution server 12, the network printer 14, and the receiver computer 16 are connected to each other via a network so that information can be exchanged with each other.

  The distributor computer 10, the confidential document distribution server 12, and the receiver computer 16 are configured to include general computers. That is, it can be configured by a computer including a control unit (CPU), a storage unit such as a semiconductor memory, an input unit such as a keyboard, an output unit such as a display, and a network interface.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the confidential document distribution server 12 executes a confidential document distribution program stored in a built-in storage unit, so that a print request reception unit 20, a print information management unit 22, an information extraction unit 24, It functions as the print data generation unit 26 and the print data transmission unit 28. These functions correspond to processing steps executed by the confidential document distribution server 12 in the confidential document distribution process described later.

  The network printer 14 is a printer having a network interface. As shown in FIG. 2, the network printer 14 includes a control unit 30, a storage unit 32, a control panel 34, an image forming unit 36, and a network interface 38.

  The control unit 30 includes a CPU and controls each unit in an integrated manner. The storage unit 32 stores a printer control program executed by the control unit 30 and temporarily holds various types of information such as image data acquired via a network or the like. The control panel 34 inputs information from the user and presents information to the user, and can be configured to include, for example, a liquid crystal touch panel. In response to a print instruction from the control unit 30, the image forming unit 36 forms an image based on the image data held in the storage unit 32 on a recording medium such as a paper medium. The image forming unit 36 can be configured to include, for example, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The network interface 38 exchanges information with information terminals such as the distributor computer 10, the confidential document distribution server 12, and the receiver computers 16a and 16b via the network.

<Confidential document distribution processing>
Hereinafter, the confidential document distribution process according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. The confidential document distribution process is realized by executing the confidential document distribution program in the confidential document distribution server 12.

  In step S10, distribution information for instructing distribution of the confidential document is received from the distributor computer 10. The control unit of the confidential document distribution server 12 receives distribution information from the distributor computer 10 via the network using a network interface. Step S10 corresponds to the print request receiving means 20 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the distribution information includes user identification information for identifying a user as a distribution destination, document information to be distributed (hereinafter, described as image data), print setting information indicating a printing condition, and , Including sender identification information. The user specifying information includes, for example, a user name and a delivery destination mail address uniquely given to each user as shown in FIG. Each user may also include authentication information (here, a password) used for authentication processing when the network printer 14 executes image forming processing. As shown in FIG. 6, the print setting information includes output paper size, paper orientation, single-sided / double-sided printing setting, color mode, presence / absence of binding processing, and punching processing when image data to be distributed is formed. Existence and the like.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the confidential document distribution server 12 performs processing for security protection on the image data and distributes it to the browsing target user. Therefore, the distribution information is added with the user ID and user name of the distribution source user, the distribution date and time, and the transmission source identification information for identifying the distributor computer 10. For example, the ID of the computer. Further, when the distributor computer 10 is included in a multifunction device (a device in which a printer, a copier, a fax, and the like are integrated), the ID of the multifunction device may be used.

  In step S12, the network printer 14 and the recipient computer 16 that distribute the confidential document are determined based on the distribution information received in step S10. The control unit of the confidential document distribution server 12 refers to the user database stored in advance in the storage unit, and distributes the network printer 14 and the recipient computer 16 associated with the user specifying information included in the distribution information to the distribution destination. Extract as Step S12 corresponds to a part of the print information management unit 22 and the information extraction unit 24 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the user database is associated with the user identification information and is used by the network printer 14 that can be used by the user identified by the user identification information and the user identified by the user identification information. This is a database in which the computer 16 for the person is registered. As shown in FIG. 7, a user ID, a user name, a network address (IP address, etc.) of the recipient computer 16 and a printer ID of a network printer that can be used by the user are registered in the user database. Further, the department to which the user belongs may be further registered.

  In this embodiment, when a single user can use a plurality of network printers, all of the available network printers are registered in the user database. That is, a plurality of network printers can be associated with one user specifying information and registered. For example, in the user database of FIG. 7, three network printers 14 with printer IDs P1, P2, and P3 are registered for the user with the user name “A”.

  As shown in FIG. 8, in the printer database, the ID, network address (IP address, etc.) and name of each network printer 14 are registered. Further, status information indicating the current state of each network printer is registered in the printer database as shown in FIG. The control unit of the confidential document distribution server 12 provides information on whether each network printer 14 connected via the network is in a printable state (online idling state) or in an unprintable state (offline state). In response, the printer database status information is updated as needed.

  Also, as shown in FIG. 8, the usage history of each user of each network printer is registered in the printer database. The control unit of the confidential document distribution server 12 receives print completion information from each connected network printer 14 via the network, acquires the user ID of the user who executed printing from the print completion information, and prints The number of use histories of the user registered in association with the network printer 14 that is the transmission source of the completion information is incremented by one. By referring to the use history, it is possible to know which user has used which printer how many times in the past.

  In the printer database, printing conditions that can be printed by each network printer 14 may be registered as printable information. The printable information includes, for example, an output paper size capable of forming an image, paper orientation, single-sided / double-sided printing setting, color mode, binding processing, punching processing, and the like.

  The user database and the printer database may be stored in the storage unit of the confidential document distribution server 12, or may be stored in an external storage unit that can be accessed by the control unit of the confidential document distribution server 12 via the network interface. .

  The control unit of the confidential document distribution server 12 searches and extracts the network printer 14 and the recipient computer 16 associated with the received user identification information with reference to the user database. When a plurality of network printers 14 are associated with one user, all network printers 14 are extracted.

  When a plurality of pieces of user specifying information are received at the same time, the network printer 14 and the recipient computer 16 associated with all received user specifying information are searched and extracted.

  For example, referring to the databases in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, if “A” and “B” are included as user names of distribution destinations in the distribution information, the printer IDs for the user A are P1, P2, P3. Network printer 14 is extracted, and for user B, network printers 14 with printer IDs P1, P4, and P5 are extracted.

  In step S14, security protection processing is performed on the received image data. The control unit of the confidential document distribution server 12 reads the image data from the storage unit, and performs security protection processing on the image data based on the information included in the distribution information and the information regarding the distribution destination extracted in step S12. Step S14 corresponds to a part of the print data generation means 26 shown in FIG.

  Specifically, the user ID and user name of the user of the distribution source, the date and time of distribution, sender identification information for specifying the computer for the distributor (for example, the ID of the computer, etc. The computer for the distributor is included in the multifunction device or the like. The ID of the MFP may be used), the user name of the distribution destination, and information (printer ID, etc.) specifying the distribution destination printer network are processed and incorporated into the background of the image data as a watermark image. Process.

  The processing for security protection is not limited to this, and existing processing may be applied as appropriate. Further, this step S14 may be omitted when security protection is not required.

  In step S16, the network printer 14 that is the final distribution destination for each user specified as the distribution destination in the distribution information is extracted. In the present embodiment, the network printer 14 serving as a distribution destination is determined based on the printer status information and the user usage history. This step S16 corresponds to a part of the print information management means 22 and information extraction means 24 shown in FIG.

  Specifically, the control unit of the confidential document distribution server 12 refers to the printer database with one of the distribution destination users as the target user, so that all the networks extracted for the target user in step S12 are displayed. Among the printers 14, the network printer 14 whose status information is in a printable state and has the highest usage history for the user of interest is determined as the final distribution destination network printer 14.

  For example, if a network printer 14 with printer IDs P1, P2, and P3 is extracted for user A in step S12, referring to the printer database in FIG. 8, only the network printer 14 with printer ID P1 can be printed. Therefore, the network printer 14 having the printer ID P1 is a printer to which the user A is distributed. Further, when the network printers 14 having the printer IDs P1, P4, and P5 are extracted for the user B in step S12, referring to the printer database in FIG. 8, all the network printers 14 are ready for printing. The network printer 14 with the printer ID P5 having the highest user B usage history is determined as the distribution destination.

  In this embodiment, the distribution destination network printer 14 is determined based on both the printer status information and the user usage history. However, the distribution destination network printer 14 may be determined based on either one. it can. In this case, only information to be used need be registered in the printer database.

  In step S18, print data transmitted to the user of interest is generated. The control unit of the confidential document distribution server 12 uses the printer driver corresponding to the network printer 14 that is the distribution destination for the user of interest to convert the image data protected in step S14 into a page description language (PDL: Page Description Language). ). The printer driver for each network printer 14 may be stored in advance in the storage unit of the confidential document distribution server 12. At this time, image data in PDL format that can form an image on the network printer that is the distribution destination for the target user according to the print setting information included in the distribution information and the printable information of the network printer that is the distribution destination for the target user Is generated.

  Further, a password for the target user as a delivery destination is added to the image data converted into the PDL format. The PDL includes a print job ID for specifying print data, a network address (such as an IP address) of the network printer 14 serving as a distribution destination for the target user, and a network address (such as an IP address) of the confidential document distribution server 12 serving as a transmission source. It is converted into print data by adding it to image data converted into a format and packetizing it. Step S18 corresponds to a part of the print data generation means 26 shown in FIG.

  For example, when it is determined in step S16 that the network printer 14 having the printer ID P1 for user A is the distribution destination, the print data includes the print job ID and the distribution destination network printer 14 as shown in FIG. An IP address, an IP address of the confidential document distribution server 12, and a password for the user of interest are added.

  In step S20, it is determined whether print data has been generated for all the users included in the distribution information. If print data has been generated for all users, the process proceeds to step S22. Otherwise, a user whose print data has not yet been generated among the users included in the distribution information is set as a new target user, and the processes of steps S16 and S18 are repeated.

  In step S22, the print data is distributed to each user. The control unit of the confidential document distribution server 12 transmits the print data generated in step S18 to the network printer 14 determined as the distribution destination in step S16 to each user serving as the distribution destination via the network interface. To do. Step S22 corresponds to a part of the print data transmission unit 28 shown in FIG.

  In step S24, a data transmission notification is distributed to each user. The control unit of the confidential document distribution server 12 transmits data indicating that the print data has been transmitted to the recipient computer 16 extracted in step S12 to each user as a distribution destination via the network interface. Send a notification. The data transmission notification includes a printer ID and a printer name for identifying the network printer 14 that has transmitted the print data, in order to indicate to which network printer 14 the print data has been transmitted to the user. Step S22 corresponds to a part of the print data transmission unit 28 shown in FIG.

  If a password for each user is added to the print data, the data transmission notification is transmitted including the password for each user. The user as the distribution destination can perform the authentication process using the password included in the data transmission notification.

<Confidential document printing process>
The confidential document printing process according to the present embodiment will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. The confidential document printing process is realized by executing the confidential document printing program in the network printer 14 that is the transmission destination of the print data.

  In step S30, print data is received. The control unit 30 of the network printer 14 receives the print data transmitted from the confidential document distribution server 12 via the network.

  In step S32, an instruction to execute the printing process is received and preparation for the printing process is performed. A user who knows that the data transmission notification from the confidential document distribution server 12 is transmitted to the recipient computer 16 used by the user is sent to the network printer to which the print data included in the data transmission notification is transmitted. Information (printer ID or printer name) for identifying the user 14 is confirmed, and specific information (user name or the like) for identifying the user is input from the control panel 34 of the network printer 14. The control unit 30 of the network printer 14 receives the print data stored in the storage unit 32 when the information (user name or the like) for identifying the user is input from the control panel 34 and the user has already received the information. Listed on the control panel 34. The user selects print data to be printed from print data displayed on the control panel 34. Upon receiving the selection of print data, the control unit 30 of the network printer 14 reads the print data from the storage unit as a target for print processing. Note that print data to be printed may be specified by directly inputting a print job ID from the control panel 34.

  At this time, if the print data includes a password, a user authentication process is performed by verifying the password. The control unit 30 of the network printer 14 presents a display prompting the user who is going to print the print data to input a password on the screen of the control panel 34. The user inputs the password acquired by the data transmission notification from the control panel 34. When the control unit 30 of the network printer 14 obtains the password from the control panel 34, the control unit 30 checks the password included in the print data designated as the print target, and if the passwords match, the process proceeds to step S34. To migrate. On the other hand, if the passwords do not match, the image formation of the image data is not permitted, a predetermined process such as display indicating that the passwords do not match is performed on the control panel 34, and the process is terminated.

  In step S34, an image forming process is performed based on the print data. The control unit 30 of the network printer 14 transfers the image data in the PDL format included in the print data selected in step S32 to the image forming unit 36. The image forming unit 36 analyzes the image data and forms an image based on the image data on a recording medium such as a paper medium.

  In step S36, print completion information is transmitted. When the image forming process in step S <b> 34 is completed, the control unit 30 of the network printer 14 transmits print completion information indicating that the printing is completed to the confidential document distribution server 12. The print completion information is assigned a print job ID that specifies print data, a printer ID of the network printer 14 that actually performed printing, and a network address (such as an IP address).

<Modification 1>
In the above embodiment, when a plurality of network printers 14 are associated with a single user, a process of selecting one network printer 14 as a final distribution destination is performed in step S16. However, when a plurality of network printers 14 are associated with one user, the printer selection process in step S16 is omitted, and print data for all the network printers 14 is generated in step S18. In step S22, the print data may be transmitted to all the network printers 14. In this case, in step S24, information specifying all printers selected for each user is included in the data transmission notification and transmitted to each user.

  On the other hand, when the distribution destination user knows that the data transmission notification from the confidential document distribution server 12 has been transmitted to the recipient computer 16 that he / she uses, a plurality of data included in the data transmission notification are included. One convenient network printer 14 is selected from the network printers 14, and the print job ID is input from the control panel 34 of the network printer 14 to specify the data. Thereafter, the network printer 14 performs the processes of steps S32 to S36.

  When the confidential document distribution server 12 receives the print completion information via the network, the confidential document distribution server 12 refers to the print job ID included in the print completion information, and transmits the print data specified by the print job ID. The print processing stop command is transmitted to the network printers 14 other than the network printer 14 that is the transmission source of the print completion information.

<Modification 2>
In addition, the confidential document distribution server 12 may manage the print expiration date. As shown in FIG. 6, when the print expiration date is included in the print setting information designated by the distributor, when the print data is transmitted from the confidential document distribution server 12 to the network printer 14, the confidential document distribution server 12. Holds and manages the print expiration date in association with the print data.

  The confidential document distribution server 12 refers to a built-in clock or the like, and if no print completion information is returned from any of the network printers 14 that have distributed print data when the print expiration date has passed, the confidential document distribution server 12 A command to delete the print data is transmitted to all the printers 14. Upon receiving the delete command, the control unit 30 of the network printer 14 deletes the print data from the storage unit 32.

<Modification 3>
In the above embodiment, the confidential document distribution server 12 has shown the process of distributing the image data transmitted from the distributor computer 10 to the network printer 14. In this modification, a process for distributing image data stored in the document management server will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the document delivery system in this modification has a configuration including a document management server 40 in addition to the configuration of the document delivery system shown in FIG. 1. The document management server 40 is mutually connected via a network so that information can be exchanged with the distributor computer 10, the confidential document distribution server 12, the network printer 14, and the receiver computer 16.

  The document management server 40 includes a general computer. That is, it can be configured by a computer including a control unit (CPU), a storage unit such as a semiconductor memory, an input unit such as a keyboard, an output unit such as a display, and a network interface.

  The document management server 40 functions as document information management means 42, document information extraction means 44, and document information transmission / reception means 46, as shown in FIG. 11, by executing a document extraction program stored in a built-in storage unit. To do. These functions correspond to the following document information extraction processing steps.

  The document management server 40 can update image data from the distributor computer 10 connected via the network, the receiver computer 16, and other computers connected via the network. Also, as shown in FIG. 11, image data can be uploaded from a network multifunction device 50 connected to the network. The uploaded image data is held as a database in the built-in storage unit. This corresponds to the document information transmitting / receiving means 46 of FIG.

  The network multifunction device 50 is a device including a scanner and a printer having a network interface. As shown in FIG. 12, the network multifunction device 50 includes a control unit 60, a storage unit 62, a control panel 64, an image forming unit 66, an image reading unit 68, and a network interface 70.

  The control unit 60 is a unit that controls each unit in an integrated manner, and includes a CPU. The storage unit 62 stores a multifunction device control program executed by the control unit 60 and temporarily holds various types of information such as image data acquired using the network and the image reading unit 68. The control panel 64 inputs information from the user and presents information to the user, and can be configured to include a liquid crystal touch panel, for example. In response to the print instruction from the control unit 60, the image forming unit 66 forms an image based on the image data held in the storage unit 62 on a recording medium such as a paper medium. The image forming unit 66 can be configured to include, for example, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The image reading unit 68 includes a scanner including a photoelectric conversion element such as a CCD. In response to a user image reading instruction from the control panel 64, the image reading unit 68 reads an image from a document placed on a platen or the like, converts the image into image data that is digital information, and stores the image data in the storage unit 62. The network interface 70 exchanges information with information terminals such as the confidential document distribution server 12, the network printer 14, the recipient computer 16, and the document management server 40 via the network.

  The user instructs an image reading process and a transmission process from the control panel 64. Upon receiving an instruction for reading processing, the control unit 60 causes the image reading unit 68 to read image data from the document. Further, when receiving a transmission processing instruction, the control unit 60 reads the read image data held in the storage unit 62 and transmits the read image data to the document management server 40 via the network by using the network interface 70.

  The confidential document distribution process in this modification is executed according to the flowchart shown in FIG. In FIG. 13, steps for performing the same process as the confidential document distribution process in the above embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG.

  In step S <b> 10 </ b> A, distribution information instructing distribution of the confidential document is received from the distributor computer 10. The control unit of the confidential document distribution server 12 receives distribution information from the distributor computer 10 via the network using a network interface. Step S10A corresponds to the print request receiving means 20 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 14, the distribution information is described as user specifying information for specifying a user as a distribution destination and document specifying information for specifying image data to be distributed (hereinafter, image specifying information. For example, file name And print setting information indicating printing conditions.

  In the system configuration shown in FIG. 11, the distribution information can be directly transmitted from the network multifunction device 50 to the confidential document distribution server 12. From the control panel 64, the user designates user specifying information for specifying a user as a distribution destination, image specifying information (for example, a file name) for specifying image data to be distributed, and print setting information indicating a printing condition. To the confidential document distribution server 12.

  In step S14A, image data is acquired from the document management server 40 based on the received image specifying information, and security protection processing is performed on the image data. The control unit of the confidential document distribution server 12 reads the image specifying information (file name, etc.) included in the distribution information received in step S10A from the storage unit, and sends a data transmission request including the image specifying information via the network. Transmit to the management server 40.

  When receiving the data transmission request including the image specifying information, the control unit of the document management server 40 reads the image data specified by the image specifying information from the storage unit. The storage unit for storing and holding the image data corresponds to the document information management unit 42 shown in FIG. 11, and this processing corresponds to the document information extraction unit 44 shown in FIG. The read image data is returned to the confidential document distribution server 12.

  The control unit of the confidential document distribution server 12 performs security protection processing on the image data returned from the document management server 40 based on the information included in the distribution information and the information regarding the distribution destination extracted in step S12. Apply. This process corresponds to a part of the print data generation unit 26 shown in FIG. The security protection process can be performed in the same manner as step S14 in FIG.

<Modification 4>
In the above-described embodiment, the process of distributing a document by transmitting distribution information from the distributor computer 10 to the confidential document distribution server 12 has been described. In this modification, a process for transmitting distribution information from the network multifunction device 50 without using the document management server 40 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 15, the document delivery system in this modification has a configuration including a network multifunction device 50 instead of the distributor computer 10 having the configuration of the document delivery system shown in FIG. The network multi-function device 50 is mutually connected via a network so that information can be exchanged with the confidential document distribution server 12, the network printer 14, and the recipient computer 16.

  The user instructs an image reading process and a transmission process from the control panel 64. Upon receiving an instruction for reading processing, the control unit 60 causes the image reading unit 68 to read image data from the document. Further, when receiving the transmission processing instruction, the control unit 60 directly transmits the read image data held in the storage unit 62 to the confidential document distribution server 12 via the network.

  Similarly to FIG. 4, the distribution information includes user specifying information for specifying a user as a distribution destination, image data to be distributed, and print setting information indicating printing conditions. The user specifying information is specified by the user using the control panel 64, for example. As in FIG. 6, the print setting information includes the output paper size, paper orientation, single-sided / double-sided printing setting, color mode, presence / absence of binding processing, presence / absence of punching processing when image data to be distributed is formed. Etc. The print setting information is also designated by the user using the control panel 64.

  The following processing can be performed according to the flowchart of FIG. Therefore, the description is omitted here.

  Also, as shown in FIG. 16, using a recipient information list in which the distribution order and recipient history are printed on a recording medium such as paper, the recipient information list is read by the image reading unit 68 to acquire the contents. Can also be included in the distribution information. At this time, the confidential document distribution server 12 may perform distribution to all the distribution destination users included in the recipient information list at the same time, or refer to the recipient history included in the recipient information list and still Distribution may be performed according to a distribution order to a distribution destination user who is not receiving.

  In the example of FIG. 16, the “reception history” item is already marked for the distribution destination users in the distribution orders 1 to 3. That is, it means that the print data has already been transmitted to the distribution destination users in the distribution orders 1 to 3 and distribution has been completed. Therefore, the confidential document distribution server 12 that has received the distribution information generated by scanning this recipient information list has the distribution order 4 with the highest distribution order priority among the distribution destination users that have not yet been distributed. Print data is transmitted to the network printer 14 usable by the user.

  At this time, the reception history of the user in the distribution order 4 is received as shown in FIG. 17 for the network printer 14 that can be used by the user as the distribution destination, that is, the network printer 14 that can be used by the user in the distribution order 4. The completed recipient information list may be transmitted and printed. When the user in the distribution order 4 causes the network multi-function device 50 to read the new recipient information list, the user can be distributed to the user in the next distribution order 5.

  This can facilitate processing such as circulation in which the approver stamps (signs) the paper document and passes it to the next approver.

  Although the case where the recipient information list is read together with the confidential document by the multifunction device on the recording medium such as a paper medium has been described, the recipient information list is stored in the address book information or the document management server 40 held in the multifunction device. A list may be automatically generated based on the stored user information. For example, user information and mail addresses in the address book stored in advance in the network multi-function device 50 may be displayed in a list on the control panel 64, and a user as a distributor may be selected from among them. The control unit 60 automatically generates a recipient information list for the selected user and transmits it to the confidential document distribution server 12 together with the confidential document (image data).

It is a figure which shows the whole structure of the document delivery system in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the network printer in embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart of confidential document delivery processing in an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the delivery information in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the content of the user specific information in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the content of the print setting information in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of registration of the user database in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of registration of the printer database in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a structure of the print data in embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart of confidential document printing processing in the embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the whole structure of the document delivery system in the modification of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the network multifunction device in the modification of this invention. It is a flowchart of the confidential document delivery process in the modification of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the delivery information in the modification of this invention. It is a figure which shows the whole structure of the document delivery system in the modification of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the recipient information list | wrist in the modification of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the recipient information list | wrist in the modification of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Distributor computer, 12 Confidential document distribution server, 14 Network printer, 16 Recipient computer, 20 Print request reception means, 22 Print information management means, 24 Information extraction means, 26 Print data generation means, 28 Print data transmission means , 30 control unit, 32 storage unit, 34 control panel, 36 image forming unit, 38 network interface, 40 document management server, 42 document information management unit, 44 document information extraction unit, 46 document information transmission / reception unit, 50 network multifunction device, 60 control unit, 62 storage unit, 64 control panel, 66 image forming unit, 68 image reading unit, 70 network interface.

Claims (13)

A distributor device for outputting user identification information for identifying a user as a recipient and document identification information or document identification information for identifying document information;
Information receiving means for receiving user identification information and document information or document identification information transmitted from the distributor device;
Printer selection means for selecting a printer usable by the user specified by the user specifying information based on the user specifying information received by the information receiving means;
Information transmitting means for transmitting the document information received by the information receiving means or the document information specified by the document specifying information to the printer selected by the printer selecting means;
A document delivery server with
A printer comprising print information receiving means for receiving document information from the document distribution server;
A document distribution system comprising: Information receiving means for receiving user specifying information for specifying a user to receive information and document information sent to the user;
Printer selection means for selecting a printer usable by the user specified by the user specifying information based on the user specifying information received by the information receiving means;
Information transmitting means for transmitting the document information received by the information receiving means to the printer selected by the printer selecting means;
A document delivery server comprising: Information receiving means for receiving user specifying information for specifying a user to receive information and document specifying information for specifying document information sent to the user;
Printer selection means for selecting a printer usable by the user specified by the user specifying information based on the user specifying information received by the information receiving means;
Information transmitting means for transmitting document information specified by the document specifying information received by the information receiving means to the printer selected by the printer selecting means;
A document delivery server comprising: The document distribution server according to claim 2 or 3,
With reference to a user database storage unit that stores a user database that associates user identification information with a printer that can be used by the user identified by the user identification information
The document distribution server, wherein the printer selecting unit selects a printer associated with the user specifying information received by the information receiving unit. The document distribution server according to claim 2 or 3,
User database storage means for associating user identification information with a printer usable by the user identified by the user identification information;
With reference to a printer database storage unit that stores a printer database that associates the printer registered in the user database with the usage frequency of the user's printer specified by the user specifying information,
The document selection server, wherein the printer selection unit selects a printer from among printers associated with the user identification information received by the information reception unit based on the usage frequency of the user. The document distribution server according to claim 2 or 3,
User database storage means for associating user identification information with a printer that can be used by a user identified by the user identification information;
With reference to a printer database storage unit that stores a printer database that associates the printer registered in the user database with the status information of the printer of the user specified by the user specifying information,
The printer selection unit refers to a user database held in the user database storage unit, based on printer status information from among printers associated with the user identification information received by the information reception unit. A document distribution server characterized by selecting a printer. The document distribution server according to claim 4,
The document distribution server, wherein the printer selection unit selects all printers associated with the user identification information received by the information reception unit. The document distribution server according to claim 2 or 3,
The document distribution server, wherein the information transmission unit transmits document information and a print expiration date of the document information to the printer selected by the printer selection unit. The document distribution server according to claim 2 or 3,
And further comprising protection processing means for performing processing for security protection on the document information received by the information receiving means or the document information specified by the document specifying information received by the information receiving means,
The document distribution server, wherein the information transmission unit transmits the document information processed by the protection processing unit to the printer selected by the printer selection unit. The document distribution server according to claim 2 or 3,
In the information receiving means, when a plurality of user specifying information is received in association with one document information or one document specifying information,
The document selection server, wherein the printer selection unit selects a printer that can be used by a user specified by user specification information sequentially selected from a plurality of user specification information received by the information reception unit. The document delivery server according to claim 10,
A print completion notification receiving means for obtaining a print completion notification of the document information transmitted from the information transmitting means;
The document selection server, wherein the printer selection unit selects a printer that can be used by a user other than the user who has received the print completion notification in the print completion notification reception unit. On the computer,
Receiving user identification information for identifying a user to receive information and document information sent to the user;
Based on the received user identification information, select a printer that can be used by the user identified by the user identification information;
Transmitting the received document information to the selected printer;
A document delivery server program characterized by causing processing to be executed. On the computer,
Receiving user identification information for identifying a user to receive information and document identification information for identifying document information to be sent to the user;
Based on the received user identification information, select a printer that can be used by the user identified by the user identification information,
Transmitting document information specified by the received document specifying information to the selected printer;
A document distribution server program characterized by causing processing to be executed.

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