JP2008123295A - Image formation instruction processing system, image formation instruction processing device, user terminal, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image formation instruction processing system capable of reducing labor for operation check carried out between an information instruction processing device and a plurality of user terminals giving an image formation instruction to the image formation instruction processing device. <P>SOLUTION: The image formation instruction processing device transmits an operation check request to each of a plurality of user terminals, receives image formation instruction data including user terminal identification information, which is transmitted by a user terminal in response to the transmitted operation check request for identification of the user terminal, and based on the received image formation instruction data, determines an operation condition of the user terminal identified by the user identification information. Each of the user terminals receives the operation check request transmitted by the image formation instruction processing device, and according to the received operation check request, generates image formation instruction data including the user terminal identification information for identifying the user terminal to transmit the image formation instruction data to the image formation instruction processing device. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image formation instruction processing system, an image formation instruction processing apparatus, a user terminal, and a program.

For example, there is an image formation instruction processing apparatus that performs a formation image generation process in response to an image formation instruction transmitted from a user terminal, such as a printer or a print server. Here, the formed image generation process is a process of generating a formed image formed on the recording medium according to an image formation instruction. When such an image formation instruction processing apparatus is newly installed in an office or the like, normally, an image formation instruction is transmitted from the user terminal to the image formation instruction processing apparatus, and the image formation instruction processing apparatus is normally formed. It is necessary to check the operation of whether or not the image generation process can be executed.
JP 2000-305742 A

  However, it is necessary to carry out the confirmation work as described above at every user terminal that may transmit an image formation instruction to the image formation instruction processing apparatus, which is troublesome.

  In this regard, there is a technique in which a test request is transmitted from a printer to a print server, and the print server transmits a test print request to the printer in response to the transmitted test request (see Patent Document 1). However, even in this technology, when a printer is connected to a plurality of print servers, it is necessary to check the operation with each print server, and one printer or print server is connected to the device. It is not considered to perform operation confirmation with a plurality of apparatuses that transmit image formation instructions.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and one of its purposes is between an image formation instruction processing apparatus and a plurality of user terminals that issue image formation instructions to the image formation instruction processing apparatus. It is an object to provide an image formation instruction processing system, an image formation instruction processing device, a user terminal, and a program that can reduce the time and effort required for the operation confirmation performed in the above.

  In order to solve the above problems, an image formation instruction processing system according to the present invention includes an image formation instruction processing apparatus that performs a formation image generation process in response to an image formation instruction, and a plurality of user terminals. The image formation instruction processing device includes an operation confirmation request transmitting unit that transmits an operation confirmation request to each of the plurality of user terminals, and each user terminal according to the transmitted operation confirmation request. Is transmitted data, the image formation instruction data receiving means for receiving the image formation instruction data including the user terminal identification information for identifying the transmitted user terminal, and the reception based on the received image formation instruction data Operation state determining means for determining the operation state of the user terminal identified by the user terminal identification information included in the image formation instruction data. Each user terminal receives an operation confirmation request transmitted from the image formation instruction processing device, and generates a formed image in the image formation instruction processing device in response to the received operation confirmation request. Image formation instruction data for executing processing, and image formation instruction data generating means for generating image formation instruction data including user terminal identification information for identifying the user terminal; and the generated image formation instruction data Image forming instruction data transmitting means for transmitting to the image forming instruction processing apparatus.

  An image formation instruction processing apparatus according to the present invention is an image formation instruction processing apparatus that is connected to a plurality of user terminals and performs a formation image generation process in response to an image formation instruction. On the other hand, an operation confirmation request transmitting means for transmitting an operation confirmation request, and data transmitted by each user terminal in response to the transmitted operation confirmation request, the user terminal identification information for identifying the transmitted user terminal And an operation of a user terminal identified by user terminal identification information included in the received image formation instruction data based on the received image formation instruction data And an operation state determination means for determining the state.

  In the image formation instruction processing apparatus, the operation state determination unit may determine the operation state of the user terminal by executing the formation image generation process according to the received image formation instruction data. Good.

  The image formation instruction processing device further includes a user terminal list acquisition unit that acquires a user terminal list including user terminal identification information for identifying each of the plurality of user terminals, and the operation check request transmission unit includes: An operation check request may be transmitted based on the acquired user terminal list.

  In the image formation instruction processing device, the operation confirmation request transmitting unit transmits an operation confirmation request including confirmation request device identification information for identifying the image formation instruction processing device, and the image formation instruction data receiving unit includes: The image forming instruction data including the confirmation requesting device identification information is received, and the operation state determination unit is identified by the user terminal identification information based on the confirmation requesting device identification information included in the received image forming instruction data. The operating state of the user terminal may be determined.

  The user terminal according to the present invention is a user terminal connected to an image formation instruction processing device that performs a formation image generation process in response to an image formation instruction, and receives an operation confirmation request transmitted by the image formation instruction processing device. An operation confirmation request receiving means for receiving, and image formation instruction data for causing the image formation instruction processing device to execute the formed image generation processing in response to the received operation confirmation request, and identifying the user terminal Image forming instruction data generating means for generating image forming instruction data including user terminal identification information; and image forming instruction data transmitting means for transmitting the generated image forming instruction data to the image forming instruction processing device. It is characterized by that.

  In the user terminal, the operation confirmation request receiving unit receives an operation confirmation request including confirmation request device identification information for identifying the image formation instruction processing device, and the image formation instruction data generating unit receives the received Image forming instruction data including the confirmation request device identification information included in the operation confirmation request is generated, and the confirmation request device identification information included in the transmitted image formation instruction data is the user terminal by the image formation instruction processing device. It is good also as being used for the process which determines this operation state.

  In addition, the program according to the present invention receives an operation confirmation request transmitted by the image formation instruction processing apparatus from a computer connected to the image formation instruction processing apparatus that performs a formation image generation process in response to the image formation instruction. Request receiving means, image forming instruction data for causing the image forming instruction processing device to execute the formed image generation processing in response to the received operation confirmation request, and user terminal identification information for identifying the user terminal An image formation instruction data generation unit that generates image formation instruction data including the image formation instruction data, and an image formation instruction data transmission unit that transmits the generated image formation instruction data to the image formation instruction processing device. .

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the image formation instruction processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a print server 1, a plurality of user terminals 2, and a printer 3. These devices are connected to each other via a communication network. In this embodiment, an example in which the image formation instruction processing apparatus is a print server will be described. However, the image formation instruction processing apparatus may be an arbitrary apparatus that receives image formation instruction data, such as a printer.

  As illustrated in FIG. 1, the print server 1 includes a control unit 11, a storage unit 12, and a communication unit 13.

  The control unit 11 is a CPU or the like and operates according to a program stored in the storage unit 12. In the present embodiment, formed image generation processing for generating a formed image according to image formation instruction data coming from a plurality of user terminals 2 is executed. Here, the image formation instruction data is data including an instruction to draw an image to be formed, which is described in, for example, a page description language (PDL). Further, the control unit 11 transmits the generated formed image to the printer 3 by outputting it to the communication unit 13. In addition, the control unit 11 executes processing for confirming the operation of the plurality of user terminals 2. A detailed example of this process will be described later.

  The storage unit 12 includes at least one of a memory element such as a RAM or a ROM and a disk device such as a hard disk drive. The storage unit 12 stores a program executed by the control unit 11 in the present embodiment. It also operates as a work memory for the control unit 11.

  The communication unit 13 is a network interface such as a LAN board, for example, and transmits various data to the communication network according to the control of the control unit 11. In addition, data received via the communication network is received and output to the control unit 11.

  The user terminal 2 is an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer. As shown in FIG. 2, the user terminal 2 includes a control unit 21, a storage unit 22, a communication unit 23, an operation unit 24, and a display unit 25. It is configured to include.

  The control unit 21 is a CPU or the like, and operates according to a program stored in the storage unit 22. In the present embodiment, an image formation instruction for causing the printer 3 to perform image formation is generated, and the generated image formation instruction is output to the communication unit 23 to be transmitted to the print server 1. Also, a test image formation instruction is generated and output in response to the operation confirmation request transmitted from the print server 1. A detailed example of this process will be described later.

  The storage unit 22 includes at least one of a memory element such as a RAM and a ROM and a disk device such as a hard disk drive. The storage unit 22 stores a program executed by the control unit 21 in the present embodiment. It also operates as a work memory for the control unit 21.

  The communication unit 23 is a network interface such as a LAN board, and transmits various data to the communication network according to the control of the control unit 21. In addition, data received via the communication network is received and output to the control unit 21.

  The operation unit 24 is, for example, a keyboard or a mouse, and receives a user instruction operation and outputs the content of the instruction operation to the control unit 21. The display unit 25 is a display, for example, and displays information in accordance with instructions from the control unit 21.

  The printer 3 forms a formed image on a recording medium such as paper based on the formed image data coming from the print server 1 via the communication network.

  Hereinafter, functions performed by the print server 1 and the user terminal 2 when an operation check is performed between the print server 1 and the user terminal 2 in the image formation instruction processing system having the above configuration will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the print server 1 functionally includes a user terminal list acquisition unit 31, an operation confirmation request transmission unit 32, a test image formation instruction data reception unit 36, and an operation state determination unit 37. It consists of In addition, the user terminal 2 is functionally configured to include an operation confirmation request receiving unit 33, a test image formation instruction data generation unit 34, and a test image formation instruction data transmission unit 35.

  These functions can be realized, for example, when the control unit 11 and the control unit 21 execute programs stored in the storage unit 12 or the storage unit 22, respectively. This program may be provided through a communication network such as the Internet, or may be provided by being stored in various computer-readable information recording media such as a CD-ROM or a DVD-ROM. Good. A program for causing the user terminal 2 to function as the operation confirmation request receiving unit 33, the test image formation instruction data generation unit 34, and the test image formation instruction data transmission unit 35 is included in the device driver program for the print server 1. It may be provided.

  The user terminal list acquisition unit 31 acquires a list (user terminal list) including user terminal identification information for identifying each of the plurality of user terminals 2. The user terminal identification information included in the user terminal list may be, for example, the network address of the user terminal 2 or the host name of the user terminal 2. Moreover, you may include both of these. As a specific example, the user terminal list acquisition unit 31 acquires a user terminal list based on information input by a user such as an administrator.

  Moreover, the user terminal list acquisition part 31 is good also as acquiring a user terminal list | wrist by acquiring the information of the user terminal 2 connected via the communication network. Specifically, for example, broadcast communication using a protocol such as SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) or UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) is performed, and the network address of the user terminal 2 that has responded is added to the user terminal list. .

  In addition, the user terminal list acquisition unit 31 accesses a server that holds information about the user terminal 2 such as a directory server using a protocol such as LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) or UDDI (Universal Description, Discovery, and Integration). By doing so, a list of user terminals 2 may be acquired based on the data received from the server.

  The operation confirmation request transmission unit 32 transmits an operation confirmation request to each of the plurality of user terminals 2. In the present embodiment, the operation check request transmission unit 32 is based on the user terminal list acquired by the user terminal list acquisition unit 31, and for a plurality of user terminals 2 specified by the user terminal identification information included in the list. The operation confirmation request is transmitted. Here, when the user terminal identification information included in the user terminal list is a host name or the like, the operation confirmation request transmission unit 32 refers to a network address determined based on the host name with reference to a DNS server or the like, for example. The operation confirmation request is transmitted.

  Here, the operation confirmation request is data including instruction information for requesting each user terminal 2 to transmit image formation instruction data for operation confirmation (hereinafter referred to as test image formation instruction data). This operation confirmation request may be transmitted by, for example, a unique application protocol using TCP / IP, or SOAP that makes a service call using SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol), which is a protocol for communication between objects. It may be sent as a message.

  The operation confirmation request may include confirmation request device identification information (for example, a network address of the print server 1) for identifying a device (here, the print server 1) that issues the operation confirmation request. Moreover, you may include the user terminal identification information which identifies the user terminal 2 used as the transmission destination of an operation confirmation request. Furthermore, information indicating whether or not actual test printing is necessary and test image data to be subjected to test printing may be included.

  FIG. 4 is an example of data included in the operation confirmation request transmitted as the SOAP message. In the example of FIG. 4, the value “xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx” of the Address element indicates the network address (confirmation requesting device identification information) of the print server 1. Further, the value “false” of the NeedPrint element indicates that actual test printing is unnecessary. Further, the value of the PrintImage element indicates the data content of the test image.

  The operation confirmation request receiving unit 33 receives the operation confirmation request transmitted from the print server 1 by the operation confirmation request transmitting unit 32.

  In this case, when the user terminal identification information is included in the received operation confirmation request, the operation confirmation request receiving unit 33 determines whether or not the user terminal 2 identified by the user terminal identification information is itself. It may be determined. Specifically, for example, the operation confirmation request receiving unit 33 matches the user terminal identification information for identifying itself stored in the storage unit 22 with the user terminal identification information included in the received operation confirmation request. It is determined whether or not. If the two do not match, for example, a process of discarding the received operation confirmation request is performed. Also, a response indicating that the destination of the operation confirmation request is incorrect may be transmitted to the print server 1. In this case, for example, when the print server 1 transmits an operation confirmation request to a user terminal different from the user terminal 2 specified by the user terminal identification information due to, for example, incomplete network settings, the different user It is possible to prevent an operation check with the terminal.

  The test image formation instruction data generation unit 34 generates test image formation instruction data for causing the print server 1 to execute a formation image generation process for operation confirmation in response to the operation confirmation request received by the operation confirmation request reception unit 33. Generate. The test image formation instruction data is data including instruction information for causing the print server 1 to execute a formed image generation process, and is instruction data for causing the printer 3 to form a test image. Here, the test image may be a predetermined image. Alternatively, the test image formation instruction data generation unit 34 may generate test image formation instruction data using the test image data included in the received operation confirmation request.

  The generated test image formation instruction data includes user terminal identification information for identifying the user terminal 2 that generated the test image formation instruction data. This user terminal identification information may be information stored in the storage unit 22 in advance, or may be information included in the operation confirmation request received from the print server 1.

  Furthermore, the test image formation instruction data may include notification destination information (for example, an e-mail address of a user using the user terminal 2) when a problem occurs. The notification destination information is data stored in advance in the storage unit 22 when the user inputs the operation unit 24 in advance, for example. The test image formation instruction data includes confirmation request device identification information for identifying a device that has issued the operation confirmation request received by the operation confirmation request reception unit 33 and information indicating whether or not actual test printing is necessary. Also good. The test image formation instruction data generation unit 34 can acquire such information from the operation confirmation request received by the operation confirmation request reception unit 33.

  FIG. 5 is an example of data included in the test image formation instruction data described in PJL (Printer Job Language). In the example of FIG. 5, the CLIENT_ADEDRESS value “yyy.yyy.yyy.yyy” is the user terminal identification information, the ONLY_PRINT_AT value “xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx” is the confirmation requesting device identification information, and the NO_PRINT_TEST value. “TRUE” indicates that test printing is unnecessary. Note that the test image formation instruction data is not limited to the data described in the PJL illustrated in FIG. 5, but is described in, for example, PCL (Printer Control Language), Postscript, PDF (Portable Document Format), or the like. Also good.

  The test image formation instruction data transmission unit 35 transmits the test image formation instruction data generated by the test image formation instruction data generation unit 34 to the print server 1.

  In this case, the transmission of the test image formation instruction data is performed by the same protocol as that for transmitting normal image formation instruction data to the print server 1. For example, the test image formation instruction data transmission unit 35 transmits the test image formation instruction data using a printer control protocol such as LPR (Line PRinter daemon protocol). Thus, by transmitting the test image formation instruction data in the same procedure as the normal image formation instruction data transmission, not only the print server 1 and the user terminal 2 are connected via the communication network, but also the actual image formation instruction data is transmitted. It can be confirmed that the communication using the protocol used at the time of image formation is normally performed.

  The test image formation instruction data reception unit 36 receives the test image formation instruction data transmitted by the test image formation instruction data transmission unit 35.

  The operation state determination unit 37 is based on the test image formation instruction data received by the test image formation instruction data receiving unit 36, and the operation state of the user terminal 2 identified by the user terminal identification information included in the test image formation instruction data. A determination process for determining The operation state determination unit 37 outputs the result of this determination process in association with the user terminal 2 identified by the user terminal identification information. Thereby, even when performing operation confirmation with a plurality of user terminals 2, the result of operation confirmation with each user terminal 2 is managed separately for each user terminal 2. Can do.

  Here, the determination process performed by the operation state determination unit 37 will be described. The operation state determination unit 37 can determine the operation state of the user terminal 2 by executing a formation image generation process according to the received test image formation instruction data, for example. That is, as a result of executing the formation image generation process, if the test image can be normally generated as a formation image for the test image formation instruction data transmitted by the user terminal 2, it can be confirmed that the user terminal 2 is operating normally. .

  In this case, the print server 1 does not necessarily have to perform control to actually form a test image on a recording medium. That is, if the received test image formation instruction data includes information indicating that actual test printing is not performed, the print server 1 determines the operating state of the user terminal 2 by executing the formed image generation process, Thereafter, the process of transmitting the formed image to the printer 3 is omitted.

  The operation state determination unit 37 transmits the received test image formation instruction data by itself using the confirmation requesting device identification information included in the test image formation instruction data received by the test image formation instruction data reception unit 36. It may be determined whether or not it is transmitted in response to the operation confirmation request. Thereby, for example, when a plurality of image formation instruction processing devices are connected to the communication network, and the user terminal 2 has transmitted test image formation instruction data to the wrong image formation instruction processing device due to inadequate network settings or the like. In addition, it is possible to detect such an error and determine that the connection with the user terminal 2 is abnormal. In particular, in the present embodiment, as described above, the test image formation instruction data is transmitted by the protocol used when the user terminal 2 actually transmits the image formation instruction data. In this case, the protocol is different from the protocol used when the print server 1 transmits an operation check request. That is, the operation check request and the test image formation instruction data are transmitted and received as separate sessions on the communication network. Therefore, confirmation of the other party by such determination is effective.

  The operation state determination unit 37 outputs the determination result by the process described above as, for example, a determination result list. The determination result list is data in which user terminal identification information for identifying each user terminal 2, notification destination information, and information (OK or NG) indicating the operation state of each user terminal 2 obtained as a determination result are associated with each other. It is. Here, the notification destination information may be included in the test image formation instruction data received from the user terminal 2, for example, or may be included in the user terminal list acquired by the user terminal list acquisition unit 31. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of such a determination result list.

  Further, the operation state determination unit 37 may execute a predetermined process according to the determination result. As a specific example, when there is a user terminal 2 whose determination result is NG, information indicating the user terminal 2 whose determination result is NG by a method such as sending an e-mail to a predetermined user (such as an administrator). Send. Moreover, it is good also as notifying that the determination result was NG to the notification destination shown with the said notification destination information with reference to the notification destination information linked | related with the user terminal 2 whose determination result is NG.

  Note that the print server 1 may display the determination result as a web page. Specifically, the print server 1 functions as a web server, generates a web page based on the determination result by the operation state determination unit 37, and transmits the generated web page in response to a request from the user terminal 2. In this way, a user such as an administrator can access the print server 1 via the communication network, display a list of operation states of the plurality of user terminals 2, and can easily grasp the state of each terminal.

  According to the present embodiment described above, the print server 1 can collectively check the operation of each of the plurality of user terminals 2, and performs the operation check operation on each user terminal 2. There is no need. Thereby, for example, when the print server 1 is newly introduced or the network address or the like of the print server 1 is changed, it is possible to reduce the trouble of checking the operation with a plurality of user terminals 2.

  The embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, when a plurality of image formation instruction processing devices are installed in an office, operation confirmation between the plurality of image formation instruction processing devices and a plurality of user terminals is performed collectively from an administrator terminal. Is also possible. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image formation instruction processing system including a plurality of such image formation instruction processing apparatuses and a plurality of user terminals. In the example of FIG. 7, two printers 4a and 4b are included in the image formation instruction processing system as image formation instruction processing devices. Further, three user terminals 5a, 5b and 5c and an administrator terminal 6 are included. These devices are connected to each other via a communication network. Here, the administrator terminal 6 is an information processing apparatus used by a user (administrator user) who plays the role of an administrator, and may have the same configuration as the user terminal.

  In the example of FIG. 7, for example, when the administrator user performs an instruction operation on the administrator terminal 6, the administrator terminal 6 sends a control command for instructing the start of the operation confirmation process to the printers 4a and 4b. To send. The printers 4a and 4b that have received the control command perform operation confirmation with the user terminals 5a, 5b, and 5c, respectively, by executing the same processing as the print server 1 in the above-described example. In this case, the administrator terminal 6 may be included in the operation check target. Further, the printers 4 a and 4 b transmit information indicating the results of the respective operation confirmations to the administrator terminal 6. The administrator terminal 6 receives the information indicating the result of the operation confirmation to obtain the result of the operation confirmation for each combination of the image formation instruction processing device and the user terminal in the entire image formation instruction processing system. Can do. As a result, for example, the user terminal 5a can normally transmit test image formation instruction data to the printer 4a, but can manage even if the correct test image formation instruction data cannot be transmitted to the printer 4b. A person can easily grasp such an abnormality.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image formation instruction processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram showing the example of a structure of the user terminal which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a functional block diagram showing the example of a function of the image formation instruction processing system concerning an embodiment of the invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the data contained in an operation check request. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the data contained in test image formation instruction data. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the determination result list | wrist output by the image formation instruction | indication processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram showing another structural example of the image formation instruction | indication processing system which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  1 print server, 2, 5a, 5b, 5c user terminal, 3, 4a, 4b printer, 6 administrator terminal, 11, 21 control unit, 12, 22 storage unit, 13, 23 communication unit, 24 operation unit, 25 display Unit 31 user terminal list acquisition unit 32 operation confirmation request transmission unit 33 operation confirmation request reception unit 34 test image formation instruction data generation unit 35 test image formation instruction data transmission unit 36 test image formation instruction data reception unit 37 Operation state determination unit.

Claims (8)

An image formation instruction processing system including an image formation instruction processing apparatus that performs a formation image generation process in response to an image formation instruction, and a plurality of user terminals,
The image formation instruction processing device includes:
An operation confirmation request transmitting means for transmitting an operation confirmation request to each of the plurality of user terminals;
Image forming instruction data receiving means for receiving image forming instruction data including user terminal identification information for identifying the transmitted user terminal, which is data transmitted by each of the user terminals in response to the transmitted operation confirmation request; ,
Based on the received image formation instruction data, an operation state determination means for determining an operation state of the user terminal identified by the user terminal identification information included in the received image formation instruction data;
Including
Each of the user terminals is
An operation confirmation request receiving means for receiving an operation confirmation request transmitted by the image formation instruction processing device;
In response to the received operation confirmation request, image formation instruction data for causing the image formation instruction processing device to execute the formation image generation processing, and including user terminal identification information for identifying the user terminal Image formation instruction data generation means for generating data;
Image formation instruction data transmission means for transmitting the generated image formation instruction data to the image formation instruction processing device;
An image formation instruction processing system comprising: An image formation instruction processing apparatus connected to a plurality of user terminals and performing a formation image generation process in response to an image formation instruction,
An operation confirmation request transmitting means for transmitting an operation confirmation request to each of the plurality of user terminals;
Image forming instruction data receiving means for receiving image forming instruction data including user terminal identification information for identifying the transmitted user terminal, which is data transmitted by each of the user terminals in response to the transmitted operation confirmation request; ,
Based on the received image formation instruction data, an operation state determination means for determining an operation state of the user terminal identified by the user terminal identification information included in the received image formation instruction data;
An image formation instruction processing apparatus. The image formation instruction processing apparatus according to claim 2,
The image formation instruction processing apparatus, wherein the operation state determination unit determines the operation state of the user terminal by executing the formation image generation process according to the received image formation instruction data. The image formation instruction processing apparatus according to claim 2 or 3,
A user terminal list obtaining unit for obtaining a user terminal list including user terminal identification information for identifying each of the plurality of user terminals;
The image formation instruction processing apparatus, wherein the operation confirmation request transmission unit transmits an operation confirmation request based on the acquired user terminal list. An image formation instruction processing apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4,
The operation confirmation request transmitting means transmits an operation confirmation request including confirmation request device identification information for identifying the image formation instruction processing device,
The image formation instruction data receiving means receives image formation instruction data including the confirmation requesting device identification information;
The operation state determination means determines an operation state of a user terminal identified by the user terminal identification information based on confirmation request device identification information included in the received image formation instruction data. Instruction processing device. A user terminal connected to an image formation instruction processing apparatus that performs a formation image generation process in response to an image formation instruction;
An operation confirmation request receiving means for receiving an operation confirmation request transmitted by the image formation instruction processing device;
In response to the received operation confirmation request, image formation instruction data for causing the image formation instruction processing device to execute the formation image generation processing, and including user terminal identification information for identifying the user terminal Image formation instruction data generation means for generating data;
Image formation instruction data transmission means for transmitting the generated image formation instruction data to the image formation instruction processing device;
The user terminal characterized by including. The user terminal according to claim 6,
The operation confirmation request receiving means receives an operation confirmation request including confirmation request device identification information for identifying the image formation instruction processing device;
The image formation instruction data generating means generates image formation instruction data including the confirmation requesting device identification information included in the received operation confirmation request;
The user terminal, wherein the confirmation requesting device identification information included in the transmitted image formation instruction data is used for a process of determining an operation state of the user terminal by the image formation instruction processing device. A computer connected to an image formation instruction processing apparatus that performs a formation image generation process in response to an image formation instruction;
An operation confirmation request receiving means for receiving an operation confirmation request transmitted by the image formation instruction processing device;
In response to the received operation confirmation request, image formation instruction data for causing the image formation instruction processing device to execute the formation image generation processing, and including user terminal identification information for identifying the user terminal Image formation instruction data generation means for generating data, and image formation instruction data transmission means for transmitting the generated image formation instruction data to the image formation instruction processing device,
A program characterized by functioning as

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