JP2011191869A - Information processor, printing system, image forming device, content provision method, content provision program and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processor, a printing system, an image forming device, a content provision method, a content provision program and a recording medium, for providing content information corresponding to authentication information. <P>SOLUTION: In this printing system 1, an authentication server NS stores a user authentication information-content information table wherein each user ID and each URI (content information) for acquiring a content are associated in a user information accumulation part 24, acquires, when acquiring a user ID sent from the image forming device Ka, a URI corresponding to the user ID from the user authentication information-content information table of the user information accumulation part 24, and provides the URI to the image forming device Ka, and the image forming device Ka acquires the content from the sent URI, and displays it on a display part 35. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, a printing system, an image forming apparatus, a content providing method, a content providing program, and a recording medium, and more specifically, an information processing apparatus, a printing system that provides content information and content according to authentication information, The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, a content providing method, a content providing program, and a recording medium.

  In recent years, networking has progressed, and image forming apparatuses such as printer apparatuses connected to the network are shared by a plurality of host apparatuses, and document data transmitted from the host apparatus to the image forming apparatus via the network is stored in the image forming apparatus. Printing is done.

  In such a printing system, the user of the host device can obtain a printed matter by going to the place where the image forming apparatus is installed in anticipation of the timing at which the transmitted document data is printed out by the image forming apparatus. Printing can be efficiently performed while saving waiting time at the installation place of the image forming apparatus.

  However, in this case, since the user is not at the installation location of the image forming apparatus while the printed matter is being output until the printing is completed by the image forming apparatus, if the document data is data that requires confidentiality, There is a risk that confidentiality will be leaked if the printed material is exposed to or taken away by others.

  Therefore, conventionally, confidential data (confidential document data) is input to the image forming apparatus by adding a user ID from the host device, and the image forming apparatus stores the input confidential document data in the image storage memory. There is an image forming apparatus that prints out confidential image data once the authentication process for confirming the input of the user ID is completed. Conventionally, a host device, a print server, an authentication server, and an image forming apparatus are connected to a network, and confidential print data with a user ID added to the print server is transmitted from the host device and stored in the print server. When authenticating to the authentication server with the user ID, the authentication server permits transmission of confidential document data corresponding to the print server to the image forming apparatus, and transfers the confidential document from the print server to the image forming apparatus. There is a printing system that prints out a confidential document by a forming apparatus.

  However, in the conventional technology for printing such a conventional confidential document, the user needs to wait at the image forming apparatus until authentication is performed by the image forming apparatus, and the confidentiality is maintained. However, the availability of the waiting time for waiting for print output was poor, and it was a stress.

  On the other hand, conventionally, a user terminal that has output print data to a printing apparatus obtains an estimated print time based on the attribute of the print data, and selects image data for which image display is completed within the estimated print time. A printing system has been proposed that outputs image data to display means of a user terminal in accordance with the start of printing of print data at (see Patent Document 1).

  However, in the prior art described in the above publication, the output destination of the image data is the user terminal, and the type of the image data is set regardless of the user himself. In order to improve the quality, it was necessary to improve.

  That is, in order to maintain the confidentiality of the printed material, the user needs to confirm that the printed material is printed at the place where the image forming apparatus is installed. In the related art, the image data is displayed on the user terminal. Therefore, in order for the user to view the image data, the user needs to be near the user terminal. However, in order to ensure the confidentiality of the printed material, the user needs to be at the installation site of the image forming apparatus, and the confidentiality of the printed material. The image data cannot be used effectively while ensuring the image quality. Further, in the prior art, since the type of image data is set regardless of the user, there is a need for improvement in improving the usability of the image data.

  Therefore, the present invention provides an information processing apparatus, a printing system, an image forming apparatus, a content providing method, a content providing program, and a recording medium that can provide content related to the user using user authentication information. It is an object.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention stores related information in which user authentication information is associated with content information for acquiring content, and when user authentication information is acquired, content information corresponding to the user authentication information is stored. The content information is obtained from the related information and provided to a predetermined output destination.

  Further, the present invention stores related information in which user authentication information and content information for acquiring content are associated with each other, and when user authentication information is acquired, content information corresponding to the user authentication information is acquired from the related information. Then, the content corresponding to the content information may be acquired, and the content may be provided to a predetermined output destination.

  Furthermore, the present invention relates to an information processing apparatus of a printing system in which an information processing apparatus that performs user authentication and an image forming apparatus that performs print output of a print job that has been successfully authenticated by the information processing apparatus are connected to a predetermined network. The information processing apparatus stores related information in which the user authentication information is associated with the content information for acquiring the content, and the image forming apparatus transmits the user authentication information to the information processing apparatus when the user authentication information is input. When the information processing apparatus acquires the user authentication information sent from the image forming apparatus, the content information corresponding to the user authentication information is acquired from the related information, and the content information is stored in the image forming apparatus. And the image forming apparatus acquires the content corresponding to the content information sent from the information processing apparatus, and The may be characterized in that only the output while performing printout of allowed print job to the user authentication information corresponding to the content.

  According to the present invention, content information related to a user can be provided using user authentication information.

1 is a block configuration diagram of a printing system to which a first embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG. The figure which shows an example of a user authentication information-content information table. 10 is a flowchart showing content display / print processing. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing processing subsequent to FIG. 3. FIG. The figure which shows an example of the display screen during printing. The figure which shows an example of a content display screen. The figure which shows the modification of the display format of a content display screen. The block block diagram of the printing system which can edit a content display format. The block block diagram of the printing system of 2nd Example. 12 is a flowchart illustrating content / print processing according to a second embodiment. Explanatory drawing of the calculation process of estimated printing time. The block block diagram of the printing system of 2nd Example which can edit a content display format. 1 is a block configuration diagram of a printing system including an authentication server and an image forming apparatus. 1 is a block configuration diagram of a printing system including a print server and an image forming apparatus. 1 is a block configuration diagram of a printing system that includes only an image forming apparatus.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, since the Example described below is a suitable Example of this invention, various technically preferable restrictions are attached | subjected, However, The range of this invention is unduly limited by the following description. However, not all the configurations described in the present embodiment are essential constituent elements of the present invention.

  1 to 9 are diagrams showing a first embodiment of an information processing apparatus, a printing system, an image forming apparatus, a content providing method, a content providing program, and a recording medium according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a main part of a printing system 1 to which a first embodiment of a processing apparatus, a printing system, an image forming apparatus, a content providing method, a content providing program, and a recording medium are applied.

  In FIG. 1, the printing system 1 includes an image forming apparatus Ka, an authentication server NS, a print server PS, and a host apparatus (not shown) connected to a wired or wireless network (not shown), and the image forming apparatus Ka and the authentication server NS. The print server PS and the host device, in particular, the image forming device Ka and the host device may be connected in plural.

  The host device uses a general computer having an input unit such as a display, a keyboard, and a mouse in a normal hardware configuration, and is created and edited by an application installed on the OS (Operating System). When a print request is made for the document data, the printer driver converts the document data into print data, and sends a print job together with print settings to the print server PS. At this time, for the confidential document, the host device requests input of a user ID (user authentication information) for specifying the user of the host device, and incorporates the input user ID into the print job to the print server PS. Send. Further, the host device incorporates information specifying the print output destination image forming device Ka of the print data into the print job and transmits it to the print server PS. The user ID (user authentication information) may be any information as long as it can identify the user, and biometric authentication such as a password, card ID in card authentication, fingerprint information, finger vein information, and the like. Includes all information. The user includes not only an individual person but also an organization that uses the host device with an organization name such as a group or a company.

  As the print server PS, a normal print server, for example, a computer having a normal hardware configuration and software configuration is used. As a functional configuration for functioning as a print server, a communication unit 11, a print job storage unit 12, A meta information creation unit 13, a meta information storage unit 14, and the like are constructed.

  The communication unit 11 communicates with a host device on the network, the authentication server NS, and the image forming apparatus Ka to exchange data and commands.

  The print job storage unit 12 includes a hard disk or the like, and stores and stores received print jobs.

  The meta information creation unit 13 is meta information (data size, number of copies, number of copies, creation date, creator, data format, title, etc.) of a print job received from the host device, in particular, data size, number of copies, number of copies to be printed. The total print data size is created.

  The meta information storage unit 14 stores the meta information created by the meta information creation unit 13 in association with the print job of the print job storage unit 12.

  That is, when the print server PS communicates with the host device through the communication unit 11 and receives a print job from the host device, the print server PS accumulates the received print job in the print job storage unit 12 and stores the meta information in the meta information creation unit. If the authentication result of the user authentication by the authentication server NS is passed, the print job and the meta information are transmitted to the image forming apparatus Ka.

  The authentication server (information processing apparatus) NS uses a normal authentication server, for example, a computer having a normal hardware configuration and software configuration, and a content providing method for providing content suitable for the user of the present invention. Equipped with a content provision program to execute That is, the authentication server NS includes ROM, EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory), EPROM, flash memory, flexible disk, CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), CD-RW (Compact Disc Rewritable), DVD ( A content providing program for executing the content providing method of the present invention recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a digital versatile disk (SD), a secure digital (SD) card, or an MO (Magneto-Optical Disc) is read into a ROM or By being installed in a hard disk or the like, it is constructed as an information processing apparatus that executes a content providing method for providing content suitable for a user described later. This content providing program is a computer-executable program written in a legacy programming language such as assembler, C, C ++, C #, Java (registered trademark) or an object-oriented programming language, and is stored in the recording medium. Can be distributed.

  Then, the authentication server NS has a communication unit 21, an authentication unit 22, a user content information registration unit 23, a user information storage unit 24, in order to realize a function as an authentication server and a function as an information processing device that provides content. A default content information registration unit 25, a default content information storage unit 26, and the like are constructed.

  The communication unit 21 communicates with the image forming apparatus Ka and the print server PS via a network.

  The user information storage unit (related information storage unit) 24 not only stores the user ID, but also associates the user ID with content information (user URI) of interest of the user, and a user authentication information-content information table ( Store related information). In this user authentication information-content information table, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, a user ID as user authentication information and a plurality of content URIs (Uniform Resource Identifiers) as content information are registered for the user name. It is a table, and the content URI is a URI that provides content of interest of the user. The content information refers to information for acquiring content, such as a URI, and the user content information refers to information for acquiring content related to the user, such as URI, user authentication information, user name, It shall be the user's interests.

  The user content information registration unit (content information update unit) 23 acquires user information (user name, user ID, etc.) sent from the image forming apparatus Ka via the communication unit 21 and from the image forming apparatus Ka. The content information source such as the user's interest sent is acquired, the content information corresponding to the content information source is determined, and registered in the user authentication information-content information table of the content data information storage unit 24 . The user content information registration unit 23 is accessed from the host device of the user or the image forming apparatus Ka via the network via the communication unit 21, for example, and after confirming the user ID, the user content information registration unit 23 corresponds to the user ID. Content information input from the apparatus or the image forming apparatus Ka is registered in the user information storage unit 24.

  The default information storage unit 26 defaults when the user URI (content information) corresponding to the user ID sent from the image forming apparatus Ka is not registered in the user authentication information-content information table of the user information storage unit 24. Content information provided to the image forming apparatus Ka (for example, a URI that provides various contents) is stored.

  The default content information registration unit 25 is a registration unit that registers default content information in the default content information storage unit 26.

  The authentication unit 22 acquires the user ID sent from the image forming apparatus Ka, performs authentication based on whether or not the user ID is registered in the user information storage unit 24, and displays the authentication result as the communication unit 21. When the authentication result is OK, the content information (user URI) is acquired from the user authentication information-content information table corresponding to the user ID, and is transmitted via the communication unit 21. The image is transmitted to the image forming apparatus Ka. Therefore, the authentication unit 22 and the communication unit 21 function as a content information acquisition unit and a content information provision unit as a whole.

  The image forming apparatus Ka includes an input reception unit 31, a communication unit 32, a meta information acquisition unit 33, a printing unit 34, a display unit 35, an authentication request unit 36, a content data acquisition unit 37, a user content information holding unit 38, and the like. In addition, a basic program as the image forming apparatus Ka and a content providing program for executing a content providing method for providing content suitable for the user of the present invention are mounted. By executing these programs, image formation is performed. While executing the basic processing as the device Ka, the content data acquisition unit 37 and the user content information holding unit 38 are constructed, and content output processing for displaying and outputting content corresponding to the user is performed. In other words, the image forming apparatus Ka is connected to the Internet via a network or directly, accesses the URI on the Internet, acquires the content provided by the URI, and displays it on the display unit 35.

  The input reception unit (authentication information input unit) 31 is configured by a hard key or a touch panel, and various keys (for example, a numeric keypad, a start key, etc.) necessary for causing the image forming apparatus Ka to perform print output and the content of the present invention. An operation key (for example, a content browsing key) necessary for performing the providing method is provided. The input receiving unit 31 is used for inputting a user ID.

  The communication unit 32 communicates with the print server PS and the authentication server NS via the network, performs authentication processing and content acquisition processing of the present invention for the authentication server NS, and print jobs for the print server PS. Give and receive.

  The meta information acquisition unit 33 acquires meta information from the print job and meta information sent from the print server PS.

  The printing unit 34 prints and outputs an image on a sheet based on a print job sent from the print server PS by a predetermined image forming method, for example, an electrophotographic method or an ink ejection method.

  As the display unit (output unit) 35, for example, a liquid crystal display with a touch panel is used. Input information input from the input receiving unit 31 and various information notified to the user from the image forming apparatus Ka (for example, operation of the image forming apparatus) Status information) and function buttons to be operated on the touch panel are displayed and output, and the content received from the authentication server NS and various information necessary for content display processing are displayed.

  In order to receive a print job from the print server PS, the authentication request unit 36 sends a user ID, which is user authentication information input from the input receiving unit 31, to the authentication server NS via the communication unit 32, and receives a user authentication request. In addition, print control and content display control are performed according to the result of user authentication in the authentication server NS. Therefore, the authentication request unit 36 and the communication unit 32 function as an authentication information transmission unit and an output control unit as a whole.

  The user content information holding unit 38 holds content information transmitted from the authentication server NS via the network and received by the communication unit 32.

  The content data acquisition unit (content acquisition unit) 37 acquires content data from the URI indicated by the content information on the Internet based on the content information held by the content information holding unit 37 and displays it on the display unit 35. Let

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. The printing system 1 according to the present embodiment displays content data corresponding to the user ID input for execution of printing on the display unit 35 during the printing process.

  That is, when an authentication request operation is performed from the input receiving unit 31, the image forming apparatus Ka checks whether the authentication request unit 36 is an authentication request accompanied by content information acquisition (step S101), and authentication accompanied by content information acquisition. If it is a request, an authentication request with a user ID and a content request input from the input receiving unit 31 is sent to the authentication server NS to check whether the authentication with the authentication server NS has succeeded or failed (step S102). .

  If the authentication fails in step S102, the authentication request unit 36 displays the fact that the authentication has failed on the display unit 35 and ends the process (step S103).

  If authentication is successful in step S102, the authentication request unit 36 checks whether user content information has been acquired from the authentication server NS (step S104). If user content information is acquired, the authentication request unit 36 notifies the printing unit 34 of successful authentication. Then, the user content information is stored in the user content information holding unit 38 (step S105).

  When the user content information is not acquired in step S104, the authentication request unit 36 acquires the default content transmitted from the authentication server NS (step S106), notifies the printing unit 34 of the authentication success, and also displays the user content information. The default content information is stored in the holding unit 38 (step S105).

  Next, the image forming apparatus Ka displays the print job of the user who has succeeded in authentication on the display unit 35, and when the user selects a print job to be printed, the selected print job is determined as a print job to be printed. (Step S107), the printing unit 34 receives a print job from the print server via the communication unit 32, and starts print processing for printing out an image on paper based on the print data of the print job (Step S108). For example, a printing display screen G1 as shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the display unit 35 (step S109). As shown in FIG. 5, a content browsing button B1 is displayed as a function button on the printing display screen G1, and when the user presses the content browsing button B1 (step S110), the content data acquisition unit 37 While the content data is acquired (collected) from the content information URI of the user content information holding unit 38 (step S111) and printing is performed, for example, as shown in FIG. The screen is switched to the screen G2, and the content is displayed on the display unit 35 (step S112).

  When the printing process by the printing unit 34 ends (step S113), the image forming apparatus Ka ends the display of the content on the display unit 35 and ends the process (step S114).

  Then, in step S101, when the authentication request is an authentication request that does not accompany content information acquisition, the image forming apparatus Ka receives the user ID input from the input receiving unit 31 as shown in FIG. To the authentication server NS to check whether the authentication with the authentication server NS has succeeded or failed (step S115).

  If the authentication fails in step S115, the authentication request unit 36 displays a message indicating that the authentication has failed on the display unit 35, and ends the process (step S116).

  If the authentication is successful in step S116, a notification of authentication success is sent to the printing unit 34, and the authentication success is displayed on the display unit 35 (step S117), and a print job to be printed is determined (step S118). 34 receives a print job from the print server via the communication unit 32, and starts print processing for printing out an image on paper based on the print data of the print job (step S119). A display screen during printing is displayed on the display unit 35 (step S120). As shown in FIG. 5, the content browsing button B1 may be displayed on the display screen during printing. However, even if the user presses the content browsing button B1, the content browsing button B1 does not function. When the printing process by the printing unit 34 is completed, the image forming apparatus Ka ends all the processes (step S121).

  In addition, as a display format of the content on the content display screen G2, as shown in FIG. 6, a plurality of contents (in FIG. 6, news, weather, user schedule, etc.) are displayed on one screen. For example, as shown in FIG. 7A, a display format in which a plurality of contents are sequentially switched and displayed on the display unit 35 each time a certain time elapses may be used. The display format may allow the user to select a plurality of contents as appropriate.

  In this case, as shown in FIG. 8, the image forming apparatus Ka is provided with a display format editing unit (output editing means) 39, and the display format editing unit 39 changes the display format of the contents as shown in FIGS. An appropriate display format may be selected from the three display formats, and other display formats may be edited and set in addition to the above three display formats.

  As described above, in the printing system 1 according to the present exemplary embodiment, the authentication server NS displays related information in which the user ID, which is user authentication information, and the user URI, which is content information for acquiring content, are associated with each other. When the user ID stored in the user information storage unit 24 as a table and the user ID sent from the image forming apparatus Ka is acquired, the user URI (content information) corresponding to the user ID is stored in the user authentication information-content of the user information storage unit 24. Obtained from the information table, the user URI is provided to the image forming apparatus Ka.

  Therefore, in the image forming apparatus Ka, while performing print output, the content of interest to the user in relation to the user authenticated by the user is acquired based on the user URI sent from the authentication server NS, and displayed on the display unit 35. It is possible to effectively display the time during which print output is waited, and to secure the confidentiality of the output document.

  In the above description, the authentication server NS sends the user URI (content information) to the image forming apparatus Ka. However, when the user URI corresponding to the user ID is acquired, the content corresponding to the user URI is acquired. The content may be provided to the image forming apparatus Ka.

  In this way, even in the image forming apparatus Ka that does not have a content acquisition function, content related to the user can be displayed and output, and versatility and usability can be improved.

  Furthermore, the printing system 1 according to the present embodiment includes a printing system in which an authentication server NS that performs user authentication and an image forming apparatus Ka that performs print output of a print job that has been successfully authenticated by the authentication server NS are connected to a predetermined network. 1, the authentication server NS stores related information in which the user ID and the user URI (content information) for acquiring content are associated with each other in the user information storage unit 24 as a user authentication information-content information table, and image formation is performed. The device Ka transmits the input user ID to the authentication server NS. When the authentication server NS acquires the user ID sent from the image forming apparatus Ka, the authentication server NS acquires the user URI corresponding to the user ID from the user authentication information-content information table of the user information storage unit 24, and acquires the acquired user The URI is provided to the image forming apparatus Ka. When the user URI is sent from the authentication server NS, the image forming apparatus Ka acquires the content corresponding to the user URI, and prints the content by the user ID corresponding to the content. Is output on the display unit 35 only during the printing output.

  Accordingly, while waiting for the image forming apparatus Ka until the print output of the confidential document for which the user authentication has been performed is completed, the content that the user is interested in can be displayed and output, and the user waits for the print output. It is possible to improve the usability while reducing confidential stress and ensuring confidentiality of confidential documents.

  9 to 12 are diagrams showing a second embodiment of the information processing apparatus, printing system, image forming apparatus, content providing method, content providing program, and recording medium of the present invention, and FIG. It is a principal block block diagram of the printing system 100 to which the second embodiment of the processing apparatus, the printing system, the image forming apparatus, the content providing method, the content providing program, and the recording medium is applied.

  The present embodiment is applied to a printing system 100 similar to the printing system 1 of the first embodiment, and in the description of the present embodiment, the same components as the printing system 1 of the first embodiment. Are given the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted or simplified.

  In FIG. 9, as in the printing system 1 of the first embodiment, the printing system 100 includes a print server PS, an authentication server NS, and an image forming apparatus Ka connected via a wired or wireless network (not shown). A plurality of host devices (not shown) are connected.

  In the printing system 100 of this embodiment, the print server PS and the authentication server NS are the same as the print server PS and the authentication server NS of the first embodiment, and the image forming apparatus Ka is the image forming apparatus Ka of the first embodiment. In addition to this configuration, a time setting unit 101 and a printing time determination unit 102 are provided.

  The time setting unit 101 sets a set time as a criterion for determining whether or not to display content on the display unit 35 during printing of a print job.

  The printing time determination unit (printing time calculation unit, output determination unit) 102 is necessary for calculating the expected printing time such as the meta information acquired by the meta information acquisition unit 33, particularly the data size of the print data, the number of printed sheets, the number of copies to be printed The estimated print time required for executing the print job is calculated using the correct meta information and the print performance of the image forming apparatus Ka, in particular, the print performance of the printing unit 34 (for example, the number of printed sheets / minute). It is determined whether or not to display the content depending on whether or not is longer than the set time set by the time setting unit 101.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. The printing system 100 according to the present exemplary embodiment displays content corresponding to the user when the expected print time of the print job is longer than a preset set time.

  The image forming apparatus Ka of the printing system 100 performs content display / printing processing as shown in FIG. In FIG. 10, the same step numbers are assigned to the same processing steps as the content display / printing processing of FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 of the first embodiment to simplify the description and acquire content information. The process in FIG. 4 that is a process in the case of not including is omitted because it is the same process.

  In the image forming apparatus Ka, a set time is set in advance by the time setting unit 102. In this state, the content display / print process shown in FIG. 10 is performed.

  In FIG. 10, when there is an authentication request (step S101), the image forming apparatus Ka checks whether the authentication request unit 36 has succeeded in authentication with the authentication server NS (step S102). The failure is displayed on the display unit 35 and the process is terminated (step S103).

  If authentication is successful in step S102, the authentication request unit 36 checks whether user content information has been acquired from the authentication server NS (step S104). If user content information is acquired, the authentication request unit 36 notifies the printing unit 34 of successful authentication. Then, the user content information is stored in the user content information holding unit 38 (step S105).

  When the user content information is not acquired in step S104, the authentication request unit 36 acquires the default content transmitted from the authentication server NS (step S106), notifies the printing unit 34 of the authentication success, and also displays the user content information. The default content information is stored in the holding unit 38 (step S105).

  Next, the meta information acquisition unit 33 acquires the meta information of the print job from the meta information storage unit 14 of the print server PS (step S201), and when the print job is determined (step S107), the print time determination unit 101 Meta information necessary for obtaining the expected print time such as the print job data size is acquired from the meta information acquired by the meta information acquisition unit 33 (step S202), and the print time is analyzed (step S203).

  In this print time analysis, the print time determination unit 101 first calculates an expected print time required for printing the print job from the print job data size and print performance, and the time setting unit 102 sets the expected print time. Compare with the set time (set value).

  For example, as shown in FIG. 11, the printing time determination unit 101 has a printing performance (spec) of the image forming apparatus Ka of A4 horizontal (horizontal), monochrome, 50 ppm (Pages Per Minute), and print job meta. If the information is single-sided printing of single-sided / double-sided printing, color / grayscale monochrome, paper size A4 horizontal, number of copies 10 and number of sheets 20, the expected printing time is 4 minutes (10 × 20 ÷ 50 = 4 ) And calculate.

  If the estimated print time exceeds the set time in step S203, the printing unit 34 receives a print job from the print server PS via the communication unit 32 and prints an image on paper based on the print data of the print job. The printing process to be output is started (step S108), and the during-printing display screen G1 as shown in FIG. 5, for example, is displayed on the display unit 35 (step S109). When the user presses the content browsing button B1 (step S110), the content data acquisition unit 37 acquires (collects) content data from the content information URI in the user content information holding unit 38 (step S111), and performs printing. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the display on the display unit 35 is switched to the content display screen G2, and the content is displayed on the display unit 35 (step S112).

  When the printing process by the printing unit 34 ends (step S113), the image forming apparatus Ka ends the display of the content on the display unit 35 and ends the process (step S114).

  If the expected print time is equal to or shorter than the set time in step S203, the print unit 34 receives a print job from the print server via the communication unit 32 without displaying the content, and is based on the print data of the print job. Then, the printing process for printing out the image on the paper is started (step S204). When the printing is finished, the process is finished (step S205).

  Also in the present embodiment, as the content display format on the content display screen G2, as shown in FIG. 6, a plurality of contents are displayed on one screen (in FIG. 6, news, weather, user schedule, etc.). For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the display format may be appropriately set or the display format may be selected.

  In this case, as shown in FIG. 12, the image forming apparatus Ka is provided with a display format editing unit 39 similar to that in FIG. 8, and the display format editing unit 39 changes the display format of the content to 3 in FIG. 6 and FIG. An appropriate display format may be selected from one display format, and other display formats may be edited and set in addition to the above three display formats.

  As described above, in the printing system 100 according to the present exemplary embodiment, the image forming apparatus Ka uses the print time determination unit 102 to calculate the expected print time required for printing the print job based on the meta information of the print job and its own print performance. Only when the content output is determined by determining whether to output the content by comparing the expected printing time with the preset time set in advance by the time setting unit 101, and determining whether to output the content. Display output to the display unit 35 is performed.

  Therefore, the content can be displayed only when the user has sufficient time to view the content, and the processing efficiency and power saving can be achieved.

  In the description of each of the above embodiments, the printing systems 1 and 100 are configured by a host device, a print server PS, an authentication server NS, and an image forming device Ka that are connected via a network. The content information corresponding to the authentication information is registered in the user information storage unit 24 as a user authentication information-content information table by the user content information registration unit 23, and a user ID is input as user authentication information in the image forming apparatus Ka. The content information corresponding to the user ID is displayed on the display unit 35 of the image forming apparatus Ka.

  The configuration of the printing systems 1 and 100 is not limited to the above configuration. For example, the print server PS alone does not exist, and the function of the print server PS is provided, for example, in the image forming apparatus Ka. The authentication server NS may be provided. Further, the authentication server NS does not exist alone, and the function of the authentication server NS may be provided in, for example, the print server PS or the image forming apparatus Ka. Furthermore, neither the print server PS nor the authentication server NS may exist alone, and the image forming apparatus Ka may have the functions of the print server PS and the authentication server NS.

  In the case of the first embodiment, for example, as shown in FIG. 13, if the printing system 200 is configured only by the authentication server NS and the image forming apparatus Ka, the authentication server NS is the same as that of the first embodiment. In the configuration, when the image forming apparatus Ka also has the function of the print server PS, the image forming apparatus Ka includes the input receiving unit 31, the communication unit 32, the meta information acquiring unit 33, and the printing provided in the first embodiment. Unit 34, display unit 35, authentication request unit 36, content data acquisition unit 37, and user content information holding unit 38, as well as print job storage unit 12, meta information creation unit 13, and meta An information storage unit 14 is provided. Further, in this case, when the image forming apparatus Ka is provided with a function for editing the display format of the content, the image forming apparatus Ka includes the display format editing unit 39 as indicated by a broken line in FIG. In this case, the authentication server NS may have the function of the print server PS. In this case, although not shown, the authentication server NS has the print job storage unit 12 and the meta information creation unit 13 that are functions of the print server PS. And the meta information storage part 14 will be provided.

  In the case of the first embodiment, for example, as shown in FIG. 14, if the printing system 210 is configured only by the print server PS and the image forming apparatus Ka, the print server PS is the same as that of the first embodiment. Although the configuration is the same, when the image forming apparatus Ka also has the function of the authentication server NS, the image forming apparatus Ka includes the input reception unit 31, the communication unit 32, and the meta information acquisition unit 33 provided in the first embodiment. , A printing unit 34, a display unit 35, an authentication request unit 36, a content data acquisition unit 37, and a user content information holding unit 38, an authentication unit 22, which is a function of the authentication server NS, a user content information registration unit 23, The user information storage unit 24, the default content information registration unit 25, and the default content information storage unit 26 are provided. Further, in this case, when the image forming apparatus Ka is provided with a function for editing the content display format, the image forming apparatus Ka includes the display format editing unit 39 as indicated by a broken line in FIG. In this case, the print server PS may have the function of the authentication server NS. In this case, although not shown, the print server PS includes the authentication unit 22, the user content information registration unit 23, which are the functions of the authentication server NS, The user information storage unit 24, the default content information registration unit 25, and the default content information storage unit 26 are provided.

  Further, in the case of the first embodiment, for example, as shown in FIG. 15, if the printing system 220 is configured only by the image forming apparatus Ka, the image forming apparatus Ka includes the input provided in the first embodiment. The authentication server NS has a reception unit 31, a communication unit 32, a meta information acquisition unit 33, a printing unit 34, a display unit 35, an authentication request unit 36, a content data acquisition unit 37, and a user content information holding unit 38. An authentication unit 22, a user content information registration unit 23, a user information storage unit 24, a default content information registration unit 25, and a default content information storage unit 26, and further includes a print job storage unit 12, which is a function of the print server PS, The meta information creation unit 13 and the meta information storage unit 14 are provided. Further, in this case, when the image forming apparatus Ka is provided with a function for editing the content display format, the image forming apparatus Ka includes the display format editing unit 39 as indicated by a broken line in FIG.

  In the case of the second embodiment, although not shown, the image forming apparatus Ka shown in FIGS. 13, 14 and 15 includes a time setting unit 101 and a printing time determination unit 102.

  Thus, content corresponding to the user ID can be provided and displayed corresponding to the configuration of each printing system.

  The invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to that described in the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. It goes without saying that it is possible.

  The present invention is used for an authentication server that provides user-related content using user authentication information, an information processing apparatus such as an image forming apparatus, a printing system, an image forming apparatus, a content providing method, a content providing program, and a recording medium. can do.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printing system Ka Image forming apparatus NS Authentication server PS Print server 11 Communication part 12 Print job storage part 13 Meta information production part 14 Meta information storage part 21 Communication part 22 Authentication part 23 User content information registration part 24 User information storage part 25 Default Content information registration unit 26 Default content information storage unit 31 Input reception unit 32 Communication unit 33 Meta information acquisition unit 34 Printing unit 35 Display unit 36 Authentication request unit 37 Content data acquisition unit 38 User content information holding unit 39 Display format editing unit G1 printing Medium display screen B1 Content browsing button G2 Content display screen 100 Printing system 101 Time setting unit 102 Printing time determination unit

JP 2009-116653 A

Claims (18)

Authentication information acquisition means for acquiring user authentication information for identifying a user;
Related information storage means for storing related information in which the user authentication information and content information for acquiring content are associated with each other;
Content information acquisition means for acquiring the content information corresponding to the user authentication information acquired by the authentication information acquisition means from the related information of the related information storage means;
Content information providing means for providing the content information acquired by the content information acquiring means to a predetermined output destination;
An information processing apparatus comprising: Authentication information acquisition means for acquiring user authentication information for identifying a user;
Related information storage means for storing related information in which the user authentication information and content information for acquiring content are associated with each other;
Content information acquisition means for acquiring the content information corresponding to the user authentication information acquired by the authentication information acquisition means from the related information of the related information storage means;
Content acquisition means for acquiring content corresponding to the content information acquired by the content information acquisition means;
Content providing means for providing the content acquired by the content acquisition means to a predetermined output destination;
An information processing apparatus comprising: The information processing apparatus includes:
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising content information update means for appropriately updating the content information stored in the related information storage means. In a printing system in which an information processing apparatus that performs user authentication and an image forming apparatus that performs print output of a print job that has been successfully authenticated by the information processing apparatus are connected to a predetermined network.
The information processing apparatus includes:
Authentication information acquisition means for acquiring user authentication information sent from the image forming apparatus;
Related information storage means for storing related information in which the user authentication information and content information for acquiring content are associated with each other;
Content information acquisition means for acquiring the content information corresponding to the user authentication information acquired by the authentication information acquisition means from the related information of the related information storage means;
Content information providing means for providing the content information acquired by the content information acquiring means to the image forming apparatus;
With
The image forming apparatus includes:
Authentication information input means for inputting the user authentication information for identifying a user;
Authentication information transmitting means for transmitting the user authentication information to the information processing apparatus;
Output means for outputting content;
Content acquisition means for acquiring content corresponding to the content information sent from the information processing apparatus;
An output control means for outputting the content acquired by the content acquisition means to the output means only while performing print output of a print job permitted to be printed by the user authentication information corresponding to the content;
A printing system comprising: The printing system includes:
5. The printing system according to claim 4, further comprising content information updating means for appropriately updating the content information stored in the related information storage means. The image forming apparatus includes:
A print time calculating means for calculating an expected print time required for printing the print job based on the meta information of the print job and its own print performance;
An output judging means for determining whether to output the content by comparing the expected printing time with a preset setting time;
The printing system according to claim 4, wherein the output control unit outputs the content when the output determination unit determines to output the content. The image forming apparatus includes:
7. The printing system according to claim 4, further comprising output editing means for editing an output format of the content to the display means. In an image forming apparatus that performs user authentication and prints a print job,
Authentication information input means for inputting user authentication information for identifying a user;
Related information storage means for storing related information in which the user authentication information and content information for acquiring content are associated with each other;
Content information acquisition means for acquiring the content information corresponding to the user authentication information input from the authentication information input means from the related information in the related information storage means;
Output means for outputting content;
Content acquisition means for acquiring content corresponding to the content information acquired by the content information acquisition means;
An output control means for outputting the content acquired by the content acquisition means to the output means only while performing print output of a print job permitted to be printed by the user authentication information corresponding to the content;
An image forming apparatus comprising: The image forming apparatus includes:
9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising content information update means for appropriately updating the content information stored in the related information storage means. The image forming apparatus includes:
A print time calculating means for calculating an expected print time required for printing the print job based on the meta information of the print job and its own print performance;
An output judging means for determining whether to output the content by comparing the expected printing time with a preset setting time;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the output control unit outputs the content when the output determination unit determines to output the content. . The image forming apparatus includes:
11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising an output editing unit that edits an output format of the content to the display unit. An authentication information acquisition processing step for acquiring user authentication information for identifying a user;
The content corresponding to the user authentication information acquired in the authentication information acquisition processing step from the related information stored in related information storage means for storing related information in which the user authentication information is associated with content information for acquiring content. Content information acquisition processing step for acquiring information;
A content information provision processing step of providing the content information acquired in the content information acquisition processing step to a predetermined output destination;
A content providing method characterized by comprising: An authentication information acquisition processing step for acquiring user authentication information for identifying a user;
The content information corresponding to the user authentication information acquired in the authentication information acquisition processing step is acquired from related information storage means for storing related information in which the user authentication information is associated with content information for acquiring content. Content information acquisition processing step;
A content acquisition processing step of acquiring content corresponding to the content information acquired in the content information acquisition processing step;
A content provision processing step of providing the content acquired in the content acquisition processing step to a predetermined output destination;
A content providing method characterized by comprising: A content providing method in a printing system in which an information processing apparatus that performs user authentication and an image forming apparatus that performs print output of a print job that has been successfully authenticated by the information processing apparatus are connected to a predetermined network,
As a processing step in the information processing apparatus,
An authentication information acquisition processing step of acquiring user authentication information sent from the image forming apparatus;
The content information corresponding to the user authentication information acquired in the authentication information acquisition processing step from the related information in the related information storage means for storing the related information in which the authentication information and the content information for acquiring the content are associated. Content information acquisition processing step for acquiring,
A content information provision processing step of providing the content acquired in the content information acquisition processing step to the image forming apparatus;
Have
As processing steps in the image forming apparatus,
An authentication information input processing step of inputting the user authentication information for identifying a user;
An authentication information transmission processing step of transmitting the user authentication information to the information processing apparatus;
A content acquisition processing step of acquiring content corresponding to the content information provided in the content information provision processing step;
An output control processing step for outputting the content acquired in the content acquisition processing step to a predetermined output means only while performing a print output of a print job of the user authentication information corresponding to the content;
A content providing method characterized by comprising: On the computer,
Authentication information acquisition processing for acquiring user authentication information for identifying a user;
The content information corresponding to the user authentication information acquired in the authentication information acquisition process from the related information in the related information storage means for storing the related information in which the user authentication information and the content information for acquiring the content are associated. Content information acquisition processing to acquire
A content information providing process for providing the content information acquired in the content information acquiring process to a predetermined output destination;
A content providing program characterized in that the program is executed. On the computer,
Authentication information acquisition processing for acquiring user authentication information for identifying a user;
Content for acquiring the content information corresponding to the user authentication information acquired in the authentication information acquisition process from related information storage means for storing related information in which the user authentication information and content information for acquiring content are associated Information acquisition processing;
A content acquisition process for acquiring content corresponding to the content information acquired in the content information acquisition process;
A content providing process for providing the content acquired in the content acquiring process to a predetermined output destination;
A content providing program characterized in that the program is executed. An information processing apparatus that performs user authentication and an image forming apparatus that performs print output of a print job that has been successfully authenticated by the information processing apparatus are a content providing program installed in a printing system connected to a predetermined network,
On the computer,
As processing in the information processing apparatus,
Authentication information acquisition processing for acquiring user authentication information sent from the image forming apparatus;
The content information corresponding to the user authentication information acquired in the authentication information acquisition process is obtained from the related information stored in related information storage means for storing related information in which the authentication information is associated with content information for acquiring content. Content information acquisition processing to be acquired;
Content information provision processing for providing the content acquired in the content information acquisition processing to the image forming apparatus;
And execute
As processing in the image forming apparatus,
Authentication information input processing for inputting the user authentication information for identifying a user;
Authentication information transmission processing for transmitting the user authentication information to the information processing apparatus;
Content acquisition processing for acquiring content corresponding to the content information provided in the content information provision processing;
An output control process for outputting the content acquired in the content acquisition process to a predetermined output unit only while performing a print output of a print job of the user authentication information corresponding to the content;
A content providing program characterized in that the program is executed.   A computer-readable recording medium on which the content providing program according to any one of claims 15 to 17 is recorded.

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