JP2014160390A - Output control device, output system and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To request job processing by confirming the execution propriety of an output device based on output conditions applied in the case of executing a job.SOLUTION: An output control device for transmitting a job received from terminal equipment to an output device which outputs a job to which one or more output conditions are applied includes: response means for, when receiving the confirmation request of the output propriety of the job in the output device in the case of applying the output conditions set in the terminal equipment being used by a user, making a response with the result of the output propriety determined on the basis of the function of the output device which can be used by the user in the case of outputting the job and the output conditions; reception means for receiving the job of the user including the output conditions set in the terminal equipment; and transmission means for transmitting the job of the user among the received jobs to the output device being used by the user.

Description

  The present invention relates to an output control device, an output system, and a program.

  In recent years, use of location-free printing, which can perform printing without being limited to a specific place (image forming apparatus), has been widespread as long as it is an output apparatus such as an image forming apparatus connected to a network. Location-free printing is generally performed by the following procedure. First, a user uploads a print job from a client terminal to an output control device such as a print server that stores the print job via a Web page or the like. Next, when the user logs in at the image forming apparatus to be printed, the image forming apparatus acquires a list of print jobs from the print server and displays the list. Then, the image forming apparatus prints the print job selected by the user from the list of print jobs. Thus, by using location-free printing, there is an advantage that the user can print regardless of the location.

  However, since location-free printing can realize printing on an arbitrary image forming apparatus, the user often does not know the function of the arbitrarily specified image forming apparatus and the installed apparatus (option). Further, as described above, location-free printing can be performed as long as the image forming apparatus can specify the print server from which the print job is acquired. Therefore, since the print server does not hold information such as the function of the image forming apparatus, even if the client terminal makes an inquiry to the print server, the function of the image forming apparatus cannot be acquired.

  Accordingly, in location-free printing, for example, if the image forming apparatus is not equipped with a finisher that performs stapling and punching, printing is performed without applying the staple setting of the printing attribute selected when the user uploads the print job. There can be. As described above, there is a problem that printing based on the printing attribute designated by the user may not be executed.

  In addition, as described above, if the result (paper) printed by the image forming apparatus is not output, it is unclear whether the printing attribute specified by the user is applied, and the paper is wasted. There's a problem.

  In view of this, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228688 describes the printing conditions included in the job list for the purpose of printing print data in consideration of the function of the image forming apparatus that prints the print data stored in the server and the print data setting. A technique for comparing whether or not a print job can be executed by comparing the function information of the function provided by the image forming apparatus and displaying a job list of only the print jobs determined to be executable on the operation panel. It is disclosed.

  Certainly, with the technique described in Patent Document 1, only print jobs that are determined to be executable are displayed on the operation panel, so that print jobs that cannot be executed based on print conditions can be prevented from being executed.

  However, after uploading a print job, the user cannot confirm the determination result of the print condition and the function information, and after accumulating the print job on the server whether or not printing according to the print condition is possible, that is, It can be confirmed only on the operation panel of the image forming apparatus. For this reason, if the user wants to print according to the printing conditions, the user convenience, such as having to return to the client terminal and upload the print job again, or change the printing conditions, is necessary. There is a problem that damages.

  Such a problem is not limited to printing applications, but is a usage mode in which a job including data to be output and output conditions is accumulated from a client terminal to a server, and then a job is acquired and executed from a desired output device. Can be a problem.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above points, and it is possible to make a job processing request after confirming whether or not the output device can be executed based on an output condition applied in job execution. Objective.

  In order to achieve the above object, an output control device is an output control device that transmits a job received from a terminal device to an output device that outputs a job to which one or more output conditions are applied, and is used by a user The function of the output device that can be used when the user outputs the job upon receiving a request for confirming whether or not the job can be output in the output device when the output condition set in the terminal device is applied, and the function Response means for responding to the output permission result determined based on the output condition, receiving means for receiving the user job including the output condition set in the terminal device, and the output device used by the user On the other hand, it has transmission means for transmitting the job of the user among the received jobs.

  According to the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to make a job processing request after confirming whether or not the output apparatus can execute the job based on an output condition applied in job execution.

It is a lineblock diagram of an example of a printing system in a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is a hardware block diagram of an example of the computer system in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. 1 is a hardware configuration diagram of an example of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a function structure of the client terminal in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of a print server according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a confirmation screen. It is a figure which shows an example of the information memorize | stored in the apparatus information storage part of a print server. It is a figure which shows an example of a utilization condition confirmation screen. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is an image figure of an example of the job list linked | related with user ID. It is a block diagram of an example of the printing attribute of a job. It is a figure which shows an example of the information memorize | stored in the apparatus state memory | storage part of an image forming apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of a function structure of the authentication server in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the information memorize | stored in the user information storage part of an authentication server. FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of an operation procedure of login processing of the printing system 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen which changes after a login screen and authentication. It is a sequence diagram which shows an example of the operation | movement procedure of the user information registration process of the printing system 1 in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a user information input screen. It is a sequence diagram which shows an example of the operation | movement procedure of the confirmation screen generation process of the printing system 1 in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of an example of the printing system in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a function structure of the service provision system in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a function structure of the print service application in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of an example of company management information. It is a block diagram of an example of user management information. It is a block diagram of an example of apparatus management information. It is a block diagram of an example of data management information. It is a block diagram of an example of output data management information. It is a figure which shows an example of a function structure of the terminal device in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a function structure of the image forming apparatus in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen transition after the login screen display in the terminal device in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows an example of the operation | movement procedure at the time of confirmation screen operation of the printing system 2 in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen transition after the login screen display in the terminal device in the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows an example of the operation | movement procedure at the time of confirmation screen operation of the printing system 2 in the 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as “embodiments”) will be described with reference to the drawings.
[First Embodiment]
<System configuration>
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an example of a printing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The printing system 1 includes a configuration example in which a client terminal 10, a mobile terminal 11, a print server 12, an authentication server 13, and one or more image forming apparatuses 15 are connected to a network N1 such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or the Internet. It is shown as an example.

  The printing system 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention has an output condition applied to a job and a function for executing the output condition of the image forming apparatus 15 before a job request (submission) is performed at the client terminal 10. This is a system that makes it possible to confirm whether or not a job can be output. The printing system 1 is a system that executes location-free printing, for example.

  The client terminal 10 is an example of a terminal device. The client terminal 10 can be realized by an information processing apparatus (computer system) equipped with a general OS or the like. The client terminal 10 includes a wireless communication unit or a wired communication unit. The client terminal 10 is a terminal that can be operated by the user, such as a tablet PC or a notebook PC.

  The mobile terminal 11 is an example of a terminal device. The portable terminal 11 has a wireless communication means or a wired communication means. The mobile terminal 11 is a terminal that can be carried by the user, such as a smartphone, a mobile phone, a tablet PC, or a notebook PC.

  The client terminal 10 and the portable terminal 11 make a job request (submission) to the print server 12 by uploading a job using a Web page.

  The print server 12 is an example of a print control apparatus. The print server 12 accepts a job request (input) from the client terminal 10 or the mobile terminal 11 by uploading a job using a Web page. The print server 12 may accumulate the received job in an external storage or database, or may accumulate in an internal storage or database. The print server 12 also provides a job list and jobs to the image forming apparatus 15.

  The authentication server 13 is an example of an authentication device. The authentication server 13 receives a login request from the client terminal 10, the mobile terminal 11, the image forming apparatus 15, and the like, and performs user authentication.

  The image forming apparatus 15 is an example of an output apparatus that outputs a job based on one or more output conditions applied to the job. The image forming apparatus 15 includes a wireless communication unit or a wired communication unit. The image forming apparatus 15 is an apparatus that performs processing in image formation, such as a multifunction machine, a copier, a scanner, a printer, and a laser printer.

  The image forming apparatus 15 is provided with a job list from the print server 12. Further, the image forming apparatus 15 acquires the job selected by the user from the job list from the print server 12 and prints it.

  Note that the print server 12 and the authentication server 13 of the printing system 1 in FIG. 1 may be integrated into a single computer. Further, the print server 12 and the authentication server 13 may be realized by being distributed to a plurality of computers.

  Further, at least a part of the functions of the print server 12 and the authentication server 13 may be provided in the image forming apparatus 15. For example, the printing system 1 in FIG. 1 may be configured such that at least a part of the functions of the print server 12 and the authentication server 13 are provided in the image forming apparatus 15 so that at least a part of the print server 12 and the authentication server 13 is deleted.

<Hardware configuration>
The client terminal 10, the mobile terminal 11, the print server 12, and the authentication server 13 shown in FIG. 1 are realized by a computer system having a hardware configuration as shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of an example of the computer system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  A computer system 100 shown in FIG. 2 includes an input device 101, a display device 102, an external I / F 103, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 104, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 105, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 106, a communication I / O. F107, HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 108, etc. are provided, and each is connected to each other via a bus B.

  The input device 101 includes a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel, etc., and is used by a user to input each operation signal. The display device 102 includes a display and the like, and displays a processing result by the computer system 100.

  The communication I / F 107 is an interface that connects the computer system 100 to the network N1. Thereby, the computer system 100 can perform data communication via the communication I / F 107.

  The HDD 108 is a non-volatile storage device that stores programs and data. The stored programs and data include, for example, an OS (Operating System) that is basic software for controlling the entire computer system 100, and application software that provides various functions on the OS. The HDD 108 manages stored programs and data by a predetermined file system and / or DB (database).

  The external I / F 103 is an interface with an external device. The external device includes a recording medium 103a. Thereby, the computer system 100 can read and / or write the recording medium 103a via the external I / F 103. The recording medium 103a includes a flexible disk, a CD (Compact Disk), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), an SD memory card (SD Memory card), a USB memory (Universal Serial Bus memory), and the like.

  The ROM 105 is a nonvolatile semiconductor memory (storage device) that can retain programs and data even when the power is turned off. The ROM 105 stores programs and data such as BIOS (Basic Input / Output System), OS settings, and network settings that are executed when the computer system 100 is started. The RAM 104 is a volatile semiconductor memory (storage device) that temporarily stores programs and data.

  The CPU 106 is an arithmetic device that realizes control and functions of the entire computer system 100 by reading a program and data from a storage device such as the ROM 105 and the HDD 108 onto the RAM 104 and executing processing.

  The client terminal 10, the mobile terminal 11, the print server 12, and the authentication server 13 in FIG. 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention can implement various processes as described later depending on the hardware configuration of the computer system 100.

  FIG. 3 is a hardware configuration diagram of an example of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus 15 illustrated in FIG. 3 includes a controller 201, an operation panel 202, an external I / F 203, a communication I / F 204, a printer 205, a scanner 206, and the like.

  The controller 201 includes a CPU 211, a RAM 212, a ROM 213, an NVRAM 214, an HDD 215, and the like. The ROM 213 stores various programs and data. The RAM 212 temporarily stores programs and data. The NVRAM 214 stores setting information, for example. The HDD 215 stores various programs and data.

  The CPU 211 implements control and functions of the entire image forming apparatus 15 by reading programs, data, setting information, and the like from the ROM 213, the NVRAM 214, the HDD 215, and the like onto the RAM 212 and executing processing.

  The operation panel 202 includes an input unit that receives input from a user and a display unit that performs display. The external I / F 203 is an interface with an external device. The external device includes a recording medium 203a. Accordingly, the image forming apparatus 15 can read and / or write the recording medium 203a via the external I / F 203. Examples of the recording medium 203a include an IC card, a flexible disk, a CD, a DVD, an SD memory card, and a USB memory.

  The communication I / F 204 is an interface that connects the image forming apparatus 15 to the network N1. As a result, the image forming apparatus 15 can perform data communication via the communication I / F 204.

  The printer 205 is a printing device for printing print data on paper. A scanner 206 is a reading device for reading image data from a document. The image forming apparatus 15 according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention can realize various processes as described below with the above hardware configuration.

<Software configuration>
<Client terminal>
The client terminal 10 in the first embodiment of the present invention is realized by, for example, the function shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the client terminal 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Each function is realized by the CPU executing a program and cooperating with hardware.

  The client terminal 10 includes a login request unit 111, a user information registration request unit 112, a confirmation request unit 113, a data processing request unit 114, a display control unit 115, an input reception unit 116, and the like.

  The login request unit 111 uses a print service that uploads a job using a web page, for example, using authentication information such as a user ID (user name) and a password uniquely identifying a user input by a user operation. Make a login request. The login request includes a user ID and a password, and is transmitted to the authentication server 13 via the print server 12.

  The user information registration request unit 112 includes user information including a printing attribute which is an output condition applied to a print job by default or selection, and the image forming apparatus 15 (default use device) used by default by a user input by a user operation. Is registered in the authentication server 13. This user information registration request is transmitted to the authentication server 13 via the print server 12. In the first embodiment of the present invention, a configuration including one or more output conditions (print attributes) arbitrarily determined by the user is referred to as a setting mode, and the user designates (calls) the setting mode in advance. The printing attributes included in the registered setting mode can be applied to the job.

  When the login request is successful, the confirmation request unit 113 sends a confirmation request to the print server 12 to confirm the capability of the image forming apparatus 15 that executes the print job and the usage status of the image forming apparatus 15. The capability of the image forming apparatus 15 is a function realized by the main body of the image forming apparatus 15 and an optional configuration, and executes job output conditions (print attributes) of the image forming apparatus 15 in the embodiment of the present invention. It is a function to do. The confirmation request includes a user ID. And the confirmation request part 113 will display the confirmation screen on the display control part 115, if the confirmation request response containing the confirmation screen as shown in FIG. 6 mentioned later is received. When the user browses the information included in the confirmation screen, the user transmits a print job including print attributes for color printing even though the image forming apparatus 15 to be printed is a monochrome machine, for example. Can be avoided. Note that the image forming apparatus 15 having the capability included in the confirmation screen is a default-use device registered in advance by the user, and a print attribute to be determined for whether or not processing based on the capability is executed. Is a pre-registered setting mode. Note that, based on the operation on the confirmation screen, the print attributes applied to the image forming apparatus 15 and the job to execute printing can be changed.

  The data processing request unit 114 requests the print server 12 for data processing such as job submission by uploading via a Web page.

  The display control unit 115 displays and outputs a login screen, a job upload screen, a confirmation screen, and the like on a display device based on screen information described in HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language).

  The input receiving unit 116 receives an input by a user operation such as a touch panel touch operation or a keyboard input operation. For example, the input receiving unit 116 receives an input of authentication information such as a user ID and a password from a user, or receives an input of user information.

  Note that the mobile terminal 11 has the same function as that of the client terminal.

<Print Server>
The print server 12 in the first embodiment of the present invention is realized by the function shown in FIG. 5, for example. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the print server 12 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Each function is realized by the CPU executing a program and cooperating with hardware.

  The print server 12 includes a login request reception / transfer unit 1201, a user information registration request reception / transfer unit 1202, a confirmation request reception unit 1203, a user information acquisition unit 1204, a device status acquisition unit 1205, a screen generation unit 1206, and a print job reception unit. 1207, a print job analysis unit 1208, a print job attribute storage unit 1209, a user job list acquisition unit 1210, a job transmission unit 1211, a device information storage unit 1212, a print job storage unit 1213, and the like.

  When receiving the login request transmitted from the client terminal 10, the login request reception / transfer unit 1201 transfers the login request to the authentication server 13. In addition, the login request reception / transfer unit 1201 transmits an authentication result indicating whether or not the authentication server 13 can authenticate from the authentication server 13 and transmits it to the client terminal 10.

  Upon receiving the user information registration request transmitted from the client terminal 10, the user information registration request reception / transfer unit 1202 transfers the user information registration request to the authentication server 13. In addition, the user information registration request receiving / transferring unit 1202 transmits information indicating completion of registration of user information transmitted from the authentication server 13 to the client terminal 10.

  The confirmation request receiving unit 1203 receives a confirmation request including the user ID transmitted from the client terminal 10. Also, when receiving the confirmation request, the confirmation request receiving unit 1203 controls each function, and the image forming apparatus 15 uses the job output condition (print attribute) and the function for executing the print attribute of the image forming apparatus 15. Is output, and a response including the determination result is made. This response includes screen information constituting a confirmation screen generated by a screen generation unit 1206 described later. Specifically, when receiving the confirmation request, the confirmation request receiving unit 1203 requests the user information acquisition unit 1204 to acquire user information (default device used, setting mode) corresponding to the user ID included in the confirmation request. . Further, the confirmation request receiving unit 1203 indicates to the device status acquisition unit 1205 the current usage status of the image forming apparatus 15 corresponding to the device ID of the default device used included in the user information acquired by the user information acquisition unit 1204. Requests device status acquisition processing. Here, the device status includes, for example, a usage status indicating whether or not processing by another user of the image forming apparatus 15 is being executed, a remaining amount of toner included in a MIB (Management Information Base) of the image forming apparatus 15, and a sheet Information such as the remaining number is included.

  The device status acquisition unit 1205 receives this image from the image forming apparatus 15 corresponding to the device ID of the default used device included in the user information acquired by the user information acquisition unit 1204 based on the processing request from the confirmation request reception unit 1203. The device state of the forming apparatus 15 is acquired. The device status is acquired using, for example, SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol).

  A screen generation unit 1206 generates screen information described in HTML that constitutes a screen to be displayed on the client terminal 10. When the confirmation request receiving unit 1203 requests generation of a confirmation screen, the screen generation unit 1206 adds the acquired user information, the device state of the image forming apparatus 15, and the device information stored in the device information storage unit 1212 in advance. Based on this, a confirmation screen as shown in FIG. 6 is generated. The device information storage unit 1212 stores capabilities for each image forming apparatus 15 (color machine / monochrome machine, presence / absence of duplex unit, presence / absence of finisher), and the like. Information stored in the device information storage unit 1212 is set in advance by an administrator or the like, or acquired from the image forming apparatus 15 using SNMP.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a confirmation screen. As shown in FIG. 6, the confirmation screen 700 includes an input (selection) form 701 for a file to be uploaded, a default device name 702, a setting mode and output condition column 703, function availability information 704, and an upload button 705. A setting change application button 706, a device usage status 707, another device usage status confirmation button 708, and the like. Values for the default device name 702 and the setting mode / output condition field 703 are set based on information acquired by the user information acquisition unit 1204. The function availability information 704 is information indicating whether output is possible in the image forming apparatus 15 based on the output condition. Information included in the setting mode and output condition column 703 and the device as shown in FIG. It is generated based on the device information stored in the information storage unit 1212. Specifically, in the example of FIG. 8, the image forming apparatus 15 whose device name is “NOZOMI” (device ID “002673abcd01”) has no finisher. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, for example, even if the staple is set to “Yes” in the print attributes in the setting mode, the staple cannot be used when the default device name 702 is “NOZOMI”. The upload button 705 is a button that is pressed when an upload target file is selected and a print attribute to be applied is determined. A setting change application button 706 is a button that is pressed after changing the output condition (print attribute) included in the setting mode and output condition column 703 from the default value registered in advance by the user, and changes the print attribute value. Used to confirm. The device usage status 707 is generated based on the device status information acquired by the device status acquisition unit 1205. Then, when confirming the usage status of a device other than the default device, the usage status confirmation button 708 of another device is pressed. When the usage status confirmation button 708 is pressed, a usage status confirmation screen 7081 shown in FIG. 8 is displayed. When a detail button 7083 included in the usage status confirmation screen 7081 is pressed, information on capabilities of each image forming apparatus 15 is displayed. As described above, the screen generation unit 1206 generates screen information described in the HTML format that constitutes the confirmation screen 700 and the usage status confirmation screen 7081. The screen information is not limited to the HTML format, and may be described in a language such as DHTML (Dynamic HTML) or XML (Extensible Markup Language).

  Returning to FIG.

  A print job receiving unit 1207 receives a job from the client terminal 10 or the mobile terminal 11 by uploading a job using a Web page. For example, the print job receiving unit 1207 transmits a Web page used for job upload to the client terminal 10, the mobile terminal 11, or the like. Note that the print job receiving unit 1207 may receive a job from the client terminal 10, the portable terminal 11, or the like by uploading a job using an application.

  If necessary, the print job analysis unit 1208 converts the received job into a print language PDL (Page Description Language), and acquires the print attribute of the job.

  A print job attribute storage unit 1209 stores job print attributes.

  The user job list acquisition unit 1210 acquires a job list associated with the user ID included in the job from the print job storage unit 1213 and transmits the job list to the image forming apparatus 15.

  The job transmission unit 1211 transmits the job requested for acquisition from the image forming apparatus 15 to the image forming apparatus 15.

  The print job accumulation unit 1213 accumulates jobs.

<Image forming apparatus>
The image forming apparatus 15 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is realized by, for example, the function shown in FIG. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Each function is realized by the CPU executing a program and cooperating with hardware.

  The image forming apparatus 15 includes an authentication information transmission unit 151, an authentication result acquisition unit 152, a print job acquisition unit 153, a job list acquisition unit 154, a device status transmission unit 155, a display control unit 156, an input reception unit 157, an output unit 158, and the like. A device state storage unit 159 and the like are included.

  The authentication information transmission unit 151 transmits authentication information such as a user ID and a password to the authentication server 13.

  The authentication result acquisition unit 152 acquires an authentication result from the authentication server 13.

  The print job acquisition unit 153 makes a job acquisition request to the print server 12 and acquires a job from the print server 12.

  The job list acquisition unit 154 transmits a user ID to the print server 12 and acquires a job list associated with the user ID from the print server 12. The job list acquired by the job list acquisition unit 154 is, for example, as shown in FIG. FIG. 10 is an image diagram of an example of a job list associated with a user ID. As illustrated in FIG. 10, the job list represents a list of jobs that the user can acquire from the print server 12 for each user (user ID) that has succeeded in user authentication in the image forming apparatus 15. Further, the contents (print attributes) of jobs included in the job list are configured by items shown in FIG. 11, for example. FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram of an example of print attributes of a job. In the example of FIG. 11, the print attributes of the job include user ID, job name, creation date and time, number of copies, monochrome / color, duplex / single-sided, N-up, and other normal print attributes, as well as whether or not device-designated printing is performed. Information to be designated and device designation information for designating a device are set. The device designation information is information for designating a device such as an IP address and a locale.

  Upon receiving the device status acquisition request transmitted from the print server 12, the device status transmission unit 155 acquires the device status of the image forming apparatus 15 from the device status storage unit 159 and responds to the print server 12. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of information stored in the device state storage unit 159. As shown in FIG. 12, in the device status storage unit 159, the usage status of the image forming apparatus 15, the remaining time until the end of printing when printing is performed, the remaining paper number status, the remaining toner status, etc. The device status is stored.

  The display control unit 156 displays the acquired job list on the operation panel 202 or a display externally connected to the image forming apparatus 15.

  The input receiving unit 157 receives an input by a user operation such as a touch panel touch operation or a keyboard input operation. For example, the input reception unit 157 receives input of authentication information such as a user ID and a password from the user. The authentication process is not limited to password authentication, and may be performed by IC card authentication or biometric authentication.

  The output unit 158 prints the acquired job.

《Authentication server》
The authentication server 13 in the first embodiment of the present invention is realized by the function shown in FIG. 13, for example. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the authentication server 13 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Each function is realized by the CPU executing a program and cooperating with hardware.

  The authentication server 13 includes an authentication processing unit 131, a user information registration request reception unit 132, a user information transmission unit 133, an input reception unit 134, a user information storage unit 135, and the like.

  Based on information such as a user ID and a password included in an authentication (login) request from the print server 12 or the image forming apparatus 15, the authentication processing unit 131 stores a password corresponding to the user ID in the user information storage unit 135 in advance. It is determined whether or not the password matches the stored user ID. The authentication processing unit 131 transmits the authentication result to the print server 12 or the image forming apparatus 15 as a response to the authentication request.

  The user information registration request accepting unit 132 accepts a user information registration request transmitted from the client terminal 10 via the print server 12, and uses the default device information and setting mode information included in the user information registration request as user information. Store in the storage unit 135. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of information stored in the user information storage unit 135. As shown in FIG. 14, the user information storage unit 135 includes a password for each user (user ID), default device information, mail address, print authority, setting mode information, and the like. The default use device information includes a device ID for uniquely identifying the image forming apparatus 15 and a device name arbitrarily set by a user or an administrator. The device ID is, for example, the MAC address of the image forming apparatus 15. However, the device ID is not limited to the MAC address but may be uniquely assigned. For example, the device ID or the host name of the image forming apparatus 15 may be used. The setting mode information includes the print attribute applied to the job and the name of the setting mode that combines a plurality of print attributes. The user information storage unit 135 may be set with contents that can be set by a normal authentication server such as AD (Active Directory) or LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol). Note that registration of user information in the user information storage unit 135 is not limited to input using the client terminal 10, and for example, default use devices and setting mode information can be registered by operating the operation panel 202 of the image forming apparatus 15. May be.

  The user information transmission unit 133 receives a user information acquisition request transmitted from the print server 12. In response, the user information transmission unit 133 reads out user information (default device information and setting mode information) corresponding to the user ID included in the user information acquisition request from the user information storage unit 135 and transmits the user information to the print server 12. To do.

  The input receiving unit 134 receives input by a user operation such as a touch panel touch operation or a keyboard input operation. Note that the information stored in the user information storage unit 135 may be manually input by a user or an administrator via the input receiving unit 134.

<Details of processing>
Details of processing of the printing system 1 in the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described. In addition, the process of the printing system 1 in the 1st Embodiment of this invention is divided roughly into following (1)-(3).

(1) Login process for using the printing system 1 (2) Process for registering user information in the authentication server 13 (user information registration process)
(3) Processing for generating a confirmation screen before the print server 12 uploads a job (file) and displaying the confirmation screen on the client terminal 10 (confirmation screen generation processing)
Hereinafter, each operation of (1) to (3) will be described with reference to a sequence diagram.

(1) Login Process FIG. 15 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of the operation procedure of the login process of the printing system 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The login process shown in FIG. 15 is an authentication process performed to use the printing system 1. If the login is successful, the operations (2) and (3) can be executed.

  First, the client terminal 10 displays a Web page of a login screen on a Web browser provided in the client terminal 10 (S101). When a predetermined URL corresponding to the login screen is input by the user to the Web page of the login screen, screen information constituting the login screen is transmitted from the print server 12 to the client terminal 10. Alternatively, a login screen may be displayed by an application for a printing system when the application is activated. Then, the display control unit 115 of the client terminal 10 displays a login screen as shown in FIG. 16A based on the HTML description of the screen information. FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of a login screen and a screen that transitions after authentication. Next, when the user of the client terminal 10 presses the login button after inputting the user ID and password on the login screen shown in FIG. 16A (S102), the input reception unit 116 performs login processing to the login request unit 111. Request execution. Here, for example, it is assumed that the input user ID is “UserA” and the password is “AAAA”. The login request unit 111 transmits a login request including the input user ID (“UserA”) and password (“AAAA”) to the print server 12 (S103).

  When the login request receiving / transferring unit 1201 of the print server 12 receives the login request, the received login request is transferred to the authentication server 13 (S104).

  Upon receiving the login request, the authentication processing unit 131 of the authentication server 13 performs an authentication process based on the user ID and password included in the received login request (S105). Specifically, the authentication processing unit first refers to the user information storage unit 135, reads the password corresponding to the user ID (“UserA”) included in the received login request, and reads the password (“AAAAA” included in the login request. ]) Is determined. Here, assuming that the information stored in the user information storage unit 135 is the value shown in the example of FIG. 14, the password corresponding to the user ID “UserA” is stored as “AAAA” in the user information storage unit 135. Therefore, the authentication processing unit 131 determines that the authentication is successful because the password stored in the user information storage unit 135 matches the password included in the login request. The authentication processing unit 131 determines that the authentication has failed when the password corresponding to the user ID does not match or the user ID does not exist in the user information storage unit 135. Then, the authentication processing unit 131 transmits an authentication result as a response to the login request to the print server 12 (S106).

  When the login request reception / transfer unit 1201 of the print server 12 receives the login request response including the authentication result, the received authentication result and screen information for displaying the screen generated based on the authentication result by the screen generation unit 1206 are authenticated. It transmits to the server 13 (S107).

  When the login request unit 111 of the client terminal 10 receives the login request response, it requests the display control unit 115 to display a screen based on the screen information included in the login request response. Here, in the case of authentication failure, the display control unit 115 displays a screen including a message indicating that login is not possible as shown in FIG. 16B (S108). On the other hand, if the authentication is successful, the display control unit 115 displays a service list selection screen on which a list of processes (services) executed (provided) by the printing system 1 as shown in FIG. (S109). The service list selection screen includes a print service button and a user information registration button. The print service button is pressed when a job (file) is uploaded via a Web page and printed. The user information registration button is pressed when the user registers or changes the default device and setting mode.

  According to the operation procedure of steps S101 to S109 described above, the printing system 1 can perform user authentication and use the functions of the printing system 1 based on the authentication result.

(2) User information registration process Next, an operation procedure when the user registers user information including a default device and a setting mode will be described. User information is input at the client terminal 10 and registered in the authentication server 13 via the print server 12.

  FIG. 17 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of an operation procedure of user information registration processing of the printing system 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In the initial state of FIG. 17, a service list selection screen (FIG. 16C) is displayed on the Web browser of the client terminal 10 (S109).

  When the user of the client terminal 10 presses the “user information registration” button displayed on the service list selection screen (S201), the display control unit 115 displays the user information input screen shown in FIG. 18 (S202). Note that the screen information of the user information input screen is acquired from the print server after the “user information registration” button is pressed by the Web browser. However, the screen information of the user information input screen may be transmitted from the print server 12 together with the authentication result, for example. FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user information input screen. As shown in FIG. 18, the user information input screen 800 includes a default device name input field 801, a setting mode name input field 802, a print attribute selection field 803, a registration button 804, a cancel button 805, and the like. The user inputs or selects contents to be registered as user information in the default device name input field 801, the setting mode name input field 802, and the print attribute selection field 803, and then presses the registration button 804 (S203). Then, the user information registration request unit 112 transmits a user information registration request including the input user information and the user ID input at the time of login to the print server 12 (S204).

  When the user information registration request reception / transfer unit 1202 of the print server 12 receives the user information registration request, the received user information registration request is transferred to the authentication server 13 (S205).

  When the user information registration request receiving unit 132 of the authentication server 13 receives the user information registration request, the user information (default device used, setting mode (print attribute)) is registered in the user information storage unit 135 in association with the user ID. When the user information registration request receiving unit 132 completes the registration of the user information in the user information storage unit 135, the user information registration request receiving unit 132 transmits a response including information indicating the completion of registration to the print server 12 (S207).

  When the user information registration request reception / transfer unit 1202 of the print server 12 receives the user information registration request response, the received user information registration request response is transferred to the authentication server 13 (S208).

  By the operation procedure of steps S201 to S208 described above, the printing system 1 can register the image forming apparatus 15 used by the user by default and the print attributes that can be applied to the print job by default.

(3) Confirmation Screen Generation Processing Next, an operation procedure for generating a confirmation screen on which the result of whether output is possible in the image forming apparatus 15 based on the output condition applied to the job will be described.

  FIG. 19 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of an operation procedure of a confirmation screen generation process of the printing system 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In the initial state of FIG. 19, a service list selection screen (FIG. 16C) is displayed on the Web browser of the client terminal 10 (S109). Further, user information input by the user is registered in advance in the user information storage unit 135 of the authentication server 13.

  The user of the client terminal 10 presses a “print service” button displayed on the service list selection screen in order to upload a job (file) via a Web page and execute print processing (S301). When the input accepting unit 116 accepts an input operation by the user, the confirmation requesting unit 113 is instructed to execute a confirmation request generating process including a user ID for acquiring a confirmation screen. The confirmation request unit 113 generates a confirmation request including a user ID (for example, “UserA”) and transmits it to the print server 12 (S302).

When the confirmation request receiving unit 1203 of the print server 12 receives the confirmation request, it first requests the user information acquisition unit 1204 to acquire user information corresponding to the user ID included in the confirmation request. The user information acquisition unit 1204 transmits a user information acquisition request including the user ID to the authentication server 13 (S303).
When the user information transmission unit 133 of the authentication server 13 receives the user information acquisition request, the user information corresponding to the user ID (“UserA”) included in the user information acquisition request is read from the user information storage unit 135 (S304). Here, assuming that the information stored in the user information storage unit 135 is the value shown in FIG. 14, for example, default device information (device ID “002673abcd01”, device name “NOZOMI”) corresponding to the user ID “UserA”. ) And setting mode information (print attribute “duplex / monochrome / 2 in 1 / staple”, setting mode name “eco mode 1”) are read out. The user information transmission unit 133 transmits the read user information to the print server 12 (S305).

  When the user information acquisition unit 1204 of the print server 12 receives the user information, the user information is temporarily stored in a storage device (RAM, HDD, or the like), and the device ID of the default device (“002673abcd01”) is stored in the device state acquisition unit 1205. To be notified. First, the device status acquisition unit 1205 reads the IP address of the image forming apparatus 15 from the device information storage unit 1212 based on the notified device ID. If the information stored in the device information storage unit 1212 is the value shown in FIG. 7, for example, the IP address corresponding to the device ID “002673abcd01” is “133.139.1.1”. Then, the device state acquisition unit 1205 transmits a device state acquisition request for acquiring the device state of the image forming apparatus 15 using the read IP address of the image forming apparatus 15 as a destination address (S306).

  When the device status transmission unit 155 of the image forming apparatus 15 receives the device status acquisition request, the device status storage unit 159 reads the device status (such as “usage status” and “printing scheduled end time”) (S307). Is sent to the print server 12 (S308).

  When the device status acquisition unit 1205 of the print server 12 receives the device status of the image forming apparatus 15, it requests the screen generation unit 1206 to generate a confirmation screen as shown in FIG. The screen generation unit 1206 reads the capability corresponding to the device ID (“002673abcd01”) from the device information storage unit 1212 (for example, “color machine”, duplex unit “present”, and finisher “none” in the example of FIG. 7). (S309). Next, the screen generation unit 1206 generates a confirmation screen (S310). Specifically, the screen generation unit 1206 adds the default used device name “NOZOMI” obtained from the default used device name 702 of the confirmation screen 700 (see FIG. 6), the setting mode and output condition column 703 to the obtained setting mode information. Set based on. Further, the screen generation unit 1206 includes the function use availability information 704 included in the confirmation screen 700, the acquired setting mode information (for example, “staple“ present ”), and device information of the default used device (finisher“ none ”). Are compared and generated. Further, the screen generation unit 1206 generates a device usage status 707 included in the confirmation screen 700 based on the acquired device status. Then, the screen generation unit 1206 outputs the screen information in the HTML format constituting the generated confirmation screen to the confirmation request reception unit 1203, and the confirmation request reception unit 1203 transmits the screen information of the confirmation screen to the client terminal 10 (S311). ).

  Upon receiving the screen information of the confirmation screen, the confirmation request unit 113 of the client terminal 10 causes the display control unit 115 to display a confirmation screen as shown in FIG. 6 (S312). Thereby, before the user uploads the job (file) using the Web page, the print attributes applicable to the job can be confirmed. Further, after confirmation based on the confirmation screen, the user can change the print attribute to be applied, or can change the image forming apparatus 15 that executes printing and execute printing. Therefore, for example, after uploading, it is possible to avoid execution of print processing in the image forming apparatus 15 that does not have the capability corresponding to the print attribute applied to the job, or to set the print attribute to match the capability of the image forming apparatus 15. Can be set again.

  Based on the confirmation screen (see FIG. 6), after selecting a file to be uploaded, the user appropriately changes the print attribute to be set (presses the setting change application button 706), and presses the upload button 705 (S313). The input receiving unit 116 transmits a data processing request (print job) including the upload target file to the data processing requesting unit 114 (S314).

  When the print job reception unit 1207 of the print server 12 receives the print job transmitted from the client terminal 10, the print job reception unit 1207 stores the received print job in the print job storage unit 1213.

  As described above, according to the printing system 1 of the first embodiment of the present invention, the print server 12 that has received the confirmation request from the client terminal 10, the output condition (print attribute) to be applied to the job, and image formation Based on the function of the device 15 that executes the output conditions, the image forming device 15 determines whether output is possible, and transmits a confirmation screen including information indicating whether output is possible to the client terminal 10. As a result, the user can change the output condition to the executable image forming apparatus 15 based on the result of output permission or submit the image to be used before submitting the job (uploading via the Web page) in the client terminal 10. It is possible to upload a job after recognizing that the output condition corresponds to the function of the forming apparatus 15. Therefore, it is necessary for a conventional user to confirm that the printing according to the output condition is not executed after the execution of printing, and therefore, the user who uploads the job again after resetting the output condition is set. Save time and money. In addition, use of unnecessary paper by reprinting can be reduced. Further, even when it is impossible to output a job to which some output conditions are applied, the output conditions can be easily changed by a GUI (Graphical User Interface) on the confirmation screen.

  Further, according to the printing system 1 of the first embodiment of the present invention, whether or not output is possible is determined based on the image forming apparatus 15 used as a default registered by the user and the output conditions. As a result, the user can confirm whether or not the output is possible without specifying the image forming apparatus 15 or setting the output condition each time a confirmation request is made.

  Further, according to the printing system 1 of the first embodiment of the present invention, a confirmation including the device status (usage status) of the default device is generated. Accordingly, the user can confirm the reason for the availability of the image forming apparatus 15 based on factors other than the output conditions. For example, the user can change the image forming apparatus 15 to be used or wait until the use of others is finished. The user can use the printing system 1 flexibly.

  As described above, the printing system 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention can solve the problem that printing based on an output condition specified by the user, which may occur particularly in location-free printing, is not executed.

  When a user submits a job at the client terminal 10 after transmitting a confirmation screen including information indicating whether or not output is possible to the client terminal 10, the print server 12 that has received the job sets the output condition of the submitted job. Based on this, the usage status of the image forming apparatus 15 having a function capable of executing a job may be periodically monitored, and the client terminal 10 may be notified when the status becomes available.

  In location-free printing, there is a degree of freedom depending on when the job is output after the job is input. Therefore, the usage status changes between when a job is submitted and when it is output, so that the image forming apparatus 15 that can output it sometimes changes.

Therefore, even if the image forming apparatus 15 has the capability to execute a job with an output condition, it can be used when the job cannot be output at the time of confirmation because of toner exhaustion or currently printing. By notifying the client terminal 10 at this time, the user can know the image forming apparatus 15 that can be newly output at that time.
On the other hand, by notifying the client terminal 10 when it is in use or becomes unavailable from the available state, the user knows the image forming apparatus 15 that cannot immediately execute output at that time. I can do it. Thereby, when the user wants to output, the user can know the image forming apparatus 15 that can execute the job based on the output condition, so that convenience is improved.
[Second Embodiment]
The printing system 2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention uses a service providing system that provides a service represented by a cloud service.

  A printing system 2 according to the second embodiment will be described focusing on differences from the printing system 1 according to the first embodiment.

  In the printing system 2 of the second embodiment, the service providing system uses a user (user ID) and an image forming apparatus (device ID) as group identification information (hereinafter referred to as a group such as a company or organization to which the user and the image forming apparatus belong). And “company code”). The service providing system also manages the location where the image forming apparatus is installed (for example, the floor of a business office in a company). Thereby, for example, the location of the image forming apparatus where the user can execute the output condition (print attribute) applied to the job is specified.

<System configuration>
FIG. 20 is a configuration diagram of an example of a printing system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The printing system 2 shown in FIG. 20 includes a private network N2 such as a corporate network, a network N3 that provides services such as a cloud service, and a network N4 such as the Internet.

  The network N2 and the network N4 are connected by a firewall FW on the network N2 side. The firewall FW is installed at the contact point between the network N2 and the network N4, and relays access from the network N2 to the network N4.

  The network N3 and the network N4 are connected by an access control device 41 on the network N3 side. The network N3 is protected by the access control device 41.

  The network N2 is a private network inside the firewall FW. A client terminal 10, a mobile terminal 11, and an image forming apparatus 15 are connected to the network N2. Since the client terminal 10, the portable terminal 11, and the image forming apparatus 15 are the same as those in the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

  The network N3 is connected to a network N4 such as the Internet by an access control device 41. An access control device 41, a print service providing device 42, and another service providing device 43 are connected to the network N3. In the printing system 2 of FIG. 20, the access control device 41, the print service providing device 42, and the other service providing device 43 implement a service providing system.

  The access control device 41 controls access to each service such as a print service provided by the print service providing device 42. The print service providing apparatus 42 provides a print service. The other service providing device 43 provides some service.

  The access control device 41, the print service providing device 42, and the other service providing device 43 are realized by one or more information processing devices (computer systems).

  Note that the print service providing device 42 and the other service providing device 43 of the printing system 2 in FIG. 20 may be integrated into a single computer or may be realized by being distributed among a plurality of computers. In the printing system 2 of FIG. 20, some functions on the service providing system side may be on the network N2 side, and the client terminal 10, the mobile terminal 11, and the image forming apparatus 15 may be on a network other than the network N2. Good.

  The hardware configurations of the access control device 41, the print service providing device 42, and the other service providing device 43 in FIG. 20 are the same as those in FIG. The hardware configurations of the client terminal 10, the mobile terminal 11, and the image forming apparatus 15 are also the same as those in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

<Software configuration>
《Service provision system》
The service providing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention is realized by a function as shown in FIG. 21, for example. FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of a service providing system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The service providing system 50 in FIG. 21 implements a service application 51, a platform 52, a management data storage unit 53, and a platform API (Application Programming Interface) 54 by executing a program.

  The service application 51 in FIG. 21 includes a print service application 61 and one or more other service applications 62 as an example. The print service application 61 is an application that provides a print service. The service application 62 is an application that provides some service.

  The platform API 54 is an interface for the service application 51 such as the print service application 61 and other service applications 62 to use the platform 52. The platform API 54 is a predefined interface provided for the platform 52 to receive a request from the service application 51, and is configured by a function, a class, or the like, for example. When the service providing system 50 is configured to be distributed among a plurality of information processing apparatuses, for example, a web API that can be used via a network can be used as the platform API 54.

  The platform 52 in FIG. 21 includes an authentication processing unit 71, a device communication unit 72, a data processing unit 73, and a session management unit 74 as an example. The authentication processing unit 71 performs authentication based on login requests from the client terminal 10, the mobile terminal 11, and the image forming apparatus 15.

  The device communication unit 72 performs communication with the client terminal 10, the mobile terminal 11, and the image forming apparatus 15. The data processing unit 73 executes data processing based on a request from the service application 51. The session management unit 74 manages a session with the client terminal 10, the mobile terminal 11, and the image forming apparatus 15.

  The management data storage unit 53 includes a company management information storage unit 81, a user management information storage unit 82, a device management information storage unit 83, a data management information storage unit 84, and a data storage 85 as an example. The company management information storage unit 81 stores company management information described later. The user management information storage unit 82 stores user management information described later. The device management information storage unit 83 stores device management information described later. The data management information storage unit 84 stores data management information described later. The data storage 85 stores other data.

  The print service application 61 of the service providing system 50 of FIG. 21 is realized by the function shown in FIG. 22, for example. FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the print service application according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The print service application 61 implements a data analysis unit 301, an output data management unit 302, a processing request unit 303, and an output data management information holding unit 304.

  The data analysis unit 301 analyzes a job transmitted from the client terminal 10 or the mobile terminal 11 and determines whether or not data conversion is necessary. For example, if the job received from the client terminal 10 or the mobile terminal 11 is application data or Web data, it is determined that data conversion to print data is necessary.

  The output data management unit 302 manages jobs transmitted from the client terminal 10 and the mobile terminal 11 using output data management information described later. The processing request unit 303 makes a data processing request to the data processing unit 73. The output data management information holding unit 304 holds output data management information described later.

  FIG. 23 is a configuration diagram of an example of company management information. As shown in FIG. 23, the company management information includes a company code, a company name, a country, a language, etc. as data items. The company code is information for identifying a group such as a company or an organization. The company code is information that identifies one or more users and a set of one or more image forming apparatuses 15. The first embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the word “company”, and may be contract information for identifying a contract for a set of users or image forming apparatuses 15, for example. The company code is unique and information is managed in units of company codes.

  FIG. 24 is a configuration diagram of an example of user management information. The user management information in FIG. 24 includes a company code, a user ID, a password, a role, a mail address, a printing authority, setting mode information, and the like as data items. The user management information is managed for each company code. The user name and password are information for identifying the user. The user ID is information for identifying the user. A password is not required. Further, the user ID may use information (card ID, serial ID of the image forming apparatus 15, serial number, telephone number, etc.) identifying the electronic medium (for example, IC card) possessed by the user, the image forming apparatus 15, or the like instead. It may be used in combination. The user name and password associated with the company code are unique, but may be duplicated if the company code is different. The setting mode information includes the print attribute applied to the job and the name of the setting mode that combines a plurality of print attributes.

  FIG. 25 is a configuration diagram of an example of device management information. The device management information shown in FIG. 25 has data items such as a company code, device ID, IP address, installation location information, capability, device name address information, and the like. Device management information is managed for each company code. The device ID is information for identifying the image forming apparatus 15 and is, for example, a MAC address or a device name. The IP address is address information set in the image forming apparatus 15. The installation location information is information indicating the business office where the image forming apparatus 15 is installed and the floor (number of floors) in the business office. According to FIG. 25, for example, the image forming apparatus 15 having the device ID “002673abcd01” is installed on the “4th floor” of the “office A” of the company with the company code “XXX”. Note that the installation location information may include, for example, information indicating a room in which the image forming apparatus 15 is installed, absolute position information indicating latitude / longitude, and the like in addition to “business office” and “floor”. The capability is information such as the functions that can be executed by the image forming apparatus 15 and the presence / absence of hardware that implements the functions. Note that the information included in the capability is not limited to that shown in FIG. The device name is the name of the image forming apparatus 15.

  FIG. 26 is a configuration diagram of an example of data management information. The data management information in FIG. 26 includes a job ID, input data URL, one or more conversion data URLs, a conversion status, and the like as data items. The job ID is information for specifying a submitted job or the like. The input data URL is information indicating a place where the data of the input job is recorded. The conversion data URL is information indicating a location where data of a job that has been converted at least once from the data of the input job is recorded. The conversion status is information indicating the state of the conversion process, and indicates, for example, the state of being processed or completed.

  FIG. 27 is a configuration diagram of an example of output data management information. The output data management information in FIG. 27 includes output data ID, company code, user identification information, bibliographic information, output settings, job ID, conversion status, login print location, and the like as data items. The output setting is information representing normal print attributes such as monochrome / color, duplex / single-sided, and N-up. The conversion status is information indicating the status (completion, processing) of the conversion processing for job data. The login printing location is information indicating a business office that performs printing at login. The output data management information is information for specifying the data of the submitted job. The output data management information is used by the print service application 61 to determine the status of conversion processing (completed and being processed) for the input job data.

<Client terminal, mobile terminal>
The client terminal 10 and the portable terminal 11 in the second embodiment of the present invention are realized by the function shown in FIG. 28, for example. Here, the client terminal 10 and the mobile terminal 11 will be collectively referred to as terminal devices.

  FIG. 28 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the terminal device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The terminal device includes an input reception unit 311, a data storage unit 312, and a service use application 313.

  The input receiving unit 311 receives input by a user operation such as a touch panel touch operation or a keyboard input operation. The data storage unit 312 stores data. For example, the data storage unit 312 holds a set company code to be described later.

  The service use application 313 is software for using a print service provided by the print service application 61 of the service providing system 50. The service use application 313 implements a login request unit 1116 and a data processing request unit 317.

  The login request unit 1116 requests, for example, login to the service providing system 50 using authentication information such as a user name and password input by a user operation. The data processing request unit 317 requests the print service application 61 for data processing such as job submission.

<Image forming apparatus>
The image forming apparatus 15 according to the second embodiment of the present invention is realized by the function shown in FIG. 29, for example. FIG. 29 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus 15 includes an input receiving unit 321, an output unit 322, a setting information holding unit 323, and a service use application 324.

  The input receiving unit 321 receives an input by a user operation such as a touch panel touch operation or a keyboard input operation. The output unit 322 executes output of the received job. For example, the output unit 322 executes printing of the received print data. The setting information holding unit 323 holds a set company code and the like which will be described later.

  The service use application 324 is software for using a print service provided by the print service application 61 of the service providing system 50. The service use application 324 implements a login request unit 331 and a data processing request unit 332.

  The login request unit 331 requests, for example, login to the service providing system 50 using authentication information such as a user ID and password input by a user operation. The data processing request unit 332 requests the print service application 61 for data processing such as job list and job acquisition.

<Details of processing>
Hereinafter, details of processing of the printing system 2 in the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 30 is a diagram illustrating an example of screen transition after the login screen is displayed in the terminal device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  First, the service use application 313 of the terminal device displays a login screen shown in FIG. The user inputs a company code, a user name, and a password as authentication information on the login screen. The user presses a login button after entering authentication information on the login screen. When the login button is pressed, the login request unit 1116 of the terminal device transmits authentication information to the service providing system 50 and requests login.

  If the login is successful, the service use application 313 of the terminal device displays a service list selection screen shown in FIG. The service list selection screen is a screen that allows the user to select a service provided by the service providing system 50. The user selects a service to be used from the service list selection screen. For example, when a “print service” button is pressed by the user, the data processing request unit 317 of the terminal device requests the service providing system 50 to use the “print service”. As a result, the user can use the “print service” provided by the service providing system 50 from the terminal device.

  When the service providing system 50 accepts a user's request for use of the print service, the service use application 313 of the terminal device displays a print service confirmation screen 800 shown in FIG. The confirmation screen 800 includes an input (selection) form 801 for a file to be uploaded, a setting mode and output condition column 802, an upload button 803, a setting change application button 804, an outputable location confirmation button 805, and the like. Here, when the output location confirmation button 805 is pressed by the user, the image forming apparatus 15 that can execute the output conditions (printing attributes) in the setting mode and output condition column 802 and the installation location of the image forming apparatus 15 are displayed. Then, the screen transits to a list of possible output locations 810 shown in FIG.

  The output possible location list screen shown in FIG. 30D displays devices (for example, device names) and installation locations (for example, offices and floors) that can be output based on the setting mode corresponding to the output conditions (printing attributes). Is done.

  As described above, the printing system 2 according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention determines the installation location of the image forming apparatus 15 that can process (print) a job based on the output condition from the job output condition (print attribute). Can be identified.

  Next, the operation of the printing system 2 in the second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 31 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of an operation procedure when the confirmation screen is operated in the printing system 2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  The user inputs authentication information (login information) such as a company code, user ID, and password on a login screen (FIG. 30A) displayed on the display of the terminal device and presses the login button (S400). When the input receiving unit 311 of the terminal device receives an input of authentication information and a login request by the user (S401), the input requesting unit 311 makes a login request to the login requesting unit 316 (S402). The login request unit 316 requests login to the authentication processing unit 71 of the service providing system 50 as described above (S403).

  The authentication processing unit 71 of the service providing system 50 performs authentication as described above (S404). The authentication processing unit 71 transmits an authentication result as a login response to the login request unit 316 of the terminal device. If the authentication result is successful (authentication OK), the authentication processing unit 71 also transmits a token (cookie) to the login request unit 316 of the terminal device (S405). The service providing system 50 stores the token in association with the user name and company code of the authenticated user.

  The processing after step S406 shows that the authentication result is successful (authentication OK), and the operation when the user performs an operation on the confirmation screen 800 (FIG. 3C) before submitting the job to the service providing system 50 is shown. Has been. The user presses an output enable machine confirmation button in order to specify the image forming apparatus 15 for executing the printing process based on the output condition applied to the job displayed on the confirmation screen 800 (S406). The input accepting unit 311 of the terminal device accepts an output possible place confirmation request (S407). Next, the input receiving unit 311 makes an output possible location confirmation request including the output condition (print attribute) displayed on the confirmation screen 800 to the data processing request unit 317 (S408). The data processing request unit 317 makes an outputable location confirmation request by transmitting the token and the output condition to the service providing system 50 based on the outputable location confirmation request from the input reception unit 311 (S409).

  The session management unit 74 of the service providing system 50 confirms whether or not the token received as the outputable location confirmation request exists in the stored token (S410). If there is a token received as a job submission request among the stored tokens, the session management unit 74 transmits the user name and company code stored in association with the token to the print service application 61. (S411).

  The print service application 61 includes the device information (device ID, installation) of the image forming apparatus 15 corresponding to the company code received from the session management unit 74 from the information stored in the device management information storage unit 83 (see FIG. 25). The authentication processing unit 71 is requested to acquire location information, capabilities, and device names (S412). The authentication processing unit 71 acquires device information associated with the company code from the device information storage unit 83 and transmits it to the print service application 61 (S413). Specifically, in the example of FIG. 25, when the company code is “XXX”, installation location information, capabilities, and device names corresponding to the device IDs “002673abcd01”, “002673abcd02”, and “002673abcd03” are acquired. The

  The print service application 61 specifies acquisition of the installation location of the image forming apparatus 15 to which the output condition can be applied based on the output condition included in the output possible location confirmation request in step S412 (S414). Then, the print service application 61 generates screen information of a list of outputable locations including information on the device name and installation location (business establishment, floor) of the identified image forming apparatus 15, and sends the screen information to the data processing unit 73 of the terminal device. Transmit (S415).

  The terminal device displays the output possible place list screen shown in FIG. 30D based on the received screen information of the output possible place list.

  As described above, according to the printing system 2 of the second embodiment of the present invention, by managing the installation location information of the image forming apparatus 15 in association with the company code, the output condition that the user wants to apply to the job The location of the image forming apparatus 15 that can execute (print attribute) can be specified.

  Accordingly, the user can specify the image forming apparatus 15 that can execute the output condition before uploading the job (file) using the Web page, and can execute printing under the output condition intended by the user.

As described above, the printing system 2 according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention can obtain the same effect as that of the first exemplary embodiment even when the location-free printing using the cloud service is performed.
[Third Embodiment]
The printing system 2 according to the third embodiment of the present invention uses a service providing system that provides a service represented by a cloud service, as in the second embodiment.

  According to the printing system of the third embodiment, the location where the job is output can be specified on the confirmation screen before uploading the job in the print service, and whether or not the output condition can be executed at the designated location can be simplified on the confirmation screen. Can be confirmed. Further, it is possible to display information on the location of the image forming apparatus 15 capable of executing all output conditions and the image forming apparatus 15 where at least one output condition designated by the user is executed.

  Note that the system configuration, hardware configuration, and software configuration of the printing system 2 of the third embodiment are the same as in the case of the second embodiment. The difference will be mainly described.

<Details of processing>
Hereinafter, details of the processing of the printing system 2 according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 32 is a diagram illustrating an example of screen transition after the confirmation screen is displayed in the terminal device according to the second embodiment of this invention.

  The confirmation screen 900 shown in FIG. 32A is a service list selection screen (FIG. 30) displayed after the login process is performed using the same login screen (FIG. 30A) as in the second embodiment. 30 (b)) is a screen that is transitioned to when “print service” is selected. The confirmation screen 900 of the third embodiment includes an output location designation column 902 and an output condition column 903 for designating a location where a job (printing) is output from the confirmation screen 800 (FIG. 30C) of the second embodiment. An output condition execution enable / disable information column 904 indicating whether or not each output condition included in the is included is added. Note that the information set in the output condition column 903 may be arbitrarily set by the user or set as a confirmation screen, for example, a default output condition registered in advance by the user. Good.

  Here, for example, when the user agrees that the punch correspondence shown in the output condition execution availability information column 904 is not possible, the user presses the confirmation button 905. As a result, as shown in FIG. 32B, the item “Punch”, which is the printing attribute in the output condition column 903 of the confirmation screen 900, is changed from “Yes” to “No”.

  When the output possible place confirmation button 908 is pressed on the screen of FIG. 32B, an output possible place list screen 910 shown in FIG. 32C is displayed. The output possible location list screen 910 includes a column 911 in which the installation location and device name of the image forming apparatus 15 capable of executing the output condition corresponding to the setting mode are displayed, and an output condition based on the output condition execution availability information column 904. And a column 912 for displaying the installation location of the image forming apparatus 15 and the device name. As a result, the user can specify the location of the image forming apparatus 15 that can output a job for each output condition. Note that the location displayed in FIG. 32B is a location (apparatus) in the office that is input to the output location designation 902 by the user.

  Also, the screen of FIG. 32D changes when the item “punch” in the output location designation 902 and the output condition column 903 is changed in the screen of FIG. 32B and the setting change application button 905 is pressed. It is a screen to do. In this case, it is specified on the screen of FIG. 32C that the place where the job can be output by applying “punching” is “establishment office A 4th floor”. In the example, the output location designation 902 is changed to “Office A 4th floor”. Thus, the output condition execution availability information column 904 indicates that printing can be performed in accordance with the output conditions in the output condition column 903.

  As described above, by the printing system 2 according to the third embodiment of the present invention, the executable output condition based on the job output location is confirmed, and the executable image forming apparatus 15 installation location corresponding to the output condition is confirmed. Can also be specified.

  Next, the operation of the printing system 2 in the third embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 33 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of an operation procedure when the confirmation screen is operated in the printing system 2 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. 33 that are the same as those in the second embodiment among the processes shown in FIG. 33 are assigned the same numbers as the step numbers shown in FIG. 31, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.

  The difference from the case of the second embodiment is that the output location information is included in the output possible location confirmation request in step S408a, the output location information is additionally included in the device information acquisition request in step S412a, and step 412a. The image forming apparatus 15 corresponding to the business location included in the output location information specified in the output possible location list transmitted in is displayed. In step S408a, by including the output location information in the output location verification request, it is possible to specify the business office in the user's company and specify the image forming apparatus 15 in the business office.

  As described above, according to the printing system 2 of the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the image associated with the company code is included by including the information on the location of the image forming apparatus 15 where the user outputs a job from the terminal device. By managing the installation location information of the forming apparatus 15, it is possible to specify the location of the image forming apparatus 15 that can execute the output condition (print attribute) that the user wants to apply to the job.

  Accordingly, the user can specify the image forming apparatus 15 that can execute the output condition before uploading the job (file) using the Web page, and can execute printing under the output condition intended by the user.

  As described above, according to the printing system 2 of the third embodiment of the present invention, the output location (business office or the like) designated by the user is included in the output possible location confirmation request.

  As a result, for example, when there are a plurality of business establishments in one company, the user can confirm whether or not output is possible for the image forming apparatus 15 in the business establishment designated by the user.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the specifically disclosed embodiments, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the claims.

  The job submission (request) by the client terminal 10 or the mobile terminal 11 in the embodiment of the present invention described above is not limited to uploading a file using a Web page, and may be executed by, for example, an application for a printing system.

  The printing systems 1 and 2 in the embodiment described above are examples of an output system. The image forming apparatus 15 is an example of an output device. The output device is not necessarily limited to the image forming device 15 and may be any device that outputs data, such as a projection device such as a projector or a device that displays image data. Furthermore, the print server 12 is an example of an output control device. The output control device is not necessarily limited to the print server 12, and may be any device that controls output by the output device.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 2 Printing system 10 Client terminal 11 Portable terminal 12 Print server 13 Authentication server 41 Access control apparatus 42 Print service provision apparatus 43 Other service provision apparatus 50 Service provision system 51 Service application 52 Platform 53 Management data storage part 54 Platform API
61 Print Service Application 62 Other Service Applications 71 Authentication Processing Unit 72 Device Communication Unit 73 Data Processing Unit 74 Session Management Unit 81 Corporate Management Information Storage Unit 82 User Management Information Storage Unit 83 Device Management Information Storage Unit 84 Data Management Information Storage Unit 85 Data storage 131 Authentication processing unit 132 User information registration request reception unit 133 User information transmission unit 134 Input reception unit 135 User information storage unit 15 Image forming apparatus 151 Authentication information transmission unit 152 Authentication result acquisition unit 153 Print job acquisition unit 154 Job list acquisition Unit 155 device state transmission unit 156 display control unit 157 input reception unit 158 output unit 159 device state storage unit 111 login request unit 112 user information registration request unit 113 confirmation request unit 114 data processing request unit 115 display control unit 116 Force reception unit 301 data analysis unit 302 output data management unit 303 processing request unit 304 output data management information holding unit 311 input reception unit 312 data storage unit 313 service use application 316 login request unit 317 data processing request unit 321 input reception unit 322 output Unit 323 Setting information holding unit 324 Service application 331 Login request unit 332 Data processing request unit 1201 Login request reception / transfer unit 1202 User information registration request reception / transfer unit 1203 Confirmation request reception unit 1204 User information acquisition unit 1205 Device status acquisition unit 1206 Screen generation unit 1207 Print job reception unit 1208 Print job analysis unit 1209 Print job attribute storage unit 1210 User job list acquisition unit 1211 Job transmission unit 1212 Device information storage unit 1213 Print job Storage unit

JP 2011-56918 A

Claims (10)

An output control device that transmits a job received from a terminal device to an output device that outputs a job to which one or more output conditions are applied,
The output device that can be used when the user outputs the job upon receiving a request for confirming whether or not the job can be output in the output device when the output condition set in the terminal device used by the user is applied. A response means for responding to the output availability result determined based on the function having and the output condition;
Receiving means for receiving the job of the user including the output condition set in the terminal device;
An output control apparatus comprising: a transmission unit configured to transmit a job of the user among the received jobs to the output apparatus used by the user. Screen generating means for generating screen information including information indicating whether the output is possible;
The output control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the response unit performs a response including the screen information generated by the screen generation unit. Having a device status acquisition means for acquiring a device status indicating the current usage status of the output device from the output device;
The response means includes
The output control device according to claim 1, wherein a response including the device state acquired by the device state acquisition unit is made.   The output control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the confirmation request by the terminal device is made when authentication of a user of the terminal device is successful. User information acquisition means for acquiring user information including output conditions and output devices registered in advance for each user,
The response means includes
The output control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the output control device makes a response as to whether the output is determined based on an output condition included in the user information and the function of the output device included in the user information. . A location confirmation request accepting unit that accepts a location confirmation request for confirming a location where an output device having a function of executing the output condition is included, including the output condition specified by the terminal device;
Location information acquisition means for acquiring location information indicating a location of an output device having a function of executing the output condition included in the location confirmation request;
The output control device according to claim 1, further comprising a location confirmation request response unit that responds to the terminal device with the location information acquired by the location information acquisition unit. The location information is managed in association with group identification information for identifying a group to which the user belongs,
The location information acquisition means
The output control device according to claim 6, wherein the location information associated with the group identification information corresponding to a user of the terminal device that has made the location confirmation request is acquired. The job requested from the terminal device is performed based on an operation via a web page,
The output control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the confirmation request by the terminal device is made before the terminal device requests the job. An output system including an output device that outputs a job to which one or more output conditions are applied, a terminal device that requests execution of the job, and an output control device that transmits a job received from the terminal device to the output device Because
The output device that can be used when the user outputs the job upon receiving a request for confirming whether or not the job can be output in the output device when the output condition set in the terminal device used by the user is applied. Response means for responding to screen information including information indicating the result of the output permission / inhibition determined based on the function having and the output condition;
Display means for causing the terminal device to display a screen based on the screen information included in the response;
Receiving means for receiving the job of the user including the output condition set in the terminal device;
An output system comprising: a transmission unit configured to transmit a job of the user among received jobs to the output device used by the user. A program executed in an output control device that transmits a job received from a terminal device to an output device that outputs a job to which one or more output conditions are applied,
The output control device;
The output device that can be used when the user outputs the job upon receiving a request for confirming whether or not the job can be output in the output device when the output condition set in the terminal device used by the user is applied. A response means for responding to the output availability result determined based on the function having and the output condition;
Receiving means for receiving the job of the user including the output condition set in the terminal device;
A program that causes the output device used by a user to function as a transmission unit that transmits the user's job among the received jobs.

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