JP2008084183A - Image forming system, image forming device, and image forming method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To construct an image forming system for achieving an accurate print operation by an operation from an external device such as a portable telephone set even under a network environment. <P>SOLUTION: This image forming system is provided with a print information generation part such as a personal computer 1 for generating print data including a first identification code and a first print setting information; a print part such as a printer 2 for performing required printing according to the print data from the print information generation part; and an external device such as a portable telephone 3 corresponding to the first identification code. The external device is configured to communicate with the print part, and change the first print setting information to second print setting information. An operation program 21 is transmitted according to the identification code of the portable telephone set 3 or the like from the printer 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming system that performs printing based on required image information, an image forming apparatus used therefor, and an image forming method used in the image forming system.

  In recent years, image forming apparatuses such as copiers and printers have been improved in performance and functionality in accordance with market needs. For example, in a network environment where multiple people at work use their personal computers and printers are shared, print jobs generated by each personal computer are transferred to a common printer for processing. Examples that are configured in such a way are common.

  Also, the recent network environment is not limited to the typical LAN as described above. For example, it is possible to transfer character data, voice data, etc. transferred to a cellular phone or input to the cellular phone to a paper medium. It is demanded. As a technology to meet such needs, in order to print out character data and voice data input to a mobile phone device, the character data of the character data is expanded by a rasterizer and printed on the character data. In addition to generating print data for voice, a system is known that performs voice recognition processing on voice data to convert the voice data into character code character data, and performs similar development processing and print data generation. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

JP 11-320977 A

  Under the recent network environment, as described above, not only the data of the mobile phone is printed, but the mobile phone is used as an external terminal, and the operation function of the printer as a print processing unit is given to the mobile phone. As a result, wireless operation by a mobile phone can be realized, and the convenience is greatly improved. However, since the operation programs and drivers for image forming apparatuses such as printers that can be mounted on a mobile phone are different for each printing apparatus, for example, in a network environment in which a plurality of printing apparatuses are still used. If a large number of programs such as each operation program and driver are installed to ensure compatibility with other printing devices, the data will be enormous and will exceed the memory capacity of the mobile phone. Become.

  In view of the above technical problems, an object of the present invention is to construct an image forming system that realizes a reliable printing operation by an operation from an external device such as a mobile phone even in a network environment. A further object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus used in such an image forming system and an image forming method used in the image forming system.

  In order to solve the above technical problem, an image forming system of the present invention includes a print information generation unit that generates print data including a first identification code and first print setting information, and the print information generation unit. A printing unit that performs required printing in accordance with the print data, and an external device corresponding to the first identification code, and the external device communicates with the printing unit to obtain the first print setting information. The second print setting information can be changed.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the print data is provided with a second identification code for each print unit, and the external device sends the first print setting information to the second print unit for each print unit. The setting information can be changed. In addition, as an example of the external device, a mobile phone can be used, and in this case, the first identification code can be a telephone number. The external device can display a list of the print data for each print unit that can change the first print setting information to the second print setting information. In the list, a reduced display screen of the print data may be displayed.

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a print information generation unit that generates print data including a first identification code and first print setting information corresponding to a required external device, and the print information generation unit from the print information generation unit. A printing unit that performs required printing according to print data, and the external device communicates with the printing unit to change the first print setting information to second print setting information. To do.

  Furthermore, the image forming method of the present invention generates print data including a first identification code corresponding to a required external apparatus and first print setting information, and performs the first printing by communication using the external apparatus. After the setting information is changed to the second print setting information, the required printing of the print data is performed according to the second print setting information.

  According to the present invention, since the external device corresponding to the first identification code can change the print setting information by communicating with the printing unit, an operation from an external device such as a mobile phone can be performed even in a network environment. A reliable printing operation can be realized. Further, at the time of transmission, the operation program transmitted to the external device can be limited to those having an application function that can be operated by the printer, and it is only necessary to occupy the memory of the external device as much as necessary. It is also possible to specify a print job using the first identification code, which is effective when there are a plurality of users who use the image forming apparatus.

  A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[First embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the image forming apparatus is divided into a personal computer 1 that is a print information generation unit that generates print data and a printer 2 that is a printing unit that performs required printing in accordance with the print data sent from the personal computer 1. In the following description, the mobile phone 3 is used as an example of the external device corresponding to the first identification code.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the personal computer 1 and the printer 2 are connected by a local area network 4. The printer 2 and the mobile phone 3 are provided with short-range wireless data communication means 5 and 6. The printer 2 and the mobile phone 3 can perform data communication with each other by short-range wireless data communication 7 using infrared rays. As a communication method between the printer 2 and the mobile phone 3, a method such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) may be used. Further, although only one mobile phone 3 is illustrated, a plurality of mobile phones 3, a personal computer 1, and a printer 2 may exist within a communicable range.

  FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the personal computer 1 in the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the personal computer 1 performs data communication with the printer 2 through a storage device 8 that stores data, a CPU 9 that executes various processing units, an input unit 10 such as a mouse and a keyboard, and a local area network 4. The transmission means 11 to perform is provided. The storage device 8 of the personal computer 1 is a hard disk drive built in the personal computer 1, and here, it is assumed that an image 12 serving as a document of print data is stored. The CPU 9 of the personal computer 1 generates a print job from the print data generation unit 13 that generates print data from the image 12, the first print information input from the input unit 10, the first identification code, and the print data. Each processing unit of the communication control unit 15 that controls data communication between the job generation unit 14 and the printer 2 through the transmission unit 11 is provided.

  FIG. 3 is a control block diagram of the printer 2 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, the printer 2 includes a storage device 16 that stores data, a CPU 17 that executes various processing units, a receiving unit 18 that performs data communication with the personal computer 1 through the local area network 4, and a short distance by infrared rays. An infrared transmission / reception means 19 for performing data communication with the mobile phone 3 through the wireless data communication 7 and a printing unit 20 for printing a print job are provided. The storage device 16 of the printer 2 is a hard disk drive built in the printer 2, and stores an operation program 21 executed by the mobile phone 3. It is also used to store a print job received by the receiving means 18 by data communication with the personal computer 1.

  The CPU 17 of the printer 2 assigns an individual second identification code to each print job, and uses the second identification code to perform management such as designation / change / printing of the print job, and from the print job. A print information extraction unit 23 that extracts first print information, a data communication with the personal computer 1 through the receiving unit 18, and a communication control unit 24 that controls data communication with the mobile phone 3 through the infrared transmission / reception unit 19. Each processing unit is provided. The operation program 21 stored in the storage device 16 of the printer 2 is a program that can use functions provided in the operation unit of the printer 2, and does not include programs of functions that cannot be used. In other words, the operation program 21 is software of a size that can be easily downloaded to the mobile phone 3, and is limited to the minimum necessary size, so that the communication time can be shortened.

  FIG. 4 is a control block diagram of the mobile phone 3 which is an external device in the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, the mobile phone 3 includes a storage device 25 that stores data, a CPU 26 that executes various processing units, a display unit 27 such as a liquid crystal display, an input unit 28 such as operation buttons, and short-range wireless using infrared rays. Infrared transmission / reception means 29 for performing data communication with the printer 2 through the data communication 7 is provided. The storage device 25 of the mobile phone 3 is a flash memory built in the printer 2 and is used for storing the operation program 21 received by the infrared transmission / reception means 29 by data communication with the printer 2. The CPU 26 of the mobile phone 3 includes a communication control unit 30 that controls data communication with the printer 2 through the infrared transmission / reception means 29. Further, the CPU 26 of the mobile phone 3 also executes the operation program 21. The operation program 21 of the CPU 26 of the mobile phone 3 includes a setting changing unit 31. The setting displayed on the display unit 27 such as a liquid crystal display and changed or added by the input unit 28 is set as the second print information setting. It has a function to generate.

First, the operation in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a flowchart from when the print job is transmitted from the personal computer 1 to the printer 2 until the print job is stored in the printer 2. The user operates to start printing the image 12 stored in the storage device 8 of the personal computer 1 (Sl). At this time, the user inputs the first print setting information of the image 12 through the input means 10 (S2). The print setting information here refers to setting values such as the number of prints and single / double-sided print settings. In the present embodiment, “print number: 2” and “double-sided printing” are set as information of the print setting information. The print setting information can include not only the number of prints and single-sided / double-sided print settings but also other setting conditions. For example, the sort function, stapling function, paper size, and print Various conditions such as accuracy, print start time, and color / monochrome settings can also be set.

  At the same time, the user inputs the first identification code through the input means 10 (S3). This first identification code is used to identify the external terminal that is executing the operation program 21. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that a telephone number is input as an ID individually assigned to the mobile phone 3. The print data generation unit 13 of the printer 2 generates print data from the image 12 (S4), and then the print job generation unit 14 generates a print job (S5). At this time, the first print setting information and the first identification code input from the input unit 10 are added to the print job. As shown in FIG. 5, the print job at this time has a data structure in which the first print setting information, the first identification code, and the print data are combined. The generated print job is transferred to the communication control unit 15, and transferred from the transmission unit 11 to the reception unit 18 of the printer 2 through the local area network 4 (S6).

  When the print job management unit 22 of the printer 2 receives the print job from the receiving unit 18 through the communication control unit 24 (S7), the print job management unit 22 assigns a second identification code to the print job (S8). Here, the second identification code must be a unique value so that it can be distinguished from other print jobs. In the present embodiment, the print job management number used by the print job management unit 22 for print job management is used as the second identification code. This may be a serial number or the like, or may be a combination of time and the like as will be described later. After associating the print job management number with the print job, the print job management unit 22 stores the print job in the storage device 16 (S9).

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart from the mobile phone 3 until the print setting is changed for the print job stored in the printer 2. The user carries the mobile phone 3, approaches the range where the infrared transmission / reception means 19 of the printer 2 can communicate, and operates the infrared transmission / reception means 29 of the mobile phone 3. At this time, the cellular phone 3 transmits the telephone number of the cellular phone 3 to the printer 2 as a communication start signal (S10). When the print job management unit 21 of the printer 2 receives the telephone number of the mobile phone 3 from the infrared transmission / reception means 19 through the communication control unit 24 (S11), the print job to which the telephone number is assigned as the first identification code. Is retrieved from the storage device 16 (S12). The print job management unit 22 passes the print job obtained as a result of the search to the print information extraction unit 23, and extracts the first print setting information given to the print job (S13).

  The print job management unit 22 sends a pair of the extracted first print setting information and the second identification code to the infrared transmission / reception unit 29 of the mobile phone 3 from the communication control unit 24 through the infrared transmission / reception means 19 ( S14). Note that each stage from search to transmission is performed for all print jobs stored in the storage device 16 (S15). That is, there may be a plurality of pairs of the first print setting information and the second identification code transmitted to the mobile phone 3. When all the print jobs stored in the storage device 16 have been searched, the print job management unit 22 transmits at least one pair of the first print setting information and the second identification code to the mobile phone 3. If so, the operation program 21 stored in the storage device 16 is transmitted to the mobile phone 3 (S16). The operation program 21 may be transmitted to the mobile phone 3 every time, or when the same program has already been transmitted in the past, only necessary confirmation may be performed.

  When the user has received all the first print setting information, the second identification code pairs, and the operation program 21 with the mobile phone 3 (S17), the user executes the operation program 21 (S18). The operation program 21 displays a print job list on the display unit 27 such as a liquid crystal screen of the mobile phone 3 with the second identification code as a name out of the received first print setting information and second identification code pair. Displayed (S19). At this time, the list of print jobs displayed on the display means 27 is, for example, as shown in FIG. The user selects a print job for which print setting is to be made from the print job list displayed on the display means 27 through the input means 28 (S20).

  The operation program 21 displays a print setting menu on the display unit 27 based on the first print setting information paired with the selected second identification code (S21). The print setting menu displayed on the display means 27 at this time is, for example, as shown in FIG. The user operates the print setting menu displayed on the display means 27 through the input means 28, and performs arbitrary print settings (S22). When the setting completion is input from the input unit 28 (S23), the operation program 21 stores the print setting set in the print setting menu as second print setting information (S24). In order to reduce the input effort, the previous update data may be set as default. Further, when printing start is input from the input unit 28 (S25), the operation program 21 sends the second print setting information and the second identification code from the communication control unit 30 through the infrared transmission / reception unit 29 to the infrared of the printer 2. The data is transmitted to the transmission / reception means 19 (S26).

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart from when the change of the print setting is applied from the mobile phone 3 to the print job stored in the printer 2 until printing is performed. When the print job management unit 22 of the printer 2 receives the second print setting information and the second identification code from the infrared transmission / reception means 19 through the communication control unit 24 (S27), the print stored in the storage device 16 is received. A print job associated with the print job management number matching the second identification code is searched from the job (S28). When the print job management unit 22 finds a print job, it overwrites the first print setting information given to the print job with the second print setting information (S29). Then, the print job management unit 22 inputs the print job to the printing unit 20 so that the print job is printed based on the second print setting information (S30).

  As described above, in the first embodiment of the present invention, when the first print setting information and the first identification code are transmitted from the printer 2 to the mobile phone 3, the operation program 21 is transmitted at the same time. The operation program 21 is a program that supports only functions usable in the printer 2. According to the prior art, functions that cannot be used in the printer 2 are also included in the operation program 21, so the program size increases. However, according to the present invention, the operation program 21 includes only functions that can be used in the printer 2, so that the program size is smaller than that of the prior art. As a result, even an external terminal with a small storage capacity can perform printing using the operation program 21 as in the prior art.

  According to the first embodiment, the telephone number of the cellular phone 3 is used as the first identification code of the print job stored in the printer 2. By using the telephone number of the mobile phone 3, even if many print jobs are stored in the printer 2, the user can easily take out the print job transmitted to the printer 2 while using the mobile phone 3. The effect can be obtained. Further, according to the first embodiment, the print job management number uniquely assigned by the print job management unit 22 of the printer 2 is used for the print job list display of the mobile phone 3. By displaying the list, even if the user has sent many print jobs to the printer 2, it is possible to easily specify one print job, change print settings, and start printing.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Since the schematic configuration diagram in the present embodiment is the same as that in FIG. 1 of the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted here. Further, the control block diagram of the personal computer 1 in the second embodiment of the present invention is also the same as that in FIG. 2 of the first embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted here. Further, the control block diagram of the mobile phone 3 in the second embodiment of the present invention is also the same as that in FIG. 3 of the first embodiment, and the description here is omitted because it is redundant.

  FIG. 11 is a control block diagram of the printer 32 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 11, a thumbnail generation unit 31 is newly added to the control block diagram of FIG. 3 of the first embodiment. The thumbnail generation unit 31 of the printer 32 is a processing unit provided in the CPU 17 that performs temporary printing processing of the received print job and generates a thumbnail image. Thumbnails are images that have been reduced to display a large number of images as a list, and as the number of image files increases, it is difficult to identify by name alone. Can be easily determined.

  Next, the operation of the image forming system in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 12 is a flowchart from when the print job is transmitted from the personal computer 1 to the printer 32 until the print job is stored in the printer 32. The user starts printing the image 12 stored in the storage device 8 of the personal computer 1 (S31). At this time, the user inputs the first print setting information of the image 12 through the input means 10 (S32). The print setting information here refers to setting values such as the number of prints and single / double-sided print settings. In the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, “number of printed sheets: 2” and “double-sided printing” are set. At the same time, the user inputs the first identification code through the input means 10 (S33). This first identification code is used to identify the external terminal that is executing the operation program 21. In the present embodiment as well, as in the first embodiment, the telephone number of the mobile phone 3 is input as the first identification code.

  The print data generation unit 13 of the printer 32 generates print data from the image 12 (S34), and then the print job generation unit 14 generates a print job (S35). At this time, the first print setting information and the first identification code input from the input unit 10 are added to the print job. The generated print job is transferred to the communication control unit 15, and is transferred from the transmission unit 11 to the reception unit 18 of the printer 32 through the local area network 4 (S36). When the print job management unit 22 of the printer 32 receives a print job from the receiving unit 18 through the communication control unit 24 (S37), the print job management unit 22 assigns a second identification code to the print job (S38). Here, the second identification code must be a unique value so as to be distinguished from other print jobs. Also in the present embodiment, the print job management number used by the print job management unit 22 for print job management is used as the second identification code.

  Subsequently, the print job management unit 22 passes the print job to the thumbnail generation unit 31 and generates a thumbnail image (S39). If a thumbnail image already exists as a file attribute in the personal computer 1, it may be stored in the storage device 16 of the printer and used. After associating the print job management number with the print job, the print job management unit 22 stores the print job and the thumbnail image in the storage device 16 (S40).

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart from when the print job stored in the printer 32 is changed from the mobile phone 3 to the print setting. The user carries the mobile phone 3, approaches the range where the infrared transmission / reception means 19 of the printer 32 can communicate, and operates the infrared transmission / reception means 29 of the mobile phone 3. At this time, the cellular phone 3 transmits the telephone number of the cellular phone 3 to the printer 32 as a communication start signal (S41). When the print job management unit 21 of the printer 32 receives the telephone number of the mobile phone 3 from the infrared communication means 19 through the communication control unit 24 (S42), the print job to which the telephone number is assigned as the first identification code. The thumbnail image corresponding to the print job is retrieved from the storage device 16 (S43).

  The print job management unit 22 passes the print job obtained as a result of the search to the print information extraction unit 23, and extracts the first print setting information given to the print job (S44). The print job management unit 22 pairs the extracted first print setting information, the second identification code, and the thumbnail image from the communication control unit 24 through the infrared transmission / reception means 19 to the infrared transmission / reception unit 29 of the mobile phone 3. Transmit (S45). Note that each stage from search to transmission is performed for all print jobs stored in the storage device 16 (S46). That is, there may be a plurality of pairs of the first print setting information, the second identification code, and the thumbnail image transmitted to the mobile phone 3. When the search of all the print jobs stored in the storage device 16 is completed, the print job management unit 22 sets at least one pair of the first print setting information, the second identification code, and the thumbnail image to the mobile phone 3. If so, the operation program 21 stored in the storage device 16 is transmitted to the mobile phone 3 (S47).

  When the user has received all the first print setting information, the second identification code, the thumbnail image pair, and the operation program 21 (S48), the user executes the operation program 21 (S49). ). The operation program 21 displays a print job list on the display unit 27 using the thumbnail image of the received pair of the first print setting information, the second identification code, and the thumbnail image (S50). The print job list displayed on the display means 27 at this time is as shown in FIG. 14, for example.

  The user selects a print job for which print setting is to be made from the print job list displayed on the display means 27 through the input means 28 (S51). The operation program 21 displays a print setting menu on the display unit 27 based on the first print setting information paired with the selected second identification code (S52). The user operates the print setting menu displayed on the display means 27 through the input means 28, and performs arbitrary print settings (S53). At this time, the thumbnail images displayed in the print job list are processed according to the print settings. That is, for example, if the color print job is changed to monochrome by changing the print setting, the thumbnail image also becomes monochrome. If the print job is enlarged / reduced, the thumbnail image is enlarged / reduced according to the set value. In this way, the user can set the printing conditions while looking at the list using thumbnail images, and a reliable setting change is realized.

  When the setting completion is input from the input unit 28 (S54), the operation program 21 stores the print setting set in the print setting menu as second print setting information (S55). Further, when printing start is input from the input unit 28 (S56), the operation program 21 sends the second print setting information and the second identification code from the communication control unit 30 through the infrared transmission / reception unit 29 to the infrared of the printer 32. The data is transmitted to the transmission / reception means 19 (S57).

  FIG. 15 is a flowchart from when the print setting change is applied to the print job stored in the printer 32 from the mobile phone 3 until printing is performed. When the print job management unit 22 of the printer 32 receives the second print setting information and the second identification code from the infrared transmission / reception means 19 through the communication control unit 24 (S58), the print job stored in the storage device 16 is received. From the job, a print job associated with the print job management number matching the second identification code is searched (S59). When the print job management unit 22 finds the print job, it overwrites the first print setting information given to the print job with the second print setting information (S60). The print job management unit 22 prints the print job by submitting the print job to the printing unit 20 (S61).

  As described above, the second embodiment can obtain the same effects as those of the first embodiment, and can newly obtain the following effects. According to the second embodiment, the printer 32 generates a thumbnail image of the received print job, and the operation program 21 of the mobile phone 3 changes to the print job management number in the print job list of the first embodiment, Use the output image of the print job. In the case of the list according to the job management number in the first embodiment, the user must know the job management number of the print job. However, in the case of the list of thumbnail images according to the second embodiment, it is only necessary to select the thumbnail image of the image 12, so that the operation becomes even easier than in the first embodiment.

  Further, according to the second embodiment, the thumbnail image is changed in accordance with the change of the print setting. In the first embodiment, it has not been possible to confirm how the change of the print setting gives the print job until printing is performed. However, according to the second embodiment, the thumbnail image is printed before printing. Since the change of the print setting can be confirmed, there is an effect of preventing a difference in the change of the print setting in advance.

  In both the first and second embodiments, the image forming apparatus is divided into a personal computer that is an image generation apparatus and a printer that is an image printing apparatus. However, the image generation apparatus and the image printing apparatus are described. May be included in the same device. Multifunction machines and facsimile machines are examples. A configuration in which a print server for managing print jobs is included between the personal computer and the printer in the first and second embodiments is also included in the image processing apparatus of the present invention. In both the first and second embodiments, the mobile phone number is used as the first identification code. However, the first identification code is a serial number or MAC address of the external terminal. Any value may be used as long as it is a unique value that can identify the external terminal that operates the operation program. In addition, various electronic devices such as a network scanner, a digital camera, a mobile phone, and a PDA may be used instead of a personal computer that is an image generation apparatus. Further, as an external device, a device such as a PDA or a laptop personal computer may be used.

  In both the first and second embodiments, the print job management number used by the print job management unit of the printer for managing the print job is used as the second identification code. May be a value that does not overlap in the printer, such as the reception date and time of a print job (for example, 20060101120000). In both the first and second embodiments, the short-range wireless data communication means has been described by taking short-range wireless data communication by infrared as an example. However, for example, data such as wireless LAN, USB connection, and Bluetooth connection can be used. Any means may be used as long as it can communicate.

  In the first and second embodiments, the procedure starts when the user enters the short-range wireless data communication area of the printers 2 and 32. It is also possible to connect the print job and the mobile phone 3 by prompting a telephone call or processing in an e-mail format.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a control block diagram of the personal computer concerning the 1st Embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a control block diagram of the printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a control block diagram of the mobile phone according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a flowchart for explaining a printing execution procedure in the image forming system according to the first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a data structure of a print job in the image forming system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a procedure for changing print setting information between the mobile phone and the printer in the image forming system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a list display example of print jobs in the image forming system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print setting menu in the image forming system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a printing procedure using second print setting information in the image forming system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a control block diagram of the printer concerning the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. 10 is a flowchart for explaining a printing execution procedure in the image forming system according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 10 is a flowchart for explaining a procedure for changing print setting information between a mobile phone and a printer in an image forming system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a list display example of print jobs in an image forming system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 10 is a flowchart for explaining a printing procedure using second print setting information in the image forming system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Personal computer 2, 32 Printer 3 Mobile phone 4 Local area network 5, 6 Short-range wireless data communication means 7 Short-range wireless data communication 8 Storage device 9 CPU
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Input means 11 Transmission means 12 Image 13 Print data generation part 14 Print job generation part 15 Communication control part 16 Storage device 17 CPU
18 Receiving means 19 Infrared transmitting / receiving means 20 Printing section 21 Operation program 22 Print job management section 23 Print information extraction section 24 Communication control section 25 Storage device 26 CPU
27 Display means 28 Input means 29 Infrared transmission / reception means 30 Communication control part 31 Thumbnail generation part

Claims (10)

A print information generation unit that generates print data including a first identification code and first print setting information;
A printing unit that performs required printing according to the print data from the print information generation unit;
An external device corresponding to the first identification code,
The image forming system, wherein the external device communicates with the printing unit to change the first print setting information to second print setting information. The print data is given a second identification code for each print unit, and the external device can change the first print setting information to the second print setting information for each print unit. The image forming system according to claim 1. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the external device is a mobile phone, and the first identification code is a telephone number. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein a program for changing the first print setting information to the second print setting information is transmitted to the external device. The image forming system according to claim 4, wherein the program for the external apparatus is transmitted when the first print setting information is transmitted to the external apparatus. The list of the print data for each print unit capable of changing the first print setting information to the second print setting information is displayed on the external device. The image forming system described. The image forming system according to claim 6, wherein a reduced display screen of the print data is displayed in the list. 8. The image forming system according to claim 7, wherein the reduced display screen of the print data is changed as the first print setting information is changed to the second print setting information. A print information generation unit that generates print data including a first identification code and first print setting information corresponding to a required external device;
A printing unit that performs required printing according to the print data from the print information generation unit,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the external device communicates with the printing unit to change the first print setting information to second print setting information. Generating print data including a first identification code and first print setting information corresponding to a required external device;
The first print setting information is changed to the second print setting information by communication using the external device, and then the required printing of the print data is performed according to the second print setting information. Image forming method.