JP2008097239A - Image output control method, image output control apparatus, image formation system, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely make correspondence between a reservation number and a reserved document in a network printing system capable of achieving reserved printing. <P>SOLUTION: An image input terminal 3 provided with a function for supplying a document to be reserved, an e-mail receiving terminal 4 for receiving an e-mail, a document management apparatus 7 provided with a function for setting reservation specification information for specifying a reserved document in image formation output reserved from the image input terminal 3 and notifying the set reservation specification information to the e-mail receiving terminal 4 correspondingly to the reserved document, and an image forming apparatus 5 for executing the image formation output of the reserved document on the basis of the input of the reservation specification information are connected through a network 9. The document management apparatus 7 notifies a reservation number for specifying the reserved document to the e-mail receiving terminal 4 capable of receiving an e-mail correspondingly to the reserved document. The reservation specification information and the reserved document can be simultaneously managed in one mail and correspondence between both of them can be surely made. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image output control method, an image output control device, an image forming system, and a program. More specifically, the present invention relates to a mechanism capable of reserving image output (printing) of a document via a communication line and then going to a place where an image forming apparatus is installed and instructing actual output.

  Today, as information and communication technology advances, even in the world of printing, images that are printed out by connecting a user terminal and an image forming apparatus such as a printer or multifunction device via a communication line such as the Internet. There is a forming system (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2004-139406 A

  For example, in the structure of the photo print ordering system described in Patent Document 1, an image is uploaded from a homepage of a major photo shop or an Internet provider affiliated with a photo service company, and a photo print is ordered on the homepage via the Internet line. Then, the order content is transmitted to the photo service company on the net, the photo service company's net server receives the order content on the Web, the product process of the photo service company finishes the print, and the finished print is the user who is the orderer Is going to pick up at the designated place.

  Here, in the mechanism described in Patent Document 1, in order to enable a user who is an orderer to confirm whether or not the contents ordered by himself / herself are accepted according to the contents of the order, it is possible to specify the acceptance of the print order accepted by the receiving server. In addition to generating information (reception number), an order confirmation email including the reception number, total order amount, and confirmation of order contents is transmitted to the user terminal and the store where the user receives prints via the Internet line.

  On the other hand, as another usage of the image forming system, it is possible to reserve the output of a document desired to be output, and then go to the place where the image forming apparatus is installed and the user can instruct the actual output. There is also a net print system.

  For example, there is currently a net print system that enables printing using a multifunction machine installed in a convenience store (convenience store) or the like. In this case, the user name registered in advance is logged on on the Web browser. Then, a document stored in a user terminal or a web server in a predetermined file format is transmitted to a print center provided with a print server device. The print center converts the document sent by the user on the server into an intermediate file that is more suitable for printout if necessary, stores it on the server, and sends the print reservation number to the mail address of the user terminal. Yes. The user can go to the place where the image forming apparatus is installed and input the print reservation number to the image forming apparatus, thereby printing the document reserved for output.

  However, in the conventional mechanism, the document that has been reserved for output and the print reservation number that is notified as the contents of the email are managed separately, and the document that has been reserved for output does not have information on the print reservation number itself. The correspondence between the print reservation document and the print reservation number was difficult to understand.

  If there is one document for which the user has reserved an output and there is one print reservation number corresponding to the document, there will be no problem even if they are managed separately. However, when an output reservation is made for a plurality of documents, a print reservation number is notified by e-mail for each document, so it is possible to specify which of the print reservation numbers notified by e-mail corresponds to which document. Otherwise, when each document is to be output at a different time, it is difficult to know which print reservation number should be input to the image forming apparatus at the time of output instruction.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a mechanism capable of reliably associating reservation specifying information with a reserved document.

  In the mechanism according to the present invention, reservation specification information is set by the reservation specification information setting unit for the image forming output reserved from the user terminal, and the set reservation specification information is associated with the reserved document. In addition, the mail notification unit notifies the user terminal that can receive e-mail.

  The mechanism according to the present invention can be realized by software using an electronic computer (computer), and a program for this purpose and a recording medium storing this program can also be extracted as an invention. The program may be provided by being stored in a computer-readable storage medium, or may be provided by distribution via wired or wireless communication means.

  According to the present invention, reservation specifying information for specifying a document reserved for image formation output is associated with the reserved document and notified to a user terminal capable of receiving an e-mail by e-mail. Therefore, the reservation specifying information and the reservation document can be managed at the same time in one mail, and the correspondence between them can be surely taken.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

<System configuration>
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a net print system which is an embodiment of an image forming system. As shown, the net print system 1 is
The net print system 1 has an image input terminal 3 capable of making a reservation for image output, reads an image, performs print processing based on the read image, and performs print processing based on received print data. A print server apparatus (reserved print control server) installed in a print center having an image forming apparatus 5 as an image output terminal installed in a convenience store or the like, and a storage device for storing print data supplied to the image forming apparatus 5 A document management device 7 is connected to a network 9 such as the Internet.

  In the figure, each of the image forming apparatus 5 and the document management apparatus 7 is composed of one, but actually, a plurality of them may be arranged. Further, although the image forming apparatus 5 and the document management apparatus 7 are connected by the network 9, they may be configured integrally by connecting them directly.

  The image forming apparatus 5 can start a job by a user operation from a user interface device provided in the main body or a start instruction from an image input terminal on a network.

  For example, various image input terminals 3 are connected to the image forming apparatus 5 so that data to be processed is input. For example, the image input terminal 3 creates a digital document (hereinafter simply referred to as a document) DOC and performs processing such as editing, for example, a personal computer 3a, a color scanner 3b, a digital camera 3c, or a hard disk device or optical It can include any number of image input sources such as a data storage device 3d that functions as a document box such as a magnetic disk device or an optical disk device, and further a FAX device 3e.

  The Web server 3f on the Internet can also be an image input source for inputting a digital document such as a home page to the image forming apparatus 5, and a mobile terminal 3g such as a mobile phone or a PDA is also obtained by the digital terminal 3g. It can be an image input source for inputting documents.

  Note that the personal computer 3a and the portable terminal 3g not only function as the input terminal 3 that supplies document data to be printed out by the image forming apparatus 5, but also receive a reservation confirmation mail when instructing reservation printing by e-mail. It can also function as the receiving e-mail receiving terminal 4.

  In other words, the net print system 1 which is an example of an image forming system includes an image input terminal 3 as a user terminal having a function of supplying a document to be reserved and a user terminal having a function of receiving an e-mail. Reservation specifying information (reservation number) for specifying a reserved document is set for the e-mail receiving terminal 4 and the image forming output reserved from the image input terminal 3, and the set reservation specifying information is reserved. A document management device 7 having a server device function for notifying the electronic mail receiving terminal 4 in association with the received document, and an image forming device for executing image formation output of the reserved document based on the user input of the reservation specifying information 5 are connected by a network 9.

  Each of the image input terminals 3 incorporates an application program for creating a document DOC. For example, electronic data representing the document DOC prepared on the image input terminal 3 side is described in an image format (for example, JPEG, BMP, PNG, etc.) that can be processed by the image forming apparatus 5 or the document management apparatus 7.

  The image forming apparatus 5 is, for example, a so-called multi-function machine (multifunction machine) having a copying function, a page printer function, and a facsimile transmission / reception function, and is configured as a digital printing apparatus.

  The image forming apparatus 5 roughly includes a controller having an image reading unit 10 that reads a document, an image processing function that performs desired image processing on input image data, and a control function that controls the operation of the entire terminal. An image output unit 30 that forms and outputs a visible image on a predetermined output medium based on image data from the unit 20 and the controller unit 20, and a built-in paper feed tray (three-stage configuration in the figure) or a manual feed tray A paper feed unit 80 that conveys printing paper as an output medium from any of the above to the image output unit 30.

  The image forming apparatus 5 can be connected to the image input terminal 3 and the document management apparatus 7 via a connection cable or a network. For example, it is connected to the network 9 by a CSMA / CD (Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection) type LAN (Local Area Network; for example, IEEE 802.3) or a Gigabit (Giga Bit) based LAN (hereinafter collectively referred to as a wired LAN). . The wired LAN can be a wireless LAN.

  With such a configuration, the image forming apparatus 5 is not limited to the printing function of the image read by the image reading unit 10, that is, the copying function, but the document management apparatus 7 is connected from the image input terminal 3 such as the personal computer 3 a or the data storage device 3 d. A function of printing an image based on document data, an image file, or the like acquired through the network is also provided.

  The image reading unit 10 also has a platen cover function, a document feeder (ADF (automatic document feeder)) 12 having no circulation function for transporting and discharging a document to a reading position on a reading table (platen glass) (not shown), A user interface (UI) unit 15 having an operation panel unit for displaying guidance information for using the device, predetermined information processing results, management information, and the like and an operation key unit for receiving various instruction inputs from the operator to the device And have. A card reading unit 17 that reads an ID card and other IC cards for user authentication is provided below the operation panel unit 15a and on the front side of the apparatus.

  A user interface device provided with a large user interface or a maintenance screen used in place of or together with the operation panel unit and the operation key unit may be provided.

  The image output unit 30 includes an image forming unit (which may include a double-sided copying unit) 32 and a discharge unit 36 having a plurality of discharge trays for discharging normal transport paper (recorded paper). .

  The image forming unit 32 converts the image represented by the image signal obtained by the image reading apparatus 10 into an electrophotographic type, a thermal type, a thermal transfer type, an ink jet type, or a similar conventional image forming process, A visible image is formed (printed), that is, copied on plain paper or thermal paper. For this reason, the image forming unit 32 includes, for example, a raster output scan (ROS) based print engine for operating the image forming apparatus 5 as a digital printing system.

  The processing substrate incorporated in the image forming apparatus 5 includes not only a processing unit for the image output unit 30 (particularly an image processing unit and a control unit) but also various image processing function units of the controller unit 20 and various types of the image forming apparatus 5 as a whole. A circuit for processing is mounted. For example, the document feeder 12, which is a resource constructed in the image forming apparatus 5, the user interface unit 15, the image reading unit (scanner unit) (not shown) of the image reading unit 10, the image forming unit 32, the discharge unit 36, or the paper feed A circuit for controlling the unit 80 and the like is mounted. A semiconductor storage medium is mounted on the processing board, and for example, processing programs for a copying application, a printer application, a facsimile (FAX) application, or other applications are stored.

  In addition, as a configuration unique to the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus 5 stores the reserved print data in a predetermined storage medium or a reserved print data acquisition unit 240 that acquires reserved print data, depending on the system configuration for realizing the reserved print function. The storage processing unit 260 may be provided.

  The document management apparatus 7 directly saves the reserved print target document requested from the image input terminal 3 as reserved print data, or converts it to an intermediate file suitable for print output as necessary and saves it as reserved print data. In addition, reservation specific information (reservation number) is generated for the received reservation print, and a confirmation mail is generated by associating the reservation number as reservation specification information with the reservation print data. The electronic mail receiving terminal 4 having a receiving function is transmitted through the network 9.

  Further, the document management device 7 outputs the reserved print data stored based on the request from the image forming device 5 when the user inputs reservation specifying information to the image forming device 5 using the image forming device 5. The data is transmitted to the forming apparatus 5 via the network 9.

<Image Output Control Device; First Embodiment>
FIG. 2 shows an image input terminal 3, image formation, focusing on a functional part that stores a document to be reserved for printing in the document management device 7 (or the image forming device 5) and then enables print output at a predetermined timing. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating a first embodiment of a basic configuration of a device 5 and a document management device 7. FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a reservation confirmation mail employed in the first embodiment.

  In realizing the reserved printing function, it is free to provide a storage device for storing the reserved print data, and the reserved print data is created, and the reserved print data is stored in the storage device, read out, and printed out. It is also free to provide various functional parts for the purpose.

  In the following description, the entire system is described as an image output control device that realizes a reserved printing function regardless of where each functional unit is provided.

  As shown in the figure, the image output control device 2 that realizes the reserved printing function includes a control unit 100 that controls the overall operation of the image output control device 2 and an instruction reception unit 110 that receives an operation instruction of the image output control device 2. A display unit 120 that displays an operation menu, displays an operation state of the apparatus and various types of information, and a communication interface unit 130 that functions as an interface with a network.

  As the instruction receiving unit 110, for example, an operation key unit of a user interface unit can be used. Alternatively, a keyboard or mouse can be used.

  The display unit 120 includes a display control unit and a display device. As the display device, for example, an operation panel unit of a user interface unit can be used. Alternatively, other display units such as CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) or LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) can be used.

  For example, the display control unit displays guidance information and other information on the operation panel unit and the display unit. It is also used as a display device for notifying the user of various information. In addition, by using a display unit having a touch panel on the display surface, the instruction receiving unit 110 that inputs predetermined information with a fingertip or a pen can be configured.

  In addition, the image output control device 2 includes a reserved print processing unit 200 that implements a reserved print function as a configuration unique to the present embodiment. The reserved print processing unit 200 includes a reserved print data acquisition unit 240 that acquires reserved print data, and a storage processing unit 260 that stores the reserved print data in a predetermined storage medium. In the case of a system configuration in which the image forming apparatus 5 includes a storage processing unit 260 for storing reserved print data, data transfer between the reserved print data acquisition unit 240 and the storage processing unit 260 may be performed via a system bus. It can be done directly.

  The storage processing unit 260 has different server management levels, such as whether it is compatible with large-capacity reserved print data storage or only small-capacity reserved print storage. Can do.

  The reserved print processing unit 200 includes a reserved print data output unit 280 that reads reserved print data from the storage processing unit 260 and supplies the reserved print data to the image forming apparatus 5.

  The reserved print data acquisition unit 240 sets the reserved print target document itself received from the image input terminal 3 or other intermediate files as reserved print data.

  The storage processing unit 260 includes a storage control unit 262 that controls the storage of reserved print data, and one or a plurality of storage units 268 having a hard disk device or a semiconductor storage medium that holds data related to reserved printing.

  When storing the reserved print data in the storage unit 268, the storage control unit 262 stores the reservation number and the reserved print data in association with each other.

  The storage unit 268 includes a reserved print data storage area 268a for storing reserved print data, and a reserved print control data area 268b for storing a reservation number for controlling reserved printing and other control information. It has a reserved print database 269 to be added and stored.

  The storage unit 268 provided on the image forming apparatus 5 side also includes input image data (including reserved print data) such as a read image read by the image reading unit 10 and print image data acquired via the communication interface unit 130. And an output work area (intermediate data storage area) 268c for temporarily storing job environment data at the time of operation when printing output image data based on the input image data.

  A storage unit 268 provided on the document management apparatus 7 side stores a work area (reception data storage area) for temporarily storing reserved print data (document data and job environment data) received from the image input terminal 3. ) 268d.

  When the data storage in the reserved print database 269 of the storage unit 268 provided in the image forming apparatus 5 or the document management apparatus 7 is completed, the storage control unit 262 deletes the data temporarily stored in the work areas 268c and 268d.

  If the reserved print data can be appropriately stored in the reserved print database 269 of the storage unit 268, the storage control unit 262 notifies the control unit 100 accordingly. In response to this, the control unit 100 controls the reservation print processing unit 200 to notify the image input terminal 3 that the reservation output processing is possible in the image forming apparatus 5 and the reservation number.

  For this reason, the reserved print processing unit 200 includes a functional part described below as a configuration unique to the present embodiment. First, the reserved print data acquisition unit 240 receives a document sent from the image input terminal 3 via the network 9 via the communication interface unit 130 and a document sent from the image input terminal 3. A document type determining unit 244 that determines the type of the document, and a document converting unit 246 that refers to the determination result of the document type determining unit 244 and converts the file into an intermediate file more suitable for print output as necessary.

  The document type determination unit 244 determines whether the document sent from the image input terminal 3 via the network 9 is a document that can be received by the document management apparatus 7 as a print server, or a document to which a reservation number can be added. Judge whether it is.

  When the document type determination unit 244 determines that the document type determination unit 244 is an acceptable document and a document to which a reservation number can be added, the document conversion unit 246 determines the file format of the document, and prints more. When the file format is suitable for the intermediate file, the document is converted into the intermediate file, and the converted intermediate file is transferred to the storage processing unit 260 as reserved print data and stored in the storage unit 268. On the other hand, when the file format cannot be converted into an intermediate file, the reserved print data acquisition unit 240 passes the received document itself as reserved print data to the storage processing unit 260 and stores it in the storage unit 268.

  The reservation printing processing unit 200 is an example of a reservation specifying information setting unit that adds a reservation number as reservation specifying information to a document to be reserved printing sent from the image input terminal 3 via the network 9. Number addition setting section 250, mail address recognition section 252 for determining the mail address of the user terminal that has designated reservation printing by operating image input terminal 3, and reservation as reservation specifying information set by the reservation number addition setting section A mail notification unit 254 that associates a number with a reserved document and notifies a user terminal that can receive an electronic mail is provided.

  Here, the mail notification unit 254 according to the first embodiment sends a reservation confirmation mail including the reservation number set by the reservation number addition setting unit 250 to an e-mail addressed to the mail address of the user terminal recognized by the mail address recognition unit 252. And a mail transmission unit 256 for transmitting.

  The reservation number addition setting unit 250 adds a reservation number to the document when the document type determination unit 244 determines that the image output control apparatus 2 can accept the reserved print.

  The mail address recognizing unit 252 acquires the mail address entered by the user on the Web screen or the like at the time of reservation printing instruction.

  The image output control device 2 according to the first embodiment is characterized in that the mail transmission unit 256 transmits a reservation confirmation mail to the mail address of the user terminal in a state where the reservation print target document and the reservation number are associated with each other. Have.

  In particular, in the configuration of the first embodiment, the mail transmission unit 256 uses a reservation printing target as a method of associating a reservation number as reservation specifying information with a document for which reservation has been made, as shown in each drawing of FIG. It has a great feature in that it is sent in the form of a list in which the file name and reservation number of each document are associated with each other in one mail.

  More preferably, the link information indicating the storage destination of the document on the image input terminal 3 side is received, and the link information is also associated with the link information as in the reservation confirmation mail 1 shown in FIG. A confirmation email should be sent. Alternatively, instead of sending the link information, a reservation confirmation mail may be sent after linking the storage destination to the document file name as in the reservation confirmation mail 2 shown in FIG. By sending link information or setting a link, even if different documents with the same file name are stored in different route destinations, the document corresponding to the reservation number can be uniquely identified without confusion. Can be identified.

  Here, the file name of the document to be associated with the reservation number is the document receiving unit 242 as in the reservation confirmation mail 1 shown in FIG. 3A or the reservation confirmation mail 2 shown in FIG. The file name of the received document, that is, the document itself sent by the user for reserved printing from the image input terminal 3 may be used. This is to prevent the document for which the output reservation has been made and the reservation number notified as the mail contents from being separated.

  Note that the file name of the intermediate file created by the document conversion unit 246 can be used as in the reservation confirmation mail 3 shown in FIG. In this case, it may be difficult for the user who has instructed reserved printing to specify the file name of the corresponding original document only with the file name of the intermediate file. It is preferable to send a reservation confirmation mail in a list format in which link information indicating the storage destination of the document is also associated. Alternatively, instead of sending link information, as shown in the reservation confirmation mail 3 shown in FIG. 3B, a reservation confirmation mail is sent after linking the storage location of the original document to the file name of the intermediate file. Also good.

  Note that the various functional units such as the control unit 100 and the reserved print processing unit 200 are not limited to hardware processing circuits, and are software-like using a computer (computer) based on a program code that realizes the functions. It can also be realized.

  Therefore, a program suitable for realizing the image output control device 2 that realizes the reserved printing function by software using an electronic computer (computer) or a computer-readable storage medium storing the program is extracted as an invention. You can also.

  By adopting a mechanism that is executed by software, it is possible to have a configuration in which some of the functional elements configured by the hardware processing circuit shown in FIG. 2 are removed, and the processing can be performed without changing hardware. The advantage that procedures can be easily changed can be enjoyed. On the other hand, it is possible to construct an accelerator system with a higher speed by using a hardware processing circuit. Even if the processing is complicated, the accelerator system can prevent a reduction in processing speed and can obtain a high throughput.

  When making a computer execute a series of reserved printing functions by software, a computer (such as a built-in microcomputer) in which a program constituting the software is incorporated in dedicated hardware or a CPU (Central Processing Unit) , A logic circuit, a ROM (Read Only Memory) that is a read-only storage unit, a RAM (Random Access Memory) that is an example of a volatile storage unit that can be written and read at any time, or a nonvolatile storage unit An SOC (System On a Chip) that implements a desired system by mounting functions such as RAM (described as NVRAM) as an example on a single chip, or various types General-purpose personal computer that can execute various functions by installing programs Installed from the recording medium.

  The recording medium causes a state change of energy such as magnetism, light, electricity, etc. according to the description contents of the program to the reading device provided in the hardware resource of the computer, and in the form of a signal corresponding to the change. The program description can be transmitted to the reader.

  For example, a magnetic disk (including a flexible disk FD), an optical disk (CD-ROM (Compact Disc-Read Only Memory)), a DVD on which a program is recorded, which is distributed to provide a program to a user separately from a computer. (Including Digital Versatile Disc), magneto-optical disc (including MD (Mini Disc)), or package media (portable storage media) made of semiconductor memory, etc. It may be configured by a ROM, a hard disk, or the like in which a program is recorded, which is provided to the user in a state of being recorded.

  The program constituting the software is not limited to being provided via the recording medium without using the recording medium, and may be provided via a wired or wireless communication network.

  For example, a storage medium in which a program code of software for realizing a reserved printing function is recorded is supplied to a system or apparatus, and a computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus reads and executes the program code stored in the storage medium By doing so, the same effect as the case where the hardware processing circuit is used is achieved. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the reserved printing function.

  Further, not only the reserved printing function is realized by executing the program code read by the computer, but the OS (Operating Systems; basic software) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code is actually used. There may be a case where part or all of the processing is performed and the reserved printing function is realized by the processing.

  Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion card inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion is performed based on the instruction of the program code. The CPU or the like provided in the card or the function expansion unit may perform part or all of the actual processing, and the reserved printing function may be realized by the processing.

  The program is provided as a file describing a program code for realizing the reserved printing function. In this case, the program is not limited to being provided as a batch program file, but according to the hardware configuration of the system configured by the computer. The program modules may be provided as individual program modules.

  For example, the control unit 100 configured as a computer system includes a controller unit 101 and a predetermined storage medium such as a hard disk device, a flexible disk (FD) drive, a CD-ROM (Compact Disk ROM) drive, or a semiconductor memory controller. And a recording / reading control unit 102 for reading and recording data.

  The controller unit 101 includes a CPU 112, a ROM 113 that is a read-only storage unit, a RAM 115 that is an example of a volatile storage unit that can be written and read at any time, and a RAM (NVRAM) that is an example of a nonvolatile storage unit. 116).

  In the above description, the “volatile storage unit” means a storage unit in which the stored contents are lost when the power of the apparatus is turned off. On the other hand, the “nonvolatile storage unit” means a storage unit in a form that keeps stored contents even when the main power supply of the apparatus is turned off. Any memory device can be used as long as it can retain the stored contents. The semiconductor memory device itself is not limited to a nonvolatile memory device, and a backup power supply is provided to make a volatile memory device “nonvolatile”. You may comprise as follows.

  Further, the present invention is not limited to a semiconductor memory element, and may be configured using a medium such as a magnetic disk or an optical disk. For example, a hard disk device can be used as a nonvolatile storage unit. In addition, it is possible to use as a nonvolatile storage unit by adopting a configuration for reading information from a recording medium such as a CD-ROM.

  In such a configuration, the CPU 112 controls the entire system via the system bus 191. The ROM 113 stores a control program for the CPU 112 and the like. The RAM 115 is configured by SRAM (Static Random Access Memory) or the like, and stores program control variables, data for various processes, and the like. The RAM 115 also includes an area for temporarily storing data obtained by calculation according to a predetermined application program, data obtained from the outside, and the like.

  For example, a program for causing a computer to execute a reserved printing function is distributed through a recording medium such as a CD-ROM. Alternatively, this program may be stored in the FD instead of the CD-ROM. In addition, an MO drive may be provided to store the program in the MO, or the program may be stored in another recording medium such as a nonvolatile semiconductor memory card such as a flash memory. Furthermore, the program may be downloaded from another server or the like via a network such as the Internet, or may be updated or updated.

  As a recording medium for providing the program, in addition to FD and CD-ROM, optical recording medium such as DVD, magnetic recording medium such as MD, magneto-optical recording medium such as PD, tape medium, and magnetic recording A semiconductor memory such as a medium, an IC card, or a miniature card can be used. Some or all of the functions for realizing the reserved printing function can be stored in an FD or CD-ROM as an example of a recording medium.

  Further, the hard disk device includes an area for storing data for various processes by the control program, and temporarily storing a large amount of data acquired by the device itself or data acquired from the outside.

  With such a configuration, a reserved printing program is installed in the RAM 115 from a readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM storing a program for executing a reserved printing function to be described later according to a predetermined command, and an operation key unit The reserved printing program is activated by an instruction or automatic processing by the operator via

  The CPU 112 performs processing associated with a reserved printing method, which will be described later, according to the reserved printing program, stores the processing result in a storage device such as the RAM 115 or a hard disk, and outputs it to a display device such as an operation panel unit or a CRT or LCD as necessary. . By using a recording medium recorded with a program that executes the reserved printing method, it is possible to construct a reserved printing system for general use without changing the existing system.

  Note that the image is not limited to such a configuration using a computer, but is an image that is a main part of the net print system 1 that performs reserved printing by a combination of dedicated hardware that performs processing of each functional unit shown in FIG. The output control device 2 can also be configured.

<Processing Procedure; First Embodiment>
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure focusing on the reserved printing function in the net print system 1 including the image output control device 2 of the first embodiment. Here, the image forming apparatus 5 and the document management apparatus 7 are separate units as shown in FIG. 1, and are connected by the network 9, and the image output control apparatus 2 shown in FIG. A description will be given assuming that the system configuration is provided in the document management apparatus 7.

  First, a user who desires reserved printing accesses the document management apparatus 7 on a Web browser with a user name registered in advance using the image input terminal 3, logs on (S100), and starts a reserved printing program. (S102). Then, a document file desired for reserved printing is selected from documents stored in the image input terminal 3 (the personal computer 3a, the portable terminal 3g, or the Web server 3f) in a predetermined file format (S110). The sent document and the mail address indicating the destination of the reservation confirmation mail are transmitted to the print center provided with the document management apparatus 7 as the print server apparatus (S112).

  In the document management apparatus 7, the document reception unit 242 receives the document transmitted by the user via the communication interface unit 130 (S114). The mail address recognition unit 252 recognizes the mail address notified from the image input terminal 3 (S116), and passes the recognized mail address to the mail transmission unit 256 (S118).

  Next, the document type determination unit 244 determines the file format and the possibility of reserved printing (S120). If reserved printing is not possible (S120-NO), the mail transmission unit 256 indicates that fact. A reservation refusal mail is generated (S122) and transmitted to the mail address recognized by the mail address recognition unit 252 (S124).

  On the other hand, if reserved printing is possible (S120-YES), the document conversion unit 246 converts the file into an intermediate file more suitable for print output as necessary (S130), and stores it in the storage unit 268 of the storage processing unit 260 (S130). S132).

  If reservation printing is possible (S120-YES), the reservation number addition setting unit 250 sets a reservation number for the document to be reserved for printing (S140), and sends the set reservation number to the mail transmission unit 256. (S142).

  The mail transmission unit 256 associates the reservation number set by the reservation number addition setting unit 250 with the file name for specifying the document to be reserved for printing in any of FIGS. 3A to 3C. The reservation confirmation mail of the form shown is generated (S164), and the generated reservation confirmation mail is transmitted to the mail address recognized by the mail address recognition unit 252 (S168).

  The user who has instructed the reservation printing confirms the reservation confirmation mail transmitted from the image output control device 2 by the receiving terminal, so that the document instructing the reservation printing and the corresponding reservation number are contained in one mail. This can be confirmed in association (S170).

  Thereafter, the user specifies a document to be reserved for printing based on the notified reservation confirmation mail, and goes to a place where the image forming apparatus 5 is installed, and images the reservation number notified by the reservation confirmation mail. By inputting to the forming apparatus, an instruction to print out the document reserved for output is given (S180). In response to this, the image forming apparatus 5 sends the reservation number input by the user to the document management apparatus 7 (S182).

  The document management apparatus 7 searches the reserved print database 269 based on the reservation number received from the image forming apparatus 5 and extracts reserved print data corresponding to the reservation number from the reserved print data storage area 268a (S184). To the image forming apparatus 5. The image forming apparatus 5 executes the print output after receiving the reserved document stored in the reserved document management apparatus 7 via the network 9 (S186).

  Even when you make an output reservation for multiple documents, the reservation number for each document will be notified in the reservation confirmation email, so you can be sure which of the notified reservation numbers corresponds to which document. Therefore, even when each document is to be output at a different time, it can be surely determined which reservation number should be input to the image forming apparatus 5 at the time of output instruction.

  Documents and reservation numbers are handled in a unified manner by notifying information combining a document file name to be reserved for printing and a reservation number in a reservation confirmation mail sent from the print center (document management apparatus 7) to the user. And there is no problem that it is difficult to know which document is sent and what the reservation number is.

  Compared to a second embodiment to be described later, the transmission capacity of the reservation confirmation mail notified by e-mail can be reduced, and even when the mobile terminal 3g is set as the e-mail notification destination, the reservation confirmation e-mail is sent without any inconvenience. There are advantages that can be made.

<Image Output Control Device; Second Embodiment>
FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram showing a second embodiment of the image output control apparatus 2 that controls the reserved printing function. 6 to 8 are diagrams showing examples of attribute information of document files attached to the reservation confirmation mail adopted in the second embodiment. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a reservation confirmation mail employed in the second embodiment.

  In the second embodiment, when a reservation confirmation mail is transmitted to a mail address of a user terminal in a state in which a reservation print target document and a reservation number are associated with each other, as a method of association, And a reservation number is set in attribute information (so-called property) of the document file.

  For this reason, the mail notification unit 254 of the reserved print processing unit 200 of the second embodiment includes the user terminal that has recognized the reserved print target document to which the reservation number addition setting unit 250 has added the reservation number by the mail address recognition unit 252. An attachment file sending unit 258 for sending by e-mail to a mail address is provided.

  The attached file sending unit 258 adds the document itself received by the document receiving unit 242 and the intermediate file generated by the document conversion unit 246 to the reservation print target document to be attached to the reservation confirmation mail in the attribute information (property) of the document file. The reservation number set by the reservation number addition setting unit 250 is registered and set, and then sent to the mail transmission unit 256.

  As in the reservation confirmation mail 4 shown in FIG. 9A, the mail transmission unit 256 attaches the reservation print target document sent from the attached file transmission unit 258 to the reservation confirmation mail, and the mail address recognition unit 252 Send to a recognized email address.

  The attached file sending unit 258 adds the reservation number set by the reservation number addition setting unit 250 to the document and sends it as an attached file when the e-mail sending unit 256 sends the reservation confirmation mail.

  That is, in the configuration of the second embodiment, the attached file sending unit 258 uses the reservation number as the reservation specification information and the attribute information of the document for which the reservation specification information has been reserved as a method for associating the reservation document with the reservation number. This is characterized in that a user terminal capable of receiving an e-mail is notified of a document in which reservation specification information is set as attribute information.

  In FIG. 9A, the reservation number set by the reservation number addition setting unit 250 is described in the body of the reservation confirmation mail. However, like the reservation confirmation mail 5 shown in FIG. In the second embodiment, it is not essential to describe the reservation number in the text of the reservation confirmation mail. This is because the reservation number can be specified by checking the properties of the attached document file.

  Here, the attached file sending unit 258 responds to the file format of the document to be reserved for printing to be attached to the reservation confirmation mail, such as a file format determined by JPEG, bitmap, document creation software, or an intermediate file generated by the document conversion unit 246. To set the reservation number in the property.

  For example, FIG. 6 shows the case of a JPEG file. In the JPEG file, a user can embed arbitrary information as a property in a comment item. Therefore, the attached file sending unit 258 registers and sets the reservation number set by the reservation number addition setting unit 250 using this comment item as shown in the ellipse indicated by the arrow in the drawing.

  Thus, if the attached file sending unit 258 sends a JPEG file with a reservation number as additional information to the user by a reservation confirmation mail, the user can easily specify the reservation number by looking at the properties of JPEG.

  FIG. 7 shows a case of a document file (word processor creation file) created by document creation software. Some document files created by document creation software such as word processing software can also embed arbitrary information in a comment item as a property. In this case, the attached file sending unit 258 registers and sets the reservation number set by the reservation number addition setting unit 250 using this comment item, as shown in the ellipse indicated by an arrow in the drawing.

  Thus, if the attached file sending unit 258 sends a word processing document file with a reservation number as additional information to the user by a reservation confirmation mail, the user can easily specify the reservation number by looking at the properties of the word processing document file. Can do.

  FIG. 8 shows a case of an intermediate file generated by the document conversion unit 246. In the intermediate file generated by the document conversion unit 246, a reservation number is prepared as a property so as to be suitable for reserved printing. In this case, the attached file sending unit 258 registers and sets the reservation number set by the reservation number addition setting unit 250 using this reservation number item, as shown in the ellipse indicated by an arrow in the drawing.

  Thus, if the attached file sending unit 258 sends an intermediate file with a reservation number as additional information to the user by a reservation confirmation mail, the user can easily specify the reservation number by looking at the properties of the intermediate file. .

<Processing Procedure; Second Embodiment>
FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure focusing on the reserved printing function in the net print system 1 including the image output control device 2 of the second embodiment. In this case as well, the image forming apparatus 5 and the document management apparatus 7 are separate units as shown in FIG. 1, and are connected by the network 9, and the image output control apparatus 2 shown in FIG. A description will be given assuming that the system configuration is provided in the document management apparatus 7.

  In general, the processing procedure is the same as that of the first embodiment, except that processing according to the attachment file sending unit 258 is added.

  That is, when a reservation number is set for a document to be reserved for printing (S140), the reservation number addition setting unit 250 passes the set reservation number to the attached file sending unit 258 (S144). Although not essential, the reservation number may be passed to the mail transmission unit 256 (S142).

  The attached file sending unit 258 sets the reservation number set by the reservation number addition setting unit 250 in the property according to the file format of the document to be reserved for printing to be attached to the reservation confirmation email (S150). Then, the document file in which the reservation number is set as a property is passed to the mail transmission unit 256 (S152).

  The mail transmission unit 256 generates the reservation confirmation mail 4 shown in FIG. 9A when the reservation number is passed from the reservation number addition setting unit 250 (S164), while the reservation number addition setting unit 250 receives the reservation number. 9 is generated, the reservation confirmation mail 5 shown in FIG. 9B is generated (S164). At this time, the reservation print target document sent from the attached file sending unit 258 is attached to the reservation confirmation mail. (S166), it transmits to the mail address recognized by the mail address recognition unit 252 (S168).

  The user who has instructed the reservation printing confirms the property of the document file attached to the reservation confirmation mail transmitted from the image output control device 2, and thereby the document instructed the reservation printing, the corresponding reservation number, Can be confirmed in association in one mail.

  Thereafter, the user specifies the document to be reserved for printing based on the notified reservation confirmation mail, and goes to the place where the image forming apparatus 5 is installed, and the properties of the attached file notified by the reservation confirmation mail. By inputting the reservation number confirmed in step S1 to the image forming apparatus, an instruction is given to print out the document reserved for output (S180).

  Regardless of the file format of the document file to be attached to the reservation confirmation email, even if you make an output reservation for multiple documents, the reservation number is set in the attached file properties (additional information) and notified by the reservation confirmation email Therefore, by looking at the properties of the document file attached to the reservation confirmation mail, it can be surely specified which of the reservation numbers corresponds to which document (S172). Even when each document is to be output at a different time, it can be surely determined which reservation number should be input to the image forming apparatus 5 at the time of output instruction.

  By adding a reservation number to the property of the document to be reserved for printing in the reservation confirmation mail sent from the print center (document management apparatus 7) to the user, the document with the reservation number is sent to the user, The reservation number can be handled uniformly, and there is no problem that it is difficult to know which document is transmitted and what the reservation number is.

  The user can print a desired document on the image forming apparatus 5 installed in a convenience store or the like by viewing the document with the reservation number on the personal computer 3a, the portable terminal 3g, or the like without making a mistake in the reservation number.

  Further, compared to the first embodiment described above, since a document that can specify the reservation target document is attached to the reservation confirmation mail, the transmission capacity of the reservation confirmation mail increases, and the portable terminal 3g is connected to the mail notification destination. When setting to, there may be some difficulties. However, since it is possible not only to specify the reservation number based on the property but also to check the document by opening the attached document, it is possible to make a reservation object rather than relying on the file name as in the first embodiment. There is an advantage that it is easy to uniquely identify the document.

1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a net print system which is an embodiment of an image forming system. 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating a first embodiment of an image output control apparatus that controls a reserved printing function. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the reservation confirmation mail employ | adopted in 1st Embodiment. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure focusing on a reserved printing function in a net print system including the image output control apparatus according to the first embodiment. It is a functional block diagram which shows 2nd Embodiment of the image output control apparatus which controls a reservation printing function. It is a figure which shows an example of the attribute information of the document file (JPEG file) attached to the reservation confirmation mail employ | adopted in 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the attribute information of the document file (word processor creation file) attached to the reservation confirmation mail employ | adopted in 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the attribute information of the document file (intermediate file) attached to the reservation confirmation mail employ | adopted in 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the reservation confirmation mail employ | adopted by 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence which paid its attention to the reservation printing function in the net print system provided with the image output control apparatus of 2nd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Net print system (image forming system), 2 ... Image output control apparatus, 3 ... Image input terminal, 4 ... E-mail receiving terminal, 5 ... Image forming apparatus, 7 ... Document management apparatus, 9 ... Network, 100 ... Control 110: Instruction receiving unit, 120 ... Display unit, 130 ... Communication interface unit, 200 ... Reserved print processing unit, 240 ... Reserved print data acquiring unit, 242 ... Document receiving unit, 244 ... Document type determining unit, 246 ... Document Conversion unit 250... Reservation number addition setting unit 252... Mail address recognition unit 254... Mail notification unit 256 .. mail transmission unit 258 .. attached file sending unit 260 .. storage processing unit 262. ... Storage unit, 280 ... Reserved print data output unit

Claims (7)

Reserving document output from a user terminal connected via a communication line, receiving reservation specification information, and then inputting the reservation specification information to an image forming apparatus, thereby making an image formation output of the reserved document. An image output control method for instructing
The reservation specification information is set for the image formation output reserved from the user terminal, and the set reservation specification information is associated with the reserved document and notified to a user terminal capable of receiving an e-mail. An image output control method characterized by: Reservation specifying information is set when a document output reservation is received from a user terminal connected via a communication line, and image formation of the reserved document is performed when the reservation specifying information is received later. An image output control device for instructing output,
A reservation specifying information setting unit for setting the reservation specifying information for the image forming output reserved from the user terminal;
An email notification unit that associates the reservation specification information set by the reservation specification information setting unit with the reserved document and notifies a user terminal that can receive an e-mail; Output control device. The image output control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the mail notification unit notifies the reservation specifying information in association with a file name of a document that has made the reservation. The image output control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the mail notification unit notifies link information indicating a storage destination of the document for which the reservation has been made in association with the reservation specifying information. The mail notification unit associates the reservation specification information with the reserved document by setting the reservation specification information in the attribute information of the document that made the reservation, and sets the reservation specification information in the attribute information. The image output control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the received document is notified to a user terminal capable of receiving the electronic mail. An input terminal equipped with a function for supplying a document to be reserved;
An e-mail receiving terminal for receiving e-mail;
Reservation specifying information setting unit for setting reservation specifying information for specifying the document reserved for the image forming output reserved from the input terminal, and reservation specifying information set by the reservation specifying information setting unit In association with the reserved document, a server device comprising a mail notification unit for notifying the electronic mail receiving terminal,
An image forming system comprising: a communication line connected to an image forming apparatus that executes image forming output of the reserved document based on input of the reservation specifying information. Reservation specifying information is set when a document output reservation is received from a user terminal connected via a communication line, and image formation of the reserved document is performed when the reservation specifying information is received later. A program for performing a reserved print control process for instructing output using a computer,
The computer,
A reservation specifying information setting unit for setting the reservation specifying information for the image forming output reserved from the user terminal;
A program that functions as a mail notification section that associates the reservation specific information set by the reservation specific information setting section with the reserved document and notifies a user terminal that can receive an e-mail. .

Images