JP2010058427A - Image forming apparatus, consumable order receiving apparatus, consumable management system and consumable management program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus, a consumable order receiving apparatus, a consumable management system and a consumable management program, avoiding the missing of information on the remaining amount of consumables. <P>SOLUTION: When an information accepting part 22 accepts transmitted data such as authentication information by non-contact communication from a portable communication device 32, a consumable remaining amount detecting part 24a detects the remaining amount of the consumables in parallel with authentication processing based on the accepted authentication information, A consumable remaining amount deciding part 24b decides whether the detected remaining amount of the consumables is a preset threshold or less. When it is decided that the remaining amount of the consumables is the preset threshold or less, a consumable information transmitting part 24c transmits consumable information including the kind, remaining amount, etc. of the consumables whose remaining amount is the threshold or less to the portable communication device 32. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, a consumables order receiving device, a consumables management system, and a consumables management program.

  Techniques have been proposed for automating the ordering of consumables used in copier toner (developer), printing paper and other office equipment, and ordering the consumables via a portable communication device. For example, in Patent Document 1 below, when the remaining amount of consumables is less than or equal to a threshold value, a notification to that effect is sent to the communication terminal device, and an order form is created and transmitted according to the instructions of the user who viewed this information. A configuration is disclosed.

JP 2007-336147 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus, a consumable ordering apparatus, a consumable management system, and a consumable management program that can expect a user carrying the mobile communication device used for authentication to execute a countermeasure regarding the consumable. There is.

  In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention provides an image according to non-contact communication means for performing non-contact communication and authentication of a portable communication apparatus by communication via the non-contact communication means. An image forming control unit configured to control the forming unit to form an image on a medium; and a consumable used by the image forming unit with respect to the authenticated portable communication device through communication via the non-contact communication unit. And a consumable information transmitting means for transmitting consumable information.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the consumable information transmission unit performs the authentication from the remaining amount of consumables when communicating with the portable communication device via the non-contact communication unit. A notification is made that the amount obtained by subtracting the amount of consumables scheduled to be used for image formation is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the consumable information transmission means has a remaining amount of consumables in another image forming apparatus equal to or less than a predetermined threshold. It is characterized by notifying.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to third aspects, the consumable item information transmitted by the consumable item information transmitting unit includes specific information for identifying the self-image forming apparatus. The image formation control unit suspends image formation according to the authentication until receiving a notification that the order of consumables for the self-image forming apparatus has been received from another apparatus that transmits the notification based on the specific information. It is characterized by doing.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect of the present invention, when the consumable information transmitting means receives a notification that the order of consumables for the self-image forming apparatus has been received, the consumable information transmission is performed. It is characterized by not performing.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an order receiving device for receiving consumable orders together with specific information for specifying an image forming apparatus, and communicating with the image forming apparatus in correspondence with the specific information. Information holding means for holding the destination information indicating the destination to which the consumables of the image forming apparatus are to be sent, and the specific information indicating that the order has been accepted using the communication information An order acceptance notifying means for notifying the image forming apparatus specified by the above, and an output means for outputting at least the contents of the accepted order in correspondence with the shipping destination.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a consumable item management system comprising: a non-contact communication unit that performs non-contact communication; and an image forming unit that controls the image forming unit according to authentication of the portable communication device through communication via the non-contact communication unit. Image forming control means for forming an image on a medium, and order information of consumables used by the image forming means for the authenticated portable communication device by communication via the non-contact communication means, Consumables information transmitting means for transmitting together with specific information for identifying the image forming apparatus, transmission data including authentication information to the image forming apparatus via the non-contact communication means, and the image A portable communication device that obtains the order information and the specific information from the forming device, and an order for consumables together with the specific information that specifies the image forming device from the portable communication device Corresponding to the specific information, the sentence accepting unit holds communication information for communicating with the image forming apparatus and shipping destination information indicating a shipping destination to which the consumable of the image forming apparatus is to be shipped. Corresponding information holding means, order reception notification means for notifying the image forming apparatus specified by the specific information that the order has been received using the communication information, and at least the contents of the received order and the shipping destination A consumables order receiving device, and the image forming control means of the image forming apparatus sends a notification that the order of consumables for the self-image forming apparatus has been accepted. The image formation according to the authentication is suspended until it is received from the apparatus.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a consumable item management program comprising: a computer having non-contact communication means for performing non-contact communication; and an image forming means in response to authentication of a portable communication device through communication via the non-contact communication means. Image forming control means for controlling to form an image on a medium; consumable information on consumables used by the image forming means for the authenticated portable communication device by communication via the non-contact communication means; It is made to function as a consumable information transmission means to transmit.

  According to the first and eighth aspects of the present invention, it is possible to expect the user carrying the portable communication device used for authentication to execute a countermeasure related to the consumable item.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the continuity of the operation of the image forming process can be enhanced as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to manage the remaining amount of consumables of other image forming apparatuses.

  According to the invention described in claim 4, it is possible to reliably order the missing consumables.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, consumables information is not transmitted even though consumables have already been ordered.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to notify the image forming apparatus that a consumable item has already been ordered, and to confirm that fact on the consumable item order receiving apparatus side.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the remaining amount of consumables and the presence / absence of an order can be managed on the image forming apparatus side and the consumable ordering apparatus side.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as an embodiment) will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows an example of the hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. 1, the image forming apparatus includes a central processing unit (for example, a CPU such as a microprocessor may be used) 10, a random access memory (RAM) 12, a read only memory (ROM) 14, a communication device 16, a printing device 18, and the like. A hard disk device (HDD) 20 is included. These components are connected to each other by a bus 21. The communication device 16 is connected to the bus 21 via the interface 16a, the printing device 18 via the interface 18a, and the hard disk device 20 via the interface 20a.

  The CPU 10 controls the operation of each unit described below based on a control program stored in the RAM 12 or the ROM 14. The RAM 12 mainly functions as a work area for the CPU 10, and the ROM 14 stores a control program such as BIOS and other data used by the CPU 10.

  The communication device 16 is configured by an interface capable of non-contact communication with a non-contact type IC card, for example, and is used by the CPU 10 to exchange data with a portable communication device equipped with the non-contact type IC card. The antenna unit 16b of the communication device 16 is attached to an appropriate position of the image forming apparatus, and the communication device 16 is located at a position where a portable communication device equipped with a non-contact type IC card can communicate with the antenna unit 16b. The data can be exchanged only at certain times. Note that the partner with which the communication device 16 communicates is not limited to the non-contact type IC card, and may be a communication means using a method such as infrared communication, for example. Moreover, a loop antenna etc. can be used for the antenna part 16b, for example.

  The printing device 18 includes a printer engine that forms an image using consumables, and prints printing data based on instruction information from the portable communication device. As the printer engine, for example, a laser printer engine that forms an image by an electrophotographic process is used. An ink jet printer engine that forms an image using ink and paper may also be used.

  Further, the hard disk device 20 stores various data necessary for processing to be described later. Instead of the hard disk device 20, a nonvolatile storage device such as an EEPROM may be used.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. In FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus includes functions of an information receiving unit 22, a consumable information processing unit 24, an authentication information storage unit 26, an authentication information matching unit 28, and a print processing unit 30. These functions are realized by, for example, the CPU 10 and a program for controlling the processing operation of the CPU 10.

  The information receiving unit 22 receives transmission data acquired from the mobile communication device 32 by the communication device 16 by non-contact communication. This transmission data is, for example, authentication information of the mobile communication device 32 or its user. Also, it may be print instruction information transmitted from the mobile communication device 32, information for inquiring the remaining amount of consumables, and the like. Further, it may be print target data or data for specifying a print target. The information receiving unit 22 may be configured to receive a notification from the mobile communication device 32 that an order for consumables, which will be described later, has been received.

  The consumable item information processing unit 24 includes a consumable item remaining amount detecting unit 24a, a consumable item remaining amount determining unit 24b, and a consumable item information transmitting unit 24c.

  The consumables remaining amount detection unit 24a detects the remaining amount of consumables using a sensor or the like provided for each consumable. Further, the count value of a counting device (counter) that counts the number of printed sheets may be detected. Here, the consumable item may be, for example, a toner, a printing paper, a printing drum, or a part that a repair person replaces according to a count value of the counting device, such as a paper feed roller.

  Further, the consumable item remaining amount determination unit 24b determines whether or not the consumable item remaining amount detected by the consumable item remaining amount detection unit 24a is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold. In the case of the count value output by the counting device, it may be determined whether or not the count value is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value.

  In addition, the consumable information transmission unit 24c notifies the mobile communication device 32 when the remaining amount of consumables is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold or when the count value is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold. To send consumables information. Here, the consumables information includes the type of consumables whose remaining amount is equal to or less than the threshold, the remaining amount, and the like. Further, when the count value is equal to or greater than the threshold value, it is preferable to include the type of replacement part. As described above, the consumable information transmitting unit 24c transmits the consumable information when the mobile communication device 32 transmits the authentication information, that is, when the information receiving unit 22 receives the transmission data by non-contact communication. The configuration is such that the user of the communication device 32 does not overlook the consumable information. The transmission of the consumable information may be the same communication method as the information receiving unit 22 or a different communication method. For example, a non-contact type IC card may be used or infrared communication may be used.

  Note that a configuration may be adopted in which a consumables ordering program is installed on the mobile communication device 32 side, and ordering processing is performed on the consumables order receiving device based on order information transmitted from the image forming apparatus. The configuration of the consumable order receiving apparatus in this case will be described later. When a consumables ordering program is installed on the mobile communication device 32 side, the consumables information transmitting unit 24c sends consumables order information together with the consumables information or instead of the consumables information. Send to. This order information includes the type and quantity of consumables to be ordered. Further, specific information for specifying the self-image forming apparatus is attached to the order information. Further, when the information receiving unit 22 receives a notification indicating that an order for consumables has been received from the consumables order receiving device, the consumables information transmitting unit 24c does not transmit consumables information.

  The authentication information storage unit 26 stores the authentication information of the mobile communication device 32 or its user in the hard disk device 20 and passes the verification authentication information to the authentication information verification unit 28 in response to a request from the authentication information verification unit 28. .

  The authentication information collation unit 28 collates the authentication information received by the information reception unit 22 with the verification authentication information acquired from the authentication information storage unit 26 and executes an authentication process. Here, the authentication information collating unit 28 may be configured to acquire the authentication information from the information receiving unit 22 by a method such as polling. As a result of collating the received authentication information with the verification authentication information, if the authentication is successful, the print processing unit 30 is notified. If the authentication fails, information to that effect is transmitted to the mobile communication device 32 via the communication device 16.

  When the print processing unit 30 receives a notification that the authentication is successful from the authentication information matching unit 28, the print processing unit 30 causes the printing apparatus 18 to print the print target data based on the transmission data received by the information receiving unit 22, and the image is printed on the medium. To form. In the case where the consumable information transmitting unit 24c executes the order process, image formation based on the transmission data is performed until the information receiving unit 22 receives a notification that the consumables order has been received from the consumables order receiving device. Defer processing.

  FIG. 3 shows a flow of an operation example of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. In FIG. 3, when the information receiving unit 22 receives transmission data such as authentication information from the portable communication device 32 (S101), the consumable item remaining amount detecting unit 24a performs the remaining consumable item in parallel with the authentication process based on the authentication information. The amount is detected (S102). The consumable item remaining amount detection unit 24a may detect the count value output by the above-described counting device.

  Next, the consumables remaining amount determination unit 24b determines whether or not the remaining amount of consumables detected in S102 is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold (S103). As described above, in the case of the count value output by the counting device, it is determined whether or not the count value is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value.

  In S103, when the remaining amount of consumables is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value, or when the count value is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value, the consumable information transmission unit 24c transmits the portable communication device 32. The consumables information is transmitted to (S104). In S103, if the remaining amount of consumables is greater than a predetermined threshold and if the count value is less than a predetermined threshold, the process is terminated.

  FIG. 4 shows another functional block diagram of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. The same elements as those in FIG. In FIG. 4, a characteristic point is that the authentication information collating unit 28 notifies the consumables information transmitting unit 24c when the authentication is successful. In the present embodiment, the consumable information transmission unit 24c authenticates the authentication information when the remaining amount of consumables is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold, or when the count value is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold. The consumables information is transmitted to the mobile communication device 32 only when a notification that the authentication is successful is received from the verification unit 28. Even when the authentication is successful, the user may be identified as an administrator or a general user, and the consumable information may be transmitted to the mobile communication device 32 only when the user is an administrator.

  FIG. 5 shows a flow of an operation example of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. In FIG. 5, when the information receiving unit 22 receives transmission data such as authentication information from the mobile communication device 32 (S201), the consumables remaining amount detection unit 24a performs the remaining consumables in parallel with the authentication process based on the authentication information. The amount is detected (S202). The consumable item remaining amount detection unit 24a may detect the count value output by the above-described counting device.

  Next, the consumables remaining amount determination unit 24b determines whether or not the remaining amount of consumables detected in S202 is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold (S203). As described above, in the case of the count value output by the counting device, it is determined whether or not the count value is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value.

  In S203, when the remaining amount of the consumables is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value, or when the count value is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold value, the consumable information transmission unit 24c performs the authentication information verification unit. It is determined whether or not a notification indicating that the authentication has succeeded has been received from 28 (S204). When the notification that the authentication is successful is received, the consumable information is transmitted to the mobile communication device 32 (S205).

  In S203, when the remaining amount of consumables is greater than a predetermined threshold value and when the count value is smaller than a predetermined threshold value, the process ends. In S204, the process is also terminated when a notification indicating that the authentication has succeeded has not been received.

  FIG. 6 shows still another functional block diagram of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. The same elements as those in FIG. In FIG. 6, a characteristic point is that the consumable information processing unit 24 has a consumable consumption calculation unit 24d.

  The consumables consumption calculation unit 24d receives print target data that the print processing unit 30 causes the printing apparatus 18 to print when authentication by the authentication information collating unit 28 is successful, and is scheduled to be performed using the print target data. The amount of consumables used for image forming processing such as printing processing is calculated. Alternatively, the increment of the count value described above may be calculated. The calculated amount of consumables is passed to the consumables remaining amount determination unit 24b. The consumable item remaining amount determination unit 24b subtracts the consumable item amount passed from the consumable item consumption calculation unit 24d from the consumable item remaining amount detected by the consumable item remaining amount detection unit 24a, and the consumable item remaining amount as a result. Is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold. In the case of the count value output by the counting device, it is determined whether or not the count value obtained by adding the above calculated value to the count value detected by the consumables remaining amount detection unit 24a is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value. You may judge.

  FIG. 7 shows a flow of an operation example of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. In FIG. 7, when the information receiving unit 22 receives transmission data such as authentication information from the mobile communication device 32 (S301), the consumables remaining amount detecting unit 24a performs the remaining consumables in parallel with the authentication process based on the authentication information. The amount is detected (S302). The consumable item remaining amount detection unit 24a may detect the count value output by the above-described counting device.

  Next, the consumable consumption calculation unit 24d acquires print target data to be printed from the print processing unit 30 (S303). In addition, the consumable consumption calculation unit 24d calculates the amount of consumables to be used for the printing process scheduled to be performed using the acquired print target data (S304). Or the increment of the count value mentioned above is calculated. Note that the print target data is acquired when the authentication information verification unit 28 succeeds in authentication. However, if the authentication fails, the print processing is not performed. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which no product is used. The calculated amount of consumables is passed to the consumables remaining amount determination unit 24b.

  The consumables remaining amount determination unit 24b subtracts the amount of consumables scheduled to be used calculated in S304 from the remaining amount of consumables detected in S302 (S305). In the case of the count value output by the counting device, a process of adding the calculated value described above to the count value detected by the consumables remaining amount detection unit 24a is performed.

  Next, the consumables remaining amount determination unit 24b determines whether or not the subtraction result in S305 is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold (S306). In the case of the count value output by the above-described counting device, it is determined whether or not the count value obtained by adding the calculated value is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value.

  In S306, if the remaining amount of consumables is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold, or if the count value obtained by adding the calculated value is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, the consumables information transmitting unit 24c The consumable information is transmitted to the mobile communication device 32 (S307). In S306, if the remaining amount of consumables is greater than a predetermined threshold value, or if the count value obtained by adding the calculated value is smaller than a predetermined threshold value, the process ends.

  FIG. 8 shows still another functional block diagram of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. The same elements as those in FIG. In FIG. 8, a characteristic point is that the consumable information transmission unit 24 c obtains a consumable remaining amount determination result and device information (such as identification information) from another image forming apparatus 100 in advance. . The consumable information transmitting unit 24c performs the mobile communication when the remaining amount of consumables in the other image forming apparatus 100 is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold or when the count value is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold. Consumable information is transmitted to the device 32.

  FIG. 9 shows a flow of an operation example of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. In FIG. 9, when the information receiving unit 22 receives transmission data such as authentication information from the portable communication device 32 (S401), the consumable item remaining amount detecting unit 24a performs the remaining consumable item in parallel with the authentication process based on the authentication information. The amount is detected (S402). Note that the predetermined information in S401 may be print instruction information or information for inquiring the remaining amount of consumables instead of the authentication information. Further, the consumable item remaining amount detection unit 24a may detect the count value output by the above-described counting device.

  Next, the consumable item remaining amount determination unit 24b determines whether or not the consumable item remaining amount detected in S402 is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold (S403). As described above, in the case of the count value output by the counting device, it is determined whether or not the count value is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value.

  In S403, if the remaining amount of consumables is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value, or if the count value is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value, the consumable information transmission unit 24c causes the mobile communication device 32 to The consumable information is transmitted to (S404), and the process proceeds to S405. In S403, the process also proceeds to S405 when the remaining amount of consumables is larger than a predetermined threshold and when the count value is smaller than a predetermined threshold.

  Next, the consumable information transmission unit 24c determines that the remaining amount of consumables in the other image forming apparatus 100 is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold based on the determination result of the remaining amount of consumables received from the other image forming apparatus 100. It is determined whether or not (S405). As described above, in the case of the count value output by the counting device, it is determined whether or not the count value is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value.

  If the remaining amount of consumables in the other image forming apparatus 100 is equal to or smaller than a predetermined threshold in S405, or if the count value is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, the consumable information transmission unit 24c transmits the consumable information of the other image forming apparatus 100 together with the device information to the portable communication device 32 (S406). In S405, if the remaining amount of consumables is greater than a predetermined threshold and if the count value is less than a predetermined threshold, the process ends.

  FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram of the consumable goods order receiving apparatus 34 according to the embodiment. In FIG. 10, the consumable order receiving apparatus 34 includes a communication processing unit 36, an order information receiving unit 38, an information holding unit 40, an order reception notifying unit 42, and an output unit 44.

  The communication processing unit 36 communicates with the mobile communication device 32 via the Internet or the like, for example, and receives consumables order information from the mobile communication device 32 together with specific information for specifying the image forming apparatus. In addition, a notification that an order for consumables has been received is transmitted to the communication device 16 on the image forming apparatus side.

  The order information receiving unit 38 receives the order information and specific information of consumables received by the communication processing unit 36. When consumables order information is received, the consumables are ordered from a consumable supplier according to a predetermined procedure. At this time, a configuration may be adopted in which the approval of the consumables ordering manager is received.

  The information holding unit 40 represents a shipping destination to which communication information for communicating with the image forming apparatus and consumables of the image forming apparatus are sent to a storage device such as a hard disk device or an EEPROM in correspondence with the specific information. Holds shipping address information.

  When the order information receiving unit 38 receives the consumables order information, the order reception notifying unit 42 specifies the image forming apparatus that has transmitted the consumables order information based on the specific information, and the information holding unit 40 holds the communication. The information is used to notify the image forming apparatus via the communication processing unit 36 that the order has been accepted.

  The output unit 44 outputs at least the content of the order information received by the order information receiving unit 38 and the shipping destination information held by the information holding unit 40. Such information is output by, for example, outputting to a display screen, outputting print data to a printing apparatus, or the like.

  FIG. 11 is a functional block diagram of the consumable item management system according to the embodiment. In FIG. 11, the consumables management system includes the image forming apparatus, the portable communication device 32, and the consumables order receiving device 34.

  Further, FIG. 12 shows a flow of an operation example of the consumable management system shown in FIG. 11 and 12, when transmission data including authentication information, print target data, and the like is transmitted from the mobile communication device 32 (S501), the information reception unit 22 receives the transmission data on the image forming apparatus side, and is included in the transmission data. Based on the authentication information to be authenticated, the authentication information matching unit 28 executes an authentication process (S502). If authentication fails, information to that effect is transmitted to the mobile communication device 32 via the communication device 16.

  Next, in parallel with the authentication process performed by the authentication information matching unit 28, the consumable item remaining amount detecting unit 24a detects the remaining amount of consumable items (S503). The consumable item remaining amount detection unit 24a may detect the count value output by the above-described counting device. The consumable item remaining amount determination unit 24b determines whether or not the remaining amount of the consumable item detected in S503 is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold (S504). As described above, in the case of the count value output by the counting device, it is determined whether or not the count value is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value.

  In S504, if the remaining amount of consumables is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value, or if the count value is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value, the consumable information transmission unit 24c causes the mobile communication device 32 to The consumables order information is transmitted together with the specific information for specifying the image forming apparatus (S505). Consumables order information is transmitted in advance as an e-mail addressed to a destination e-mail address corresponding to the mobile communication device 32 specified by authentication by registering a destination e-mail address corresponding to the mobile communication device 32 in advance. It is good to send. In the present embodiment, the e-mail includes a link to the order receiving page of the consumables order receiving device 34. Note that non-contact communication or other communication means may be used instead of electronic mail.

  When the mobile communication device 32 receives the order information by e-mail or the like (S506), the mobile communication device 32 notifies the surroundings (S507). When the user who has received the notification displays an e-mail including order information on the display screen (S508) and selects a link to the order receiving page of the consumable order receiving device 34 included therein, the mobile communication device 32 is consumed. The ordering screen is requested to the product order receiving apparatus 34 (S509).

  The consumables order receiving device 34 receives an order screen request (S510), and returns order screen information to the portable communication device 32 via the communication processing unit 36 (S511).

  The portable communication device 32 displays the returned order screen information on the display screen (S512). In response to the user's ordering operation, the mobile communication device 32 transmits the ordering information and specific information including the consumables to be ordered to the consumables order receiving device 34 and the quantity thereof, and orders the consumables (S513).

  The consumables order receiving device 34 receives the order information and the specific information (S514), transmits an order response to the mobile communication device 32 that ordered the consumables (S515), and notifies that the order has been received. The mobile communication device 32 that has received this order response displays the order result on the display screen (S516).

  In addition, the consumables order receiving device 34 performs an order receiving process based on the ordering information and issues an order notifying that the order of consumables has been received to the image forming apparatus specified by the specific information (S517). This order notification is received by the authentication information verification unit 28 of the image forming apparatus. Further, the output unit 44 outputs at least the contents of the order information received by the order information receiving unit 38 and the shipping destination information held by the information holding unit 40 (S518).

  On the image forming apparatus side, the print processing unit 30 monitors whether or not the authentication information collating unit 28 has received the order notification (S519), and holds the image forming process based on the transmission data until the order notification is received. . In S519, when the order notification is received, an image forming process based on the transmission data received from the mobile communication device 32 is executed (S520). Further, when receiving the order notification, the authentication information collating unit 28 prohibits the consumable information transmitting unit 24c from transmitting the consumable information (S521).

  If the remaining amount of consumables is not less than or equal to the predetermined threshold in S504, or if the count value is not greater than or equal to the predetermined threshold, the process proceeds to S520, and the image forming process is executed. The

  The program for executing the steps of FIGS. 3, 5, 7, 9, and 12 described above can be stored in a recording medium, and the program is provided by communication means. You may do it. In that case, for example, the above-described program may be regarded as an invention of a “computer-readable recording medium recording the program”.

1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. 1 is a functional block diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an operation example of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 6 is another functional block diagram of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an operation example of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is still another functional block diagram of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 7 is a flowchart of an operation example of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is still another functional block diagram of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 9 is a flowchart of an operation example of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 8. It is a functional block diagram of the consumable goods order receiving apparatus concerning an embodiment. It is a functional block diagram of the consumables management system concerning an embodiment. FIG. 12 is a flowchart of an operation example of the consumable management system illustrated in FIG. 11.

Explanation of symbols

  10 CPU, 12 RAM, 14 ROM, 16 communication device, 16a, 18a, 20a interface, 16b antenna unit, 18 printing device, 20 hard disk device, 21 bus, 22 information receiving unit, 24 consumables information processing unit, 24a consumables Remaining amount detection unit, 24b Consumables remaining amount determination unit, 24c Consumables information transmission unit, 24d Consumables consumption calculation unit, 26 Authentication information storage unit, 28 Authentication information collation unit, 30 Print processing unit, 32 Mobile communication device, 34 consumables order receiving device, 36 communication processing unit, 38 order information receiving unit, 40 information holding unit, 42 order receiving notification unit, 44 output unit, 100 other image forming apparatus.

Claims (8)

Non-contact communication means for performing non-contact communication;
Image forming control means for controlling the image forming means in accordance with authentication of the portable communication device by communication via the non-contact communication means to form an image on a medium;
Consumables information transmitting means for transmitting consumables information on the consumables used by the image forming means to the authenticated mobile communication device through communication via the non-contact communication means;
An image forming apparatus comprising:   2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the consumable information transmitting unit is used for image formation according to the authentication from a remaining amount of consumables when communicating with the portable communication device via the non-contact communication unit. An image forming apparatus that notifies that an amount obtained by subtracting a scheduled amount of consumables is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value.   3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the consumable information transmitting unit notifies that the remaining amount of consumables in another image forming apparatus is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value. An image forming apparatus.   4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the consumable item information transmitted by the consumable item information transmitting unit includes identification information for identifying a self-image forming device, and the image forming control unit. 5. The image forming apparatus according to the authentication is suspended until a notification that the consumables order of the self-image forming apparatus has been received is received from another apparatus that transmits the notification based on the specific information. Image forming apparatus.   5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the consumable information transmitting means does not transmit consumable information when receiving a notification that an order for consumables of the self-image forming apparatus has been received. An image forming apparatus. Order receiving means for receiving an order for consumables together with specific information for specifying the image forming apparatus;
Information holding means for holding communication information for communicating with the image forming apparatus in correspondence with the specific information and shipping destination information indicating a shipping destination to which the consumables of the image forming apparatus should be shipped;
Order reception notification means for notifying the image forming apparatus specified by the specific information that the order has been received using the communication information;
An output means for outputting at least the contents of the received order in correspondence with the shipping destination;
Consumables order receiving device characterized by comprising: Non-contact communication means for performing non-contact communication;
Image forming control means for controlling the image forming means in accordance with authentication of the portable communication device by communication via the non-contact communication means to form an image on a medium;
Consumables information transmission that transmits order information of consumables used by the image forming unit together with specific information for identifying the self-image forming apparatus to the portable communication device authenticated by communication via the non-contact communication unit Means,
An image forming apparatus comprising:
A mobile communication device that transmits transmission data including authentication information to the image forming apparatus via the non-contact communication unit, and acquires the order information and the specific information from the image forming apparatus;
Order accepting means for accepting an order for consumables together with specific information for identifying the image forming apparatus from the portable communication device;
Information holding means for holding communication information for communicating with the image forming apparatus in correspondence with the specific information and shipping destination information indicating a shipping destination to which the consumables of the image forming apparatus should be shipped;
Order reception notification means for notifying the image forming apparatus specified by the specific information that the order has been received using the communication information;
An output means for outputting at least the contents of the received order in correspondence with the shipping destination;
A consumables ordering device comprising:
Have
The image forming control means of the image forming apparatus suspends image formation according to the authentication until receiving a notification from the consumables order receiving device that an order for consumables of the self-image forming apparatus has been received. Product management system. A computer having a non-contact communication means for performing non-contact communication,
Image forming control means for controlling the image forming means in accordance with authentication of the portable communication device by communication via the non-contact communication means to form an image on a medium;
Consumable item information transmitting means for transmitting consumable item information regarding the consumable item used by the image forming unit to the portable communication device authenticated by communication via the non-contact communication unit;
Consumables management program characterized by functioning as

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