JP2010170235A - Image forming system and server device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent secret leakage from an image forming device. <P>SOLUTION: In this image forming system, composite machines 3, 3A, a server device 2, and a client device 1 generating image output data from document data and transmitting them to the server device 2 are connected to a network 7. The server device 2 stores the image output data into a prescribed storage device associatively to apparatus group identification information of an apparatus group corresponding to output drivers 11, 11A of a plurality of apparatus groups, receives user authentication information input based on user operation from one of the composite machines 3, 3A via the network 7, and transmits, to one of the composite machines 3, 3A, the image output data associated to the user authentication information and associated to the apparatus group identification information of the apparatus group to which the image forming device having transmitted the user authentication information belongs when it is decided that the user authentication information is valid. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming system and a server device.

  Upon receiving a print command from a personal computer, the image forming apparatus connected to the network acquires a document file from a file server on the network, expands the document file into a bitmap image, and based on the bitmap image Some perform printing (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  In the image forming apparatus, when the copy job is being executed, the user ID is acquired from the ID card after the copy job is finished, and it is determined whether or not the user ID matches the user identifier of the document file. After confirming that they match, printing based on the document file is executed.

  On the other hand, when the copy job is not executed, printing based on the document file is immediately executed.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-251358 JP 2004-168065 A

  In the above-described system, when a print command is supplied from the personal computer to the image forming apparatus, printing is started unless a copy job is being executed. Therefore, when printing is performed, the user is at the installation location of the personal computer and not at the installation location of the image forming apparatus. For this reason, the printed matter is left unattended until the user goes to the place where the image forming apparatus is installed, which is not preferable from the viewpoint of maintaining confidentiality.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to obtain an image forming system capable of preventing leakage of confidential information, and a server device and an image forming apparatus usable in the system.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is configured as follows.

  An image forming system according to the present invention is connected to a network and belongs to at least one image forming apparatus belonging to any of a plurality of device groups, a server apparatus connected to the network, and connected to the network and outputs an image from document data. A client device for generating data and transmitting image output data to the server device by an output driver. The server device includes a first communication device connected to the network, data receiving means for receiving image output data by the first communication device, and devices in a device group corresponding to the output driver among the plurality of device groups. Data management means for storing image output data in a predetermined storage device in association with group identification information, and user authentication information input based on a user operation are transmitted to the image forming apparatus or the image via the network by the first communication device. When it is determined that the user authentication information is valid and the authentication processing means for determining whether or not the user authentication information is valid, received from the electronic device previously associated with the forming apparatus, Of the image output data, associated with the device group identification information of the device group to which the image forming apparatus that transmitted the user authentication information belongs. Ri, and has a data transmitting means for transmitting the image output data associated with the user authentication information in the first communication device to the image forming apparatus.

  As a result, the image output data is temporarily stored by the server apparatus, and the image output data is not supplied to the image forming apparatus unless user authentication of the server apparatus is performed from the installation location of the image forming apparatus. For this reason, the user can take a printed matter from the image forming apparatus immediately after printing. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent leakage of confidential information from the image forming apparatus. This also supplies image output data to an image forming apparatus suitable for the output driver.

  In addition to the above-described image forming system, the image forming system according to the present invention may be configured as follows. In this case, the image forming apparatus transmits the user authentication information to the server apparatus using the second communication apparatus connected to the network, an acquisition unit that acquires user authentication information based on a user operation, and the second communication apparatus. And a control unit that receives image output data from the server device and performs image forming processing based on the image output data.

  In addition to any of the image forming systems described above, the image forming system according to the present invention may be as follows. In this case, the image forming system includes an authentication server device connected to a network, having registered user authentication information, and performing user authentication based on the registered user authentication information. The authentication processing means of the server device transmits user authentication information from the image forming device or the electronic device to the authentication server device by the first communication device to execute user authentication, and the first communication device performs user authentication from the authentication server device. The result is received, and based on the result, it is determined whether or not the user authentication information is valid.

  In addition to any of the image forming systems described above, the image forming system according to the present invention may be as follows. In this case, the control unit of the image forming apparatus acquires a list of user image output data of the user authentication information from the server apparatus, selects image output data from the list based on a user operation, and transmits the selected image output data. A request is transmitted to the server device, the image output data is received from the server device, and an image forming process is performed based on the image output data. Then, the data transmission unit of the server apparatus transmits the image output data requested from the image forming apparatus to the image forming apparatus that transmitted the user authentication information and the request.

  As a result, the image forming process can be executed for only a part of the image output data, and after the image output data is stored in the server apparatus, the user determines the timing for supplying each image output data to the image forming apparatus. be able to.

  In addition to any of the image forming systems described above, the image forming system according to the present invention may be as follows. In this case, the data management means stores the image output data in a predetermined storage device in association with the user authentication information specified by the output driver and the device group identification information. When it is determined that the user authentication information is valid, the data transmission means is associated with the device group identification information of the device group of the image forming apparatus that transmitted the user authentication information in the image output data. And the image output data associated with the user authentication information is transmitted to the image forming apparatus by the first communication apparatus.

  In addition to any of the image forming systems described above, the image forming system according to the present invention may be as follows. In this case, the device group is a group of image forming apparatuses having at least one common data format that can be processed for the image output data, and the output driver transmits the image output data in the common format.

  Thereby, it is possible to prevent the image output data from being supplied to an image forming apparatus that is not compatible with the output driver.

  In addition to any of the image forming systems described above, the image forming system according to the present invention may be as follows. In this case, the device group is a group for each manufacturer of the image forming apparatus.

  Thereby, it is possible to prevent the image output data from being supplied to an image forming apparatus that is not compatible with the output driver.

  In addition to any of the image forming systems described above, the image forming system according to the present invention may be as follows. In this case, image forming apparatuses belonging to the same device group have the same finisher function.

  In addition to any of the image forming systems described above, the image forming system according to the present invention may be as follows. In this case, the data management unit of the server device stores the preview image data corresponding to the image output data together with the image output data in a predetermined storage device, and the data transmission unit determines that the user authentication information is valid. The image output data that is not associated with the device group identification information of the device group of the image forming apparatus that transmitted the user authentication information, and is associated with the user authentication information. Corresponding preview image data is transmitted to the image forming apparatus by the first communication apparatus. The image forming apparatus displays a preview image based on the preview image data.

  A server device according to the present invention includes: a communication device connected to a network; a data receiving unit that receives image output data from an output driver of a client device; and an output among a plurality of device groups of the image forming device Data management means for storing image output data in a predetermined storage device in association with device group identification information of a device group corresponding to the driver, and user authentication information input based on a user operation via a network via a communication device An authentication processing means for determining whether or not the user authentication information is valid and the user authentication information is legitimate, received from the image forming apparatus or an electronic device previously associated with the image forming apparatus If it is determined, the device group of the image forming apparatus that has transmitted the user authentication information of the image output data. It is associated with the group identification information, and includes a data transmitting means for transmitting the image output data associated with the user authentication information by the communication apparatus to the image forming apparatus.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent leakage of confidential information in an image forming system.

1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image forming system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the server apparatus in FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a multifunction machine in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating processing when a job is executed by a multifunction peripheral in the image forming system illustrated in FIG. 1. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen that displays a list of image output data according to Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating processing when printing is performed by a printer in the image forming system illustrated in FIG. 1. 4 is a block diagram illustrating another configuration of the image forming system according to Embodiment 1. FIG.

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

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image forming system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  In this image forming system, a client device 1, a server device 2, a multifunction device 3, a printer 4 and a card reader 5, and an authentication server device 6 are connected to each other via a network 7. These devices are assigned identifiers (IP address, machine name, etc.) that can be uniquely specified in the network 7.

  The client device 1 is a terminal device operated by a user, such as a personal computer. The client device 1 has an output driver 11 such as a printer driver. The output driver 11 is a processing unit that generates image output data from document data. Document data is data generated by an application and stored as a data file. The image output data is print data described in, for example, a page description language.

  The server device 2 is a computer device connected to the network 7 and includes an output data management unit 21 and an output data storage unit 22. The output data management unit 21 is a processing unit that stores image output data received from the client device 1 in the output data storage unit 22.

  The multifunction machine 3 is an image forming apparatus that executes image forming processing based on image output data. Image forming processing includes printing, facsimile transmission, copying, and the like. The multifunction machine 3 has a card reader 31. When the user's ID card 101 is brought close to the card reader 31 during login, the card reader 31 reads the user authentication information of the user from the ID card. The ID card is an IC card or the like. The user authentication information is a user ID, an encrypted user ID, or the like. The multifunction device 3 transmits user authentication information of the user to the server device 2, receives image output data transmitted by the user from the client device 1 to the server device 2, and executes image formation processing based on the image output data. .

  The printer 4 is an image forming apparatus that executes printing based on image output data supplied from the server apparatus 2 via the network 7. The card reader 5 is installed at the same location as the printer 4 and is associated with the printer 4 in advance. When the user's ID card 101 is brought close to the card reader 5, the card reader 5 reads the user authentication information of the user from the ID card and transmits it to the server device 2 via the network 7.

  The authentication server device 6 is a computer device connected to the network 7 and has user registration data 61 and device registration data 62. The user registration data 61 includes user authentication information for authorized users. The device registration data 62 includes information on the correspondence relationship between the printer 4 and the card reader 5. When there is a user authentication request from the server device 2, the authentication server device 6 performs user authentication processing with reference to the user registration data 61 and transmits the authentication result to the server device 2 as a response. Further, when there is an inquiry about the image forming apparatus corresponding to the card reader 5, the authentication server apparatus 6 refers to the device registration data 62 and sets the image forming apparatus (here, the printer 4) corresponding to the card reader 5 to the server apparatus. 2 is notified. As the authentication server device 6, for example, a device in which an active directory server is operating is used.

  The network 7 is, for example, a wired and / or wireless LAN (Local Area Network).

  Next, detailed configurations of the server apparatus 2 and the multifunction machine 3 will be described.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the server device 2 in FIG.

  In FIG. 2, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 201 is an arithmetic processing unit that executes a program and executes processing described in the program. A ROM (Read Only Memory) 202 is a nonvolatile memory that stores programs and data in advance. A RAM (Random Access Memory) 203 is a memory that temporarily stores the program and data when the program is executed.

  An HDD (Hard Disc Drive) 204 is a storage device having a recording medium for storing an operating system (not shown), a server program 211, and the like. In the first embodiment, the server program 211 is executed by the CPU 201, whereby the output data management unit 21, the communication processing unit 221, the authentication processing unit 222, and the usage monitoring unit 223 are realized.

  The communication processing unit 221 is a processing unit that controls the network interface card 205 and transmits and receives data using a communication protocol such as TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol). The communication processing unit 221 receives the image output data with the network interface card 205 and transmits the image output data to the image forming apparatus such as the multifunction machine 3 or the printer 4 with the network interface card 205.

  The authentication processing unit 222 uses the communication processing unit 221 to associate user authentication information input based on a user operation with the MFP 3 or the printer 4 via the network 7 using the network interface card 205 in advance. It is a processing unit that determines whether or not the user authentication information is valid.

  The usage amount monitoring unit 223 monitors the usage amount such as the number of pages associated with image forming processing (printing, facsimile transmission, copying, etc.) executed in the multifunction device 3 and the printer 4 for each user or department to which the user belongs. Part.

  The network interface card 205 is a communication device connected to the network 7.

  The storage device 206 is a device that stores various data. As the storage device 206, a hard disk drive, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory, or the like is used as appropriate. A partial area of the storage device 206 is used as the output data storage unit 22. In addition, the storage device 206 stores usage data 231 and setting data 232. The usage amount data 231 includes a usage amount value and an upper limit value for each of a plurality of items for each user or department to which the user belongs. The setting data 232 is data that is referred to when processing of the processing unit realized by the CPU 201 is executed. Note that the usage data 231 and the setting data 232 may be stored in a storage device different from the storage device 206. In the first embodiment, the output data storage unit 22 is in the server device 2, but may be in an external device connected to the server device 2, or a file server or database connected to the network 7. It may be in the server.

  The CPU 201, the ROM 202, the RAM 203, the HDD 204, the NIC 205, and the storage device 206 are connected to each other via a bus, a controller, an interface, and the like so that data communication can be performed.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the multifunction machine 3 in FIG.

  The multifunction machine 3 includes a card reader 31, a network interface card 301, a printing device 302, a modem 303, an image reading device 304, a storage device 305, a control device 306, and an operation panel 307.

  The network interface card 301 is a communication device connected to the network 7.

  The printing apparatus 302 has, for example, a laser printing mechanism, forms a print image from image output data, generates a control signal corresponding to the print image, controls the printing mechanism with the control signal, and prints an image on a print sheet. Is a device for printing.

  The modem 303 is a device that forms a facsimile image from the image output data, generates facsimile data corresponding to the facsimile image, and transmits the facsimile data. When the modem 303 receives the facsimile data, the modem 303 generates facsimile image data corresponding to the facsimile data.

  The image reading device 304 is a device that optically reads a document image and generates image data of the document image.

  The storage device 305 is a device that stores setting data 311. As the storage device 305, a hard disk drive, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory, or the like is appropriately used. The setting data 311 is data that is referred to when processing is executed by the control device 306.

  The control device 306 is a device that controls the printing device 302, the modem 303, and the image reading device 304 to execute image forming processing. In addition, the control device 306 executes processing for transmitting the user authentication information acquired by the card reader 31 to the server device 2 using the network interface card 301 and receiving image output data from the server device 2 using the network interface card 301. Note that the control device 306 is realized, for example, by executing a control program by a microprocessor. Further, the control device 306 may execute formation of a print image and generation of facsimile data.

  The operation panel 307 has a display device and an input device, and is a user interface that can be used by a user at the installation location of the multifunction machine 3. As the display device, for example, a liquid crystal display is used, and as the input device, for example, a touch panel and a plurality of key switches are used.

  Next, the operation of each device in the system will be described.

  First, processing when a job is executed by an image forming apparatus having a card reader will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining processing when the MFP 3 executes a job in the image forming system shown in FIG.

  In the client device 1, the user activates the output driver 11 via an application (not shown). The output driver 11 generates image output data corresponding to the document data (step S1), and transmits it to the server device 2 via a network interface card (not shown) (step S2). At this time, the user authentication information of the user is transmitted together with the image output data. Alternatively, identification information associated with the user authentication information is transmitted together with the image output data.

  The image output data is received by the server device 2. In the server device 2, the communication processing unit 221 receives the image output data via the network interface card 205. The output data management unit 21 stores the output data in the output data storage unit 22 in association with the user authentication information (step S3).

  Thereby, the image output data is temporarily held in the server device 2.

  Thereafter, the user goes to the installation location of the multifunction machine 3 and performs a login operation. In the first embodiment, as a login operation, the user holds the ID card 101 assigned to the user over the card reader 31. When the card reader 31 of the multifunction machine 3 detects the ID card 101 that is brought close to it, it reads the user authentication information from the ID card 101 (step S4).

  When the user authentication information is read by the card reader 31, the control device 306 transmits the user authentication request and the user authentication information to the server device 2 by using the network interface card 301 (step S5).

  The server device 2 receives the user authentication request and the user authentication information. In the server device 2, the communication processing unit 221 receives the user authentication request and the user authentication information via the network interface card 205. When the user authentication request and the user authentication information are received, the authentication processing unit 222 transmits the user authentication request and the user authentication information to the authentication server device 6 via the network 7 (step S6).

  When receiving the user authentication request and the user authentication information, the authentication server device 6 refers to the user registration data 61 and determines whether or not the received user authentication information is authentic (step S7). And the authentication server apparatus 6 transmits the authentication result to the server apparatus 2 as a response (step S8).

  The communication processing unit 221 of the server device 2 receives the authentication result via the network 7 and the network interface card 205 and supplies the authentication result to the authentication processing unit 222. The authentication processing unit 222 determines whether the user authentication information from the multifunction device 3 is authentic based on the authentication result (step S9).

  When the authentication processing unit 222 determines that the user authentication information from the multifunction device 3 is authentic, the output data management unit 21 selects the image output data in the output data storage unit 22 A list of image output data associated with the user authentication information is generated, and the communication processing unit 221 transmits the list to the multifunction machine 3 (step S10). The communication processing unit 221 transmits the list to the multifunction device 3 via the network interface card 205 and the network 7.

  If the authentication processing unit 222 determines that the user authentication information from the multi-function device 3 is not authentic, the authentication processing unit 222 uses the communication processing unit 221 to only display the authentication result. 3 to send.

  When the user authentication for the transmitted user authentication information is successful, the control device 306 of the multifunction machine 3 receives the list of image output data associated with the user authentication information with the network interface card 205, and operates the operation panel 307. Display on the display device.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen that displays a list of image output data according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, the list includes a user ID, server save date and time of image output data, the number of pages, and thumbnail images. The user ID is a part of the user authentication information or identification information corresponding to the user authentication information. Further, the output data management unit 21 of the server device 2 generates thumbnail image data of the first page of the image output data and adds it to the list. The thumbnail image shown in FIG. 5 is displayed based on the thumbnail image data.

  Thereafter, when there is a selection operation by the user on the input device of the operation panel 307 (step S11), the control device 306 selects image output data from the list according to the selection operation, and sends a transmission request for the image output data. Then, the data is transmitted to the server device 2 by the network interface card 301 (step S12). For example, in the case of a list as shown in FIG. 5, the selected image output data is specified by the server storage date and time or serial number.

  In the server apparatus 2, when the transmission request is received by the communication processing unit 221, the output data management unit 21 reads the requested image output data, and sends the requested image output data to the communication processing unit 221. Transmit (step S13).

  The output data management unit 21 may delete the image output data from the output data storage unit 22 after the image output data is transmitted. Alternatively, the output data management unit 21 may automatically delete the image output data from the output data storage unit 22 after elapse of a predetermined period after the image output data is transmitted.

  The control device 306 of the multifunction machine 3 receives the image output data by the network interface card 301 and executes the image forming process selected by the user using the operation panel 307 (step S14). For example, when the print button is pressed on the screen shown in FIG. 5 (step S11), printing based on the image output data is executed using the printing apparatus 302, and the facsimile transmission button is pressed (step S11). Then, facsimile transmission based on the image output data is executed using the modem 303.

  If the user authentication is successful, the authentication processing unit 22 generates a session ID unique to this session, and the communication processing unit 221 transmits the session ID together with the list to the multifunction device 3. The control device 306 of the MFP 3 transmits the image output data transmission request to the server device 2 after adding the session ID to the image output data transmission request.

  In this way, when the user who issued the image output data is at the installation location of the multifunction machine 3, the image output processing job is executed, so that the possibility of security leakage can be reduced.

  Next, processing when a job is executed by an image forming apparatus that does not have a card reader will be described.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining processing when the printer 4 executes printing in the image forming system shown in FIG.

  First, the image output data is transmitted from the client apparatus 1 to the server apparatus 2 and held in the server apparatus 2 in the same manner as in the case where the image forming process is performed by the multifunction machine 3 (steps S1 to S3).

  When printing is executed by the printer 4, the user goes to the installation location of the printer 4 and the card reader 5 and performs a login operation. In the first embodiment, as a login operation, the user holds the ID card 101 assigned to the user over the card reader 5. When detecting the approaching ID card 101, the card reader 5 reads the user authentication information from the ID card 101 (step S21) and transmits it to the server device 2 via the network 7 (step S22).

  The user authentication information is received by the server device 2. In the server device 2, the communication processing unit 221 receives the user authentication information through the network interface card 205. When the user authentication information from the card reader 5 is received, the authentication processing unit 222 transmits the user authentication information to the authentication server device 6 via the network 7 (step S23).

  Upon receiving the user authentication request and the user authentication information, the authentication server device 6 refers to the user registration data 61 and determines whether or not the received user authentication information is legitimate (step S24). And the authentication server apparatus 6 transmits the authentication result to the server apparatus 2 as a response (step S25).

  The communication processing unit 221 of the server device 2 receives the authentication result via the network 7 and the network interface card 205 and supplies the authentication result to the authentication processing unit 222. The authentication processing unit 222 determines whether the user authentication information from the card reader 5 is legitimate based on the authentication result (step S26).

  If the authentication processing unit 222 determines that the user authentication information from the card reader 5 is legitimate, the authentication processing unit 222 inquires of the authentication server device 6 about the image forming apparatus associated with the card reader 5. The response is received from the authentication server device 6, and based on the response, the image forming device (here, the printer 4) that is the destination of the image output data is specified (step S27). At this time, when the authentication server device 6 receives the inquiry, the authentication server device 6 refers to the device registration data 62 to identify the image forming device associated with the card reader 5 and sends a response indicating the image forming device to the server device 2. Send to.

  Then, the output data management unit 21 reads out the image output data associated with the user authentication information from among the image output data in the output data storage unit 22, and identifies the image forming apparatus ( Here, the data is transmitted to the printer 4) (step S28). The communication processing unit 221 transmits image output data to the printer 4 via the network 7 in order using the network interface card 205.

  If the authentication processing unit 222 determines that the user authentication information from the card reader 5 is not authentic, the current session is terminated.

  If the user authentication for the user authentication information transmitted from the card reader 5 is successful, the printer 4 sequentially receives the image output data and executes printing based on the image output data (step S29).

  As described above, since the print job is executed when the user who issued the image output data is at the place where the printer 4 and the card reader 5 are installed, the possibility of security leakage can be reduced.

  Furthermore, in the first embodiment, a plurality of image forming apparatuses such as the multifunction machine 3 and the printer 4 are classified into one or a plurality of device groups, and an output driver corresponding to one of the device groups is used in the client device. . That is, the output driver and the device group of the image forming apparatus that matches the output driver are associated in advance.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing another configuration of the image forming system according to the first embodiment. The configuration shown in FIG. 7 includes a client device 1A, a multifunction device 3A, a printer 4A, and a card reader 5A in addition to the configuration shown in FIG.

  The client device 1 </ b> A is a device having a configuration similar to that of the client device 1, but includes an output driver 11 </ b> A that is different from the output driver 11. The output driver 11A is a processing unit that generates image output data from document data. The output driver 11 </ b> A generates image output data having a data format different from that of the output driver 11. Further, output driver type information corresponding to the type is assigned to the output drivers 11 and 11A, and the output drivers 11 and 11A also transmit the output driver type information in data communication with the server device 2. .

  The MFP 3A is an apparatus having the same configuration as that of the MFP 3, but the data format of image output data that can be used for image forming processing in the MFP 3A is different from that of the MFP 3.

  The printer 4A is a device having the same configuration as the printer 4, but the data format of image output data that can be used for image forming processing in the printer 4A is different from that of the printer 4. The card reader 5A is an apparatus having a configuration similar to that of the card reader 5, and is an electronic device associated in advance with the printer 4A.

  In the configuration shown in FIG. 7, the multifunction device 3 and the printer 4 that can use image output data in at least one common data format (for example, XPS (XML Paper Specification), PDF, etc.) for image forming processing are included in the device group 111. The device group 112 belongs to the multifunction device 3A and the printer 4A that can use image output data of at least one other common data format for image forming processing. Unique device group identification information is assigned to each of the device groups 111 and 112, and device identification information is assigned to each of the MFPs 3 and 3A, the printers 4 and 4A, and the card readers 5 and 5A. The server device 2 stores a device group table in the storage device 206, for example. The device group table associates device group identification information of a device group with output driver type information of an output driver that transmits image output data in a common data format that can be used by any image forming apparatus belonging to the device group. Have in a state. Further, the device group table has the device group identification information of the device group and the device identification information of the image forming apparatuses belonging to the device group in a state of being associated with each other. The MFPs 3 and 3A and the card readers 5 and 5A transmit device identification information together in data communication with the server device 2. For the device identification information, an identifier that can be uniquely specified in the network 7 may be used. Note that device group identification information may be used as the output driver type information.

  And in the structure shown in FIG. 7, the server apparatus 2 operate | moves as follows.

  In steps S1 to S3 described above, the output driver 11 of the client device 1 or the output driver 11A of the client device 1A generates image output data corresponding to the document data (step S1), and passes through a network interface card (not shown). It transmits to the server apparatus 2 (step S2). At this time, the user authentication information of the user is transmitted together with the image output data. Alternatively, identification information associated with the user authentication information is transmitted together with the image output data. Also, output driver type information is transmitted together with the image output data. The image output data and output driver type information are received by the server device 2. In the server device 2, the communication processing unit 221 receives the image output data and output driver type information via the network interface card 205. The output data management unit 21 refers to the device group table, identifies device group identification information associated with the output driver type information, and associates the image output data with the device group identification information and user authentication information. And stored in the output data storage unit 22 (step S3).

  Accordingly, the image output data is temporarily held in the server device 2 in a state associated with the device group identification information.

  Thereafter, when the user performs a login operation from any one of the multifunction devices 3 and 3A and any of the multifunction devices 3 and 3A transmits user authentication information to the server device 2, the authentication processing of the server device 2 is performed as described above. The unit 222 performs user authentication processing. When it is determined that the user authentication information is legitimate, the output data management unit 21 of the server device 2 refers to the device group table and refers to the device (multifunction device 3, 3A) that performed the login operation. The device group identification information corresponding to the device identification information is specified, and the image output data in the output data storage unit 22 is associated with the device group identification information and associated with the user authentication information. A list of the image output data being generated is generated, and the communication processing unit 221 is caused to transmit the list to the device on which the user has performed a login operation (step S10). The communication processing unit 221 transmits the list via the network interface card 205 and the network 7 to a device on which the user has performed a login operation. Thereafter, the same processing (steps S11 to S14) as described above is executed by the server device 2 and the device on which the user performs a login operation.

  In addition, after the image output data is stored in the server device 2, the user performs a login operation from any one of the card readers 5 and 5 </ b> A, and any one of the card readers 5 and 5 </ b> A transmits user authentication information to the server device 2. As described above, the authentication processing unit 222 of the server device 2 performs user authentication processing. If the authentication processing unit 222 determines that the user authentication information is legitimate, the authentication processing unit 222 associates the authentication server device 6 with the device (one of the card readers 5 and 5A) on which the user performs a login operation. The image forming apparatus is inquired, the response is received from the authentication server apparatus 6, and the image forming apparatus (one of the printers 4 and 4A) that is the transmission destination of the image output data is specified based on the response ( Step S27). At this time, when the authentication server device 6 receives the inquiry, the authentication server device 6 refers to the device registration data 62, specifies the image forming device associated with the device to which the user has performed the login operation, and a response indicating the image forming device. Is transmitted to the server device 2.

Then, the output data management unit 21 refers to the device group table to identify the device group identification information associated with the device identification information of the image forming apparatus, and among the image output data in the output data storage unit 22 ,
Image output data associated with the device group identification information and associated with the user authentication information is read and transmitted to the communication processing unit 221 to the specified image forming apparatus (any one of the printers 4 and 4A). (Step S28). The communication processing unit 221 uses the network interface card 205 to sequentially transmit the image output data to the specified image forming apparatus via the network 7.

  When the user authentication is successful, the printer 4 or the printer 4A previously associated with the card reader 5 or the card reader 5A to which the user has logged in is associated with the device group identification information of the device group to which the printer 4 or the printer 4A belongs. The received image output data is received in order, and printing is executed based on the image output data (step S29).

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, the client device 1 generates image output data from the document data and transmits it to the server device 2. In the server device 2, the communication processing unit 221 receives the image output data with the network interface card 205, and the output data management unit 21 stores the image output data in the output data storage unit 22. Then, the authentication processing unit 222 receives the user authentication information input based on the user operation from the card reader 5 associated in advance with the multifunction device 3 or the printer 4 via the network 7 by the network interface card 204. Then, it is determined whether or not the user authentication information is valid. When it is determined that the user authentication information is valid, the communication processing unit 221 sends the image output data associated with the user authentication information among the image output data to the multifunction device 3 or the printer 4. The data is transmitted by the network interface card 205.

  Further, the server device 2 stores the image output data in the output data storage unit 22 in association with the device group identification information of the device group corresponding to the output driver 11 or 11A among the plurality of device groups 111 and 112. Thereafter, the server device 2 uses the card readers 5 and 5A associated with the user authentication information input based on the user operation via the network 7 in advance to one of the multifunction devices 3 and 3A or the printers 4 and 4A. The user authentication information is associated with the device group identification information of the device group to which the image forming apparatus that transmitted the user authentication information belongs, and when the user authentication information is determined to be valid, and The image output data associated with the user authentication information is transmitted to the image forming apparatus (any one of the multifunction machines 3 and 3A or any one of the printers 4 and 4A).

  As a result, the image output data is temporarily stored by the server apparatus 2 and supplied to the image forming apparatus without user authentication of the server apparatus 2 from the installation location of the image forming apparatus such as the multifunction machine 3 and the printer 4. Not. For this reason, the user can take a printed matter from the image forming apparatus immediately after printing. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent secret leakage from the multifunction machine 3 and the printer 4. Further, image output data is supplied to an image forming apparatus suitable for the output driver. That is, supply of image output data to an image forming apparatus that is not compatible with the output driver is prohibited.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
In the image forming system according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention, the device group is a group for each manufacturer of the image forming apparatus. That is, all the image forming apparatuses belonging to one device group belong to the same manufacturer. Usually, image forming apparatuses of the same manufacturer can use image output data of the same data format, and thus, the same configuration as described above can be realized. Other configurations and operations of the system are the same as those in the first embodiment.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
In the image forming system according to the third embodiment of the present invention, the device group has a common data output data format or manufacturer and a group for each image forming apparatus that can be post-processed by the same finisher function. Is done. Post-processing by the finisher function includes sorting, stapling, punching, and the like performed by the finisher after printing. Other configurations and operations of the system are the same as those in the first or second embodiment.

  Each embodiment described above is a preferred example of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to these, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is.

  For example, in each of the above embodiments, the image output data is, for example, JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) format, TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) format, GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) format, PNG (Portable Network Graphics) format, etc. Data such as an image format, a PDF (Portable Document Format) format, and an EPS (Encapsulated Post Script) format may be used.

  In each of the above embodiments, the number of image forming apparatuses belonging to one device group 111, 112 is two. However, the number of image forming apparatuses belonging to one device group 111, 112 may be one or three or more. Good. The number of device groups may be three or more.

  Further, in each of the above embodiments, the server device 2 may have the function of the authentication server device 6 without providing the authentication server device 6.

  In each of the above embodiments, the control device 306 of the multifunction machine 3 sends a request for deleting the image output data to the network interface card for the image output data selected by the user after the list of image output data is displayed. It may be transmitted to the server apparatus 2 at 301. In this case, when the deletion request is received by the communication processing unit 221, the output data management unit 21 of the server device 2 deletes the requested image output data from the output data storage unit 22. A session ID is added to this deletion request.

  In each of the above embodiments, the output data management unit 21 of the server device 2 may automatically delete image output data that has passed a predetermined period (for example, one month) since storage.

  In each of the above embodiments, the output drivers 11 and 11A of the client device 1 use the user authentication information of other users together with the image output data instead of the user authentication information of the user who is operating the client device 1. You may send it. In that case, in the server device 2, image output data is stored in association with the user authentication information, and when another designated user logs in, the image output data is stored in the logged-in multifunction device 3, 3 </ b> A or the logged-in card. Provided to printers 4, 4A associated with readers 5, 5A.

  In the first embodiment, one device group may include a plurality of image forming apparatuses from different manufacturers.

  In each of the above embodiments, a plurality of different output drivers 11 and 11A may be provided in one client device.

  In each of the above embodiments, when it is determined that the user authentication information is valid, the image output data associated with the user authentication information of the user (that is, the user authentication included in the user authentication information) Device group of a device group different from the device group of the printer 4 or 4A associated with the logged-in multifunction device 3 or 3A or the logged-in card reader 5 or 5A among the image output data associated with the information) For example, the image output data associated with the identification information may be included in a list as shown in FIG. In this case, however, jobs such as provision of image output data to the image forming apparatus (any one of the MFPs 3 and 3A and the printers 4 and 4A), printing of the image output data, and facsimile transmission are prohibited. The server device 2 stores preview image data in an image format (JPEG, GIF, PNG, etc.) together with the image output data, and the image output data associated with the device group identification information of another device group. The preview image data may be provided to the image forming apparatus to cause the preview to be executed. Accordingly, the user can know that there is image output data of the user that cannot be output by the logged-in device.

  The present invention is applicable to, for example, an image forming system having a plurality of multifunction peripherals.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Client apparatus 2 Server apparatus 3 Multifunction machine (an example of an image forming apparatus)
4 Printer (an example of an image forming apparatus)
5 Card reader (an example of electronic equipment)
6 Authentication server device 7 Network 21 Output data management unit (an example of data management means)
31 Card reader (an example of acquisition means)
205 Network interface card (an example of a first communication device, an example of a communication device)
221 Communication processing unit (an example of data receiving means, an example of data transmitting means)
222 Authentication processing unit (an example of authentication processing means)
301 Network interface card (an example of a second communication device, an example of a communication device)
306 Control device (an example of control means)

Claims (10)

At least one image forming apparatus connected to a network and belonging to any of a plurality of device groups;
A server device connected to the network;
A client device connected to the network, generating image output data from document data, and transmitting the image output data to the server device by an output driver;
The server device
A first communication device connected to the network;
Data receiving means for receiving the image output data by the first communication device;
Data management means for storing the image output data in a predetermined storage device in association with device group identification information of a device group corresponding to the output driver of the plurality of device groups;
User authentication information input based on a user operation is received from the image forming apparatus or an electronic device previously associated with the image forming apparatus via the network by the first communication apparatus, and the user authentication information is Authentication processing means for determining whether or not it is legitimate,
When it is determined that the user authentication information is valid, the image output data is associated with device group identification information of a device group to which the image forming apparatus that transmitted the user authentication information belongs, And data transmission means for transmitting the image output data associated with the user authentication information to the image forming apparatus using the first communication apparatus.
An image forming system. The image forming apparatus includes:
A second communication device connected to the network;
Obtaining means for obtaining the user authentication information based on a user operation;
Control means for transmitting the user authentication information to the server apparatus by the second communication apparatus, receiving the image output data from the server apparatus by the second communication apparatus, and performing image forming processing based on the image output data When,
The image forming system according to claim 1, further comprising: An authentication server device connected to the network, having registered user authentication information, and performing user authentication based on the registered user authentication information;
Authentication processing means of the server device transmits user authentication information from the image forming apparatus or the electronic device to the authentication server device by the first communication device to execute user authentication, and the first communication device performs the user authentication. Receiving the result of the user authentication from the authentication server device, and determining whether the user authentication information is valid based on the result;
The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein: The control unit of the image forming apparatus acquires a list of the image output data of the user of the user authentication information from the server apparatus, selects the image output data from the list based on a user operation, and selects the selected Sending a request for transmission of image output data to the server device, receiving the image output data from the server device, and performing an image forming process based on the image output data,
The data transmission means of the server device transmits the image output data requested from the image forming device to the image forming device that has transmitted the user authentication information and the transmission request;
The image forming system according to claim 2.
The data management means of the server device stores the image output data in a predetermined storage device in association with user authentication information specified by the output driver and the device group identification information,
The data transmission unit of the server device, when it is determined that the user authentication information is valid, the device of the device group of the image forming apparatus that transmitted the user authentication information of the image output data Transmitting the image output data associated with the group identification information and associated with the user authentication information to the image forming apparatus using the first communication device;
The image forming system according to claim 1. The device group is a group of image forming apparatuses having at least one common data format that can be processed for the image output data.
The output driver transmits image output data in the common format;
The image forming system according to claim 1.   The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the device group is a group for each manufacturer of the image forming apparatus.   8. The image forming system according to claim 6, wherein image forming apparatuses belonging to the same device group have the same finisher function. The data management means of the server device stores preview image data corresponding to the image output data together with the image output data in a predetermined storage device,
The data transmission unit of the server device, when it is determined that the user authentication information is valid, the device of the device group of the image forming apparatus that transmitted the user authentication information of the image output data Transmitting preview image data corresponding to the image output data not associated with the group identification information and associated with the user authentication information to the image forming apparatus by the first communication device;
The image forming apparatus displays a preview image based on preview image data;
The image forming system according to claim 1. A communication device connected to the network;
Data receiving means for receiving image output data from the output driver of the client device by the communication device;
A data management unit for storing the image output data in a predetermined storage device in association with device group identification information of a device group corresponding to the output driver among a plurality of device groups of the image forming apparatus;
User authentication information input based on a user operation is received by the communication device from the image forming apparatus or an electronic device previously associated with the image forming apparatus via the network, and the user authentication information is valid. Authentication processing means for determining whether there is,
When it is determined that the user authentication information is valid, the image output data is associated with device group identification information of a device group of the image forming apparatus that transmitted the user authentication information, and Data transmission means for transmitting the image output data associated with the user authentication information to the image forming apparatus via the communication apparatus;
A server device comprising:

Images