JP2014099107A - Image forming apparatus, job execution system, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To execute a job whose execution is predicted to be requested on the basis of a time at which user authentication is requested, without causing a user to perform operation to a menu screen.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus includes: a prediction unit 33 that predicts, when a user management server 30 receives request of user authentication, an execution prediction time range during which a user who has requested execution of a print job on a compound machine 40 is likely to request execution of a newly registered job, on the basis of execution job information including a user ID of the user and the date and time of the start of the execution of the print job; and a control unit 44 that controls, when the user requests user authentication on the compound machine 40 within the execution prediction time range predicted by the prediction unit 33, a print execution unit 43 to start the execution of the newly registered job without displaying a menu screen immediately after the user authentication.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, a job execution system, and a program.

  Recent multifunction peripherals are equipped with various functions such as a print function, a scan function, and a communication function. When executing a desired function, various menu screens are provided hierarchically on the multifunction peripheral. Therefore, the user can change various screens from the top menu screen displayed on the operation panel immediately after logging in to the multifunction peripheral. A desired function screen is displayed, and predetermined parameters are set from the screen to execute the desired function. At this time, for example, in Patent Document 1, when a user performs an operation on an image, an operation that is likely to be performed by the user is predicted from an operation history in which a task related to the image is associated with the operation, and the predicted operation is displayed. Techniques to do this have been proposed.

JP 2008-262553 A JP 2006-202020 A JP 2007-264701 A JP 2008-065476 A JP 2011-108005 A JP 2011-114697 A JP 2011-118902 A

  It is an object of the present invention to execute a job that is predicted to be executed based on a time when user authentication is requested without causing a user to perform an operation on a menu screen.

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention predicts that a reception unit that receives an authentication request from a user, a job execution unit that executes the job registered in response to a job registration request, and a user requests execution of the job Control means for controlling the job execution means so as to start execution of processing related to the job immediately after user authentication when user authentication is requested by the user within the range of the specified time. Features.

  Further, the job execution unit displays a job execution request screen on the display unit as processing related to the job.

  In addition, the job execution means starts execution of the job as processing related to the job.

  A job execution system according to the present invention includes a job management server that manages a job, and an image forming apparatus that includes a job execution unit that executes the job managed by the job management server in response to a job execution request. And requesting execution of a job newly registered by the user based on at least the identification information of the user who requested execution of the job in the image forming apparatus and execution history information including at least the execution start date and time of the job. A prediction unit that predicts a range of expected time, and in the image forming apparatus, when user authentication is requested by the user within a time range predicted by the prediction unit, the newly registered immediately after the user authentication Control means for controlling the job execution means so as to start execution of processing related to the job. And butterflies.

  In addition, the predicting unit may receive the job based on the reception date / time when the job management server received the job in response to a user's registration request and the execution start date / time of the job included in the execution history information. The time required until the execution is started is calculated for each job for which registration and execution are requested by the user, and the execution of the newly registered job is requested by the user based on the calculated required time. It is characterized by predicting the wax time and predicting the time range including the predicted time.

  The prediction means predicts a time when the user will request execution of a newly registered job based on a job execution start date and time included in the execution history information, and includes the predicted time. It is characterized by predicting a time range.

  The program according to the present invention is expected to allow a computer to accept an authentication request from a user, a job execution unit to execute the job registered in response to a job registration request, and a user to request job execution. For functioning as a control means for controlling the job execution means to start execution of processing related to the job immediately after user authentication when user authentication is requested by the user within a specified time range It is.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to execute a job that is predicted to be executed based on the time when user authentication is requested without causing the user to perform an operation on the menu screen.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the job execution request screen can be displayed on the display means without causing the user to operate the menu screen.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, job execution can be started without causing the user to operate the menu screen.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to execute a job that is predicted to be executed based on the time when user authentication is requested without causing the user to perform an operation on the menu screen.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the range of time that the user will request to execute the newly registered job is predicted based on the time required from when the job is received until the execution is started. be able to.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the time when the user will request execution of the newly registered job is predicted, and the execution of the job newly registered by the user is requested based on the predicted time. The range of time that would be expected can be predicted.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, it is possible to execute a job that is predicted to be requested based on the time at which user authentication is requested without causing the user to perform an operation on the menu screen.

It is the figure which showed the whole structure and block structure which showed Embodiment 1 of the job execution system which concerns on this invention. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of a server computer that forms a user management server according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of the multifunction machine according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration of a job log accumulated in a job log accumulation unit according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration of registered job information registered in a registered job information storage unit according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating processing for calculating an execution prediction time range based on relative time in the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a graph used for explaining how to obtain an execution prediction time range based on relative time in the first embodiment. 4 is a flowchart illustrating processing for calculating an execution prediction time range based on absolute time in the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a graph used for explaining how to obtain an estimated execution time range based on absolute time in the first embodiment. 3 is a flowchart illustrating print execution processing according to the first embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating print execution processing according to the second embodiment.

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

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration and a block configuration showing an embodiment of a job execution system according to the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a client 10, a print server 20, a user management server 30, and a multifunction device 40. The client 10 is a computer that is individually used by a user who uses the multi-function device 40, such as a personal computer (PC). The print server 20 is a server computer that manages print jobs sent from the client 10 via a network (not shown). The user management server 30 is a server computer that manages information related to users who use this system. The user management server 30 also functions as a user authentication server that authenticates users who use the multifunction device 40. The multi-function device 40 is one form of an image forming apparatus, and is also an information processing apparatus that realizes a plurality of functions such as a printing function and a scanner function. The multi-function device 40 is used after logging in by a plurality of users. Although it is assumed that the devices 10, 20, 30, and 40 are connected to each other through the same local area network, the client 10 includes the print server 20, the print server 20, the user management server 30, and the multifunction device 40. Need only be connected in a state where data communication is possible.

  Although only one multifunction device 40 is illustrated in FIG. 1, a plurality of multifunction devices 40 may be included in the job execution system as an apparatus that executes a print job managed by the print server 20. In addition, a plurality of clients 10 may be included in the job execution system as computers used by users who submit print jobs.

  FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of a server computer forming the user management server 30 in the present embodiment. The server computer forming the user management server 30 in the present embodiment can be realized with a general-purpose hardware configuration that has existed in the past. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the computer is provided as a CPU 51, ROM 52, RAM 53, HDD controller 55 connected with a hard disk drive (HDD) 54, a mouse 56 and keyboard 57 provided as input means, and a display device. An input / output controller 59 for connecting each display 58 and a network controller 60 provided as a communication means are connected to an internal bus 61.

  Since the print server 20 and the client 10 are also computers, the hardware configuration may be the same as in FIG.

  FIG. 3 is a hardware configuration diagram of the multi-function device 40 according to the present embodiment. The multi-function device 40 is a device incorporating a computer. In FIG. 3, the CPU 71 controls the operation of various mechanisms mounted on the apparatus such as the scanner 74 and the printer engine 76 in accordance with a program stored in the ROM 79. The address data bus 72 is connected to various mechanisms to be controlled by the CPU 71 and performs data communication. The operation panel 73 receives instructions from the user and displays information. The scanner 74 reads a document set by a user and accumulates it in the HDD 75 or the like as electronic data. The HDD 75 stores an electronic document read using the scanner 74. The printer engine 76 prints an image on output paper in accordance with an instruction from a control program executed by the CPU 71. A network interface (I / F) 77 is connected to a network, and is used when various processes such as reception of a print job from the print server 20 and user authentication to the user management server 30 are executed. The RAM 78 is used as a work memory during program execution and a communication buffer during electronic data transmission / reception. The ROM 79 stores various programs relating to control of the apparatus and data transmission / reception. By executing various programs, each component described later exhibits a predetermined processing function. The card reader 80 reads a user ID from an IC card carried by the user.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the function of each device will be described. In this embodiment, a print job will be described as an example of a job to be executed in this system. For example, processing functions unnecessary for the description in this embodiment, such as the scanner function of the multifunction device 40, are omitted from FIG. doing.

  The client 10 includes a job registration request unit 11 that requests printing by submitting a print job for printing a document to be printed to the print server 20 in accordance with a print instruction from a user. The job registration request unit 11 is realized by a cooperative operation of a computer that forms the client 10 and a program that operates on the CPU 51 mounted on the computer.

  The print server 20 includes a job registration request reception unit 21, a job registration information transmission unit 22, a job transmission unit 23, and a print job information storage unit 24. The job registration request receiving unit 21 receives a print job input from the client 10. When the job registration request reception unit 21 receives a print job, the job registration information transmission unit 22 identifies the job assigned to the print job (hereinafter referred to as “job ID”), and the identification information of the user who submitted the print job (hereinafter referred to as “job ID”). Hereinafter, job registration information including a “user ID”), a document name as identification information of a document to be printed, and a reception date and time of the print job is generated and transmitted to the user management server 30. In response to a request from the multi-function device 40, the job transmission unit 23 prints a print job list screen that displays a list of print jobs of the user registered and managed in the print job information storage unit 24 or a print requested from the multi-function device 40. The job is transmitted to the multifunction device 40.

  In the print job information storage unit 24, print job information related to the print job accepted by the job registration request accepting unit 21 is registered. The print job information includes the job ID of the print job, the owner of the print job, the registrant, and the user ID of the user who requests the execution of the job, and the document name as identification information of the document to be printed , The document itself or storage location information of the document, and the date and time when the print job was received. The processing functions provided by the components other than the job registration information transmission unit 22 in the print server 20 may be the same as before.

  The user management server 30 includes a job registration information receiving unit 31, an execution job information registration unit 32, a prediction unit 33, a user authentication unit 34, a registered job information storage unit 35, a user information storage unit 36, and an execution job information storage unit 37. doing. The job registration information receiving unit 31 receives job registration information transmitted from the print server 20 by receiving the job registration information. When the execution job information registration unit 32 receives a job log periodically transmitted from the multifunction device 40, the execution job information registration unit 32 stores the job log in the execution job information storage unit 37. The prediction unit 33 is provided as a prediction unit. When job registration information is received by the job registration information reception unit 31, the prediction unit 33 newly adds the user based on the execution job information stored in the execution job information storage unit 37. Predicting a time range that will request execution of a print job specified by a job ID included in the registered job, that is, the job registration information received by the job registration information receiving unit 31 (predicted execution time range) Ask for. The user authentication unit 34 performs user authentication in response to a user authentication request sent from the multifunction device 40. The registered job information storage unit 35 stores registered job information in which the information included in the job registration information is associated with the predicted execution time range predicted by the prediction unit 33. The user information storage unit 36 stores user information including authentication information (user ID, password) used for user authentication, security information related to the use authority of the user, personal information of each user who uses the system, and the like. . In the execution job information storage unit 37, at least the job log transmitted from the multifunction device 40 is stored as execution job information (execution history information).

  The components 31 to 34 in the user management server 30 are realized by a cooperative operation of a computer that forms the user management server 30 and a program that operates on the CPU 51 mounted on the computer. Each storage unit 35 to 37 is realized by the HDD 54 mounted on the user management server 30. Alternatively, the RAM 53 or an external storage means may be used via a network.

  The multi-function device 40 includes a user authentication request unit 41, a job log transmission unit 42, a print execution unit 43, a control unit 44, and a job log storage unit 45. The user authentication request unit 41 is provided as a receiving unit, receives an authentication request from a user, and requests user authentication by transmitting authentication information included in the authentication request to the user management server 30. The job log storage unit 45 stores the execution history of jobs executed in the multifunction device 40 as a job log. The job log transmission unit 42 transmits the job log to the user management server 30. The print execution unit 43 is provided as a job execution unit, and acquires and executes the print job registered in response to the print job registration request from the print server 20. The control unit 44 operates in cooperation with the components 41 to 43 and performs execution control of the entire processing in the multifunction device 40. In particular, the control unit 44 according to the present embodiment is provided as a control unit, and is a time range obtained from the predicted request time of the job predicted to be requested by the user to execute the job (that is, the “predicted execution time range” described above). ), When the user authentication is requested by the user, the print execution unit 43 is controlled so as to start execution of processing related to the job immediately after the user authentication.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of the job log stored in the job log storage unit 45 in the present embodiment. Each time a job is executed, the job log is generated as an execution history of the executed job. The job log includes the job ID of the executed job, the user ID of the user who logged in and executed the job, the name of the document to be processed, the job execution start date and time indicating the job execution start time, The job execution end date and time indicating the job execution end time, the service type indicating the job type, and the number of copies indicating the number of times the document has been processed are included. In the present embodiment, since a print job is described, only a job log whose service type is “print” is referred to.

  The components 41 to 44 in the multi-function device 40 are realized by a cooperative operation of a computer built in the multi-function device 40 and a program operating on the CPU 71 mounted on the computer. The job log storage unit 45 is realized by the HDD 75.

  Further, the program used in this embodiment can be provided not only by communication means but also by storing it in a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM. The program provided from the communication means or the recording medium is installed in the computer, and various processes are realized by the CPU of the computer sequentially executing the program.

  Next, the operation in this embodiment will be described. First, an outline of processing from when the user instructs printing to execution will be described. Here, a flow of processing similar to the conventional one will be described. The characteristic processing of this embodiment will be described later.

  When the user wants to execute printing, the client 10 designates a document to be printed and issues a print instruction. In response to this print instruction, a print job is submitted to the user management server 30 and registered. Thereafter, when the user wants to actually perform printing (i.e., wants to print out), the user moves to the multifunction device 40 and inputs a user ID, a password, and the like from the login screen displayed on the operation panel 73 of the multifunction device 40, The authentication information is input by reading the IC card to be read. After the user authentication, the multi-function device 40 displays a prepared top menu screen on the operation panel 73. Since the menu screen basically forms a hierarchy, the user performs a predetermined selection operation on the menu screen sequentially displayed from the top menu screen, thereby displaying a list of print jobs of the user. Display the screen. Then, the user requests execution of printing by selecting a print job, that is, a document to be printed, from the list screen. The multi-function device 40 acquires the corresponding print job from the print server 20 in response to the execution request and executes it.

  When the multi-function device 40 executes a print job in response to an execution request from the user as described above, the multi-function device 40 generates a job log related to the execution of the print job and registers it in the job log storage unit 45. The job log transmission unit 42 periodically transmits the accumulated job log to the user management server 30. The transmission target is a job log whose service type is “print” and has not been transmitted yet. When the job log is transmitted from the multifunction device 40, the execution job information registration unit 32 in the user management server 30 stores the job log in the execution job information storage unit 37.

  Subsequently, characteristic processing in the present embodiment will be described.

  When the user designates a document from the client 10 and issues a print instruction, the job registration request unit 11 transmits a print job including the user ID of the user who has instructed printing and document data to be printed to the print server 20. Request registration of a print job.

  When the job registration request accepting unit 21 in the print server 20 accepts the job registration request by receiving the print job sent from the client 10, it issues a job ID to the print job and is included in the print job. Print job information that associates the received user ID, document data, and the date and time when the print job is received is generated and registered in the print job information storage unit 24. Based on the registered print job information, the job registration information transmission unit 22 generates job registration information including a job ID, a user ID, a document name of a document to be printed, and a reception date and time of the print job, and manages the user. Send to server 30.

  When the job registration information reception unit 31 in the user management server 30 receives the job registration information sent from the print server 20, it generates registration job information and registers it in the registration job information storage unit 35.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration of registered job information registered in the registered job information storage unit 35 according to the present embodiment. The registered job information is generated by associating the job ID, the user ID, the document name, the reception date and time, and the estimated execution time range. Among these, since the job ID, user ID, document name, and reception date / time are included in the job registration information sent from the print server 20, the job registration information reception unit 31 registers based on the received job registration information. Job information is generated and registered in the registered job information storage unit 35. In this embodiment, the job ID is included in the registered job information as information for identifying the job. However, the print job may be identified by a combination of a user ID and a document name. The predicted execution time range is obtained by the prediction unit 33 in the registered job information. The process of calculating the execution prediction time range in the prediction unit 33 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  When the job registration information is acquired from the job registration information receiving unit 31 at the timing when the job registration information is received (step 101), the prediction unit 33 extracts the user ID included in the job registration information (step 102). . Then, the prediction unit 33 extracts all registered job information including the extracted user ID from the registered job information storage unit 35. Further, all the execution job information including the extracted user ID is extracted from the execution job information storage unit 37 (step 103). Subsequently, the prediction unit 33 associates the extracted registration job information and execution job information with a job ID, the reception date and time associated with the same job ID from the registration job information, and the job execution start date and time from the execution job information. The difference between the job execution start date / time and the reception date / time of the same job ID is calculated (step 104). The difference obtained in this way corresponds to the time required from when the print job is received by the print server 20 until the multifunction device 40 starts execution. The fact that the difference is relatively small means that the user has executed printout in a relatively short time after issuing a print instruction. Note that the job execution start date and time associated with the reception date and time is not registered in the execution job information means that the print job has been registered in the print server 20 but has not yet been executed by the multifunction device 40. means.

  As described above, when the required time from the past performance to the printing for each print job is calculated, the predicted execution time range is obtained from the required time (step 105). As a method of obtaining the execution prediction time range, a method of obtaining from the average value and a method of obtaining from the standard deviation can be considered.

  In the method of obtaining the execution predicted time range from the average value, the required time exceeding a predetermined threshold is deleted from the obtained required time. For example, if a user who prints out about 10 minutes after registering a print job carries over the printout on the next day for some reason, the time required for the print job is an extraordinary value of more than a dozen hours. Therefore, we decided to exclude it when calculating the average value. The threshold for excluding this data may be set as appropriate in the multi-function device 40 such as 8 hours or 24 hours according to the operation status. The same applies to the method of obtaining the abnormal value from the standard deviation.

  Subsequently, the predicting unit 33 calculates an average value of the required time, and calculates the estimated execution time of the print job by adding the average value of the required time to the reception date and time of the newly registered print job. For example, if the print job reception date is 10:00 and the average required time is 2 hours, the estimated execution time is calculated as 12:00. Subsequently, the prediction unit 33 obtains the execution prediction time range by adding a predetermined time width to the execution prediction time. A method for obtaining the execution predicted time range will be described with reference to the graph shown in FIG.

  FIG. 7 is a graph with the required time on the horizontal axis and the number of print jobs on the vertical axis. For example, if the average value of the required time is x hours, the x time is determined in advance in order to have a time range. The predicted execution time range is obtained by adding the ± y times obtained. For example, if the print job reception date is 10:00, the average required time is x = 2 hours, and y = 1, the predicted execution time range is calculated from 11:00 to 13:00.

  When obtaining the execution prediction time range from the standard deviation, the prediction unit 33 calculates the standard deviation from the obtained required time, and sets a range including the required time of a certain ratio (Z% in FIG. 7) as the execution prediction time range. Ask. This may be obtained by expanding the time range in the positive and negative directions from the average value.

  When the predicted execution time range is obtained as described above, the prediction unit 33 registers the execution predicted time range in the registered job information storage unit 35 in association with the registered job information corresponding to the newly registered print job.

  As described above, the predicted execution time range may be obtained from the relative time from the date and time when the print job is received, that is, the time required from when the print job is received by the print server 20 to when the MFP 40 starts execution. As another method, the absolute time may be used. A process for calculating the predicted execution time range based on the absolute time will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  When the job registration information is acquired from the job registration information receiving unit 31 at the timing when the job registration information is received (step 111), the prediction unit 33 extracts the user ID included in the job registration information (step 112). . Then, the prediction unit 33 extracts all execution job information including the extracted user ID from the execution job information storage unit 37 (step 113). Subsequently, the prediction unit 33 reads the job execution start date and time from the extracted execution job information (step 114). A graph obtained by counting the read job execution start date and time is shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a graph with the job execution start date and time as the horizontal axis and the number of print jobs as the vertical axis. According to this example, the number of print jobs is preliminarily near the time where the time a and the time b are the maximum values. It can be seen that the determined threshold value T is exceeded. In other words, this user does not print out after a predetermined time has elapsed after registering the print job, but it is customary to print out at a certain time, such as before lunch or before the end of work. It is thought that. The time a and the time b correspond to the predicted execution time in the method for obtaining from the average value described above. In this case, since the average value is not obtained, the execution prediction time is not always one time as illustrated in FIG. Then, the prediction unit 33 obtains a range that exceeds the threshold T as an execution prediction time range. Or may be obtained executing prediction time range by adding a predetermined ± y ₁ hour in order to have the width of the time in the execution estimated time a. May also seek execution prediction time range by adding the ± y ₂ hours similarly to execution prediction time b even in execution prediction time b. y ₁ and y ₂ do not necessarily have the same value.

  When one or more predicted execution time ranges are obtained as described above, the prediction unit 33 associates the obtained estimated execution time range with the registered job information corresponding to the newly registered print job, and stores the registered job information. Register in the unit 35.

  As described above, the method for obtaining the execution prediction time range based on the relative time and the method for obtaining the execution prediction time range based on the absolute time have been described. Moreover, regarding the method for obtaining the execution prediction time range based on the relative time, the method using the average value and the method using the standard deviation have been described. As the method for obtaining the predicted execution time range, the administrator may select and use one of them, or may set a method to be used for each user in combination. In the case of a method for obtaining an execution predicted time range based on absolute time, it is not necessary to include the reception date and time in the registered job information. In the present embodiment, the job log is periodically acquired from the multi-function device 40. However, since the job log is used only by the prediction unit 33, the job log corresponds to the time when the prediction unit 33 operates. Only the job log of the user who performs the process may be acquired.

  In addition, the prediction unit 33 operates to obtain the execution prediction time range every time a new print job is registered, but the average value and absolute time of the required time once obtained are held for a certain period, When a new print job is registered by the user, the estimated execution time range is calculated for the new print job based on the average value of the required time held without referring to the execution job information. May be.

  As described above, when the user issues a print instruction from the client 10, the registered job information related to the print job, in particular, the estimated execution time range in which the print job will be executed is set according to the instruction.

  Next, a print execution process in the multi-function device 40 when the user actually executes a registered print job and prints out a document will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  In order to obtain a print document, the user moves to the installation location of the multi-function device 40 and inputs a user ID and password from the login screen displayed on the operation panel 73 of the multi-function device 40, or the portable IC card is inserted into the card reader 80. Enter the authentication information. Upon receiving authentication information necessary for authentication such as the user ID and password of the operating user (step 121), the user authentication request unit 41 requests the user authentication by transmitting the authentication information to the user management server 30. (Step 122).

  When the user management server 30 receives the authentication information transmitted from the multifunction device 40, the user authentication unit 34 collates the authentication information with the security information of the user stored in the user information storage unit 36. Here, it is assumed that the authentication is successful. Subsequently, the user authentication unit 34 refers to the registered job information registered in the registered job information storage unit 35, and whether there is a document for which the user has suspended execution of printing, that is, a registered job information storage unit Whether or not the registered job information of the user is registered in 35 is confirmed. If the registered job information of the user is registered, “present” is set in the pending document flag indicating that the registered job information has not been executed yet. On the other hand, if the registered job information is not registered, “None” is set in the pending document flag. Further, when the registered job information is registered, it is confirmed whether there is a print job of the user whose current time is included in the estimated execution time range. If there is a corresponding print job, “ON” is set in the execution time flag indicating that there is a corresponding print job, and “OFF” is set in the execution time flag if there is no corresponding print job. If the registered job information of the user is not registered in the registered job information storage unit 35, the execution time flag is naturally set to “OFF”.

  Then, the user authentication unit 34 sets the pending document flag and the execution time flag to the authentication success flag indicating that the authentication is successful, the user ID of the user who has succeeded in the authentication, and the usage authority set in the user information storage unit 36. The print result is added and the authentication result is returned.

  In the present embodiment, the presence / absence of a document that has not been printed and the presence of a print job whose current time is within the predicted execution time range are notified to the multi-function device 40 using flag information such as a pending document flag and an execution time flag. However, when the registered job information of the user is registered in the registered job information storage unit 35, only the registered job information or the registered job information whose current time is within the predicted execution time range is combined. By transmitting to the machine 40, the job ID of the corresponding print job as well as the presence or absence of the corresponding print job may be notified.

  When an authentication result is returned in response to the authentication request, the multi-function device 40 acquires print information together with the authentication result (step 123). Here, the control unit 44 checks the execution time flag included in the print information. Here, it is assumed that the authentication is successful. If “OFF” is set in the execution time flag included in the sent print information (N in step 124), the conventional screen display process is executed. That is, the control unit 44 displays a top menu screen prepared in advance by the user logging in on the operation panel 73 (step 127), and thereafter, the menu screen is changed according to the selection operation by the user, and the print job list is displayed. The screen is displayed on the print execution unit 43 (step 128).

  On the other hand, if “ON” is set in the execution time flag (Y in step 124), it is estimated that the user has logged in to the multi-function device 40 in order to print a document that has not yet been printed. The unit 44 activates the print execution unit 43 to display the print job list screen without displaying the menu screen including the top menu screen. That is, when the print execution unit 43 is activated, the print execution unit 43 makes an inquiry to the print server 20 to display a list of identification information (here, document names) of documents that have not yet been printed and a print job list screen that displays the list. It is acquired and displayed on the operation panel 73 (step 125).

  When the user selects a document to be printed from the displayed print job list, the print execution unit 43 acquires a print job corresponding to the selected document from the print server 20 and is included in the acquired print job. If the stored document data or print job includes document data storage location information, the document data acquired from the storage location specified by the storage location information is printed out. In this way, the print execution unit 43 executes printing of the document registered in the print server 20 in response to an execution request from the user (step 126).

  In step 123, when the MFP 40 receives the registered job information of the user as print information together with the authentication result of the authentication request, the print execution unit 43 inquires the print server 20 about a print job that has not been executed yet. Instead, the document names included in the registered job information may be displayed as a list. The same applies when only registered job information whose current time is within the predicted execution time range is received. However, in this case, only document names whose current time is within the estimated execution time range are displayed on the print job list screen.

  By the way, if the registered job information corresponding to the actually printed document is not deleted from the registered job information storage unit 35 after the printing is executed, the document will be mistaken as a document for which printing is suspended. . Therefore, when the print execution unit 43 finishes executing the printing, the job execution unit 43 registers the job log in the job log storage unit 45 and notifies the user management server 30 of the executed job ID, thereby registering the registered job information as a registered job. You may make it delete from the information storage part 35. FIG. On the other hand, when the registered job information is simply deleted from the registered job information storage unit 35, the time required from the time when the print job is received by the print server 20 in step 104 in FIG. become unable.

  Therefore, in order to match these, for example, the job log transmission unit 42 does not periodically transmit the job log, but when the print execution unit 43 finishes executing the printing, the job log is stored in the job log. The information may be registered in the unit 45 and transmitted to the user management server 30 as well. In the user management server 30, when the job log is transmitted, the execution job information registration unit 32 determines the end of the job to receive the job log, and stores the registered job information of the job ID as registered job information. The received date and time included in the extracted registered job information is added to the received job log and registered in the execution job information storage unit 37. When the prediction unit 33 calculates the required time from when the print job is received by the print server 20 until the execution is started by the multi-function device 40, the execution job information storage unit instead of the registered job information storage unit 35 is used. 37 may be referred to.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
In the first embodiment, if there is a print job whose current time is within the predicted execution time range, the user estimates that he is going to log in to the multifunction device 40 to print the print job, and the user After successful authentication, skip the process of displaying the menu screen and display the print job list screen suddenly. In the present embodiment, the print job list screen display process is also skipped, and execution of a print job whose current time is within the predicted execution time range is started. In other words, as processing related to the print job, in the first embodiment, execution of processing for displaying the print job list screen (job execution request screen) on the operation panel 73 is started. The present invention is characterized in that immediately after user authentication, execution of a print job whose current time is within the predicted execution time range is started suddenly.

  The present embodiment and the above-described first embodiment are the same in system configuration, hardware configuration, and the like, except that print execution processing is different. Therefore, a process corresponding to the print execution process shown in FIG. 10 in the first embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. Note that the same processes as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

  When the user moves to the installation location of the multifunction device 40 to obtain a print document and inputs authentication information, the user authentication request unit 41 requests user authentication by transmitting the authentication information to the user management server 30 ( Steps 121 and 122).

  The processing performed after receiving the authentication information transmitted from the multi-function device 40 in the user management server 30 may be the same as in the first embodiment. However, in the present embodiment, when there is a print job of the user whose current time is included in the estimated execution time range, the registered job information of the corresponding print job or at least the job ID included in the registered job information The print information including the print information needs to be added to the authentication result. In this case, by including the job ID in the print information, it is possible to grasp the existence of a print job whose current time is included in the estimated execution time range, so the execution time flag and the pending document flag need not be included in the print information. . The user authentication unit 34 adds the print information generated in this way and returns an authentication result.

  When an authentication result is returned in response to the authentication request, the multi-function device 40 acquires print information together with the authentication result (step 123). If “OFF” is set in the execution time flag included in the sent print information, or if the job ID is not included (N in step 124), the control unit 44 continues as before. The top menu screen is displayed on the operation panel 73 (step 127). Thereafter, the menu screen is changed according to the selection operation by the user, and the print job list screen is displayed on the print execution unit 43 (step 128). When the user selects a document to be printed from the displayed print job list, the print execution unit 43 acquires a print job corresponding to the selected document from the print server 20, and includes the acquired print job. The document data acquired from the storage location specified by the stored document data or the storage location information is printed out. In this way, the print execution unit 43 executes printing of the document registered in the print server 20 in response to an execution request from the user (step 126).

  On the other hand, if the execution time flag is set to “ON” or the job ID is not included (Y in step 124), the user prints a document that has not yet been printed. It is presumed that the user has logged in 40, and the control unit 44 activates the print execution unit 43 without displaying the menu screen including the top menu screen. When activated, the print execution unit 43 sends a job acquisition request including the job ID included in the print information to the print server 20, acquires the corresponding print job, and includes the document included in the acquired print job. The document data acquired from the storage location specified by the data or storage location information is printed out (step 221).

  In the present embodiment, by not displaying any menu screen or print job list display screen on the operation panel 73 in this way, printing is expected to be executed after login without causing the user to perform any screen operations. The document was automatically printed.

  In each of the above embodiments, a print job has been described as an example. However, the job need not be limited to a print job. In the present embodiment, the multi-function device 40 is used as an example of the job execution apparatus. However, the multi-function device 40 is not necessarily used, and a normal computer to which a printer is connected may be used.

  In the present embodiment, the user management server 30 that performs user authentication has a prediction unit. However, depending on the system configuration, such as when only one multifunction device 40 is used, the prediction unit may be provided in the multifunction device 40. Alternatively, it may be provided in the print server 20 or the information processing apparatus.

  10 client, 11 job registration request section, 20 print server, 21 job registration request reception section, 22 job registration information transmission section, 23 job transmission section, 24 print job information storage section, 30 user management server, 31 job registration information reception section , 32 execution job information registration unit, 33 prediction unit, 34 user authentication unit, 35 registered job information storage unit, 36 user information storage unit, 37 execution job information storage unit, 40 MFP, 41 user authentication request unit, 42 job log Transmission unit, 43 Print execution unit, 44 Control unit, 45 Job log storage unit, 51, 71 CPU, 52, 79 ROM, 53, 78 RAM, 54, 75 Hard disk drive (HDD), 55 HDD controller, 56 Mouse, 57 Keyboard, 58 display, 59 I / O controller La, 60 network controller, 61 an internal bus, 72 address data bus, 73 an operation panel, 74 scanner, 76 a printer engine, 77 a network interface (I / F), 80 a card reader.

An image forming apparatus according to the present invention predicts that a reception unit that receives an authentication request from a user, a job execution unit that executes the job registered in response to a job registration request, and a user requests execution of the job When the user authentication is requested by the user within the specified time range, the job execution unit is controlled to start execution of processing related to the job immediately after the user authentication , and the predicted time range And control means for controlling the display means to display a top page to be displayed immediately after user authentication when user authentication is requested by the user .

Also, the job execution means is characterized by displaying an execution request screen of the job as a process related to the job on the display means.

A job execution system according to the present invention executes a user management server that manages information about users, a job management server that manages jobs, and the job managed by the job management server in response to a job execution request An image forming apparatus having a job execution unit, and the user management server performs user authentication based on authentication information transmitted from the image forming apparatus and including at least user identification information. A user authentication unit for transmitting, to the image forming apparatus, print information including identification information of a job registered by the user and not yet executed together with authentication result information indicating that the user authentication is successful, if successful In the image forming apparatus, the identification information of the user who requested the job execution and the job execution Based on the execution history information including at least the start date and time, a prediction unit that predicts a time range during which the user will request execution of a newly registered job, and in the image forming apparatus, the prediction unit predicts When user authentication is requested by the user within the specified time range , the authentication information is transmitted to the user management server in response to the request, and as a result, the job included in the print information transmitted from the user management server Control means for controlling the display means to display a list of jobs registered by the user and not yet executed based on the identification information .
In addition, the user authentication unit includes, as print information, identification information of only a job that is registered by the user and has not been executed yet and whose current time is included in the time range predicted by the prediction unit. It is characterized by transmitting.

The program according to the present invention is expected to allow a computer to accept an authentication request from a user, a job execution unit to execute the job registered in response to a job registration request, and a user to request job execution. If user authentication is requested by the user within the specified time range, the job execution unit is controlled to start execution of processing related to the job immediately after user authentication, and the user is out of the predicted time range. In addition, when user authentication is requested by the user, the control unit is configured to function as a control unit that controls the display unit to display a top page to be displayed immediately after the user authentication .

According to the invention described in claim 6, the range of time that the user will request to execute the newly registered job is predicted based on the time required from when the job is received until the execution is started. be able to.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, a time at which a user will request execution of a newly registered job is predicted, and the execution of a job newly registered by the user is requested based on the predicted time. The range of time that would be expected can be predicted.

According to the eighth aspect of the invention, it is possible to execute a job that is predicted to be executed based on the time at which user authentication is requested without causing the user to perform an operation on the menu screen.

A job execution system according to the present invention executes a user management server that manages information about users, a job management server that manages jobs, and the job managed by the job management server in response to a job execution request An image forming apparatus having a job execution unit, and the job management server generates job registration information including the identification information of the user who submitted the job and the identification information of the job, and transmits the job registration information to the user management server In the job registration information transmitting means and the user management server, user authentication is performed based on authentication information transmitted from the image forming apparatus and including at least user identification information. If the user authentication is successful, user authentication is performed. Registered and still executed by the user, along with authentication result information indicating success User authentication means for transmitting print information including identification information of a non-existing job to the image forming apparatus, and an execution history including at least identification information of a user who has requested execution of the job in the image forming apparatus and execution start date and time of the job A prediction unit that predicts a time range in which the user will request execution of a newly registered job based on the information; and in the image forming apparatus, the prediction unit includes the prediction unit within the time range predicted by the prediction unit. When user authentication is requested by the user, the authentication information is transmitted to the user management server in response to the request, and as a result, the user based on the job identification information included in the print information transmitted from the user management server. A control method for controlling the display means to display a list of registered and unexecuted jobs. And having a, the.
In addition, the user authentication unit includes, as print information, identification information of only a job that is registered by the user and has not been executed yet and whose current time is included in the time range predicted by the prediction unit. It is characterized by transmitting.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to execute a job that is predicted to be executed based on the time when user authentication is requested without causing the user to perform an operation on the menu screen.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the range of time during which the user will request execution of a newly registered job is predicted based on the time required from when the job is received until execution is started. be able to.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the time when the user will request execution of the newly registered job is predicted, and the execution of the job newly registered by the user is requested based on the predicted time. The range of time that would be expected can be predicted.

Claims (7)

Accepting means for accepting an authentication request from a user;
Job execution means for executing the job registered in response to the job registration request;
Controls the job execution means to start execution of processing related to the job immediately after the user authentication when the user requests user authentication within a time range predicted to be requested by the user. Control means to
An image forming apparatus comprising:   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the job execution unit causes the display unit to display an execution request screen for the job as processing related to the job.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the job execution unit starts execution of the job as processing related to the job. A job management server for managing jobs;
An image forming apparatus having job execution means for executing the job managed by the job management server in response to a job execution request;
Have
The time when the user will request execution of a newly registered job based on at least the identification information of the user who requested execution of the job in the image forming apparatus and execution history information including at least the execution start date and time of the job A prediction means for predicting the range of
In the image forming apparatus, when user authentication is requested by the user within a time range predicted by the prediction unit, execution of processing related to the newly registered job is started immediately after user authentication. Control means for controlling the job execution means;
A job execution system comprising:   The prediction means is executed after the job is received based on the reception date and time when the job management server receives the job and the execution start date and time of the job included in the execution history information in response to a user registration request. The time required to start is calculated for each job requested to be registered and executed by the user, and based on each calculated required time, the user will request execution of a newly registered job The job execution system according to claim 4, wherein the time range including the predicted time is predicted.   The prediction means predicts a time at which the user will request execution of a newly registered job based on the job execution start date and time included in the execution history information, and includes the predicted time including the predicted time. The job execution system according to claim 4, wherein a range is predicted. Computer
Accepting means for accepting authentication requests from users,
Job execution means for executing the job registered in response to the job registration request;
Controls the job execution means to start execution of processing related to the job immediately after the user authentication when the user requests user authentication within a time range predicted to be requested by the user. Control means,
Program to function as.

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