JP2016068335A - Image forming apparatus, image forming method and printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus that can receive a print job from a server which is not previously associated therewith and output a printed matter.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus 100 can communicate with a server 210 that memorizes a print job J. The image forming apparatus 100 comprises a card reader 110, an information processing portion 120, an interface portion 130 and an image forming portion 140. The card reader 110 reads out, from a card 230, user identification information U1 which enables identification of a user and connection destination information D which enables identification of the server 210. The information processing portion 120 specifies the server 210 on the basis of the connection destination information D. The interface portion 130 transmits the user identification information U1 to the server 210. The interface portion 130 receives the print job J from the server 210 authenticating the user. The image forming portion 140 forms an image on a sheet S on the basis of the print job J.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, an image forming method, and a printing system.

  There is known a printing system for outputting a printed matter of document information from a printing apparatus at a desired timing. In such a printing system, a print job output from a personal computer is stored in a management device or the like via a network, the user accesses the management device or the like via the network from the printing device, and the printing device prints from the management device or the like. Prints are output by receiving a job. Patent Literature 1 discloses such a printing system. Specifically, the printing system described in Patent Literature 1 stores a print job generated by a job generation device (personal computer), and the management device authenticates access from the printing device by a user and instructs the job generation device. The job generation apparatus transmits a print job to the printing apparatus. In the printing system described in Patent Literature 1, the management device authenticates the user, and thus it is possible to prevent a third party who does not have access authority from illegally outputting a printed matter with the printing device.

JP 2005-242735 A

  However, in the printing system described in Patent Document 1, since the management device stores communication destination identification information required for communication with the print job generation device, the user uses a printing device associated with the management device. It is necessary to output a printout of the print job. Therefore, the user cannot output the printed matter of the print job unless the printing apparatus is determined in advance.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that an image forming apparatus, an image forming method, and a printing system that allow a user to output a printed matter of a print job from an image forming apparatus that is not associated with a specific server. The purpose is to provide.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention can communicate with a server that stores a print job. The image forming apparatus includes the card reader described above, an information processing unit, an interface unit, and an image forming unit. The image forming unit forms an image on a sheet. The card reader reads user identification information capable of identifying a user and connection destination information capable of identifying the server from the card. The card reader outputs the user identification information and the connection destination information read from the card to the information processing unit. The information processing unit identifies the server based on the connection destination information output from the card reader. The information processing unit outputs the user identification information to the interface unit. The interface unit transmits the user identification information to the server specified by the information processing unit. The interface unit receives the print job from the server that has authenticated the user based on the user identification information. The interface unit outputs the print job to the image forming unit. The image forming unit forms the image on the sheet based on the print job.

  The image forming method according to the present invention is an image forming method by an image forming apparatus capable of communicating with a server that stores a print job. The image forming apparatus includes a card reader, an information processing unit, an interface unit, and an image forming unit. The card reader can read a card. The image forming unit forms an image on a sheet. The image forming method includes a step of reading the card, a step of specifying the server, a step of transmitting user identification information, a step of receiving the print job, and a step of forming the image on the sheet. Include. The step of reading the card reads user identification information capable of identifying a user and connection destination information capable of identifying the server from the card. In the step of specifying the server, the information processing unit specifies the server based on the connection destination information read by the card reader. In the step of transmitting the user identification information, the interface unit transmits the user identification information to the server. In the step of receiving the print job, the interface unit receives the print job from the server that has authenticated the user based on the user identification information. In the step of forming the image, the image forming unit forms the image on the sheet based on the print job received from the server.

  The printing system according to the present invention includes a server, a terminal device, an image forming apparatus, and a card. The terminal device can communicate with the server. The image forming apparatus can communicate with the server. The card includes a card storage unit. The server includes an identification information storage unit and a job storage unit. The server stores user identification information capable of identifying a user in the identification information storage unit. The terminal device transmits a print job of document information to the server in response to a user operation. The server stores the print job transmitted from the terminal device in the job storage unit. The card stores the user identification information and connection destination information capable of specifying the server in the card storage unit. The image forming apparatus includes a card reader, an information processing unit, an interface unit, and an image forming unit. The image forming unit forms an image on the sheet. The card reader reads the user identification information and the connection destination information from the card. The card reader outputs the user identification information and the connection destination information read from the card to the information processing unit. The information processing unit identifies the server based on the connection destination information output from the card reader. The information processing unit outputs the user identification information to the interface unit. The interface unit transmits the user identification information to the server specified by the information processing unit. The server authenticates the user based on the user identification information transmitted from the interface unit and the user identification information stored in the identification information storage unit. The server transmits the print job stored in the job storage unit to the interface unit. The interface unit outputs the print job received from the server to the image forming unit. The image forming unit forms the image on the sheet based on the print job.

  According to the present invention, a user can output a printed matter of a print job from an image forming apparatus that is not associated with a specific server.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an outline of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4A is a schematic diagram illustrating an operation display unit of an image forming apparatus in a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2B is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus and a server in the printing system according to the embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a printing process of the printing system according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2A is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a terminal device and a server in a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5B is a schematic diagram illustrating an operation display unit of the image forming apparatus in the printing system according to the embodiment of the present invention. (A) is a schematic diagram which shows the outline of the printing system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2B is a block diagram functionally showing the configuration of the card in the printing system according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the some server in the printing system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a printing process of the printing system according to the embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus in a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is not repeated.

  With reference to FIG.1 and FIG.2, the whole structure of the printing system 10 which concerns on embodiment of this invention is demonstrated. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an outline of the operation of the printing system 10. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the printing system 10. The printing system 10 includes a server 210, a terminal device 220 that can communicate with the server 210, an image forming apparatus 100 that can communicate with the server 210, and a card 230.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the server 210, the terminal device 220, and the image forming apparatus 100 construct a network that is communicably connected. Each device is communicably connected via, for example, the Internet, a LAN (Local Area Network), or a WAN (Wide Area Network).

  The outline of the operation of the printing system 10 is as follows. (I) A user outputs a print job from the terminal device 220 to the server 210. The server 210 stores the print job output from the terminal device 220. (II) The image forming apparatus 100 reads the card 230. (III) The image forming apparatus 100 transmits information read from the card 230 to the server 210 and requests authentication of the user. (IV) The server 210 authenticates the user based on the information transmitted from the image forming apparatus 100 and transmits a print job to the image forming apparatus 100. (V) The image forming apparatus 100 outputs the printed matter P based on the print job received from the server 210. Details of the operation of the printing system 10 will be described later.

  As illustrated in FIG. 2, the terminal device 220 transmits a print job J of the document information W to the server 210 in accordance with a user operation. The terminal device 220 is, for example, a personal computer that functions as a client computer.

  The document information W is a file such as a word file, an Excel file, and a PDF (Portable Document Format) file created by the terminal device 220 or received from the outside by the terminal device 220. The user designates the server 210 as an output destination of the printed matter P of the document information W on the terminal device 220 and executes a print command. As a result, the terminal device 220 transmits the print job J of the document information W to the server 210.

  The print job J is a print command and is a file in which the document information W itself cannot be edited. The print command includes print conditions such as monochrome and color, 2-in-1 settings, and the number of copies.

  The server 210 includes an identification information storage unit 211 and a job storage unit 212. Specifically, the server 210 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and an HDD (Hard Disk Drive). The server 210 operates by the CPU executing a control program stored in the ROM or HDD. The RAM is used as a work area when the CPU executes the control program. The identification information storage unit 211 and the job storage unit 212 are nonvolatile memories including a ROM and an HDD.

  The server 210 stores user identification information U1 that can identify a user in the identification information storage unit 211. Specifically, the user list U is stored in advance in the identification information storage unit 211 by the operation of the server administrator. The user list U includes user identification information U1, U2, and U3 for different users. The user identification information U1 includes data indicating each of a user ID, a user password, a card number of the user's card 230, and a terminal device ID of the terminal device 220 used by the user. Similarly, each of the user identification information U2 and U3 includes data indicating each of a user ID, a user password, a card number, and a terminal device ID.

  The server 210 stores the print job J transmitted from the terminal device 220 in the job storage unit 212. That is, the job storage unit 212 stores the print job J of the document information W that is output from the terminal device 220 by being operated by the user. The job storage unit 212 stores the print job J, the terminal device 220 that is the output source, and the user in association with each other. The server 210 transmits a print job J to the image forming apparatus 100 in response to a request from the image forming apparatus 100.

  The card 230 includes a card storage unit 231. The card 230 stores the user identification information U1 and the connection destination information D that can specify the server 210 in the card storage unit 231. The card 230 is, for example, an IC card or a magnetic card. The IC card can be either a contact type IC card or a non-contact type IC card. The card 230 is used as, for example, an employee card or a student card.

  In the embodiment in which the card 230 is an IC card, the card storage unit 231 is a semiconductor memory. The semiconductor memory is, for example, a RAM, ROM, or EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory). In the embodiment in which the card 230 is a magnetic card, the card storage unit 231 is a magnetic recording layer.

  The card storage unit 231 stores user identification information U1 unique to the user. The user identification information U1 includes data indicating each of a user ID, a user password, and a card number.

  The connection destination information D is information that can specify the location of the server 210 on the network and connect the image forming apparatus 100 to the server 210. For example, the connection destination information D is a server host name (domain name) that the server 210 has, or an IP address.

  The user identification information U1 and the connection destination information D are written in the card storage unit 231 when the card 230 is issued. Further, when the card 230 is used in a company or school that has introduced an entrance / exit management system, the user identification information U1 and connection destination information D stored in the card storage unit 231 when the user enters / exits the room. Can be updated by the entrance / exit management system. The user can also write connection destination information D to a specific server in the card 230 as necessary.

  The image forming apparatus 100 includes a card reader 110, an information processing unit 120, an interface unit 130, and an image forming unit 140 that forms an image on a sheet. The image forming apparatus 100 is, for example, a laser printer or an ink jet printer.

  The image forming apparatus 100 further includes a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. The ROM is composed of, for example, a PROM (Programmable ROM) such as a flash memory, and the RAM is composed of, for example, a DRAM (Dynamic RAM). The ROM stores control programs such as a BIOS (Basic Input / Output System), an OS (Operating System), various drivers, and various applications. The image forming apparatus 100 embodies the functions of the information processing unit 120, the interface unit 130, and the image forming unit 140 when the CPU executes a control program stored in the ROM. The RAM is used as a work area when the CPU executes the control program.

  The card reader 110 reads the user identification information U1 and the connection destination information D from the card 230, and outputs the read user identification information U1 and the connection destination information D to the information processing unit 120. Specifically, the card reader 110 is an IC card reader or a magnetic card reader. The card reader 110 is connected to the information processing unit 120 via a USB (Universal Serial Bus) and a substrate. The card reader 110 reads information stored in the card storage unit 231 corresponding to the function of the card 230. For example, the card reader 110 in the embodiment in which the card 230 is a contact IC card is a contact IC card reader. The card reader 110 communicates wirelessly with the card 230 using electromagnetic waves, and reads information such as user identification information U1 and connection destination information D from the card storage unit 231. The card reader 110 outputs information such as user identification information U1 and connection destination information D read from the card 230 to the information processing unit 120.

  The information processing unit 120 identifies the server 210 based on the connection destination information D output from the card reader 110, and outputs the user identification information U1 to the interface unit 130. The information processing unit 120 processes information using an application program. The information processing unit 120 includes an information acquisition unit 121, an information storage unit 122, and an information analysis unit 123.

  The information acquisition unit 121 receives the connection destination information D and user identification information U1 read by the card reader 110. The information acquisition unit 121 outputs the received connection destination information D and user identification information U1 to the information storage unit 122.

  The information storage unit 122 stores the connection destination information D and user identification information U1 output from the information acquisition unit 121. The information storage unit 122 uses an area of a nonvolatile memory including a ROM or an HDD.

  The information analysis unit 123 analyzes the connection destination information D stored in the information storage unit 122. Specifically, the information analysis unit 123 analyzes the connection destination information D by a command from the CPU based on the control program, and reads the content of the connection destination information D. For example, if the connection destination information D stored in the information storage unit 122 is a server host name, the information analysis unit 123 searches for an IP address corresponding to the server host name using DNS (Domain Name System), Specify the IP address. When the IP address is specified, the server 210 is specified as the connection destination. The information analysis unit 123 outputs the identified IP address to the interface unit 130. If the connection destination information D stored in the information storage unit 122 is an IP address, the information analysis unit 123 can output the IP address to the interface unit 130 as it is.

  The interface unit 130 transmits the user identification information U1 to the server 210 specified by the information processing unit 120. That is, the interface unit 130 transmits the user identification information U1 to the server 210 indicated by the IP address output from the information analysis unit 123.

  The server 210 authenticates the user based on the user identification information U1 transmitted from the image forming apparatus 100 and the user identification information U1 stored in the identification information storage unit 211, and is stored in the job storage unit 212. The print job J is transmitted to the interface unit 130. Specifically, in the server 210, the user ID, user password, and card number transmitted from the image forming apparatus 100 are the same as the user ID, user password, and card number stored in the identification information storage unit 211. If so, authenticate the user.

  After authenticating the user, the server 210 searches for the print job J stored in the job storage unit 212 in association with the user, and transmits it to the image forming apparatus 100. Further, after authenticating the user, the server 210 can search for the print job J whose output source is the terminal device 220 based on the terminal device ID stored in the identification information storage unit 211.

  After the server 210 transmits the print job J to the image forming apparatus 100, the print job J is not left in the job storage unit 212. For example, when the server 210 transmits the print job J to the image forming apparatus 100, the job storage unit 212 deletes the stored print job J.

  The interface unit 130 outputs the print job J received from the server 210 to the image forming unit 140. That is, the interface unit 130 outputs a control signal to the image forming unit 140 so as to output the printed matter P of the document information W corresponding to the print job J.

  The image forming unit 140 forms an image on a sheet based on the print job J. That is, the image forming unit 140 forms an image on the sheet according to the printing conditions of the print job J based on the control signal output from the interface unit 130. As a result, the image forming apparatus 100 outputs the printed matter P corresponding to the print job J of the document information W.

  As described above with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the server 210 stores the print job J output from the terminal device 220 in response to a user operation. The user causes the card reader 110 of the image forming apparatus 100 to read the card 230 storing the user identification information U1 and the connection destination information D. The information processing unit 120 requests user authentication from the server 210 via the interface unit 130 based on the connection destination information D read by the card reader 110. The server 210 transmits the print job J to the interface unit 130 after user authentication. The image forming apparatus 100 outputs a printed matter P based on the print job J. Since the card 230 stores connection destination information D for connection to the server 210, the image forming apparatus used by the user is not limited to a specific image forming apparatus. Therefore, the user can access the server 210 from the image forming apparatus 100 including the information processing unit 120 at a desired timing by carrying the card 230. As a result, the user can output the printed matter P of the print job J from the image forming apparatus 100 that is not associated with the specific server 210.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the server 210 preferably further includes a server control unit 213, and the image forming apparatus 100 preferably further includes an operation display unit 150. FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation display unit 150 of the image forming apparatus 100. FIG. 3B is a block diagram illustrating configurations of the image forming apparatus 100 and the server 210.

  As illustrated in FIG. 3A, the operation display unit 150 includes a display unit 151 and an input unit 152. The display unit 151 includes a display such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or an ELD (Electro Luminescence Display) having a touch panel function. User operations are input from the input unit 152. In the embodiment in which the touch panel functions as the operation display unit 150, the display unit 151 and a part of the input unit 152 can be integrated.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, the server control unit 213 creates a job list L that can identify the print job J stored in the job storage unit 212. The server control unit 213 functions when the CPU executes a control program stored in the ROM or HDD. When the job storage unit 212 stores the print job J, the server control unit 213 creates a job list L based on the print job J. The job list L is, for example, a list indicating the print job J with the name “Meeting material.doc”. The job list L is stored in the job storage unit 212. The server control unit 213 can create the job list L at the same time when the job storage unit 212 stores the print job J. Further, the server control unit 213 can search the print job J stored in the job storage unit 212 at regular intervals and update the job list L.

  The server 210 authenticates the user based on the user identification information U1 transmitted from the interface unit 130 and the user identification information U1 stored in the identification information storage unit 211, as described above. After authenticating the user, the server 210 transmits the job list L to the interface unit 130. Alternatively, the server 210 can notify the interface unit 130 that the user authentication is successful after authenticating the user. In response to this notification, the interface unit 130 can transmit a signal requesting the job list L to the server 210.

  The interface unit 130 outputs the job list L received from the server 210 to the operation display unit 150. The display unit 151 displays the job list L output from the interface unit 130. The user confirms the name of the print job J indicated by the job list L on the display unit 151. The user inputs an instruction for designating the print job J from the input unit 152. The interface unit 130 transmits a signal requesting the designated print job J to the server 210.

  The server 210 transmits the print job J stored in the job storage unit 212 to the interface unit 130 based on the signal transmitted from the interface unit 130. Accordingly, the user can output the printed matter P after confirming whether or not the print job J stored in the server 210 is the desired print job J on the display unit 151. Therefore, erroneous printing by the user can be suppressed.

  Details of the printing process in the printing system 10 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 4. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the printing process of the printing system 10. The following is an example when a user uses the printing system 10 as an employee in a company.

  When the card issuer issues a card 230 (for example, an employee card) to the user, the card issuer stores the user identification information U1 and the connection destination information D to the server 210 in the card storage unit 231. The user identification information U1 stored in the card storage unit 231 includes a user ID, a user password, and a card number. The connection destination information D is a server host name. The server 210 is a server that the user uses in daily work. Further, the server administrator stores the user identification information U1 in the identification information storage unit 211 of the server 210 in advance. The user identification information U1 stored in the server 210 includes a user ID, a user password, a card number of the card 230, and a terminal device ID. The terminal device ID indicates the terminal device 220 that the user uses in daily work.

  In step S <b> 101, the user transmits a print job J to the server 210. Specifically, in the terminal device 220, the user designates the server 210 as the print output destination of the document information W, and sets printing conditions such as monochrome and color, Nin1 setting, and the number of copies as necessary. And execute the print command. The document information W is document information created by the terminal device 220 or document information input from the outside of the terminal device 220 by the terminal device 220. The terminal device 220 transmits the print job J of the document information W to the server 210.

  The server 210 stores the print job J transmitted from the terminal device 220 in the job storage unit 212. When the job storage unit 212 stores the print job J, the server control unit 213 creates a job list L based on the print job J. The job storage unit 212 stores a job list L. The terminal device 220 can transmit the terminal ID and the user ID together with the print job J to the server 210. Accordingly, the server 210 can associate the print job J with the terminal device 220 and the user. In the printing process shown in step S101, the user may send the print job J to a server that is not normally used. In such a case, if the company has introduced an entry / exit management system, the connection destination information of the card 230 may be updated when the user enters / exits the room after completing the printing process in step S101. it can. After the server 210 stores the print job J in the job storage unit 212, the printing process proceeds to step S103.

  In step S <b> 103, the user causes the card reader 110 of the image forming apparatus 100 to read the card 230. For example, after the printing process in step S101, the user moves to a place where the image forming apparatus 100 is installed at a desired timing. Thereafter, the user holds or inserts the card 230 over the card reader 110. The card reader 110 reads information stored in the card storage unit 231 by wirelessly communicating with the card 230 using electromagnetic waves. The printing process proceeds to step S105.

  In step S105, if the connection destination information D exists in the card 230 (step S105: Yes), the printing process proceeds to step S107. Specifically, if the connection destination information D is stored in the card storage unit 231 and at least one piece of user identification information is stored, the printing process proceeds to step S107. If there is no connection destination information D in the card 230 (step S105: No), the printing process ends. Note that if no user identification information is stored in the card 230, the printing process is similarly terminated.

  In step S <b> 107, the image forming apparatus 100 transmits user identification information U <b> 1 to the server 210. Specifically, the card reader 110 outputs the user identification information U1 and the connection destination information D read from the card 230 to the information acquisition unit 121.

  The information acquisition unit 121 receives the connection destination information D and user identification information U1 read by the card reader 110, and outputs them to the information storage unit 122. The information storage unit 122 stores the user identification information U1 and the connection destination information D output from the information acquisition unit 121. The information analysis unit 123 analyzes the connection destination information D stored in the information storage unit 122 based on the control program, and reads the contents of the connection destination information D. Specifically, the information analysis unit 123 searches the IP address corresponding to the server host name (connection destination information D) by DNS (Domain Name System), and specifies the IP address of the server 210. The information analysis unit 123 outputs the identified IP address to the interface unit 130.

  The interface unit 130 transmits the user identification information U1 to the server 210 indicated by the IP address output from the information analysis unit 123. As a result, the image forming apparatus 100 requests the server 210 to authenticate the user. The printing process proceeds to step S109.

  If the server 210 authenticates the user in step S109 (step S109: Yes), the printing process proceeds to step S111. Specifically, the server 210 includes each of the user ID, user password, and card number transmitted from the interface unit 130, and each of the user ID, user password, and card number stored in the identification information storage unit 211. And match. If the server 210 determines that all of them match, the server 210 authenticates the user. The server 210 transmits a signal indicating that the user has been authenticated to the interface unit 130.

  If the server 210 does not authenticate the user (step S109: No), the printing process ends. Specifically, the server 210 includes each of the user ID, user password, and card number transmitted from the interface unit 130, and each of the user ID, user password, and card number stored in the identification information storage unit 211. And match. If the server 210 determines that at least one of these does not match, the server 210 does not authenticate the user. The server 210 transmits a signal indicating that the user has not been authenticated to the interface unit 130.

  In step S <b> 111, the image forming apparatus 100 requests the job list L from the server 210. Specifically, the information processing unit 120 outputs a signal requesting the job list L corresponding to the user to the interface unit 130. The interface unit 130 transmits a signal to the server 210. The printing process proceeds to step S113.

  In step S <b> 113, the server 210 transmits the job list L to the image forming apparatus 100. Specifically, the server 210 searches the job list L corresponding to the user based on the signal transmitted from the interface unit 130 and specifies the job list L. The server 210 transmits the specified job list L to the interface unit 130. At this time, the print job J is not transmitted to the interface unit 130 but is stored in the job storage unit 212. The server 210 can also search the job list L corresponding to the print job J output from the terminal device 220 based on the terminal device ID stored in the identification information storage unit 211. After the server 210 transmits the job list L to the interface unit 130, the printing process proceeds to step S115.

  In step S115, the user designates a print job J to be output. Specifically, the interface unit 130 outputs the job list L transmitted from the server 210 to the operation display unit 150. The display unit 151 displays the job list L output from the interface unit 130. As shown in FIG. 3A, the user confirms the name of the print job J indicated by the job list L on the display unit 151. The user inputs from the input unit 152 to designate the print job J. The interface unit 130 transmits a signal requesting the designated print job J to the server 210.

  The server 210 transmits the print job J stored in the job storage unit 212 to the interface unit 130 based on the signal transmitted from the interface unit 130. The printing process proceeds to step S117.

  In step S117, the image forming apparatus 100 outputs the designated print job J. Specifically, the interface unit 130 receives the print job J transmitted from the server 210. The interface unit 130 outputs a control signal to the image forming unit 140 so as to form an image according to the printing conditions of the print job J. The image forming unit 140 forms an image on the sheet based on the control signal. As a result, the image forming apparatus 100 outputs the printed matter P corresponding to the print job J, and the printing process ends. Note that the information storage unit 122 can delete the stored user identification information U1 and connection destination information D after the processing in step S117 is completed by setting the operation display unit 150 in advance. Thereby, it is possible to prevent a third party from illegally extracting the user identification information U1 or the connection destination information D from the image forming apparatus 100 after the process of step S117 is completed.

  As shown in FIG. 5, it is preferable that the job storage unit 212 can store a plurality of print jobs. FIG. 5A is a block diagram illustrating configurations of the terminal device 220 and the server 210. As illustrated in FIG. 5A, the terminal device 220 can transmit a plurality of print jobs including the print job J of the document information W to the server 210 in accordance with a user operation. The server 210 can store a plurality of print jobs transmitted from the terminal device 220 in the job storage unit 212. Specifically, the terminal device 220 prints J, J1, and J2 (hereinafter, referred to as “multiple document information WS”) corresponding to each of the document information W, W1, and W2 (hereinafter simply referred to as “multiple document information WS”). Simply described as “plural print jobs JS”) to the server 210.

  The server 210 stores a plurality of print jobs JS transmitted from the terminal device 220 in the job storage unit 212. The server control unit 213 creates a job list L corresponding to a plurality of print jobs JS stored in the job storage unit 212 and stores the job list L in the job storage unit 212.

  After the printing process similar to the printing process of steps S101 to S113 illustrated in FIG. 4, the interface unit 130 outputs the job list L transmitted from the server 210 to the operation display unit 150. The display unit 151 displays the job list L output from the interface unit 130 as shown in FIG. FIG. 5B is a schematic diagram showing the operation display unit 150. The display unit 151 displays the job list L to display the names of the print jobs J, J1, and J2 to the user in a list. The user selects at least one of the print job J name “meeting material.doc”, the print job J1 name “seat chart.xls”, and the print job J2 name “reference material.pdf” (for example, print The input unit 152 inputs the job J). The interface unit 130 transmits a signal requesting the print job J designated by the user to the server 210.

  Based on the signal transmitted from the interface unit 130, the server 210 transmits only the print job J among the plurality of print jobs JS to the interface unit 130. The subsequent print processing is the same as the print processing in steps S115 and S117 shown in FIG. Accordingly, a necessary print job can be printed at a desired timing while a plurality of print jobs JS are stored in one server 210. Therefore, the capacity of the server 210 can be used effectively.

  In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the printing system 10 preferably includes a plurality of servers including a server 210 that can communicate with each other. FIG. 6A is a schematic diagram illustrating an outline of the printing system 10. FIG. 6B is a block diagram functionally showing the configuration of the card 230. As illustrated in FIG. 6A, the printing system 10 further includes a server 240. The terminal device 220 transmits the print job J of the document information W to at least one of the servers 210 and 240 in accordance with a user operation.

  As shown in FIG. 6B, the card 230 further stores in the card storage unit 231 connection destination information D that can identify the server 210 and connection destination information D1 that can identify the server 240. Similar to the connection destination information D described above, the connection destination information D1 is information that can specify the location of the server 240 on the network. The connection destination information D1 is, for example, a server host name or an IP address. Since the card storage unit 231 stores a plurality of pieces of connection destination information, the image forming apparatus 100 can execute user authentication and a print job J request to each server. Therefore, the user can select a desired server from the plurality of servers according to the usage status such as the free capacity of each server and output the print job J. As a result, user convenience is improved.

  Also, as shown in FIG. 7, it is preferable that the plurality of servers synchronize by transmitting information stored in each other. FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a plurality of servers. The plurality of servers include a server 210 (hereinafter referred to as “first server 210”) and a server 240 (hereinafter referred to as “second server 240”). The second server 240 has the same function as the server 210 shown in FIG. That is, the first server 210 includes an identification information storage unit 211, a job storage unit 212, and a server control unit 213. Similarly, the second server 240 includes an identification information storage unit 241, a job storage unit 242, and a server control unit 243.

  The server control unit 213 transmits the same user identification information U1 as the user identification information U1 stored in the identification information storage unit 211 to the second server 240. In addition, the server control unit 213 transmits the same print jobs J, J1, and J2 as the print jobs J, J1, and J2 stored in the job storage unit 212 to the second server 240, respectively. The timing at which the server control unit 213 transmits information such as the user identification information U1 and the print job J to the second server 240 is preset in the first server 210 by the server administrator. As a result, the server control unit 213 transmits various types of information to the second server 240, for example, at regular intervals, every day, or as soon as the information is stored in the job storage unit 212.

  On the other hand, in the second server 240, the server control unit 243 stores the user identification information U <b> 1 transmitted from the first server 210 in the identification information storage unit 241. Also, the server control unit 243 stores the print jobs J, J1, and J2 transmitted from the first server 210 in the job storage unit 242. The first server 210 and the second server 240 can bidirectionally transmit and receive information such as the user identification information U1 and the print job J.

  In this way, each of the plurality of servers synchronizes by transmitting the stored user identification information U1 and print job J to each other. Thereby, each of the plurality of servers stores the same information. Therefore, even when one server cannot be used due to a malfunction of the server or the communication line, the image forming apparatus 100 can receive and print the same information from another server. In addition, depending on the form of the network, the first server 210 and the second server 240 may be different servers that are communicably connected to the image forming apparatus 100 on the network. Even in such a case, the user can select the optimum server that is communicably connected and output the print job J.

  Details of print processing using a plurality of servers in the printing system 10 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the printing process of the printing system 10. The printing process shown in FIG. 4 differs from the point that there is one server, whereas the printing process shown in FIG. 8 is different in that there are a plurality of servers. Hereinafter, the description of the same points as the printing process shown in FIG. 4 will be omitted so that the difference from the printing process shown in FIG. 4 becomes clear.

  The server 210 (first server 210) and server 240 (second server 240) shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 are servers used by users in daily work. When the card issuer issues the card 230 to the user, the card identification unit U1, the connection destination information D indicating the first server 210, and the connection destination information D1 indicating the second server 240 are stored in the card storage unit 231. Remember.

  As shown in FIG. 8, in step S <b> 201, the user transmits a print job J to the server 210. Specifically, in the terminal device 220, the user designates an arbitrary server among the first server 210 and the second server 240 as a print output destination of the document information W, and executes a print command. For example, when the user designates the first server 210 as the print output destination, the terminal device 220 transmits the print job J to the first server 210.

  When it is necessary to print a plurality of document information WS including the document information W, the terminal device 220 designates the first server 210 or the second server 240 for each of the plurality of document information WS, and a plurality of print jobs. JS can be sent. Further, if the company has introduced an entry / exit management system, even if the user sends a plurality of print jobs JS from the terminal device 220 to a server that is not normally used, the connection destination of the card 230 at the time of entry / exit Information can be updated.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the first server 210 and the second server 240 can be synchronized by bidirectionally transmitting and receiving information such as the user identification information U1 and the print job J. For this reason, the job storage unit 212 and the job storage unit 242 can store the same information.

  After step S201, the printing process proceeds to step S103. Each of step S103 to step S113 corresponds to each of step S103 to step S113 described with reference to FIG. In this case, the first server 210 transmits the job list L to the image forming apparatus 100.

  Thereafter, in step S214, if the card 230 has connection destination information to another server (step S214: Yes), the printing process returns to step S107. After returning to step S107, the printing system 10 further executes steps S109 to S113. That is, the card storage unit 231 stores connection destination information D1 to the second server 240. Accordingly, in step S107 to step S113, the same print process as the print process for the connection destination information D is executed, and the second server 240 transmits the job list L to the image forming apparatus 100. Thereafter, the printing process proceeds to step S214. If there is no connection destination information on the card 230 to another server (step S214: No), the printing process proceeds to step S115.

  In step S115, the user specifies a print job to be output. Specifically, the interface unit 130 outputs all job lists L transmitted from the server 210 and the server 240 to the operation display unit 150. The display unit 151 displays all job lists L output from the interface unit 130 as a list or for each job list. As shown in FIG. 5B, the user confirms the names of a plurality of print jobs JS indicated by the job list L on the display unit 151 (touch panel). The user inputs with the input unit 152 so as to designate at least one print job among the plurality of print jobs JS. The interface unit 130 transmits a signal requesting a print job designated by the user to the first server 210 or the second server 240.

  The first server 210 or the second server 240 transmits the print job stored in the job storage unit 212 or the job storage unit 242 to the interface unit 130 based on the signal transmitted from the interface unit 130. The printing process proceeds to step S117.

  In step S117, the image forming apparatus 100 outputs the designated print job. Specifically, the interface unit 130 receives a print job transmitted from the first server 210 or the second server 240. Similar to step S <b> 117 described with reference to FIG. 4, the image forming apparatus 100 outputs the printed material P corresponding to the print job, and the printing process ends. Note that the information storage unit 122 can delete the stored user identification information U1, connection destination information D, and connection destination information D1 after the processing of step S117 is completed by setting the operation display unit 150 in advance. .

  The image forming apparatus 100 in the printing system 10 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a model diagram for explaining the outline of the image forming apparatus 100. The image forming apparatus 100 is, for example, a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, or a multifunction machine. The multi-function peripheral includes, for example, at least two devices among a copier, a printer, and a facsimile.

  The image forming apparatus 100 includes a card reader 110, an image forming unit 140, an operation display unit 150, a fixing device 160, a document conveying unit 171, an image reading unit 172, a control unit 180, a cassette 191, a manual feed tray 192, a feeding unit 193, A transport unit 194 and a discharge unit 195 are provided.

  The card reader 110 reads information on the card 230 and outputs the read information to the control unit 180. The card reader 110 functions as the card reader 110 described with reference to FIGS.

  The control unit 180 controls each element of the image forming apparatus 100. Specifically, the control unit 180, in accordance with a control signal from the operation display unit 150 or a computer program, the card reader 110, the image forming unit 140, the operation display unit 150, the fixing device 160, the document conveying unit 171, and the image reading unit 172. The control unit 180, the feeding unit 193, the transport unit 194, and the discharge unit 195 are controlled. The control unit 180 includes the information processing unit 120 and the interface unit 130 described with reference to FIGS. The control unit 180 further includes, for example, a CPU and a storage unit. The storage unit includes a main storage device (for example, a semiconductor memory) and an auxiliary storage device (for example, a semiconductor memory or an HDD) according to specifications.

  The operation display unit 150 displays information. The operation display unit 150 functions as the operation display unit 150 described with reference to FIGS. The operation display unit 150 includes a display unit 151 and an input unit 152.

  The image reading unit 172 reads an image of a document and generates image data. The feeding unit 193 feeds the sheets S stacked on the cassette 191 or the manual feed tray 192 to the transport unit 194.

  The conveyance unit 194 conveys the sheet S to the image forming unit 140. The image forming unit 140 functions as the image forming unit 140 described with reference to FIGS. The image forming unit 140 forms an image on the sheet S based on the image data. The image data is, for example, image data generated by the image reading unit 172 or image data input from the outside of the image forming apparatus 100. The image forming unit 140 forms an image on the sheet S by the photosensitive drum 141, the charging unit 142, the exposure unit 143, the developing unit 144, and the transfer unit 145. The image forming unit 140 includes a cleaning unit 146 and a charge removal unit 147.

  The sheet S on which the image is formed is conveyed toward the fixing device 160. The fixing device 160 heats and pressurizes the sheet S to fix the image formed on the sheet S to the sheet S. The sheet S on which the image is fixed is conveyed toward the discharge unit 195. The discharge unit 195 discharges the sheet S.

  As described above, the image forming apparatus 100 illustrated in FIG. 9 constitutes a part of the printing system 10. The image forming apparatus 100 functions as the image forming apparatus 100 described with reference to FIGS. Therefore, the same effects as those of the image forming apparatus 100 described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8 can be obtained.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described above with reference to the drawings (FIGS. 1 to 9). However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the gist thereof (for example, (1) to (5) shown below). In addition, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the above embodiments. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, constituent elements over different embodiments may be appropriately combined. In order to facilitate understanding, the drawings schematically show each component as a main component, and the thickness, length, number, spacing, etc. of each component shown in the drawings are actual for convenience of drawing. Is different. In addition, the material, shape, and the like of each component shown in the above embodiment are merely examples, and are not particularly limited, and various changes can be made without departing from the effects of the present invention.

  (1) Although the terminal device 220 shown in FIG. 1 is a personal computer, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an image forming apparatus having a scanner function can be used as the terminal device 220. Thus, an image print job read by the scanner function of the image forming apparatus can be output to the server 210. In addition, an image forming apparatus having the same function as that of the image forming apparatus 100 can be used as the terminal device 220. After the image forming apparatus outputs the print job to the server 210, the card 230 is read by the same image forming apparatus, and the print job stored in the server 210 can be printed. As a result, the print job of the document read by the image forming apparatus can be stored in the server 210. Further, the printed matter P can be output as needed from any image forming apparatus including the image forming apparatus used as the terminal device 220.

  (2) Although the image forming apparatus 100 described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 includes the card reader 110 via the USB, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the image forming apparatus 100 can also incorporate a card reader 110. Accordingly, the image forming apparatus 100 can include the card reader 110 without requiring components such as a USB connector.

  (3) As shown in FIG. 2, the user list U is stored in the server 210 having the job storage unit 212, but the present invention is not limited to this. A server different from the server 210 may store the user list U. A server different from the server 210 is, for example, a server for managing employee information in a company. Thereby, the server administrator can manage separately the print job J related to daily work and the employee information which is personal information.

  (4) In step S113 shown in FIG. 4, the server 210 transmits the job list L to the interface unit 130, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the server 210 can identify the print job J corresponding to the user and transmit the print job J to the interface unit 130 after successful user authentication in step S109 shown in FIG. Further, the server 210 searches for the print job J stored in the job storage unit 212 based on the terminal device ID stored in the identification information storage unit 211 and transmits the print job J to the interface unit 130. You can also. As a result, the server 210 can transmit the print job J simultaneously with the user authentication. Therefore, the time required for printing can be shortened.

  (5) In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the number of servers is two, but the present invention is not limited to this. The number of servers can be three or more. In the embodiment where the number of servers is three, the number of connection destination information is three corresponding to the number of servers. The number of servers can be increased according to user convenience.

  The present invention can be used in the field of printing systems.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Image forming apparatus 110 Card reader 120 Information processing part 130 Interface part 140 Image forming part 150 Operation display part 200 Printing system 210 Server, 1st server 211 Identification information storage part 212 Job storage part 213 Server control part 220 Terminal apparatus 230 Card 231 Card storage unit 240 Second server 241 Identification information storage unit 242 Job storage unit 243 Server control unit U1, U2, U3 User identification information D, D1 Connection destination information W Document information J, J1, J2 Print job JS Multiple print jobs L Job list S Sheet P Printed matter

Claims (8)

An image forming apparatus capable of communicating with a server that stores a print job,
A card reader, an information processing unit, an interface unit, and an image forming unit for forming an image on a sheet;
The card reader
From the card, read the user identification information that can identify the user and the connection destination information that can identify the server, and output the user identification information and the connection destination information to the information processing unit,
The information processing unit
Identify the server based on the connection destination information output from the card reader, output the user identification information to the interface unit,
The interface unit is
The user identification information is transmitted to the server specified by the information processing unit, the print job is received from the server that has authenticated the user based on the user identification information, and the print job is transmitted to the image forming unit. Output to
The image forming apparatus forms the image on the sheet based on the print job. An operation display unit;
The interface unit is
Receiving a job list capable of identifying the print job from the server, and outputting the job list to the operation display unit;
The operation display unit displays the job list,
The interface unit is
Transmitting a signal requesting the print job designated by a user based on the job list displayed on the operation display unit to the server, and receiving the print job transmitted from the server in response to the signal; The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. An image forming method of an image forming apparatus capable of communicating with a server storing a print job,
The image forming apparatus includes a card reader capable of reading a card, an information processing unit, an interface unit, and an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet,
The card reader reads from the card user identification information capable of identifying a user and connection destination information capable of identifying the server;
The information processing unit identifying the server based on the connection destination information read by the card reader;
The interface unit transmitting the user identification information to the server;
The interface unit receiving the print job from the server that has authenticated the user based on the user identification information;
And an image forming unit that forms the image on the sheet based on the print job received from the server. A printing system comprising: a server; a terminal device capable of communicating with the server; an image forming device capable of communicating with the server; and a card comprising a card storage unit,
The server includes an identification information storage unit and a job storage unit,
The server stores user identification information capable of identifying a user in the identification information storage unit,
The terminal device transmits a print job of document information to the server according to a user operation,
The server stores the print job transmitted from the terminal device in the job storage unit;
The card stores the user identification information and connection destination information capable of specifying the server in the card storage unit,
The image forming apparatus includes a card reader, an information processing unit, an interface unit, and an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet,
The card reader reads the user identification information and the connection destination information from the card, outputs the user identification information and the connection destination information to the information processing unit,
The information processing unit identifies the server based on the connection destination information output from the card reader, and outputs the user identification information to the interface unit,
The interface unit transmits the user identification information to the server specified by the information processing unit,
The server authenticates the user based on the user identification information transmitted from the interface unit and the user identification information stored in the identification information storage unit, and is stored in the job storage unit. The print job is sent to the interface unit,
The interface unit outputs the print job received from the server to the image forming unit;
The image forming unit forms the image on the sheet based on the print job. The server further includes a server control unit,
The server control unit creates a job list that can identify the print job stored in the job storage unit,
The server authenticates the user based on the user identification information transmitted from the interface unit and the user identification information stored in the identification information storage unit, and sends the job list to the interface unit. Send
The image forming apparatus further includes an operation display unit,
The interface unit outputs the job list received from the server to the operation display unit,
The operation display unit displays the job list output from the interface unit,
The interface unit transmits a signal requesting the print job designated by a user based on the job list displayed on the operation display unit to the server,
The printing system according to claim 4, wherein the server transmits the print job stored in the job storage unit to the interface unit based on the signal transmitted from the interface unit. The terminal device transmits a plurality of print jobs including the print job of the document information to the server according to a user operation,
The printing system according to claim 5, wherein the server stores the plurality of print jobs transmitted from the terminal device in the job storage unit. The printing system includes a plurality of servers that can communicate with each other, including the server,
The terminal device transmits the print job of the document information to at least one of the plurality of servers according to an operation of the user;
The printing system according to claim 5, wherein the card further stores the connection destination information that can specify each of the plurality of servers in the card storage unit. The plurality of servers includes a first server and a second server;
Each of the first server and the second server includes the identification information storage unit, the job storage unit, and the server control unit,
The server control unit of the first server is
The user identification information identical to the user identification information stored in the identification information storage unit of the first server is transmitted to the second server, and the job storage unit of the first server stores the user identification information. Sending the same print job as the print job to the second server;
The second server is
The user identification information transmitted from the first server is stored in the identification information storage unit of the second server, and the print job transmitted from the first server is stored in the job storage unit of the second server. The printing system according to claim 7.

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