JP2017027291A - Information processing apparatus, information processing system, information processing method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processing system enhancing a convenience in selecting a delegate acting to output data.SOLUTION: A client terminal 10 has: a print indication reception part 112 which specifies data to be printed; a print data generation part 115 which generates print data of the specified data; a print data storage part 132 which stores the print data; a possible delegate determination part 113 which determines start-up states of other client terminals related to candidates in charge of printing respectively; a job information generation part 116 which generates job information including user identification information on users related to other client terminals determined to be in process of starting and the print data; and a job information storage part 133 which stores the job information. An image formation apparatus 20 acquires a list of job information associated with the user identification information on the users from the job information storage part, and acquires print data of job information selected from the list from the print data storage part and then prints the print data.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing system, an information processing method, and a program.

  There is an output form of print data called extended confidential printing or pull print printing. In such an output mode, when a print instruction for document data is input by a user at a client PC or the like, the print data generated for the document data is not immediately transmitted to the image forming apparatus, for example, the client PC Saved at. When a user operates an image forming apparatus such as a multifunction peripheral and inputs a user ID, the image forming apparatus uses a list of print data stored in the user's client PC related to the user ID as a print target option. indicate. When any print data is selected from the list by the user, the image forming apparatus executes a print job for the selected print data.

  In the output form as described above, print data relating to a print instruction by a user operating the image forming apparatus is displayed on the image forming apparatus as options to be printed. Therefore, it is possible to avoid a situation in which another person's printed matter is erroneously output. Further, since the printed matter is output when the user is near the image forming apparatus, it is possible to reduce the possibility that confidential information or the like is viewed by others.

  Also, in extended confidential printing, etc., even when a proxy user other than the person who issued the print instruction operates the image forming apparatus, it is possible to execute a print job related to the print data related to the print instruction (hereinafter referred to as the print instruction). , Referred to as “proxy printing function”). According to the proxy printing function, for example, when the president issues a print instruction from his / her client PC, even if the secretary logs in to the image forming apparatus with his / her account, the print job related to the print data according to the print instruction is formed. The device can be executed.

  With the above-described proxy printing function, the print instructor cannot always obtain the printed matter at an early stage after inputting the proxy printing instruction. For example, if the proxy user is absent and the client does not know that, the print instructor cannot obtain the printed matter at an early stage. The same applies to the case where there are a plurality of proxy candidates, and when the printing instruction person accidentally selects a candidate who is absent.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and it is an object of the present invention to improve convenience when selecting a substitute agent for data output.

  Therefore, in order to solve the above-described problem, the information processing apparatus includes a reception unit that receives designation of data to be output to a device, and each of one or more users stored as candidates in charge of outputting the data A determination unit that determines a startup state of another information processing device related to the device identification information associated with the identification information, and device identification information of the other information processing device that is determined to be active by the determination unit A storage processing unit that stores the data in a predetermined storage device in association with the associated user identification information, and the device is associated with the user identification information of the user of the device and the predetermined storage device The data stored in is output.

  It is possible to improve convenience when selecting an agent who performs data output.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of the printing system in 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the hardware structural example of the client terminal in 1st Embodiment. 1 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of a printing system according to a first embodiment. FIG. It is a flowchart for demonstrating an example of the process sequence which a client terminal performs according to a printing instruction | indication. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the proxy candidate memory | storage part in 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structural example of a job information storage part. It is a figure which shows the structural example of a proxy information storage part. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an example of a processing procedure executed by the image forming apparatus in response to a user operation. It is a figure which shows the structural example of a user information storage part. 10 is a flowchart for explaining an example of a processing procedure executed by a client terminal in response to a job list acquisition request. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an example of a processing procedure executed by a client terminal in response to a print data acquisition request. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an example of a processing procedure executed by a client terminal in response to reception of print result information. It is a figure which shows the example of an update of a job information storage part. It is a figure which shows the function structural example of the printing system in 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the proxy candidate memory | storage part in 2nd Embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a printing system according to the first embodiment. In the printing system 1 shown in FIG. 1, one or more client terminals 10 such as a client terminal 10a and a client terminal 10b, an authentication server 30, and one or more image forming apparatuses 20 are connected to a LAN (Local Area Network) or the like, for example. Are connected to each other via a network N1 in the company.

  The client terminal 10 is an information processing apparatus that is directly operated by a user of the printing system 1. Examples of the client terminal 10 include a PC (Personal Computer), a smartphone, a tablet terminal, and a PDA (Personal Digital Assistance). The user inputs a print instruction for printing arbitrary data to the client terminal 10. In response to the print instruction, the client terminal 10 generates print data for data designated as a print target, and stores the print data in the client terminal 10. The print data is data used for drawing a print image in a print job, such as PDL (Page Description Language) format data.

  In the present embodiment, a user who operates the image forming apparatus 20 on behalf of a user who gives a print instruction (hereinafter referred to as “owner”) and outputs print data (hereinafter referred to as “agent”). Can be specified. When the agent is designated, the print data stored in the client terminal 10 is associated with the user ID of the agent. Note that a print job in which a proxy is designated is hereinafter referred to as “proxy printing”.

  The authentication server 30 is a computer that manages the user ID and password of each user of the printing system 1, the address information of each user's client terminal 10, information that associates the owner and the agent in proxy printing, and the like. The information for associating the owner and the agent in proxy printing is information indicating which user is designated as the agent of the user. Such information is transmitted from the client terminal 10 to which a printing instruction for proxy printing has been input.

  The image forming apparatus 20 is a device having a printing function, such as a multifunction machine or a printer. The image forming apparatus 20 transmits, to the user's client terminal 10, an acquisition request for a list of bibliographic information (hereinafter referred to as “job information”) of print data associated with the user ID of the user in response to an operation by the user. To do. The image forming apparatus 20 acquires from the client terminal 10 print data related to the job information selected by the user from the list of job information returned in response to the acquisition request, and prints a print job related to the print data. Run. When the user of the image forming apparatus 20 is an agent of another user, the image forming apparatus 20 acquires a list of job information, print data, and the like from the client terminal 10 of the other user.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the client terminal according to the first embodiment. The client terminal 10 in FIG. 2 includes a drive device 100, an auxiliary storage device 102, a memory device 103, a CPU 104, an interface device 105, a display device 106, an input device 107, and the like that are mutually connected by a bus B.

  A program for realizing processing in the client terminal 10 is provided by a recording medium 101 such as a CD-ROM. When the recording medium 101 storing the program is set in the drive device 100, the program is installed from the recording medium 101 to the auxiliary storage device 102 via the drive device 100. However, the program need not be installed from the recording medium 101 and may be downloaded from another computer via a network. The auxiliary storage device 102 stores the installed program and also stores necessary files and data.

  The memory device 103 reads the program from the auxiliary storage device 102 and stores it when there is an instruction to start the program. The CPU 104 implements functions related to the client terminal 10 in accordance with programs stored in the memory device 103. The interface device 105 is used as an interface for connecting to a network. The display device 106 displays a GUI (Graphical User Interface) or the like by a program. The input device 107 includes a keyboard and a mouse, and is used for inputting various operation instructions.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. 3, the image forming apparatus 20 includes hardware such as a controller 21, a scanner 22, a printer 23, a modem 24, an operation panel 25, a network interface 26, and an SD card slot 27.

  The controller 21 includes a CPU 211, RAM 212, ROM 213, HDD 214, NVRAM 215, and the like. The ROM 213 stores various programs and data used by the programs. The RAM 212 is used as a storage area for loading a program, a work area for the loaded program, and the like. The CPU 211 realizes various functions by processing a program loaded in the RAM 212. The HDD 214 stores a program and various data used by the program. The NVRAM 215 stores various setting information and the like.

  The scanner 22 is hardware (image reading means) for reading image data from a document. The printer 23 is hardware (printing means) for printing print data on printing paper. The modem 24 is hardware for connecting to a telephone line, and is used to execute transmission / reception of image data by FAX communication. The operation panel 25 is hardware including input means such as buttons for accepting input from a user, display means such as a liquid crystal panel, and the like. The liquid crystal panel may have a touch panel function. In this case, the liquid crystal panel also functions as an input unit. The network interface 26 is hardware for connecting to a network such as a LAN (whether wired or wireless). The SD card slot 27 is used for reading a program stored in the SD card 80. That is, in the image forming apparatus 20, not only the program stored in the ROM 213 but also the program stored in the SD card 80 can be loaded into the RAM 212 and executed. The SD card 80 may be replaced by another recording medium (for example, a CD-ROM or a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory). That is, the type of recording medium corresponding to the positioning of the SD card 80 is not limited to a predetermined one. In this case, the SD card slot 27 may be replaced by hardware corresponding to the type of recording medium.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the printing system according to the first embodiment. 4, the client terminal 10 includes a login control unit 111, a print instruction reception unit 112, a proxy candidate determination unit 113, a proxy selection unit 114, a print data generation unit 115, a job information generation unit 116, and a proxy information registration request unit. 117, a proxy notification transmission unit 118, a proxy notification reception unit 119, a job list reply unit 120, a data management unit 121, a job update unit 122, a proxy information deletion request unit 123, and the like. Each of these units is realized by processing that one or more programs installed in the client terminal 10 cause the CPU 104 of the client terminal 10 to execute. The client terminal 10 also includes a proxy candidate storage unit 131, a print data storage unit 132, a job information storage unit 133, and the like. Each of these storage units can be realized using the auxiliary storage device 102 of the client terminal 10 or the like.

  The login control unit 111 requests the authentication server 30 to authenticate the user ID and password input to the client terminal 10. When the authentication by the authentication server 30 is successful, the login control unit 111 identifies the login user by the input user ID.

  The print instruction accepting unit 112 accepts a print instruction related to any of the data stored in the client terminal 10 from the user.

  The proxy candidate determination unit 113 can proxy a print job at the time of a print instruction from a list of proxy candidates (hereinafter referred to as “stage candidates”) stored in the proxy candidate storage unit 131. A proxy candidate (hereinafter referred to as “substitute candidate”) is determined. The proxy candidate storage unit 131 stores each user ID of a proxy candidate related to the user of the client terminal 10, address information of the client terminal 10 used by the proxy candidate, and the like.

  The agent selection unit 114 receives, from the user, the selection of the agent for the current print instruction from among the agents who can substitute.

  The print data generation unit 115 generates print data for data designated as a print target. The generated print data is stored in the print data storage unit 132. The job information generation unit 116 generates job information related to print data generated according to the print instruction. The job information includes identification information for each print request (for each print job) (hereinafter referred to as “job ID”), a user ID for a user who has issued a print instruction (hereinafter referred to as “owner”), and print data. Information indicating the storage destination is included. When a proxy is selected in step S103, the user ID of the proxy is also included in the job information. The generated job information is stored in the job information storage unit 133.

  The proxy notification transmission unit 118 has information (hereinafter referred to as “proxy notification”) indicating that the client terminal 10 of the user selected as the agent is selected as the destination and the agent (the person in charge of outputting print data) is selected. .) The proxy notification receiving unit 119 receives the proxy notification transmitted from the proxy notification transmitting unit 118 of the other client terminal 10 and notifies the proxy of the reception of the proxy notification.

  When a proxy is selected, the proxy information registration request unit 117 includes the owner's user ID (hereinafter referred to as “owner ID”) and each of the one or more proxy user IDs (hereinafter referred to as “proxy ID”). The information registration request is transmitted to the authentication server 30.

  The job list reply unit 120 is included in the acquisition request in response to an acquisition request for a list of job information (hereinafter referred to as “job list”) transmitted from the image forming apparatus 20 operated by the user. Job information including the user ID as the owner ID or agent ID is acquired from the job information storage unit 133. The job list reply unit 120 returns a job list constituted by the acquired job information to the image forming apparatus 20 that is the transmission source of the job list acquisition request.

  The data management unit 121 acquires the print data from the print data storage unit 132 in response to a print data acquisition request corresponding to the job information selected by the user from the job list in the image forming apparatus 20. The data management unit 121 returns the acquired print data to the image forming apparatus 20 that has transmitted the acquisition request.

  The job update unit 122 receives information indicating the execution result of the print job (hereinafter referred to as “print result information”) transmitted from the image forming apparatus 20 in response to the execution of the print job. When the print result information indicates the success of the print job, the job update unit 122 deletes the job information stored in the job information storage unit 133 regarding the print data related to the print job, and the print data Are deleted from the print data storage unit 132.

  In response to the deletion of job information related to proxy printing, the proxy information deletion request unit 123 transmits to the authentication server 30 a request to delete information that associates the owner ID and the agent ID included in the job information.

  The authentication server 30 includes an authentication unit 31, a user information management unit 32, a proxy information management unit 33, and the like. Each of these units is realized by processing that one or more programs installed in the authentication server 30 cause the CPU of the authentication server 30 to execute. The authentication server 30 also uses a user information storage unit 34 and a proxy information storage unit 35. Each of these storage units can be realized using, for example, an auxiliary storage device of the authentication server 30 or a storage device that can be connected to the authentication server 30 via a network.

  The authentication unit 31 performs authentication related to the user ID and password included in the authentication request from the client terminal 10 or the image forming apparatus 20. The user information management unit 32 manages user information stored in the user information storage unit 34. For example, the user information management unit 32 returns user information related to the user ID in response to a user information acquisition request in which the user ID is specified. The user information storage unit 34 stores user information for each user who is permitted to use the printing system 1. Each user information includes a user ID, a password, address information of the client terminal 10 used by the user, and the like.

  In response to a registration request for information that associates the owner ID and the agent ID from the client terminal 10, the proxy information management unit 33 stores information indicating the association in the proxy information storage unit 35. The proxy information management unit 33 also deletes information indicating the association from the proxy information storage unit 35 in response to a request to delete information that associates the owner ID and the agent ID from the client terminal 10. In response to an owner ID acquisition request corresponding to the agent ID from the image forming apparatus 20, the proxy information management unit 33 refers to the information stored in the proxy information storage unit 35 and responds to the acquisition request. The owner ID associated with the specified user ID as the agent ID is returned.

  The image forming apparatus 20 includes a login control unit 221, a proxy information acquisition unit 222, a job list acquisition unit 223, a print data request unit 224, a job execution unit 225, and the like. Each of these units is realized by processing that causes the CPU 211 of the image forming apparatus 20 to execute one or more programs installed in the image forming apparatus 20.

  The login control unit 221 requests the authentication server 30 to authenticate the user ID and password input to the image forming apparatus 20. When the authentication by the authentication server 30 is successful, the login control unit 221 identifies the login user by the input user ID.

  The proxy information acquisition unit 222 acquires from the authentication server 30 the owner ID associated with the user ID of the login user as the proxy ID. That is, the user ID of the user who has requested the login user to perform printing substitution is acquired.

  The job list acquisition unit 223 acquires a job list from the client terminal 10 related to the login user. When the owner ID is acquired by the proxy information acquisition unit 222, the job list acquisition unit 223 includes job information including the user ID of the login user as the agent ID from the client terminal 10 related to the owner ID. Get job list.

  The print data request unit 224 acquires print data related to the job information from the client terminal 10 that is the transmission source of the job information selected by the user from the job list displayed on the operation panel of the image forming apparatus 20. The job execution unit 225 controls execution of a print job related to the print data acquired by the print data request unit 224.

  Hereinafter, a processing procedure executed in the printing system 1 will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining an example of a processing procedure executed by the client terminal in response to the print instruction.

  In step S101, the print instruction receiving unit 112 receives a print instruction from the user. In the print instruction, data to be printed is specified. Subsequently, the proxy candidate determination unit 113 refers to the proxy candidate storage unit 131 and determines whether proxy is possible for each proxy candidate (S102).

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the proxy candidate storage unit in the first embodiment. In FIG. 6, the proxy candidate storage unit 131 stores a user ID and a terminal address for each proxy candidate of the user of the client terminal 10. The terminal address is address information of the client terminal 10 used by the user. For example, the IP address may be a terminal address value. Note that the contents of the proxy candidate storage unit 131 may be different for each client terminal 10.

  For example, the proxy candidate determination unit 113 checks the activation state of the client terminal 10 related to each terminal address stored in the proxy candidate storage unit 131. Specifically, it is confirmed whether or not the client terminal 10 is activated. For such confirmation, for example, a ping command or the like may be used. The proxy candidate determination unit 113 determines the user ID of the user related to the client terminal 10 that has been confirmed to be active as the user ID of the proxy candidate. That is, the user related to the client terminal 10 that has not been activated is likely to be absent, and even if it is not absent, it is unlikely that the proxy notification can be confirmed at an early stage. Is done.

  Note that the address information of each client terminal 10 may be changed according to the addition or removal of the client terminal 10 or the like. Therefore, before the confirmation of the activation state of each proxy candidate's client terminal 10, the proxy candidate determination unit 113 obtains the address information of each proxy candidate's client terminal 10, for example, the user information management unit of the authentication server 30. 32 may be referred to. Specifically, the proxy candidate determination unit 113 transmits a terminal address acquisition request including the user ID of each proxy candidate to the user information management unit 32. The user information management unit 32 returns the terminal address associated with the user ID of each proxy candidate and stored in the user information storage unit 34 to the proxy candidate determination unit 113. The proxy candidate determination unit 113 overwrites the returned terminal address on the terminal address of the proxy candidate storage unit 131.

  Subsequently, the agent selection unit 114 displays a list of user IDs of the proxy candidates determined by the proxy candidate determination unit 113 on the display device 106, and receives the selection of the agent from the user (S103). Note that when the logged-in user (owner) operates the image forming apparatus 20, the agent may not be selected. Alternatively, all the agents who can be represented may be automatically selected as agents. Alternatively, it may be possible to set whether to automatically select an agent or to inquire the user.

  Subsequently, the print data generation unit 115 generates print data for the data designated as the print target, and stores the generated print data in the print data storage unit 132 (S104). Subsequently, the job information generation unit 116 generates job information related to the print data generated in step S104, and stores the generated job information in the job information storage unit 133 (S105).

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the job information storage unit. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the job information storage unit 133 stores a job ID, an owner ID, an agent ID, a print data ID, and the like for each print data.

  The job ID is identification information assigned for each job information. The job ID may be generated by the job information generation unit 116 in step S105, for example. The owner ID is the user ID of the user who has input the print instruction, that is, the login user of the client terminal 10. The agent ID is the user ID of the user selected as the agent. That is, the agent ID is a user ID of a user who acts as a proxy for the printing instruction. The print data ID is identification information of print data generated with respect to the print instruction. The print data ID may be information in any format as long as it is information that can specify the storage destination of the print data in the print data storage unit 132. For example, the print data ID may be a file path name or a URL. By including the print data ID in the job information, the print data related to the print data ID is associated with other information included in the job information. Note that the print data ID is specified in step S104.

  Subsequently, the proxy information registration request unit 117 determines whether or not a proxy is selected in step S103 (S106). When the agent is selected (Yes in S106), the agent information registration request unit 117 obtains the user ID (owner ID) of the login user of the client terminal 10 and the user ID (agent ID) of the agent. A registration request for information to be associated is transmitted to the authentication server 30 (S107).

  When receiving the registration request, the proxy information management unit 33 of the authentication server 30 stores the owner ID and the proxy ID included in the registration request in the proxy information storage unit 35 in association with each other.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the proxy information storage unit. As shown in FIG. 8, the proxy information storage unit 35 stores, for each agent ID, the owner ID of the owner who requested the agent to print. Therefore, the proxy information management unit 33 registers the owner ID included in the registration request for each record of the proxy ID included in the received registration request. By associating the owner ID with the agent ID, the agent ID is associated with the address information of the client terminal 10 of the owner that is associated with the owner ID in the user information storage unit 34.

  The proxy information storage unit 35 may store address information of the owner's client terminal 10 for each proxy ID. In this case, in step S107, an information registration request for associating the agent ID with the address information of the client terminal 10 may be transmitted. That is, the agent ID and the address information of the owner's client terminal 10 may be directly associated with each other.

  Subsequently, the proxy notification transmission unit 118 transmits a proxy notification to the terminal address stored in the proxy candidate storage unit 131 in association with the user ID of each selected proxy (S108). The proxy notification includes the user ID (that is, owner ID) of the login user. When the proxy notification receiving unit 119 of each client terminal 10 related to the terminal address receives the proxy notification, for example, a message indicating that proxy printing is requested from the user associated with the owner ID included in the proxy notification Is displayed as a pop-up, for example. Each agent can know that the proxy printing has been requested by referring to the message. The proxy notification may be transmitted by e-mail. In this case, the proxy notification transmission unit 118 and the proxy notification reception unit 119 may be realized by a general mailer.

  After the execution of the processing in FIG. 5, one of the agents can move to one of the image forming apparatuses 20 and cause the image forming apparatus 20 to execute a print job related to the data that is the target of the print instruction.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining an example of a processing procedure executed by the image forming apparatus in response to an operation by the user.

  For example, a login screen is displayed on the operation panel 25 of the image forming apparatus 20. For example, when authentication information such as a user ID and a password is input by the user via the login screen, the login control unit 221 performs an authentication process on the authentication information (S201). For example, an authentication request including authentication information is transmitted from the login control unit 221 to the authentication server 30. The authentication unit 31 of the authentication server 30 performs authentication processing by checking the authentication information included in the authentication request with the user ID and password included in the user information stored in the user information storage unit 34. Run.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the user information storage unit. As shown in FIG. 10, the user information storage unit 34 stores user information including a user ID, a password, a terminal address, and the like for each user.

  The authentication server 30 returns the authentication result to the login control unit 221. If the authentication result indicates that the authentication is successful (Yes in S202), the proxy information acquisition unit 222 includes an acquisition request for proxy information including a user ID that has been successfully authenticated (hereinafter referred to as "login user ID"). Is transmitted to the authentication server 30 (S203). The proxy information management unit 33 of the authentication server 30 returns the owner ID registered in the record including the user ID included in the acquisition request as the proxy ID. When a plurality of owner IDs are registered, all owner IDs are returned.

  Subsequently, the job list acquisition unit 223 acquires a terminal address corresponding to the login user ID and a terminal address corresponding to each owner ID acquired in step S203 from the authentication server 30 (S204). That is, the terminal address stored in the user information storage unit 34 is acquired for each user ID.

  If the agent ID and the terminal address of the owner's client terminal 10 are directly associated with each other in the proxy information storage unit 35, the terminal address of each owner is acquired in step S203. Therefore, in step S204, the terminal address of the client terminal 10 of the login user of the image forming apparatus 20 may be acquired.

  Subsequent steps S205 and S206 are executed for each acquired terminal address. In step S <b> 205, the job list acquisition unit 223 issues a job list acquisition request including job information including the login user ID as an owner ID or agent ID to each client terminal 10 associated with each acquired terminal address. Send.

  Note that the job list acquisition unit 223 may transmit a job list acquisition request to all the client terminals 10 in step S205. The all client terminals 10 may be, for example, the client terminals 10 related to all terminal addresses stored in the user information storage unit 34 of the authentication server 30 or registered in advance in the image forming apparatus 20. It may be the client terminal 10 related to the list of terminal addresses. In this case, step S204 may not be executed. Therefore, steps S106 and S107 in FIG. 5 may not be executed. That is, the association between the owner and the agent may not be registered in the authentication server 30. However, since the association between the owner and the agent is registered in the authentication server 30 and the acquisition destination of the job list is limited based on the association, the processing load and communication load in step S205 can be reduced. .

  In step S206, the job list acquisition unit 223 receives the job list returned from each client terminal 10 that is the transmission destination of the job list acquisition request. Subsequently, the job list acquisition unit 223 displays the received job list on the operation panel 25 of the image forming apparatus 20 (S207). When a job list is received from a plurality of client terminals 10, a result of integration of the plurality of job lists is displayed.

  When one or more pieces of job information are selected from the displayed job list by the user and a print job execution instruction is input (Yes in S208), the print data request unit 224 displays the job ID of the selected job information. The print data acquisition request including the job information is transmitted to the client terminal 10 that is the transmission source of the job information (S209). When print data returned from the client terminal 10 in response to the acquisition request is received by the print data request unit 224 (S210), the job execution unit 225 sends a print job related to the received print data to the image forming apparatus 20. (S211). Subsequently, the job execution unit 225 transmits print result information indicating the execution result of the print job to the client terminal 10 that is the transmission source of the print data related to the print job (S212). The print result information includes, for example, a job ID related to the print job, information indicating success or failure of the print job, and the like.

  Note that the job list acquisition unit 223 may display a list of owner IDs acquired in step S203 on the operation panel 25 and accept selection of an owner ID for proxy printing from the user. In this case, after step S204, among the owner IDs acquired in step S203, the selected owner ID may be a processing target.

  Next, a processing procedure executed by the client terminal 10 in response to a job list acquisition request transmitted from the image forming apparatus 20 in step S205 will be described. FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining an example of a processing procedure executed by the client terminal in response to a job list acquisition request.

  In step S301, the job list reply unit 120 receives a job list acquisition request. Subsequently, the job list reply unit 120 acquires job information including the user ID included in the acquisition request as the owner ID or agent ID from the job information storage unit 133 (S302). Subsequently, the job list reply unit 120 returns a job list constituted by the acquired job information to the image forming apparatus 20 that has transmitted the job list acquisition request (S303).

  For example, if the client terminal 10 is the client terminal 10 of the login user of the image forming apparatus 20, job information including the login user's user ID as the owner ID is returned. On the other hand, if the client terminal 10 is a client terminal 10 different from the login user client terminal 10 of the image forming apparatus 20, job information including the login user ID as the agent ID is returned.

  Next, a processing procedure executed by the client terminal 10 in response to a print data acquisition request transmitted from the image forming apparatus 20 in step S209 in FIG. 9 will be described. FIG. 12 is a flowchart for explaining an example of a processing procedure executed by the client terminal in response to the print data acquisition request.

  In step S401, the data management unit 121 receives a print data acquisition request. The acquisition request includes a job ID. Hereinafter, the job ID is referred to as “target job ID”.

  Subsequently, the data management unit 121 acquires the print data ID included in the job information related to the target job ID among the job information stored in the job information storage unit 133 (S402). As a result, the print data ID of the print data to be acquired (hereinafter referred to as “target print data ID”) is specified.

  Subsequently, the data management unit 121 acquires print data related to the target print data ID from the print data storage unit 132 (S403). Subsequently, the print data transmission unit returns the print data to the image forming apparatus 20 that has transmitted the print data acquisition request (S404).

  Next, a processing procedure executed by the client terminal 10 in response to reception of print result information transmitted from the image forming apparatus 20 in step S212 in FIG. 9 will be described. FIG. 13 is a flowchart for explaining an example of a processing procedure executed by the client terminal in response to reception of the print result information.

  Upon receiving the print result information (S510), the job update unit 122 determines whether the print result information indicates a successful print job (S520). If the print result information indicates a failure of the print job (No in S520), the process in FIG. 13 ends. If the print result information indicates success of the print job (Yes in S520), the job update unit 122 prints print data corresponding to the job ID included in the print result information as the print data storage unit 132. (S530). The print data corresponding to the job ID is print data related to the print data ID included in the job information including the job ID. Subsequently, the job update unit 122 deletes the job information corresponding to the job ID included in the print result information from the job information storage unit 133 (S540). The job information corresponding to the job ID is job information including the job ID.

  FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an update example of the job information storage unit. FIG. 14 shows an update example of the job information storage unit 133 when print result information indicating that the print job having the job ID “2” has been successfully executed is received. In this case, all of the job information whose job ID is “2” (hereinafter referred to as “job information (2)” and other job information follows the same naming convention) is deleted from the job information storage unit 133. The

  Subsequently, the proxy information deletion request unit 123 determines whether or not the deleted job information includes one or more proxy IDs (S550). In order to enable the determination, if the job information includes an agent ID, the agent ID of the job information may be saved before the job information is deleted. . If the deleted job information does not include the agent ID (No in S550), the processing in FIG. 13 ends. If the deleted job information includes one or more agent IDs (Yes in S550), the proxy information deletion request unit 123 selects other job information (still job information) among the one or more agent IDs. The agent ID that is not included in any of the job information stored in the storage unit 133 is specified (step S560). For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the job information (2) includes “B” and “C” as agent IDs. On the other hand, the job information (3) does not include “C” as the agent ID. Therefore, in step S560, “C” is specified as the corresponding agent ID.

  When the corresponding agent ID is not specified (No in S570), the process in FIG. 13 ends. When one or more corresponding agent IDs are identified (Yes in S570), the agent information deletion request unit 123 authenticates a request to delete information that associates the agent ID with the owner ID of the deleted job information. It transmits to the server 30 (S580). That is, the deletion request includes the agent ID and the owner ID. When the proxy information management unit 33 of the authentication server 30 receives the deletion request, the proxy ID included in the deletion request in the record stored in the proxy information storage unit 35 is the item of the agent ID. The owner ID included in the deletion request is deleted from the record included in. As a result, the association between the agent ID and the owner ID is released. Therefore, after that, even if the user related to the agent ID logs in to the image forming apparatus 20, the job list including the job information related to the owner ID is not displayed.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, whether or not proxy printing is possible is determined for each proxy candidate based on the activation state of each client terminal 10 used by each proxy candidate, and proxy printing is possible. A proxy candidate is presented to the user (owner) as a proxy option. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the absentee is selected as the agent. As a result, it is possible to improve the convenience when selecting a proxy who performs data output. Further, it is possible to increase the possibility that the print job is executed at an early stage.

  In the present embodiment, a proxy notification is automatically transmitted to the client terminal 10 of each proxy in response to a print instruction. Even with such a configuration, it is possible to increase the possibility that a print job will be executed early. Further, it is possible to reduce the necessity for the proxy printing owner to separately request the proxy printing from the agent verbally.

  Next, a second embodiment will be described. In the second embodiment, differences from the first embodiment will be described. Therefore, points not particularly mentioned may be the same as those in the first embodiment.

  FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the printing system according to the second embodiment. 15, parts that are the same as or correspond to those in FIG. 4 are given the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof are omitted as appropriate.

  In FIG. 15, the authentication server 30 further includes an activation state confirmation unit 36 and a proxy notification relay unit 37. Each of these units is realized by processing that one or more programs installed in the authentication server 30 cause the CPU of the authentication server 30 to execute.

  The activation state confirmation unit 36 confirms the activation state of the client terminal 10 corresponding to the user ID included in the confirmation request in response to the activation state confirmation request from the proxy candidate determination unit 113 of the client terminal 10.

  That is, in step S102 of FIG. 5, the proxy candidate determination unit 113 of the client terminal 10 sends an activation state confirmation request including the user ID of each proxy candidate stored in the proxy candidate storage unit 131 to the authentication server 30. Is transmitted to the activation state confirmation unit 36.

  FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the proxy candidate storage unit according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 16, in the second embodiment, the proxy candidate storage unit 131 may not store the terminal address of each proxy candidate. This is because in the second embodiment, the owner's client terminal 10 does not need to directly notify the agent's client terminal 10.

  When the activation state confirmation unit 36 receives the confirmation request for the activation state, the activation state confirmation unit 36 associates with each user ID included in the confirmation request and stores each client terminal 10 related to the terminal address stored in the user information storage unit 34. Check the startup status. The method for confirming the activation state may be the same as the method performed by the proxy candidate determination unit 113 in the first embodiment. The activation state confirmation unit 36 returns a user ID corresponding to the client terminal 10 confirmed to be activated to the proxy candidate determination unit 113. The proxy candidate determination unit 113 notifies the proxy selection unit 114 of the returned list of user IDs.

  The proxy notification relay unit 37 relays proxy notification. That is, in step S108 of FIG. 5, the proxy notification transmission unit 118 of the client terminal 10 transmits a proxy notification transmission request including the user ID of the login user to the proxy notification relay unit 37 of the authentication server. The transmission request includes the user ID of each agent. That is, the transmission destination of the proxy notification is the client terminal 10 of each proxy. When the proxy notification relay unit 37 receives the transmission request, the proxy notification relay unit 37 transfers the proxy notification to the terminal address stored in the user information storage unit 34 in association with each user ID included in the transmission request. . When the proxy notification receiving unit 119 of each client terminal 10 related to the terminal address receives the proxy notification, for example, a message indicating that proxy printing is requested from the user associated with the owner ID included in the proxy notification Is displayed.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, each client terminal 10 can obtain the same effect as that of the first embodiment without knowing the IP address of another client terminal 10.

  In each of the above embodiments, the example in which the print data is stored in the client terminal 10 (owner client terminal 10) to which the print instruction is input has been described. However, the storage destination of the print data is a plurality of client terminals 10. It may be a file server shared by each other. In this case, the file server includes the print data generation unit 115, job information generation unit 116, proxy information registration request unit 117, proxy notification transmission unit 118, job list reply unit 120, data management unit 121, job update unit 122, proxy. An information deletion request unit 123, a print data storage unit 132, a job information storage unit 133, and the like may be included. The client terminal 10 to which the print instruction is input may transmit the data designated as the print target, the owner ID, and the selected agent ID to the file server. Each image forming apparatus 20 may acquire a job list and print data from the file server in the processing of FIG. Therefore, in this case, step S204 may not be executed. Note that the authentication server 30 may also serve as the file server.

  In each of the above embodiments, the print data is an example of data to be output to the device. For example, when the output destination device is a projector, data in a format corresponding to the projector (for example, , JPEG format or PDF format) may be the data to be output to the device. That is, the present embodiment may be applied to devices other than the image forming apparatus 20 such as a projector.

  In each of the above embodiments, the client terminal 10 is an example of an information processing apparatus. The combination of the client terminal 10 and the authentication server 30 is an example of an information processing system. The image forming apparatus 20 is an example of a device. The user ID is an example of user identification information. The terminal address (IP address) is an example of device identification information. The print instruction receiving unit 112 is an example of a receiving unit. The proxy enabler determination unit 113 or the combination of the proxy enabler determination unit 113 and the activation state confirmation unit 36 is an example of a determination unit. The print data storage unit 132 or the file server is an example of a predetermined storage device. The print data generation unit 115 and the job information generation unit 116 are an example of a storage processing unit. The proxy notification transmission unit 118 or the combination of the proxy notification transmission unit 118 and the proxy notification relay unit 37 is an example of a transmission unit. The agent selection unit 114 is an example of a selection unit.

  As mentioned above, although the Example of this invention was explained in full detail, this invention is not limited to such specific embodiment, In the range of the summary of this invention described in the claim, various deformation | transformation・ Change is possible.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printing system 10 Client terminal 20 Image forming apparatus 21 Controller 22 Scanner 23 Printer 24 Modem 25 Operation panel 30 Authentication server 31 Authentication part 32 User information management part 33 Proxy information management part 34 User information storage part 35 Proxy information storage part 36 Starting state Confirmation unit 37 Proxy notification relay unit 100 Drive device 101 Recording medium 102 Auxiliary storage device 103 Memory device 104 CPU
105 interface device 106 display device 107 input device 111 login control unit 112 print instruction reception unit 113 proxy possible person determination unit 114 proxy selection unit 115 print data generation unit 116 job information generation unit 117 proxy information registration request unit 118 proxy notification transmission unit 119 Proxy notification receiving unit 120 Job list reply unit 121 Data management unit 122 Job update unit 123 Proxy information deletion request unit 131 Proxy candidate storage unit 132 Print data storage unit 133 Job information storage unit 211 CPU
212 RAM
213 ROM
214 HDD
215 NVRAM
221 Login control unit 222 Proxy information acquisition unit 223 Job list acquisition unit 224 Print data request unit 225 Job execution unit B bus

JP 2012-248006 A

Claims (6)

A reception unit that accepts designation of data to be output to the device;
A determination unit that determines a startup state of another information processing device related to device identification information associated with each user identification information of one or more users stored as candidates in charge of outputting the data;
A storage processing unit for storing the data in a predetermined storage device in association with the user identification information associated with the device identification information of the other information processing device determined to be activated by the determination unit; And
The device outputs data stored in the predetermined storage device in association with user identification information of a user of the device;
An information processing apparatus characterized by that. A transmission unit that transmits information indicating that the other information processing apparatus determined to be activated by the determination unit is selected as a person in charge of outputting the data,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: A selection unit that receives a selection of one or more other information processing devices from the user from among the other information processing devices determined to be activated by the determination unit;
The transmission unit transmits information indicating that the other information processing apparatus that has received selection by the selection unit is selected as a person in charge of outputting the data,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 2. An information processing system including one or more information processing devices,
A reception unit that accepts designation of data to be output to the device;
A determination unit that determines a startup state of another information processing device related to device identification information associated with each user identification information of one or more users stored as candidates in charge of outputting the data;
A storage processing unit for storing the data in a predetermined storage device in association with the user identification information associated with the device identification information of the other information processing device determined to be activated by the determination unit; And
The device outputs data stored in the predetermined storage device in association with user identification information of a user of the device;
An information processing system characterized by this. A reception procedure for accepting designation of data to be output to the device;
A determination procedure for determining an activation state of another information processing apparatus related to apparatus identification information associated with each user identification information of one or more users stored as candidates in charge of outputting the data;
A storage procedure for storing the data in a predetermined storage device in association with the user identification information associated with the device identification information of the other information processing device determined to be activated in the determination procedure; Run,
The device outputs data stored in the predetermined storage device in association with user identification information of a user of the device;
An information processing method characterized by the above. A reception procedure for accepting designation of data to be output to the device;
A determination procedure for determining an activation state of another information processing apparatus related to apparatus identification information associated with each user identification information of one or more users stored as candidates in charge of outputting the data;
A storage procedure for storing the data in a predetermined storage device in association with user identification information associated with device identification information of the other information processing device determined to be activated in the determination procedure; Let it run
The device outputs data stored in the predetermined storage device in association with user identification information of a user of the device;
A program characterized by that.

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