JP2018149811A - Image forming apparatus, control method of image forming apparatus, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a user operating an apparatus through voice commands to easily perform printing.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus includes: determination means for determining whether voice utilization setting information on a user who has logged in is valid or invalid; acquisition means for, when the determination means has determined that the voice utilization setting information on the user who has logged in is valid, acquiring print data management information of the user who has logged in; and control means for acquiring print data of the user who has logged in on the basis of the print data management information acquired by the acquisition means and controlling execution of printing related to the print data.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

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

Conventionally, when print data (print job) is transmitted from a terminal device such as a PC to an image processing apparatus and printing is performed, printing is performed immediately. In this case, the printed paper may be left unattended until the user goes to the image processing apparatus to pick up the printed material. Therefore, in recent years, there is an image forming apparatus that stores print data in the image forming apparatus without performing printing even when print data is received from an external information device or the like in order to prevent the left of the printed matter from the viewpoint of security. Then, when printing the accumulated print data, the user, for example, authenticates with the image forming apparatus and selects specific print data from the list of print data received by the image forming apparatus displayed on the image forming apparatus. A procedure such as giving a print instruction is required.
In addition, some users of the image forming apparatus are difficult to perform normal operations such as visual impairment. For such users, a voice input / output function is provided and the operation procedure is guided by voice. There is also an image forming apparatus that can be operated by receiving sound (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2006-88503 A

However, in an image forming apparatus such as the prior art, the procedure from printing data received from an external information device to printing the corresponding printing data becomes complicated. In particular, even a procedure that can be performed by a normal user is a burden on the user who uses the voice input / output function. For example, when selecting specific print data from a list of print data of the image forming apparatus, an ordinary user can easily select it on the screen of the image forming apparatus. However, in order for a user to recognize a list of print data using the voice function, for example, the image forming apparatus needs to output the name of each print data by voice and notify the contents. Also, when specifying specific print data from the list, the user needs to input the specific print data by voice from the list of print data output by voice, which makes the operation procedure difficult.
An object of the present invention is to enable a voice user to easily perform printing.

  Therefore, in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, it is determined that the voice usage setting information of the logged-in user is valid or invalid, and the determination unit determines that the voice usage setting information of the logged-in user is valid. The print data management information of the logged-in user, and the print data of the logged-in user is acquired based on the print data management information acquired by the acquisition unit, and the print data related to the print data is printed. Control means for controlling the implementation of.

  According to the present invention, a voice user can also easily perform printing.

2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system configuration of a printing system. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a software configuration of an image forming apparatus. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of print data management information. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a list of print data management information. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of an authentication screen. It is a figure which shows an example of a function list screen. It is a figure which shows an example of a printing object list display screen. It is a figure which shows an example of audio | voice utilization setting information. 5 is a flowchart (part 1) illustrating an example of information processing of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 3 is a diagram (part 1) illustrating an example of audio data. 6 is a flowchart (part 2) illustrating an example of information processing of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 6 is a second diagram illustrating an example of audio data. 12 is a flowchart (part 3) illustrating an example of information processing of the image forming apparatus.

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

<Embodiment 1>
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus. The controller unit 100 is a device that controls the image forming apparatus. The CPU 101 is an arithmetic device for controlling the entire system. A CPU 101, RAM 102, ROM 103, HDD 104, operation unit I / F 105, device I / F 107, and network I / F 110 are connected to the system bus 111. The CPU 101 comprehensively controls each device connected to the system bus 111. A RAM 102 is a system work memory for operating the CPU 101, and is an image memory for temporarily storing image data. The RAM 102 also stores programs and data such as an operating system, system software, and application software. The ROM 103 stores a system boot program. The ROM 103 may store system programs and application programs, and may store information necessary for the image forming apparatus such as fonts. The HDD 104 is a hard disk drive and stores an operating system, system software, application software programs, image data, setting information, and the like. The program stored in the RAM 102 is executed by the CPU 101, and processes image data and data other than images stored in the RAM 102, the ROM 103, and the HDD 104. In addition, a small-sized image forming apparatus has a hard disk-less configuration in which programs such as system software and application software are stored in the ROM 103 without mounting the HDD 104. Alternatively, a storage device other than a hard disk such as a flash memory such as an SSD (Solid State Disk) may be used instead of the HDD 104.
When the CPU 101 executes processing based on a program stored in the ROM 103 or the HDD 104, the software configuration of the image forming apparatus and the processing in the flowchart described later are realized.

The controller unit 100 includes an operation unit I / F 105, a device I / F 107, and a network I / F 110. The operation unit I / F 105 is connected to the operation unit 106. The operation unit 106 operates a display device such as a touch panel that notifies the user of the state of the image forming apparatus or receives an operation from the user, and an image forming apparatus such as an operation button for giving an instruction to the image forming apparatus. It is a device. A device I / F 107 connects the scanner 108 and the printer 109, which are image input / output devices, to the controller unit 100, and inputs and outputs image data. Image data input from the scanner 108 via the device I / F 107 is stored in the RAM 102 or the HDD 104. The stored image data is processed in image processing or the like of the CPU 101 that executes processing based on an application program stored in the RAM 102 as necessary. Similarly, when image data is output, the image data is output to the printer 109 via the device I / F 107. A network I / F 110 connects an image forming apparatus to a LAN, and inputs and outputs image data of external devices on the network or information for controlling the image forming apparatus. The USB I / F 112 connects the audio unit 113, which is an audio input / output device, to the controller unit 100, and inputs and outputs audio data. Audio data input from the audio unit 113 via the USB I / F 112 is processed in an audio analysis process or the like of the CPU 101 that executes processing based on an application program stored in the RAM 102 as necessary. Similarly, when audio data is output, the audio data is output to the audio unit 113 via the USB I / F 112. The audio unit is not necessarily configured via the USB I / F, but may be configured to be connected via another I / F.
Note that the PC described later also has a memory such as a CPU, RAM, ROM, and HDD as a hardware configuration, and the functions of the PC are realized by the CPU executing processing based on a program stored in the memory. Is done.

  The configuration of the image forming apparatus is not limited to the configuration of FIG. For example, in the case of an image forming apparatus having a FAX function, an I / F for a modem apparatus not shown in FIG. 1 is provided in the controller unit 100, and FAX transmission is possible by connecting to a public line by a modem. It is good. In this embodiment, the scanner 108 is connected as an image input / output device. However, the scanner 108 is not necessarily connected, and only the printer 109 may be connected.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system configuration of the printing system. A client PC 202 and an image forming apparatus 203 are connected to the LAN 201.
Here, user authentication for the image forming apparatus will be described. The image forming apparatus 203 is restricted to use only by a specific user, or is operated after authenticating the user in order to record the user's operation. For example, information relating to authentication (user name and password of the user) is stored in the HDD 104 in the image forming apparatus 203 as a user database. The CPU 101 displays an authentication screen on the operation unit 106 and allows the user name and password to be input before the user uses the image forming apparatus 203. The CPU 101 allows the user to operate the image forming apparatus 203 only when the input user name and password match the user database. Alternatively, the image forming apparatus 203 may belong as a domain of an authentication system such as Active Directory. In this case, without having a user database in the image forming apparatus 203, the CPU 101 inquires of an external authentication server on the network whether the user information input by the user is valid. Alternatively, the CPU 101 may be configured to authenticate using an IC card or the like in which information necessary for authentication is stored. Further, even when the CPU 101 is used via a network, the CPU 101 requests authentication from the connection source, and causes only the user whose authentication is confirmed to use the image forming apparatus. This is, for example, processing when connected to the image forming apparatus via a browser or a file sharing protocol.

[Input print data from PC]
An example in which the user inputs print data from the client PC 202 to the image forming apparatus 203 that is authenticated and managed is shown.
In this embodiment, an example in which page description language (PDL) data is sent to the image forming apparatus 203 as print data will be described. The image forming apparatus 203 interprets the PDL and performs printing. The print data may be other than PDL data. For example, the print data such as image data such as TIFF and the document format of the application may be in any format that can be interpreted and printed by the image forming apparatus 203.
The user performs an operation to activate the printer driver from the application of the client PC 202. The user selects an arbitrary image forming apparatus from the screen of the printer driver and instructs printing. When the print instruction is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 203, the image forming apparatus 203 requests authentication from the printer driver of the client PC 202. The printer driver of the client PC 202 displays an authentication screen shown in FIG. When the user inputs a user name and password, the user name and password input from the client PC 202 to the image forming apparatus 203 are transmitted. The image forming apparatus 203 collates the user name and password, and if they match, use permission information is sent to the client PC 202. If they do not match, printing on the client PC 202 results in an error. The client PC 202 converts application data into PDL data, and prints control information including print setting information such as information about the user (user name, etc.) and duplex printing, and print data (PDL data) to the image forming apparatus 203. Send it. The authentication here may be authentication using authentication information in the image forming apparatus 203. Further, when the PC and the image forming apparatus 203 exist in the same authentication domain as in Active Directory and the authentication result of the client PC 202 is guaranteed, the user information of the PC is not authenticated by the image forming apparatus 203 in print control information described later. It may be in a form to put. In this embodiment, an example in which authentication is performed by the client PC 202 is described. However, when the client PC 202 is entered, the user name at the client PC 202 may be included in the print control information without performing authentication. Even in this case, if the same user name as the user name is registered in the image forming apparatus 203, printing is performed after authentication when the user uses the image forming apparatus 203. Can be prevented.

[Receiving print data at the image forming device]
An example of the software configuration of the image forming apparatus 203 will be described with reference to FIG. As described above, the CPU 101 executes processing based on the program stored in the HDD 104 or the like, thereby realizing the software configuration shown in FIG. Note that FIG. 3 shows only software components necessary for the description of the present embodiment, but other components such as a FAX processing unit may exist, for example.
A case will be described in which PDL data is sent to the image forming apparatus 203 from an application software of a device such as an external client PC connected to the network using a printer driver and printed. The interpretation of the PDL may be executed by the CPU 101 based on a program stored in the ROM 103 or the HDD 104, or the hardware for a dedicated PDL interpreter may be prepared to interpret the PDL. Detailed descriptions of the printer driver and PDL interpretation are omitted.
As described above, print control information including PDL data generated by the printer driver or the like in the client PC 202 and print setting information and user information related to print settings for the PDL data is transmitted via the LAN 201 to the image forming apparatus 203. Sent to. In this embodiment, an example is shown in which the PDL data and the print control information are sent separately. However, the print control information may be included in the PDL data, and the print control information is extracted by the PDL analysis unit 306 described later. But you can. In the image forming apparatus 203, the network control unit 310 receives PDL data sent from the network I / F 110 connected to the LAN 201. The network control unit 310 requests the storage control unit 304 to store the received PDL data, and the PDL data is stored in the RAM 102 or the HDD 104 via the system bus 111. At the same time, in the image forming apparatus 203, the network control unit 310 receives print control information sent from the network I / F 110 connected to the LAN 201.

  In this embodiment, it is assumed that the image forming apparatus 203 performs a printing operation after user authentication in the image forming apparatus 203 without printing when receiving print data. In that case, it operates as follows. The print data processing unit 309 receives the print control information and the storage destination of the PDL data storage control unit 304 described above. Here, the print data processing unit 309 is a processing unit that manages PDL data stored in the image forming apparatus. The print data processing unit 309 stores the print control information, the storage location information of the PDL data storage control unit 304, and the print data input date and time as print data management information. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of print data management information. The instruction 401 describes the type of information. In this example, since the print data is input, “input” is set. Based on the print control information, the user name 402 describes the user name of the user. In the print setting 403, print setting information is described. A print data storage path 404 records a path in which PDL data in the image forming apparatus 203 is stored. In the example of FIG. 4, “/ pddldata / 1025 / qqq”. The print data 405 stores a print data name. The print data name is a name displayed when a list of print targets to be described later is displayed. This name is automatically assigned when printing is instructed by the client PC 202, or specified by the user when printing with the printer driver. The input date / time 406 describes the date / time when the print data was input.

An example of a list of print data management information managed by the print data processing unit 309 will be described with reference to FIG. A list 501 is a list of print data management information of the user yamada. A list 502 is a list of print data management information of the user tanaka. The print data processing unit 309 holds a list of print data management information for each user. A list of print data management information of individual users is as follows. That is, it includes a print data input date and time 503, a storage destination 504 in the image forming apparatus in which the print data is stored, a print data name 505, and print setting information 506. Each is information included in the print data management information described above. When the print data management information in FIG. 4 is received, the print data processing unit 309 adds the received information to the user yamada list 501 and generates a print data management information list as shown in FIG. To do. The added information is information 507.
The authentication unit 307 that performs authentication will be described later.

[Print target list display]
An example will be described in which a user authenticates in the image forming apparatus 203 and a list of print targets is displayed in order to execute print data input in the image forming apparatus 203 after login. As detailed processing at the time of authentication, the CPU 101 acquires the voice use setting information and the post-login print data automatic print setting information stored in the RAM or HDD in association with the authenticated user, and according to the setting information. Perform post-login processing. The following description is an example in which settings are invalid in the voice function use setting information and the post-login print data automatic print setting information.
The user performs an operation relating to authentication in order to use the image forming apparatus 203. For example, the image forming apparatus 203 displays a screen for allowing the user to input the user name 601 and the password 602 on the operation unit 106 as illustrated in FIG. Here, the domain 603 is a field for selecting an authentication destination. The user selects an authentication destination in the domain 603. The screen in FIG. 6 is a screen used when the image forming apparatus 203 authenticates itself. When the button 604 is pressed, the image forming apparatus 203 executes a user authentication process. When the button 605 is pressed, the image forming apparatus 203 clears the input contents of the user name 601 and the password 602 without executing the authentication process. When the button 604 is pressed, the image forming apparatus 203 executes a login process. That is, the user name and password input to the user name 601 and password 602 of the operation unit 106 are sent to the authentication unit 307 via the operation unit I / F 105. The authentication unit 307 performs user authentication by checking whether there is a user name and password that match in the user database stored in the storage unit of the image forming apparatus 203. The authentication is not limited to this, and other authentication methods such as a non-contact type IC card may be used. Furthermore, instead of having authentication information locally, for example, an embodiment may be adopted in which authentication is performed by an external authentication server, such as, for example, Active Directory. In such a case, the authentication unit 307 makes an inquiry to an external authentication server. Such authentication destination selection is performed by the user switching the domain 603.

  In the image forming apparatus 203, an example in which authentication is successful and the user logs in and requests a list of print data of the user will be described. In the present embodiment, an example is shown in which the function list screen of FIG. 7 is displayed after login, and the user requests display of the print target list by selecting a print function from the function list screen. Note that the image forming apparatus 203 may display the print target list immediately after the user logs in, and can set whether to display the print target list immediately after login for each user or for each image forming apparatus. It may be. In the image forming apparatus 203, a screen for selecting a function used by the user is displayed on the operation unit 106. In FIG. 7, the user can use each function by pressing any button out of the function buttons 701, 702, 703, 704, and 705. When the pressing of the button 706 is detected, the image forming apparatus 203 logs out the user. When detecting the pressing of the button 704, the operation unit 106 displays the print target list display screen of FIG. At this time, the authentication unit 307 passes the user name information of the user to the operation control unit 301. The operation control unit 301 passes the passed user name information to the print data processing unit 309. The print data processing unit 309 checks whether the received print data management information list of the user name exists, and if it exists, generates a print target list in which the print data information of the same user name is collected, Return to the control unit 301. An example of the print target list returned to the operation control unit 301 is equivalent to the print data management information list for each user in FIG. For example, in the image forming apparatus 203, when the print data management information list is in the state shown in FIG. 5A, it is assumed that the user Yamada has requested a print target list. In this case, the print data processing unit 309 returns a list of print data management information of the user yamada as a print target list. Note that the print data processing unit 309 may extract and send only information necessary for list display from the print data management information list. In addition, if the designated user does not exist, the print data processing unit 309 returns an empty print target list. The operation control unit 301 displays the acquired print data of the print target list on the operation unit 106 of the image forming apparatus 203. An example of the print target list displayed on the operation unit 106 is shown in FIG. As can be seen from FIG. 8, there are three print data 801, 802, and 803 input by the user. In FIG. 8, not only the name of print data to be printed by the user but also print setting information is displayed. The user selects desired print data, presses a button 804 to change print setting information, or presses a button 805 to instruct printing. The user can change the settings such as the number of copies and staple setting information by displaying a setting change screen. FIG. 8 shows a state where data 803 is selected. If the user presses the button 805 in this state, the print data indicated by the data 803 is printed. When it is detected that the cancel button 806 has been pressed, the image forming apparatus 203 ends the processing without performing printing.

[printing]
An example will be described in which a user selects one print target from the print target list displayed on the operation unit 106 after logging in after authenticating with the image forming apparatus 203 and instructing printing.
The print data processing unit 309 of the image forming apparatus 203 confirms the print data storage destination information based on the selected print data management information, and passes the print data management information to the PDL analysis unit 306. The PDL analysis unit 306 converts the print data into data that can be printed by the image forming apparatus 203. Hereinafter, an example in which the stored print data is PDL data, and details of printing of the PDL data are shown. As described above, PDL interpretation may be performed by the CPU 101 that executes processing based on a program stored in the ROM 103 or the HDD 104, or hardware for a dedicated PDL interpreter is prepared to interpret PDL. You may make it perform.

  The PDL analysis unit 306 interprets the stored print data and converts it into data in a format that can be printed by the image forming apparatus. The converted data is stored in the RAM 102 or HDD 104 by the storage control unit 304. In order to output the received print data, the PDL analysis unit 306 causes the image output control unit 303 to print the image data converted into a format printable by the image forming apparatus stored by the storage control unit 304. To give instructions. The image output control unit 303 instructs the image processing unit 308 to perform image processing on the data stored by the storage control unit 304 according to the print setting information in the print control information of the print target list. If the user has changed the setting information at this time, the image output control unit 303 follows the changed setting information. When the image processing unit 308 completes image editing for output, the image output control unit 303 reads out image data subjected to image processing from the RAM 102 or the HDD 104 using the storage control unit 304. The image data subjected to the image processing is sent to the printer 109 via the system bus 111 and the device I / F 107. The printer 109 sequentially prints the sent data on paper and outputs it. In the present embodiment, the case where the print data is PDL is described as an example, but other formats may be interpreted. For example, when the print data is a JPEG image, the image forming apparatus 203 interprets the JPEG and converts it into data that can be printed by the image forming apparatus 203.

  When printing is completed, the image output control unit 303 notifies the print data processing unit 309 that printing of the print data has been completed. Upon receiving the notification, the print data processing unit 309 deletes the print data and the print data management information when deleting the print data when printing is completed. In the case of setting to hold the print data for a certain period, the print data processing unit 309 records only the information on which the print data has been printed, and keeps the substance of the print data and the print data management information. In the present embodiment, the notification is performed after the printing is completed. However, the image output control unit 303 may appropriately perform the notification to the print data processing unit 309 at the start of printing or during printing.

[Determination of voice function use]
An example in which a user uses an audio function in the image forming apparatus 203 will be described. In the operation of the image forming apparatus 203, the sound function is a function in which the sound control unit 311 outputs sound data matched with the display of the operation unit 106 through the sound unit 113 and allows the user to recognize the state of the image forming apparatus. . In addition, the image forming apparatus 203 can accept audio data. When the voice control unit 311 analyzes the voice data received through the voice unit 113 and determines that the voice data is an instruction to the image forming apparatus 203, the voice control unit 311 performs processing according to the instruction. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the setting information for determining whether or not to use the voice function is stored in the RAM 102 or the HDD 104 as voice use setting information associated with the user name of the user. The processing unit or the control unit can acquire the voice usage setting information through the storage control unit 304. Further, the processing unit or the control unit acquires voice usage setting information associated with the user name authenticated by the operation control unit 301 from the RAM 102 or the HDD 104 through the storage control unit 304 when the user is authenticated. If is valid, the voice function shall be enabled. Note that the voice function may be always available from the state before authentication, or may be made available by the user performing a predetermined procedure after authentication.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of audio usage setting information stored in the RAM 102 or the HDD 104 of the image forming apparatus 203 for each user. In this embodiment, it is also assumed that setting information as to whether or not print data is automatically printed after the user logs in to the image forming apparatus is also stored. A record 901 indicates that the user yamada has an invalid voice function. A record 902 indicates that the user tanaka has a valid voice function. In this case, when the user yamada or the user authenticates, the voice control unit 311 does not operate, and when the user tanaka performs the authentication, the voice control unit 311 operates to provide a voice function.

[Authentication including voice setting discrimination]
An example of information processing of the image forming apparatus after authentication in the case of including determination processing of the voice use setting information of the authenticated user will be described with reference to FIG.
In step S1001, the image forming apparatus 203 performs user authentication. Since the details of the authentication process have been described above, they are omitted.
In step S <b> 1002, the operation control unit 301 acquires voice usage setting information associated with the user name from the RAM 102 or the HDD 104 through the storage control unit 304 and determines whether the voice usage setting information is valid. If the voice usage setting information is valid, the operation control unit 301 proceeds to S1004, and if invalid, the operation control unit 301 proceeds to S1003.
In step S <b> 1003, the operation control unit 301 acquires post-login automatic print setting information associated with the user name from the RAM 102 or the HDD 104 through the storage control unit 304. If the post-login automatic print setting information is valid, the operation control unit 301 proceeds to S1004, and if invalid, the operation control unit 301 proceeds to S1011.
In step S <b> 1004, the operation control unit 301 acquires print data management information associated with the logged-in user name from the print data processing unit 309.

In step S <b> 1005, the operation control unit 301 refers to the acquired print data management information and determines whether there is print data of the logged-in user. The determination process in S1005 is an example of a print data determination process. When there is print data, the operation control unit 301 proceeds to S1006, and when there is no print data, the operation control unit 301 proceeds to S1007.
In step S1006, the operation control unit 301 confirms the voice usage setting information in the same manner as in step S1002, and when it is valid, the process proceeds to step S1008.
In step S1007, the operation control unit 301 confirms the voice usage setting information in the same manner as in step S1002, and when it is valid, the process proceeds to step S1009.
In step S <b> 1008, the operation control unit 301 notifies the voice control unit 311 that printing is to be started. The voice control unit 311 acquires voice data indicating the start of printing stored in advance in the RAM 102 or the HDD 104 through the storage control unit 304 and outputs it through the voice unit 113.
In step S <b> 1009, the operation control unit 301 notifies the voice control unit 311 that there is no printed matter. The voice control unit 311 acquires voice data indicating no stored document stored in the RAM 102 or the HDD 104 in advance through the storage control unit 304 and outputs the voice data through the voice unit 113.
In step S <b> 1010, the operation control unit 301 notifies the print data processing unit 309 that the user's document is to be printed. A print data processing unit 309 controls to execute printing of print data included in the print data management information of the user.
Note that the print data to be printed by the processing according to the flowchart may be all the print data associated with the authenticated user information, or only the newest print data instructed to be printed from the client PC 202. Alternatively, print data that has already been printed may be print data that has been removed from the print target.

In step S <b> 1011, the operation control unit 301 performs a function selection screen display control process, and causes the operation unit 106 to display a function selection screen display.
In step S1012, the operation control unit 301 confirms the voice usage setting information in the same manner as in step S1002, and ends the process according to the flowchart illustrated in FIG.
In step S <b> 1013, the operation control unit 301 notifies the voice control unit 311 that the function selection display screen has been displayed. The voice control unit 311 outputs voice data indicating a function selection screen display stored in advance in the RAM 102 or the HDD 104 through the voice unit 113. The voice control unit 311 also acquires voice data information that can be accepted when the function selection screen is displayed, and ends the process according to the flowchart shown in FIG.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of audio data output from the audio unit 113 by the audio control unit 311 in FIG. 10 and audio data analyzed by the audio control unit 311 when the screen is displayed. This data is stored in advance in the RAM 102 or the HDD 104.
The information 1101 is information on the sound data used in S1005, and the sound output in S1005 is “printing of the accumulated print data is started”. In this case, the voice control unit 311 does not particularly accept voice.
Information 1102 is audio data information used in S1007, and the audio output in S1007 is "There is no accumulated print data." Also in this case, the voice control unit 311 does not particularly accept voice.
The information 1103 is audio data information used in S1010. The audio output in S1010 is “Please select a function to be used from copy, box, transmission, print, and various settings.” Thereafter, when the audio data received by the audio unit 113 includes “copy”, “box”, “transmission”, “various functions”, and “logout”, the audio control unit 311 performs analysis. And control associated with each audio data. In addition to instructions by voice data, the operation unit 106 is configured to have a hard key, etc., and the hard key and a specific function are assigned, and the user controls the use of the specific function by pressing the hard key. You may do it.

  As in the present embodiment, the user of the voice function can automatically print the print data stored in the image forming apparatus at the timing when the voice setting information is detected to be valid in the image forming apparatus. For this reason, printing can be performed without the trouble of selecting print data stored in the image forming apparatus one by one.

<Embodiment 2>
In the present embodiment, an example is shown in which when a user performs authentication, printing is not performed immediately even if the voice setting information of the logged-in user is valid.
The process at the time of authentication in this embodiment is shown in FIG. Compared to FIG. 10, only some steps are not present, and the processing of each step is equivalent to FIG.
FIG. 13 shows audio data output from the audio control unit 311 through the audio unit 113 corresponding to the screen displayed on the operation unit 106 of the image forming apparatus 203 and audio received by the audio control unit 311 through the audio unit 113 when the screen is displayed. It is a figure which shows an example with data. This data is stored in the RAM 102 and the HDD 104 in the same manner as the audio data described with reference to FIG. An example when a screen transition input is received in a state where a function selection screen is displayed after receiving authentication of a user whose voice setting information is valid will be described. For example, when the operation unit 106 detects that the user has pressed the copy button, or the voice control unit 311 detects a voice input of “copy” from the user, the operation control unit 301 performs a transition process to the copy screen. The copy screen is displayed on the operation unit 106. In addition, the operation control unit 301 notifies the audio control unit 311 that audio data for the copy function is to be output. The voice control unit 311 acquires the corresponding voice data 1301 through the storage control unit 304 and outputs the voice data through the voice unit 113. In the case of copying, the audio data to be output is “Please place the original to be scanned. Enter the start of copying after placing”. In addition, after the audio data is output from the audio unit 113, the audio data that can be received by the audio control unit 311 is “copy start”, “cancel”, and “logout”.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an example of information processing when printing is selected on the function selection screen. Each step is equivalent to the same step as in FIG.
In step S1401, the operation control unit 301 causes the operation unit 106 to display a print target list screen.

  As in the present embodiment, the user of the voice function can print the accumulated print data when a specific function is selected. Since the difference from the first embodiment is that printing does not start unconditionally after logging in, the user can prevent unnecessary printing when using a function other than printing of print data input from the client PC 202 or the like. . The user can print the print data input from the client PC 202 or the like without selecting from the document list, and can print without trouble.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention supplies a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or apparatus read and execute the program This process can be realized. It can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

  As mentioned above, according to each embodiment mentioned above, a voice user can also perform printing easily.

101 CPU, 104 HDD, 203 Image forming apparatus

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, a method for controlling the image forming apparatus, and a program.

Therefore, the image control apparatus of the present invention is an image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions including at least a copy function, and includes an acquisition unit that acquires ambient sounds, an output unit that outputs sound, and a user that performs the image formation. When using the sound mode of the apparatus, output control means for outputting sound data indicating the first guidance regarding the function of the image forming apparatus via the output means, and processing for copying the placed document A user operation using a voice copy function based on the sound acquired by the acquisition unit after starting the output of the audio data indicating the first guidance. At least in accordance with the determination, the output control means outputs voice data indicating the second guidance related to the copy function, and the second guider The execution means is placed at least in response to the determination that a user operation for starting copy by voice has been performed based on the sound acquired by the acquisition means after starting the output of audio data indicating An image forming apparatus that executes a process of copying an original .

Claims (11)

A determination means for determining whether the voice usage setting information of the logged-in user is valid or invalid;
An acquisition unit that acquires the log-in user's print data management information when the determination unit determines that the voice usage setting information of the logged-in user is valid;
Control means for acquiring print data of the logged-in user based on the print data management information acquired by the acquisition means, and controlling execution of printing related to the print data;
An image forming apparatus. Print data determination means for determining whether or not the logged-in user's print data exists based on the print data management information acquired by the acquisition means;
When the print data determination unit determines that the logged-in user's print data exists, the control unit acquires the logged-in user's print data based on the print data management information, and prints the print data related to the print data The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus controls the execution of the image forming apparatus.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising an output unit that outputs audio data indicating that printing is started when the print data determination unit determines that there is print data of the logged-in user.   4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a display control unit configured to display a function selection screen on an operation unit after controlling the printing of the print data by the control unit. 5. Display control means for displaying a function selection screen on the operation unit when a user login is detected;
A determination unit that determines whether the voice usage setting information of the logged-in user is valid or invalid after the function selection screen is displayed on the operation unit by the display control unit;
An output unit that outputs voice data indicating that the function selection screen is displayed on the operation unit when the determination unit determines that the voice use setting information of the logged-in user is valid;
An acquisition unit that acquires print data management information of the logged-in user when printing is selected via the function selection screen or when printing is included as a result of analysis of audio data received from a user When,
Control means for acquiring print data of the logged-in user based on the print data management information acquired by the acquisition means, and controlling execution of printing related to the print data;
An image forming apparatus. Print data determination means for determining whether or not the logged-in user's print data exists based on the print data management information acquired by the acquisition means;
When the print data determination unit determines that the logged-in user's print data exists, the control unit acquires the logged-in user's print data based on the print data management information, and prints the print data related to the print data The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the image forming apparatus controls the execution of the image forming apparatus.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the output unit further outputs audio data indicating that printing is started when the print data determination unit determines that there is print data of the logged-in user. An information processing method executed by an image forming apparatus,
A determination step of determining whether the voice usage setting information of the logged-in user is valid or invalid;
An acquisition step of acquiring print data management information of the logged-in user when it is determined by the determination step that the voice usage setting information of the logged-in user is valid;
A control step of acquiring print data of the logged-in user based on the print data management information acquired by the acquisition step, and controlling execution of printing related to the print data;
An information processing method including: An information processing method executed by an image forming apparatus,
When a user login is detected, a display control step for displaying a function selection screen on the operation unit;
A determination step of determining whether the voice use setting information of the logged-in user is valid or invalid after the function selection screen is displayed on the operation unit by the display control step;
An output step of outputting voice data indicating that the function selection screen is displayed on the operation unit when it is determined by the determination step that the voice use setting information of the logged-in user is valid;
An acquisition step of acquiring print data management information of the logged-in user when printing is selected via the function selection screen or when printing is included as a result of analysis of audio data received from a user When,
A control step of acquiring print data of the logged-in user based on the print data management information acquired by the acquisition step, and controlling execution of printing related to the print data;
An information processing method including: On the computer,
A determination step of determining whether the voice usage setting information of the logged-in user is valid or invalid;
An acquisition step of acquiring print data management information of the logged-in user when it is determined by the determination step that the voice usage setting information of the logged-in user is valid;
A control step of acquiring print data of the logged-in user based on the print data management information acquired by the acquisition step, and controlling execution of printing related to the print data;
A program for running On the computer,
When a user login is detected, a display control step for displaying a function selection screen on the operation unit;
A determination step of determining whether the voice use setting information of the logged-in user is valid or invalid after the function selection screen is displayed on the operation unit by the display control step;
An output step of outputting voice data indicating that the function selection screen is displayed on the operation unit when it is determined by the determination step that the voice use setting information of the logged-in user is valid;
An acquisition step of acquiring print data management information of the logged-in user when printing is selected via the function selection screen or when printing is included as a result of analysis of audio data received from a user When,
A control step of acquiring print data of the logged-in user based on the print data management information acquired by the acquisition step, and controlling execution of printing related to the print data;
A program for running

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