JP4871049B2 - Image forming system, server apparatus, image forming method, and image providing program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming system for forming an image, a server apparatus, an image forming apparatus, an image forming method, an image providing program, and an image forming program.

  In recent years, information communication networks have been widely used in order to efficiently exchange information between a plurality of different devices. In an office environment connected by an information communication network, there are a plurality of peripheral devices such as a plurality of print output devices, and a plurality of client devices (terminal devices) used by a plurality of users at the same time. Therefore, in such an information communication network environment, it is required to efficiently use a plurality of peripheral devices shared and used by each user from a plurality of terminal devices.

  In Patent Document 1, a network system in which a plurality of printer devices, a plurality of client devices, and a server are connected to each other via a network notifies the client device that is an inquiry source of the operation status of the plurality of printer devices. A technique relating to a network system and a print management method capable of performing print output has been proposed.

JP 2003-50685 A

  However, in the method of Patent Document 1, it is possible to efficiently use a plurality of image forming apparatuses existing on the network. However, in consideration of unauthorized access to an output product output as a result of the image forming process, etc. Not because there was a security vulnerability problem.

  Usually, the user selects an output device that is most convenient for the user from the network and outputs the output data to the device. When there are a plurality of output devices, it is possible to select and output an output device that is not intentionally intended but is not the intended output device. In this case, in the network environment, there are various users such as users who accidentally pass near the output device or users who maliciously attempt to steal information in addition to the user who actually output to the output device. Therefore, there is a possibility that the output material is illegally acquired by a malicious user or the like.

  In this way, in the real world where it is not necessarily assumed that only a bona fide user exists, information security for the output matter output to the print output device will become increasingly important in the future. On the other hand, if priority is given to user convenience, it is necessary to relax the strictness of information security to some extent, and conversely, if information security is strict, user convenience is impaired. That is, it should be noted that these are in a trade-off relationship.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an image forming system, a server apparatus, an image forming apparatus, an image forming method, an image providing program, and an image forming system capable of improving the security of image forming processing using a network, and An object is to provide an image forming program.

In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the invention according to claim 1 is an image forming apparatus that forms an image based on image data, and a server apparatus that is connected to the image forming apparatus via a network. And a terminal device connected to the server device via the network, wherein the terminal device receives an identifier for identifying a user and an input of the image data. And first identifier for transmitting the received identifier, setting information relating to image formation, and specific information for specifying the image data and the image data, to the server device, The server device includes a first storage unit capable of storing the image data, the identifier, and the setting information, and a second storage capable of storing the image data. And stage, from the terminal device, and the identifier, and the setting information, a first receiving means for receiving one and, either the image data and the identification information, when the image data has been received, the image It is determined whether or not the data is already stored in the second storage unit, and the image data received by the first reception unit when the data is not stored in the second storage unit is stored in the second storage unit. A first storage means for storing and not newly storing in the case of the data stored in the second storage means , the received image data or the image data specified by the received specific information; Based on the received identifier, a second storage unit that stores the identifier and the setting information in the first storage unit, a second receiving unit that receives the identifier from the image forming apparatus, Authentication means for authenticating a user, and second transmission means for acquiring the image data and the setting information corresponding to the identifier of the authenticated user from the first storage means and transmitting them to the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes: a second receiving unit that receives an input of the identifier; a third transmitting unit that transmits the received identifier to the server device; and the image data and the setting corresponding to the received identifier. And a third receiving unit configured to receive information from the server device, and an image forming unit configured to form an image based on the received image data and the setting information.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus for forming an image based on image data, a server apparatus connected to the image forming apparatus via a network, and the server apparatus connected to the server via the network. An image forming system comprising: a first receiving unit that receives an identifier for identifying a user and an input of the image data; the received identifier; and a setting relating to image formation. First transmission means for transmitting information and any one of the image data and the specific information for specifying the image data to the server device, wherein the server device includes the specific information, the identifier, A first storage unit capable of storing the setting information; a second storage unit capable of storing the image data; and the identifier from the terminal device, A serial configuration information, a first receiving means for receiving one and, either the image data and the identification information, when the image data has been received, the image data has already been stored in the second storage means When it is not data stored in the second storage means, the image data received by the first reception means is stored in the second storage means and stored in the second storage means. First storage means that does not newly store in the case of data , the received image data or the image data specified by the received specific information, the identifier, and the setting information, A second storage unit that stores the first storage unit; a second reception unit that receives the identifier from the image forming apparatus; an authentication unit that authenticates the user based on the received identifier; The specific information and the setting information corresponding to the identifier of the user are acquired from the first storage unit, and the image data specified by the acquired specific information and the acquired setting information are transmitted to the image forming apparatus. A second transmission unit configured to receive the identifier, a second reception unit configured to receive the identifier, a third transmission unit configured to transmit the received identifier to the server device, and the received identifier. And a third receiving unit that receives the corresponding image data and the setting information from the server device, and an image forming unit that forms an image based on the received image data and the setting information. To do.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus that forms an image based on image data, and a server apparatus that is connected to a terminal device that transmits the image data via a network, the image data; A first storage unit capable of storing an identifier for identifying a user and setting information relating to image formation; a second storage unit capable of storing the image data; and the identifier and the setting information from the terminal device. A first receiving means for receiving the image data and the specific information; and if the image data is received, whether the image data is already stored in the second storage means. determines and stores the image data to which the first reception means has received. If not, the data stored in the second storage unit to the second storage unit, the serial in the second storage means Has been a first storage means that is not the newly stored in the case of data, and the image data specified by the image data or the received the identification information received, and the identifier, and the setting information, the Second storage means for storing in the first storage means; second receiving means for receiving the identifier from the image forming apparatus; authentication means for authenticating the user based on the received identifier; And a second transmission unit that acquires the image data and the setting information corresponding to the identifier of the user from the first storage unit and transmits them to the image forming apparatus.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus for forming an image based on image data and a server apparatus connected via a network to a terminal apparatus for transmitting the image data, wherein the image data is specified. Specific information to be performed, an identifier for identifying a user, setting information relating to image formation, first storage means capable of storing, second storage means capable of storing the image data, and the identifier from the terminal device A first receiving means for receiving the setting information and any one of the image data and the specific information; and when the image data is received, the image data is already stored in the second storage means. determining whether data or not, and stores the image data to which the first reception means has received if the data is not stored in the second storage unit to the second storage means, before And the image data specified by the new and first storage means that is not a memory, the image data or the received the identification information received in the case of the data stored in the second storage means, and the identifier, A second storage unit for storing the setting information in the first storage unit; a second receiving unit for receiving the identifier from the image forming apparatus; and an authentication unit for authenticating the user based on the received identifier. And acquiring the specific information and the setting information corresponding to the identifier of the authenticated user from the first storage means, and acquiring the image data specified by the acquired specific information and the acquired setting information. And a second transmitting means for transmitting to the image forming apparatus.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus for forming an image based on image data, a server apparatus connected to the image forming apparatus via a network, and a connection to the server apparatus via the network. An image forming method in an image forming system including the terminal device, wherein the server device is capable of storing the image data, an identifier for identifying a user, and setting information related to image formation. A storage unit; and a second storage unit capable of storing the image data, wherein the terminal device receives an input of the identifier and the image data; and the identifier received by the terminal device And a first transmission for transmitting the setting information and any one of the image data and identification information for identifying the image data to the server device. A first reception step in which the server device receives the identifier, the setting information, the image data, and the specific information from the terminal device, and the server device When image data is received, it is determined whether or not the image data is already stored in the second storage unit . If the image data is not stored in the second storage unit, the first reception unit receives the image data. The first storage step of storing the image data in the second storage means and not newly storing in the case of the data stored in the second storage means; and the server device receives the received image data or A second storage step for storing the image data specified by the received specific information, the identifier, and the setting information in the first storage unit; and the image forming apparatus A first receiving step for receiving an input of the identifier, a second transmitting step for the image forming apparatus to transmit the received identifier to the server apparatus, and the server apparatus receiving the identifier from the image forming apparatus. A second receiving step, an authentication step in which the server device authenticates the user based on the received identifier, and the image data and the setting corresponding to the identifier of the authenticated user in the server device A second transmission step of acquiring information from the first storage means and transmitting the information to the image forming apparatus; and the image forming apparatus receives the image data and the setting information corresponding to the identifier received from the server apparatus. A third receiving step, and the image forming apparatus receives an image based on the received image data and the setting information. And an image forming step for forming the image.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus that forms an image based on image data, a server apparatus connected to the image forming apparatus via a network, and a connection to the server apparatus via the network. An image forming method in an image forming system, wherein the server device includes specific information for identifying the image data, an identifier for identifying a user, and setting information for image formation. A first storage unit capable of storing the second storage unit capable of storing the image data, wherein the terminal device receives an input of the identifier and the image data; and the terminal device includes: The server device includes the received identifier, the setting information, and any one of the image data and specific information for specifying the image data. A first transmission step of transmitting to the server, and a first reception step in which the server device receives the identifier, the setting information, the image data, and the specific information from the terminal device, When the server device receives the image data, the server device determines whether the image data is already stored in the second storage unit . If the image data is not stored in the second storage unit, A first storage step for storing the image data received by the first receiving means in the second storage means and not newly storing in the case of the data stored in the second storage means ; A second storage step of storing the image data specified by the received image data or the specified information received, the identifier, and the setting information in the first storage means; A first receiving step in which the image forming apparatus receives the input of the identifier; a second transmitting step in which the image forming apparatus transmits the received identifier to the server apparatus; and the server apparatus includes the image forming apparatus. A second receiving step of receiving the identifier from, an authentication step in which the server device authenticates the user based on the received identifier, and the server device corresponding to the identifier of the authenticated user. A second transmission step of acquiring the specific information and the setting information from the first storage unit, and transmitting the image data specified by the acquired specific information and the acquired setting information to the image forming apparatus; A forming apparatus receives the image data and the setting information corresponding to the received identifier from the server apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes: a receiving step; and the image forming apparatus includes an image forming step of forming an image based on the received image data and the setting information.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus that forms an image based on image data and a server device that is connected to a terminal device that transmits the image data via a network. A first storage unit capable of storing an identifier to be identified, and setting information relating to image formation; a second storage unit capable of storing the image data; and the terminal device, the identifier, the setting information, and the First receiving means for receiving either image data or the specific information; and when the image data is received, it is determined whether the image data is already stored in the second storage means and, the second image data to which the first reception means has received if the data is not stored in the storage means stored in said second storage means, stored in said second storage means A first storage means that is not the newly stored in the case of data, and the image data specified by the image data or the received the identification information received, and the identifier, said, and the setting information first A second storage unit that stores the first storage unit; a second reception unit that receives the identifier from the image forming apparatus; an authentication unit that authenticates the user based on the received identifier; and An image providing program for causing the image data and the setting information corresponding to the identifier to function as a second transmission unit that acquires the image data from the first storage unit and transmits the acquired information to the image forming apparatus.

According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the security of image forming processing using a network while ensuring user convenience.

  Exemplary embodiments of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be explained below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  The image forming system according to the present embodiment stores image data instructed to be output from a terminal device in a server device, and stores image data instructed by an authenticated user from the image forming device from the server device to the image forming device. And the image forming apparatus performs image forming processing based on the image data.

  FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of the overall configuration of the image forming system according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, this image forming system is configured with a server device 101 as the center, and server devices 101a and 101b (hereinafter referred to as server device 101) that store data and a plurality of terminal devices that use data. 301a to 301e (hereinafter referred to as a terminal device 301) and a plurality of image forming apparatuses 201a to 201e (hereinafter referred to as an image forming device 201) that output a document. Each device is connected via routers (hubs) 501a to 501c that relay data communication.

  Each user gives an instruction to output image data from his / her terminal device 301, and gets a document output from the instructed image forming apparatus 201. The output data flows through the network via the server apparatus 101, but the user is not aware of it. Further, the server apparatus 101 is robust both in terms of security and physically, and data is appropriately protected against various failures.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating configurations of the server apparatus 101, the image forming apparatus 201, and the terminal apparatus 301 according to the present embodiment. In the figure, routers 501a to 501c that relay data communication are omitted.

  The server apparatus 101 includes an integrated control unit 102, a user authentication unit 103, a user information DB (database) 104, a job control unit 105, a print job pool 106, a data management unit 107, and an image data DB 108. I have.

  The user information DB 104 is a database that stores user information including a user ID that is an identifier for identifying a user.

  The print job pool 106 temporarily stores print job data related to jobs (print jobs) sent from each user until printing is actually performed by the image forming apparatus 201.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a data format of print job data stored in the print job pool 106. As shown in the figure, the print job data includes at least a user ID 401, setting information 402 related to printing such as the number of prints, sorting, stapling, punching, double-sided, and aggregation, and print data 403 that is image data to be printed. Contains.

  By having a user ID, the print job is not executed by anyone other than the person who issued the print instruction, and security can be kept high. The setting information is information instructed when a job is created on the terminal device 301. However, when the user directly instructs the image forming apparatus 201 at the time of print output, the directly instructed content is given priority.

  Regarding print data, if the entire print image data itself is included in the print job, the data amount of the print job may increase. Therefore, information specifying the image data stored in the server apparatus 101 is used instead of the data itself. You may comprise so that it may be included in print job data.

  The image data DB 108 stores image data related to print jobs created so far in the image forming system.

  Corresponding to these three storage units, as will be described below, there are three modules for managing the data and controlling the input / output of the data, and the integrated control unit 102 is the highest module of those modules. Exists.

  The integrated control unit 102 controls the overall operation of the server apparatus 101. For example, the integrated control unit 102 controls communication of various data between the other component units and the image forming apparatus 201 and the terminal device 301.

  The user authentication unit 103 performs authentication processing for a user who uses the image forming apparatus 201 and the terminal device 301. Specifically, the user authentication unit 103 compares the user ID received via the integrated control unit 102 with the user information in the user information DB 104, and authenticates whether or not the user ID is registered. The authentication result is returned to the integrated control unit 102. Further, when there is a request for newly registering user information from the integrated control unit 102, the user authentication unit 103 performs processing for registering the user information in the user information DB 104.

  The job control unit 105 controls processing related to an output-instructed job. Specifically, the job control unit 105 creates print job data based on the print request information passed from the integrated control unit 102 and stores it in the print job pool 106. In addition, the job control unit 105 performs processing to take out the print job requested from the integrated control unit 102 from the print job pool 106 and pass it to the integrated control unit 102.

  The data management unit 107 performs processing related to management of image data to be subjected to image formation processing. Specifically, the data management unit 107 registers the image data transferred from the integrated control unit 102 in the image data DB 108. In addition, the data management unit 107 has a search function for image data, and performs processing to search for image data requested by the integration control unit 102 from the DB and return the result to the integration control unit 102.

  The image forming apparatus 201 includes an engine control unit 202, a UI (user interface) 203, and an image forming unit 204.

  The image forming unit 204 performs processing for forming an image on a medium based on the received image data.

  The engine control unit 202 is a controller that controls the entire image forming apparatus 201 and controls drawing, communication, and input.

  The UI 203 receives an input such as a print instruction from the user. Further, the UI 203 includes an authentication reception unit 205 that receives an input such as an authentication user ID.

  When using the image forming apparatus 201, the user inputs his / her user ID from the authentication receiving unit 205, and the input user ID is sent to the server apparatus 101 via the UI 203 and the engine control unit 202. The integrated control unit 102 of the server apparatus 101 passes the received user ID to the user authentication unit 103 to authenticate whether the user is a legitimate user. The result is returned to the image forming apparatus 201, and the user who has succeeded in authentication can use the image forming apparatus 201.

  A user whose authentication is rejected cannot use the image forming apparatus 201. If the security of the user information is completely guaranteed, the image forming apparatus 201 is provided with a mirror of the user information DB 104 of the server apparatus 101 so that user authentication processing is performed on the image forming apparatus 201 side. Also good.

  The terminal device 301 includes a print control unit 302, a UI / OS (operating system) 303, and an application 304.

  The print control unit 302 controls processing related to print output from the terminal device 301, and performs processing such as creating a print request and transmitting it to the server device 101.

  The UI / OS 303 means an operating system including a user interface function, and includes an authentication reception unit 305 that receives an input such as an authentication user ID.

  An application 304 is an application that operates on the UI / OS 303 and creates a document.

  When using the terminal device 301, the user inputs his / her user ID from the authentication receiving unit 305. The input user ID is transmitted to the server apparatus 101 via the print control unit 302, and authentication processing is performed by the user authentication unit 103. The authentication result is returned to the terminal device 301, and only the user who has succeeded in authentication can use the terminal device 301.

  A user whose authentication is rejected cannot use the terminal device 301. If the security of user information is completely guaranteed, a mirror of the user information DB 104 of the server apparatus 101 may be provided in the terminal apparatus 301 so that user authentication processing is performed on the terminal apparatus 301 side.

  Next, various processes related to image formation by the image forming system according to the present embodiment configured as described above will be described.

  First, the flow of processing when a print request is transmitted from the terminal device 301 side will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the overall flow of the print request process in the present embodiment.

  First, the print control unit 302 of the terminal device 301 transmits a user authentication request including the user ID accepted by the authentication accepting unit 305 to the server device 101 (step S401).

  Thus, in this embodiment, when a print request is made, the user needs user authentication. That is, a document print request can be made only when the user ID is input from the terminal device 301 and the authentication is OK. The user ID input from the terminal device 301 may be a method of inputting a character string from an interface such as a keyboard or a method of inputting using an IC card or the like. Considering the security level, it is preferable that the identification code itself such as an IC card is not directly visible.

  Next, the user authentication unit 103 of the server apparatus 101 executes user authentication processing (step S402). Details of the user authentication process will be described later.

  Next, the integrated control unit 102 transmits the authentication result of the user authentication process to the terminal device 301 (step S403), and the print control unit 302 of the terminal device 301 receives (step S404).

  Next, the print control unit 302 determines whether or not the authentication is successful (step S405). If the authentication is unsuccessful (step S405: NO), the user authentication process is executed again (step S401).

  If the authentication is successful (step S405: YES), the UI / OS 303 accepts a print instruction from the user (step S406). At this time, the user can select various options and input a print instruction. For example, it is possible to specify the number of copies to be printed, the presence / absence of sort / punch / folding, and whether or not to perform duplex / aggregate / secure printing.

  After receiving the print instruction, the print control unit 302 transmits a print request to the server apparatus 101 (step S407). The integrated control unit 102 of the server apparatus 101 receives the print request (step S408).

  The print request includes a user ID, setting information, and image data to be printed or information for specifying image data to be printed. For example, when printing a newly created document, the image data itself can be included in the print request. When printing image data that has already been registered in the server apparatus 101, information such as an ID that identifies the image data can be specified and included in the print request.

  Next, the job control unit 105 of the server apparatus 101 executes a print job registration process for registering a print job corresponding to the print request (step S409). Details of the print job registration process will be described later.

  After the print job registration process, the integrated control unit 102 transmits a registration completion signal to the terminal device 301 (step S410). Next, the print control unit 302 of the terminal device 301 receives a registration completion signal (step S411), and ends the print request process.

  As described above, since the user can instruct a print request from the terminal device 301 used by the user, convenience is not impaired. Further, since only a user who has succeeded in authentication can register a print job, security can be improved.

  Next, the flow of document output processing in the image forming apparatus 201 will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the overall flow of the print output process in the present embodiment.

  First, the engine control unit 202 of the image forming apparatus 201 transmits a user authentication request including the user ID received by the authentication receiving unit 205 to the server apparatus 101 (step S501).

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the user requires user authentication even when outputting a document. That is, only when the user ID is input from the image forming apparatus 201 and the authentication is OK, the image forming apparatus 201 can be used and a document can be output. The user ID input from the image forming apparatus 201 may be a method of inputting a character string from an interface such as a keyboard, or a method of inputting using an IC card or the like. Considering the security level, it is preferable that the identification code itself such as an IC card is not directly visible.

  Next, the user authentication unit 103 of the server apparatus 101 executes user authentication processing (step S502). Details of the user authentication process will be described later.

  Next, the integrated control unit 102 transmits the authentication result of the user authentication process to the image forming apparatus 201 (step S503), and the engine control unit 202 of the image forming apparatus 201 receives (step S504).

  Next, the engine control unit 202 determines whether or not the authentication is successful (step S505). If the authentication is unsuccessful (step S505: NO), the user authentication process is executed again (step S501).

  If the authentication is successful (step S505: YES), the UI 203 accepts a print job selection by the user (step S506). The print job is selected from a print job list screen received from the server apparatus 101 and displayed on the UI 203 so as to be selectable. In this print job list, print jobs registered in advance by the user from the terminal device 301 are displayed.

  After accepting the selection of the print job, the engine control unit 202 transmits an output request for the selected print job to the server apparatus 101 (step S507). The integrated control unit 102 of the server apparatus 101 receives the output request (step S508).

  Next, the job control unit 105 of the server apparatus 101 selects a print job corresponding to the received output request from the print job pool 106 (step S509).

  Next, the integrated control unit 102 transmits the selected print job to the image forming apparatus 201 (step S510). Subsequently, the engine control unit 202 of the image forming apparatus 201 receives a print job (step S511).

  Here, the print job includes a print option selected by the user from the terminal device 301, but the print option can be selected again on the image forming apparatus 201 (step S512). In other words, option settings are displayed on the UI 203 so as to be changeable, and the user can make changes on the UI 203 if necessary.

  Next, in accordance with an instruction from the engine control unit 202, the image forming unit 204 prints a document corresponding to the print job (step S513). As a result, the user can obtain the output document.

  As described above, in this exemplary embodiment, after a print request is made from the terminal device 301, the document is not output immediately by the image forming apparatus 201, but is authenticated again by the image forming apparatus 201, and the authenticated user A document corresponding to the print request is printed. For this reason, it is possible to solve security problems such as a document being output to the image forming apparatus 201 which is not intended by mistake, or an output product being illegally acquired by a malicious user.

  Next, details of the user authentication processing in steps S402 and S502 will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the overall flow of user authentication processing in the present embodiment.

  First, the integrated control unit 102 of the server apparatus 101 receives an authentication request transmitted from the terminal apparatus 301 or the image forming apparatus 201 (step S601). The authentication request includes a user ID. From the viewpoint of security, it is desirable that communication between the terminal device 301 and the image forming apparatus 201 and the server apparatus 101 is encrypted.

  Next, the integrated control unit 102 transmits a user ID verification instruction to the user authentication unit 103 (step S602). Next, collation processing by the user authentication unit 103 is executed (step S603). Details of the verification process will be described later.

  After the collation process, the integrated control unit 102 transmits an authentication result to the terminal device 301 or the image forming apparatus 201 that has transmitted the authentication request (step S604), and ends the user authentication process.

  Next, details of the collation processing in step S603 will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the overall flow of the collation process in the present embodiment.

  First, the user authentication unit 103 receives a collation instruction from the integrated control unit 102 (step S701). This collation instruction includes a user ID to be collated.

  Next, the user authentication unit 103 searches whether or not the user ID included in the received collation instruction exists in the user information DB 104 (step S702).

  Next, the user authentication unit 103 determines whether or not the collation is successful, that is, whether or not the user ID exists in the user information DB 104 (step S703).

  When the collation is successful (step S703: YES), the user authentication unit 103 transmits authentication OK to the integrated control unit 102 (step S704). If the verification fails (step S703: NO), the user authentication unit 103 transmits an authentication NG to the integrated control unit 102 (step S705).

  Note that the above-described user authentication process is an example, and any conventionally used authentication method such as an authentication method using a user ID and a password is applied as long as the user who uses the apparatus can be authenticated. be able to.

  Next, details of the print job registration process in step S409 will be described. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the overall flow of the print job registration process in the present embodiment.

  First, the integrated control unit 102 of the server apparatus 101 determines whether the image data included in the received print request is existing data registered in the image data DB 108 (step S801). For example, if the print request includes information for specifying image data in the image data DB 108, it is a print request for image data that has already been registered, so it can be determined that the image data has been registered. it can.

  If it is not existing data (step S801: NO), the integrated control unit 102 transmits a request to register the image data included in the print request to the data management unit 107 (step S802). Next, the data management unit 107 creates an image of the requested image data and registers it in the image data DB 108 (step S803).

  After image data registration or when it is determined in step S801 that the data is existing data (step S801: YES), the integrated control unit 102 transmits a request to register job data to the job control unit 105 (step S804). ).

  Next, the job control unit 105 creates print job data as shown in FIG. 3 from the user ID, setting information, and image data included in the print request and registers them in the print job pool 106 (step S805).

  Next, an example of a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 201 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 201 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in the figure, the image forming apparatus 201 has a configuration in which a controller (engine control unit) 202 and an image forming unit (engine) 204 are connected by a PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) bus. The engine control unit 202 is a controller that controls the entire image forming apparatus 201 and controls drawing, communication, and input from the UI 203. The image forming unit 204 is a printer engine that can be connected to a PCI bus, and is, for example, a monochrome plotter, a 1-drum color plotter, a 4-drum color plotter, a scanner, or a fax unit. The image forming unit 204 includes an image processing part such as error diffusion and gamma conversion in addition to a so-called engine part such as a plotter.

  The engine control unit 202 includes a CPU 11, a north bridge (NB) 13, a system memory (MEM-P) 12, a south bridge (SB) 14, a local memory (MEM-C) 17, and an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated). The circuit has a circuit 16 and a hard disk drive (HDD) 18, and the north bridge (NB) 13 and the ASIC 16 are connected by an AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) bus 15. The MEM-P 12 further includes a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12a and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 12b.

  The CPU 11 performs overall control of the image forming apparatus 201. The CPU 11 includes a chip set including the NB 13, the MEM-P 12, and the SB 14, and is connected to other devices via the chip set.

  The NB 13 is a bridge for connecting the CPU 11 to the MEM-P 12, SB 14, and the AGP bus 15, and includes a memory controller that controls reading / writing with respect to the MEM-P 12, a PCI master, and an AGP target.

  The MEM-P 12 is a system memory used as a memory for storing programs and data, a memory for developing programs and data, a memory for drawing a printer, and the like, and includes a ROM 12a and a RAM 12b. The ROM 12a is a read-only memory used as a program / data storage memory, and the RAM 12b is a writable / readable memory used as a program / data development memory, a printer drawing memory, or the like.

  The SB 14 is a bridge for connecting the NB 13 to a PCI device and peripheral devices. The SB 14 is connected to the NB 13 via a PCI bus, and a network interface (I / F) unit and the like are also connected to the PCI bus.

  The ASIC 16 is an IC (Integrated Circuit) for image processing having hardware elements for image processing, and has a role of a bridge for connecting the AGP bus 15, the PCI bus, the HDD 18, and the MEM-C 17. The ASIC 16 includes a PCI target and an AGP master, an arbiter (ARB) that is the core of the ASIC 16, a memory controller that controls the MEM-C 17, and a plurality of DMACs (Direct Memory) that perform rotation of image data by hardware logic. Access Controller) and a PCI unit that performs data transfer between the image forming unit 204 via the PCI bus. An FCU (Fax Control Unit) 30, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) 40, and an IEEE 1394 (the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 1394) interface 50 are connected to the ASIC 16 via a PCI bus.

  The MEM-C 17 is a local memory used as a copy image buffer and a code buffer, and the HDD 18 is a storage for storing image data, programs, font data, and forms.

  The AGP bus 15 is a bus interface for a graphics accelerator card proposed for speeding up graphics processing. The AGP bus 15 speeds up the graphics accelerator card by directly accessing the MEM-P 12 with high throughput. It is.

  As described above, the image forming system, the server apparatus, the image forming apparatus, the image forming method, the image providing program, and the image forming program according to the present invention include the image forming system and the server that perform processing related to the image forming process via the network. Suitable for apparatus and image forming apparatus.

1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an outline of an overall configuration of an image forming system according to an exemplary embodiment; It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the server apparatus concerning this Embodiment, an image forming apparatus, and a terminal device. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a data format of print job data. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an overall flow of a print request process in the present embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an overall flow of print output processing according to the present embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the whole flow of the user authentication process in this Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the whole flow of the collation process in this Embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an overall flow of print job registration processing according to the present exemplary embodiment. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

11 CPU
12 System memory (MEM-P)
12a ROM
12b RAM
13 North Bridge (NB)
14 South Bridge (SB)
15 AGP
16 ASIC
17 Local memory (MEM-C)
18 HDD
30 FCU
40 USB
50 IEEE1394 interface 101 Server device 102 Integrated control unit 103 User authentication unit 104 User information DB
105 Job Control Unit 106 Print Job Pool 107 Data Management Unit 108 Image Data DB
201 Image forming apparatus 202 Engine control unit 203 UI
204 Image Forming Unit 205 Authentication Accepting Unit 301 Terminal Device 302 Print Control Unit 303 UI / OS
304 Application 305 Authentication Accepting Unit 401 User ID
402 Setting information 403 Print data 501 Router

Claims (8)

An image comprising: an image forming apparatus that forms an image based on image data; a server apparatus connected to the image forming apparatus via a network; and a terminal apparatus connected to the server apparatus via the network. A forming system,
The terminal device
First receiving means for receiving an identifier for identifying a user and input of the image data;
A first transmission means for transmitting the received identifier, setting information relating to image formation, and any one of the image data and identification information for identifying the image data, to the server device;
The server device
First storage means capable of storing the image data, the identifier, and the setting information;
Second storage means capable of storing the image data;
First receiving means for receiving, from the terminal device, the identifier, the setting information, and either the image data or the specific information;
When the image data is received, it is determined whether the image data is already stored in the second storage unit . If the image data is not stored in the second storage unit, the first reception unit A first storage means for storing the received image data in the second storage means and not newly storing the data stored in the second storage means ;
Second storage means for storing the received image data or the image data specified by the received specific information, the identifier, and the setting information in the first storage means;
Second receiving means for receiving the identifier from the image forming apparatus;
Authentication means for authenticating the user based on the received identifier;
A second transmission unit configured to acquire the image data and the setting information corresponding to the identifier of the authenticated user from the first storage unit and transmit the second transmission unit to the image forming apparatus;
The image forming apparatus includes:
Second accepting means for accepting input of the identifier;
Third transmitting means for transmitting the received identifier to the server device;
Third receiving means for receiving the image data and the setting information corresponding to the received identifier from the server device;
Image forming means for forming an image based on the received image data and the setting information;
An image forming system comprising: An image comprising: an image forming apparatus that forms an image based on image data; a server apparatus connected to the image forming apparatus via a network; and a terminal apparatus connected to the server apparatus via the network. A forming system,
The terminal device
First receiving means for receiving an identifier for identifying a user and input of the image data;
A first transmission means for transmitting the received identifier, setting information relating to image formation, and any one of the image data and identification information for identifying the image data, to the server device;
The server device
First storage means capable of storing the specific information, the identifier, and the setting information;
Second storage means capable of storing the image data;
First receiving means for receiving, from the terminal device, the identifier, the setting information, and either the image data or the specific information;
When the image data is received, it is determined whether the image data is already stored in the second storage unit . If the image data is not stored in the second storage unit, the first reception unit A first storage means for storing the received image data in the second storage means and not newly storing the data stored in the second storage means ;
Second storage means for storing the received image data or the image data specified by the received specific information, the identifier, and the setting information in the first storage means;
Second receiving means for receiving the identifier from the image forming apparatus;
Authentication means for authenticating the user based on the received identifier;
The specified information and the setting information corresponding to the identifier of the authenticated user are acquired from the first storage unit, and the image data specified by the acquired specific information and the acquired setting information are acquired as the image formation Second transmission means for transmitting to the device,
The image forming apparatus includes:
Second accepting means for accepting input of the identifier;
Third transmitting means for transmitting the received identifier to the server device;
Third receiving means for receiving the image data and the setting information corresponding to the received identifier from the server device;
Image forming means for forming an image based on the received image data and the setting information;
An image forming system comprising: An image forming apparatus that forms an image based on image data, and a server apparatus connected via a network to a terminal device that transmits the image data,
A first storage means capable of storing the image data, an identifier for identifying a user, and setting information relating to image formation;
Second storage means capable of storing the image data;
First receiving means for receiving, from the terminal device, the identifier, the setting information, and either the image data or the specific information;
When the image data is received, it is determined whether the image data is already stored in the second storage unit . If the image data is not stored in the second storage unit, the first reception unit A first storage means for storing the received image data in the second storage means and not newly storing the data stored in the second storage means ;
Second storage means for storing the received image data or the image data specified by the received specific information, the identifier, and the setting information in the first storage means;
Second receiving means for receiving the identifier from the image forming apparatus;
Authentication means for authenticating the user based on the received identifier;
Second transmission means for acquiring the image data and the setting information corresponding to the identifier of the authenticated user from the first storage means and transmitting the acquired image data to the image forming apparatus;
A server device comprising: An image forming apparatus that forms an image based on image data, and a server apparatus connected via a network to a terminal device that transmits the image data,
First storage means capable of storing specific information for specifying the image data, an identifier for identifying a user, and setting information relating to image formation;
Second storage means capable of storing the image data;
First receiving means for receiving, from the terminal device, the identifier, the setting information, and either the image data or the specific information;
When the image data is received, it is determined whether the image data is already stored in the second storage unit . If the image data is not stored in the second storage unit, the first reception unit A first storage means for storing the received image data in the second storage means and not newly storing the data stored in the second storage means ;
Second storage means for storing the received image data or the image data specified by the received specific information, the identifier, and the setting information in the first storage means;
Second receiving means for receiving the identifier from the image forming apparatus;
Authentication means for authenticating the user based on the received identifier;
The specified information and the setting information corresponding to the identifier of the authenticated user are acquired from the first storage unit, and the image data specified by the acquired specific information and the acquired setting information are acquired as the image formation Second transmission means for transmitting to the device;
A server device comprising: An image comprising: an image forming apparatus that forms an image based on image data; a server apparatus connected to the image forming apparatus via a network; and a terminal apparatus connected to the server apparatus via the network. An image forming method in a forming system,
The server device
A first storage means capable of storing the image data, an identifier for identifying a user, and setting information relating to image formation;
Second storage means capable of storing the image data,
A first accepting step in which the terminal device accepts input of the identifier and the image data;
A first transmission step in which the terminal device transmits the received identifier, the setting information, and any one of the image data and specific information for identifying the image data, to the server device;
A first receiving step in which the server device receives the identifier, the setting information, the image data, and the specific information from the terminal device;
When the server device receives the image data, the server device determines whether the image data is already stored in the second storage unit . If the image data is not stored in the second storage unit, A first storage step of storing image data received by the first receiving means in the second storage means, and not newly storing in the case of data stored in the second storage means ;
A second storage step in which the server device stores the received image data or the image data specified by the received specific information, the identifier, and the setting information in the first storage unit; ,
A first receiving step in which the image forming apparatus receives an input of the identifier;
A second transmission step in which the image forming apparatus transmits the received identifier to the server apparatus;
A second receiving step in which the server device receives the identifier from the image forming device;
An authentication step in which the server device authenticates the user based on the received identifier;
A second transmission step in which the server device acquires the image data and the setting information corresponding to the identifier of the authenticated user from the first storage unit and transmits them to the image forming device;
A third receiving step in which the image forming apparatus receives the image data and the setting information corresponding to the received identifier from the server apparatus;
An image forming step in which the image forming apparatus forms an image based on the received image data and the setting information;
An image forming method comprising: An image comprising: an image forming apparatus that forms an image based on image data; a server apparatus connected to the image forming apparatus via a network; and a terminal apparatus connected to the server apparatus via the network. An image forming method in a forming system,
The server device
First storage means capable of storing specific information for specifying the image data, an identifier for identifying a user, and setting information relating to image formation;
Second storage means capable of storing the image data,
A first accepting step in which the terminal device accepts input of the identifier and the image data;
A first transmission step in which the terminal device transmits the received identifier, the setting information, and any one of the image data and specific information for identifying the image data, to the server device;
A first receiving step in which the server device receives the identifier, the setting information, the image data, and the specific information from the terminal device;
When the server device receives the image data, the server device determines whether the image data is already stored in the second storage unit . If the image data is not stored in the second storage unit, A first storage step of storing image data received by the first receiving means in the second storage means, and not newly storing in the case of data stored in the second storage means ;
A second storage step in which the server device stores the received image data or the image data specified by the received specific information, the identifier, and the setting information in the first storage unit; ,
A first receiving step in which the image forming apparatus receives an input of the identifier;
A second transmission step in which the image forming apparatus transmits the received identifier to the server apparatus;
A second receiving step in which the server device receives the identifier from the image forming device;
An authentication step in which the server device authenticates the user based on the received identifier;
The server device acquires the specific information and the setting information corresponding to the identifier of the authenticated user from the first storage unit, and the image data specified by the acquired specific information and the acquired setting A second transmission step of transmitting information to the image forming apparatus;
A third receiving step in which the image forming apparatus receives the image data and the setting information corresponding to the received identifier from the server apparatus;
An image forming step in which the image forming apparatus forms an image based on the received image data and the setting information;
An image forming method comprising: An image forming apparatus that forms an image based on image data, and a server device connected via a network to a terminal device that transmits the image data,
A first storage means capable of storing the image data, an identifier for identifying a user, and setting information relating to image formation;
Second storage means capable of storing the image data;
First receiving means for receiving, from the terminal device, the identifier, the setting information, and either the image data or the specific information;
When the image data is received, it is determined whether the image data is already stored in the second storage unit . If the image data is not stored in the second storage unit, the first reception unit A first storage means for storing the received image data in the second storage means and not newly storing the data stored in the second storage means ;
Second storage means for storing the received image data or the image data specified by the received specific information, the identifier, and the setting information in the first storage means;
Second receiving means for receiving the identifier from the image forming apparatus;
Authentication means for authenticating the user based on the received identifier;
Second transmission means for acquiring the image data and the setting information corresponding to the identifier of the authenticated user from the first storage means and transmitting the image data to the image forming apparatus;
An image providing program to function as An image forming apparatus that forms an image based on image data, and a server device connected via a network to a terminal device that transmits the image data,
First storage means capable of storing specific information for specifying the image data, an identifier for identifying a user, and setting information relating to image formation;
Second storage means capable of storing the image data;
First receiving means for receiving, from the terminal device, the identifier, the setting information, and either the image data or the specific information;
When the image data is received, it is determined whether the image data is already stored in the second storage unit . If the image data is not stored in the second storage unit, the first reception unit A first storage means for storing the received image data in the second storage means and not newly storing the data stored in the second storage means ;
Second storage means for storing the received image data or the image data specified by the received specific information, the identifier, and the setting information in the first storage means;
Second receiving means for receiving the identifier from the image forming apparatus;
Authentication means for authenticating the user based on the received identifier;
The image data and the setting information corresponding to the identifier of the authenticated user are acquired from the first storage unit, and the image data specified by the acquired specific information and the acquired setting information are acquired as the image formation Second transmission means for transmitting to the device;
An image providing program to function as

Images