JP2002297334A - Image data providing system, image forming apparatus and server used in the system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely provide a user with only image data requested by the user as a printed matter. SOLUTION: An image providing terminal 13 sends authentication information to an image forming apparatus 1 of a providing destination based on the address of an image providing destination obtained from a lookup server 14. When receiving the authentication information, the apparatus 1 makes an image provider management server 17 authenticate the terminal 13 or authenticates the terminal 13 by using information registered in a flash memory, and sends the authentication result to the terminal 13. When the authentication in successful, the terminal 13 transmits image data. The apparatus 1 receives it and registers it in HDD 6. A user can select desired image data from in image data registered in the HDD 6 by an operation panel 7 and print it by a plotter 8 to obtain it as a printed matter such as a catalog.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image data providing system for uploading an image from an image provider terminal to an image forming apparatus, and an image forming apparatus and a server used for the system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In various stores such as home appliance mass retailers, catalogs are placed in stores to introduce sales products and the like. The customer can obtain rough information on the products displayed in the shop with this catalog, and can take it home once and examine the products and the like.

In some CD (Compact Disk) shops, a PC (Personal Computer) for searching a CD is installed. When a specific site is accessed with an Internet browser by using an Internet browser, a customer operation is performed. This makes it possible to search for CDs.

[0004]

By the way, catalogs relate to products displayed in stores, and old catalogs are discarded. The production cost of a catalog is generally high, and if it cannot be seen by a customer, many catalogs are discarded, resulting in wasteful costs. In addition, as a customer, information on a desired or interesting product is desired, and even if the user brings back the catalog, the catalog without the necessary information is simply discarded.

[0005] Also, since catalogs of old products are not usually placed in stores, even if a customer requests such a catalog, it is often out of date.

[0006] As described above, even if a customer puts a catalog at a store and tries to introduce a product for sale, the customer often cannot use the product effectively, and some catalogs are not available to the customer. There was no such case.

[0007] Further, in the above-described conventional product search system using a PC, only information from a specific site can be obtained.
If the information to be obtained is limited, and if information can be obtained from various sites, the operation of the PC becomes complicated, and it is used only by a limited number of customers.

An object of the present invention is to solve such a problem and to provide an image data providing system capable of reliably providing only image data requested by a user to the user as a printed matter, and an image used in the system. An object is to provide a forming apparatus and a server.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an image data providing system which enables a user to obtain image data from various sources by a simple operation, and an image forming apparatus and a server used for the system. To provide.

[0010]

In order to achieve each of the above objects, an image data providing system according to the present invention comprises an image provider terminal and an image forming apparatus connected via a network. When receiving a registration request for image data from the terminal, the image forming apparatus receives the registration request, receives the image data provided by the image provider terminal, registers the image data in the image database of the image forming apparatus, and The user selects desired image data registered in the image database by operating the operation panel in the above section, and prints the selected image data with the plotter.

When the image forming apparatus receives a request for registration of image data from the image provider, the image forming apparatus authenticates the image provider terminal that has made the registration request, and the image from the image provider terminal that has been successfully authenticated. Register the data in the image database.

An image provider management server in which image provider information of the image provider terminal is registered is connected to the image forming apparatus via a network, and the image forming apparatus is connected to the image provider management server. Using the registered image provider information, the image provider terminal that has made the registration request is authenticated.

Alternatively, the image forming apparatus has a memory in which the image provider information of the image provider terminal is registered, and the image forming apparatus uses the image provider information registered in the memory to send a registration request. The authentication of the existing image provider terminal is performed.

Here, an image provider management server for registering image provider information from the image provider terminal is connected to the image forming apparatus via a network, and the image provider information is transmitted from the image provider management server. The image forming apparatus acquires the information and registers it in the memory.

The image forming apparatus authenticates the image provider management server before acquiring the image provider information from the image provider management server.

A look-up server in which an address indicating the position of the image forming apparatus on the network is registered,
The image provider terminal is connected to the image provider terminal via a network, and specifies the image forming apparatus to which the registration of the image data is requested by using the address registered in the lookup server.

Here, the lookup server authenticates the image provider terminal before the image provider terminal requests the address of the image forming apparatus to which the image data is to be registered.

Further, a billing server is connected to the image forming apparatus via a network, and the billing server acquires billing information associated with printing of the image forming apparatus, and provides image data to the image forming apparatus. A mediation fee for image data is calculated for the terminal.

A print record management server is connected to the image forming apparatus via a network. The print record management server acquires print record information of the image forming apparatus, and prints print information for each user of the image forming apparatus. The information should be aggregated and analyzed.

To achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention is connected to an image provider terminal via a network, and receives an image data registration request from the image provider terminal in response to an image provider registration request. An image provider information management unit that authenticates the terminal, an image data reception unit that receives image data from the image provider terminal based on an authentication result of the authentication success of the image provider information management unit, and an image data reception unit. An image database in which the received image data is registered;
The configuration includes an operation panel for selecting desired image data from image data registered in the image database, and a plotter for printing the image data selected by the operation panel.

The image data from the image provider terminal registered in the image database has additional information for searching, and the operation panel uses the additional information as a key to store the desired image data in the image database. Can be searched for from.

If the free space in the image database is insufficient when new image data is received by the image data receiving unit,

(Equation 1) By erasing the image data in ascending order of the calculated values, a free area of the image database for the new image data is secured, and the additional information of the image data to be deleted and the information indicating the provider are left in the image database as they are. I do.

The image provider information management unit is an image provider management server in which information of image provider terminals connected via a network is registered.
The authentication of the image provider terminal that has requested the registration of the image data is performed.

Alternatively, there is provided a memory in which information of the image provider terminal is registered, and the image provider information management unit comprises:
Using the information registered in the memory, authentication of the image provider terminal that has requested image data registration is performed.

It is assumed that the information of the image provider terminal registered in the memory is obtained from the image provider management server in which the image provider terminal connected via the network is registered.

The image forming apparatus further includes a billing information management unit for managing the number of prints of image data by the plotter. The billing information including the number of prints is formed at predetermined time intervals, and billed from the network. Send to server.

A print record management unit for managing the number of prints of image data by the plotter is provided, and print record information including the number of prints is formed at predetermined time intervals.
It is transmitted from the network to the print record management server.

To achieve the above object, an image provider management server according to the present invention is connected to an image provider terminal and an image forming apparatus in which image data from the image provider terminal is registered via a network. Means for receiving a registration request of the image provider terminal, a database for storing image provider information of the image provider terminal that has received the registration, and an image provider terminal for requesting registration of image data to the image forming apparatus, An image provider authentication unit that performs authentication using the image provider information in the database and notifies the image forming apparatus of the authentication result is provided.

Alternatively, a means for receiving a registration request of the image provider terminal, a database for storing image provider information of the image provider terminal for which registration has been accepted, and a database in response to a request from the image forming apparatus. An image provider information transmitting unit for transmitting the stored image provider information of the image provider terminal to the image forming apparatus.

The image forming apparatus is also provided with a means for performing authentication.

To achieve the above object, a lookup server according to the present invention is connected to an image provider terminal and an image forming apparatus in which image data from the image provider terminal is registered via a network. First means for receiving a registration request for an image forming apparatus, a database for storing an address indicating a position on the network of the image forming apparatus for which registration has been received, and an image provider terminal in response to a request from the image provider terminal And a second unit for searching an address of a destination of the image data by the database from the database and transmitting the address to the image provider terminal.

[0032]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention and an image providing system using the same.
PU (Central Processing Unit), 3 is a ROM (Read Only Memory), 4 is a RAM (Random Access Memory), 5 is a flash memory (electrically rewritable) ROM, 6 HDD (Hard Disk Drive), 7 operation panel, 8 plotter, 9 IC card reader, 10 FDD (Floppy Disp.
k Drive: floppy (registered trademark) disk drive), 11 is a network I / F (interface), 12 is a network, 13 is an image provider terminal, 1
4 is a lookup server, 15 is a print record management server,
16 is a billing server, 17 is an image provider management server, 18
Is a bus.

In FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus 1 is installed at a store such as a home appliance mass merchandise store in order to introduce a user (customer or the like) to a product handled in this store. In the following description, this store or the like will be referred to as a home appliance mass retailer, but the installation location of the image forming apparatus 1 is not limited to this.

The image forming apparatus 1 is a public line or LA
N, via a network 12 such as the Internet,
It is connected to a lookup server 14, a print record management server 15, a billing server 16, an image provider management server 17, and the like. The image provider terminal 13 is connected to the network 12 so that the image data can be provided to the image forming apparatus 1.
It is connected to the. Here, these image forming apparatuses, servers, and image provider terminals are shown one by one.
This is shown as a representative, and it goes without saying that there is at least one each.

The image forming apparatus 1 operates under the control of the CPU 2 that operates according to a program stored in the ROM 3, and stores a large amount of image data of home appliances provided from the image provider terminal 13. An HDD 6 which is a recording device for recording capacity, and an HDD
An operation panel 7 for displaying the image data stored in the HDD 6 and for printing or writing the image data to a floppy disk; and an image stored in the HDD 6 based on an operation on the operation panel 7. A plotter 8 for printing data, an FDD 10 for writing image data also stored in the HDD 6 to a floppy disk,
An IC card reader 9 for reading information about the user (user information such as a user ID) from the user's IC card, a flash memory 5 for storing various types of information other than image data, A network I / F 11 such as an Ethernet board for connecting the forming apparatus 1 to the network 12 is connected to each other by a bus 18 and image data provided from the image provider terminal 13 (here, the image forming apparatus 1). Is stored in the HDD 6 and image data of the home appliance required by the user is displayed on the display screen according to the operation of the operation panel 7 by the user. On the floppy disk, print it with the plotter 8 to form a catalog, or use the floppy disk attached to the FDD 10 by the user. To write to disk is to provide a catalog information of consumer electronics products you want to the user.

The image provider terminal 13 has an FTP (File Tr)
Ansfer Protocol) client is installed, and an FTP connection with the image forming apparatus 1 is made. Information such as an IP address indicating the position of each image forming apparatus 1 on the network 12 in this system is registered in the lookup server 14, and the image provider terminal 13 registers such information in the lookup server 14. Using the information, the image forming apparatus 1 to which the image data is to be transmitted is specified. Information (image provider information) of the image provider terminal 13 in this system is registered in the image provider management server 17, and the image forming apparatus 1 uses the registration information of the image provider management server 17. Then, the image provider terminal 13 receiving the provision of the image data is authenticated.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a specific example of the software configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 in FIG.
a is a flash memory control unit, 6a is an image database control unit, 7a is an operation panel control unit, 8a is an engine control unit, 9a is an IC card reader control unit, 10a is an FDD control unit, and 11a is a network I / F control unit. , 19 is UI
A management unit, 20 is an image data receiving unit, 21 is an image provider information management unit, 22 is a billing information management unit, 23 is a print record management unit, and 24 is a print job management unit. The same reference numerals are given.

In FIG. 1, the software configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 includes a component (hereinafter, referred to as an OS) based on an OS (Operation System: basic software) and a functional unit (hereinafter, referred to as an AP) based on an application program.
It consists of

The OS system operates according to the AP system.
0, an engine control unit (ECS) 8a for controlling the plotter 8, and an image database control unit (MC) for controlling the HDD 6 as an image database.
S) 6a, a flash memory controller 5a for controlling writing and reading of the flash memory 5, an IC card reader controller 9a for controlling the IC card reader 9, and an operation panel controller (OCS) for controlling the operation panel 7. ) 7a,
Network I / F for controlling network I / F 11
It comprises a control unit (NCS) 11a. The network I / F control unit 11a has a function of an FTP server, and the image provider terminal 13 has an FTP client installed therein.
And FTP connection.

The AP system includes an operation panel control unit 7a, an engine control unit 8a, an IC card reader control unit 9a, and an FDD control unit 1 according to the operation of the operation panel 7 by a user.
UI (User Interface) management unit 19 that issues a command to 0a
An image data receiving unit 20 having a function of receiving image data from the image provider terminal 13 (FIG. 1); and acquiring information of the image provider terminal 13 from the image provider management server 17 (FIG. 1). An image provider information management unit 21 having a function of authenticating the provider terminal 13 and a charging information management unit 2 having a function of managing charging information to be sent to the charging server 16 (FIG. 1).
2, a print record management unit 23 having a function of managing printing of image data by the plotter 8 and recording of image data on a floppy disk by the FDD 10 and transmitting the management information to the print record management server 15; And a print job management unit 24 having a function of managing printing.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, this embodiment
The image forming apparatus 1 captures image data provided from each image provider terminal 13 and stores the image data in the HD of the image database.
D6 can be registered. When the customer operates the operation panel 7 and selects predetermined image data, the image data is read from the HDD 6, printed by the plotter 8, and provided to the customer as a catalog. Can be.

When providing the image data to the image forming apparatus 1, the image providing terminal 13 can obtain, from the lookup server 14, the location information on the network 12 of the destination image forming apparatus 1, that is, the IP address. it can. The image forming apparatus 1 authenticates the image provider terminal 13 when the image provider terminal 13 provides the image data, and the image provider management server 17 stores the registration information (image provider information). ) Can be used for authentication. When the registration information (image provider information) in the image provider management server 17 is loaded into the flash memory 5 as described later, the image The user information management unit 21 can perform authentication using the image provider information in the flash memory 5.

In the image forming apparatus 1, the IP address of each server shown is stored in a storage means such as the ROM 3 or the flash memory 5. Such an IP address may be written in the memory 3 or 5 in advance when the image forming apparatus 1 is shipped. Alternatively, an administrator of the image forming apparatus 1 (for example, an owner of the image forming apparatus 1 or an employee of a home store where the image forming apparatus 1 is installed) operates the operation panel 7 to operate the I / O of these servers.
It is also possible to input a P address and save it in the flash memory 5.

Each image provider terminal 13 also has the IP address of the lookup server 14 and the image provider management server 17.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a specific example of a processing sequence for providing image data from the image provider terminal 13 to the image forming apparatus 1 in the image providing system shown in FIG. In this specific example, the image provider terminal is authenticated by the image provider management server 17.

In the figure, the image provider terminal 13 requests the FTP client to connect to a specific image forming apparatus 1 in order to provide image data (step 10).
0), when the FTP connection with the image forming apparatus 1 is established (step 101), the image provider terminal 13 uses its own ID (identification) code (image provider ID) and password (image provider) for authentication. Is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 1 (step 102).

The image forming apparatus 1 uses these image provider IDs
When the password and the password are received (step 103), a request is made to the image provider management server 17 for connection so that the image provider terminal 13 can authenticate the image provider terminal 13 based on these (step 104). ), When the connection is established (step 105), these image provider IDs
The password is transmitted to the image provider management server 17 (step 106). The image provider management server 17 authenticates the image provider terminal 13 based on the image provider ID and password (steps 107 to 110). Here, the image provider management server 17 will be described. I do.

FIG. 4 is a software configuration diagram showing a specific example of the image provider management server 17, wherein 17a is a network I / F, 17b is a network I / F controller, 17c is a WWW server, and 17d is an image. A provider information management section, 17e an image provider authentication section, 17f an image forming apparatus information management section, 17g an image provider information transmission section, 17h
Denotes an image provider information database, 17i denotes an image forming apparatus database, and 17j denotes an image forming apparatus authentication unit.

In the figure, an image provider information database 17h on the HDD stores information (image provider ID, password, etc .: image provider information) of each registered image provider terminal 13. This is managed by the image provider information management unit 17d. The image forming apparatus database 17i on the HDD stores information of each image forming apparatus 1 (image forming apparatus ID, password, etc .: image forming apparatus information), and the image forming apparatus information management unit 17f stores the information. Managing.

When the apparatus ID and password of the image forming apparatus 1 are transmitted from the image forming apparatus 1 (step 106 in FIG. 3), the information is transferred to the network I / F controller 17b. / F17
The information is received by the image forming apparatus authentication unit 17j via a. The image forming apparatus authentication unit 17 j
f, the image forming apparatus database 17i is used to search for image forming apparatus information using the apparatus ID of the image forming apparatus as a key (step 107 in FIG. 3).
The presence or absence of D is confirmed (step 108 in FIG. 3). When it is determined that a match with the received image forming apparatus information exists in the image forming apparatus database 17i,
This allows the image forming apparatus 1 to authenticate the image provider.

As described above, the image forming apparatus authentication section 17
j performs authentication of the image forming apparatus 1 and, when it is determined that the authentication of the image provider is not permitted, notifies the image forming apparatus 1 to the effect from the network I / F 17a (step in FIG. 3). 112: In this case, upon receiving this notification (step 113 in FIG. 3), the image forming apparatus 1 confirms that the authentication of the image forming apparatus 1 has failed (step 114 in FIG. 3) and provides image data. (Step 115 in FIG. 3).
The operation of both the image provider management server 17 and the image forming apparatus 1 ends.)

When the apparatus ID of the image forming apparatus 1 exists in the image forming apparatus information database 17i (step 108 in FIG. 3), the image forming apparatus authentication section 17j checks the password of the image forming apparatus 1 (FIG. 3). Step 10
9) If the password is incorrect (step 1 in FIG. 3)
10) Notify the image forming apparatus 1 that the authentication has failed (step 112 in FIG. 3). If the password is correct (step 110 in FIG. 3), the image forming apparatus 1 is notified that the authentication of the image forming apparatus 1 is successful. The device 1 is notified (step 111 in FIG. 3).

3 and 4, the image forming apparatus 1
Receives the above authentication result from the image provider management server 17 (step 113), checks the authentication result (step 114), and if the authentication of the image forming apparatus 1 has failed, as described above. , The image provider terminal 1
3 and ends the operation.

If the authentication of the image forming apparatus 1 is successful (step 114), the image forming apparatus 1 transmits the image provider ID and the password received from the image provider terminal 13 (step 116).

In the image provider management server 17, the information is received by the image provider authentication unit 17e via the network I / F 17a. Therefore, the image provider authentication unit 17e
Operates the image provider information management unit 17d, and searches the image provider information database 17h using the received image provider ID as a key (step 117). When the image provider ID does not exist in the image provider information database 17h (step 118), the image forming apparatus 1 is notified of the authentication failure (step 122), and the image provider information database 17h stores the image provider ID in the image provider information database 17h. Exists (step 118), the password is confirmed (step 119). If the password is not correct (step 120), the image forming apparatus 1 is notified of the authentication failure (step 122). If the password is correct, (Step 120), the fact that the authentication is successful is notified to the image forming apparatus 1 (Step 121), and the operation ends.

The image provider information transmitting unit 17g is for providing the image provider information registered in the image provider information database 17h to the image forming apparatus 1. When the management server 17 authenticates the image provider terminal 13, it does not operate.

When the authentication result is transmitted from the image provider management server 17 (steps 121 and 122), the network I / F controller 11a in the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG.
The image provider information management unit 21 receives this via the network I / F 11 controlled by (step 123),
It is sent from the network I / F 11 to the image provider terminal 13.
(Step 124), and confirms whether the authentication result is successful or unsuccessful (step 125). If the process is unsuccessful, the process is terminated. If the process is successful, the image data receiving unit 20 is notified and made to wait, and waits for transmission of image data from the image provider terminal 13.

On the other hand, when the image provider terminal 13 receives the authentication result from the image forming apparatus 1 (step 126),
Check whether the authentication result is successful or not (step 1
27). If unsuccessful, the process ends. If unsuccessful, the image data has additional information for search (image data name (product name), image provider name, creation date and time,
(Category ID, search keyword) is added (this additional information may be included in the header of the image data), and is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 1 following the FTP STORE command (step 128), and the operation is performed. To end.
In the image forming apparatus 1, the STORE command is determined, and the image data and the additional information are transmitted to the network I / F 11.
Is received by the image data receiving unit 20 (step 12).
9). The image data receiving unit 20 transmits the received information to the HD
Register in the image database of D6 (step 130),
End the operation.

As described above, the image data provided from the image provider terminal 13 together with the additional information
The data is stored in the DD 6.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing another specific example of a processing sequence for providing image data from the image provider terminal 13 to the image forming apparatus 1 in the image providing system shown in FIG. In this specific example, the image forming apparatus 1 authenticates the image provider terminal by itself. In this case, in FIG. 1 and FIG.
The image provider information provided from the flash memory 5
Registered in. Here, image provider information (image data and additional information) is provided from the image provider management server 17 periodically (every fixed time), but is already provided to the image forming apparatus 1. Image provider information is removed,
New image provider information is always additionally registered in the flash memory 5. In this way, a database of image provider information is formed in the flash memory 5.

In FIGS. 2 and 5, the steps denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 3 are the same as those in FIG. Therefore, steps 100 to 103 are the same as in the specific example shown in FIG.

When the image forming apparatus 1 receives the image provider ID and password from the image provider terminal 13 (step 103), the image provider information management unit 21 flashes the received image provider ID using the received image provider ID as a key. Memory 5
Search the image provider information database (step 20)
0), if the received image provider ID does not exist (step 201), a notification to the effect that authentication has failed (login is impossible) is transmitted to the image provider terminal 13 (step 205), and the process is terminated. When it can be confirmed that the image provider ID thus obtained exists in the image provider information database of the flash memory 5 (step 201), the received password is confirmed (step 202). If the password is incorrect (step 203), a notification of authentication failure (login addition) is transmitted to the image provider terminal 13 (step 205), and the processing is terminated. If the password is correct (step 203). ), A notification that the authentication is successful (login permitted) is transmitted to the image provider terminal 13 (step 204), and the image data receiving unit 20 is set in a standby state (step 206).

On the other hand, when the image provider terminal 13 receives the authentication result from the image forming apparatus 1 (step 116), it performs the same operation as the specific example shown in FIG.
The image data accompanied by the additional information is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 1 in succession to the FTP STORE command. The operation (steps 119 and 120) of the image forming apparatus receiving this is the same as the specific example shown in FIG.

As described above, the image forming apparatus 1 can authenticate the image provider by fetching the image provider information from the image provider management server 17.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a specific example of a processing sequence in which the image forming apparatus 1 fetches image provider information from the image provider management server 17.

6, 2, and 4, in the image provider management server 17, the image provider information transmitting unit 17 g
The image forming apparatus information management unit 17f is operated at regular intervals to search for the IP address of the image forming apparatus 1 to which the image provider information is provided (step 300), and based on this IP address, the image forming apparatus 1 Request an FTP connection to the network I / F control unit 11a (step 301). When the FTP connection is established (step 302), the image provider management server ID / password stored in the memory (not shown) is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 1 (step 303).

Therefore, in the image forming apparatus 1, the image provider information management unit 21 receives the image provider management server ID and password via the network I / F 11 (step 304), and the image provider management server 17 Authentication is performed (step 305). The ID and the password of the image provider management server 17 are registered in the flash memory 5, and the image provider information management unit 21 compares the received ID with the received image provider management server ID and password, and The provider management server 17 is performed. The image provider information management unit 21 transmits the result of the authentication to the image provider management server 17 (step 306). If the authentication fails, the process ends. The receiving unit 20 is set in a standby state (step 307).

In the image provider management server 17, the authentication result is received by the image provider information transmitting unit 17g via the network I / F 17a (step 308). If the authentication fails, the process is terminated. If the authentication is successful, the image provider information management unit 17d is operated (step 309). Therefore, the image provider information management unit 17d
Image provider information permitted for the image forming apparatus 1 is read from the image provider information database 17h, and the network I / F 17a is read by the image provider information transmitting unit 17g.
To the image forming apparatus 1 (step 310).

In the image forming apparatus 1, the transmitted image provider information is received by the image data receiving unit 20 via the network I / F 11a (step 311) and registered in the image provider information database of the flash memory 5. (Step 312).

As described above, the image data is downloaded from the image provider terminal 13 to the image forming apparatus 1. The protocol used when the image forming apparatus 1 acquires the image data from the image provider terminal 13 is FTP. (File Transfer
Protocol) as well as HTTP (HyperText Transf)
er Protocol) or other protocols.

The image data downloaded from the image provider terminal 13 to the image forming apparatus 1 is, for example, binary data in a format shown as a C language structure as shown in FIG. Image data name (product name), image provider name, creation date, category ID,
A search keyword) is embedded, and in the image database of the HDD 6 (FIG. 2), image data can be searched by using the additional information. Such additional information can be described using a markup language such as XML (Extensible Markup Language). Note that the image data ID in FIG. 7 is a unique value set for each image provider. When there are a plurality of image provider terminals 13 from which image data can be downloaded, the address of the downloaded image provider terminal 13 is included in the additional information.

The image data may be rasterized data that can be directly passed to the plotter engine in the image forming apparatus 1, or may be data described in a page description language (PDL). It may be. However, image data described in PDL needs to be converted into rasterized data when printed by the plotter 8 (FIG. 2).

In FIG. 1, as described above, information such as the IP address of each image forming apparatus 1 on the network 16 in this system is registered in the lookup server 14, and the image provider terminal 13 Specifies the image forming apparatus 1 to which the image data is to be transmitted, using the registration information of the lookup server 14.

FIG. 8 is a software configuration diagram of a specific example of the lookup server 14, in which 14a is a network I / F, 14b is a network I / F control unit,
4c is a WWW server, 14d is an image forming apparatus information management unit, and 14e is an image forming apparatus database.

In the figure, the lookup server 14 has an HDD, which is connected to the network 12 (FIG. 1) and which can be accessed by the image provider terminal 13 (FIG. 1). Of the image forming apparatus information, that is, the image forming apparatus database 14
e is stored. The image forming apparatus database 14e is managed by the image forming apparatus information management unit 14d.

The image provider terminal 13 is connected to the I
When making a request for the P address, a specific URL (Uniform Resou
rceLocator). As a result, the image forming apparatus information management unit 14d changes the image forming apparatus database 14e.
And a list of the IP addresses of the respective image forming apparatuses 1 registered in the WWW server 14c. The WWW server 14c sends this list to the image provider terminal 13 that has requested it from the network I / F 14a.

Here, if access to the WWW server 14c is not restricted, anyone can freely access the IP address of the image forming apparatus 1 which can be called customer information, which is not preferable in terms of security. Therefore, since it is necessary to authenticate the image provider terminal 13 accessing the lookup server 14, an authentication unit may be provided. However, the lookup server 14 and the image provider management server 17 are the same vendor. In general, authentication is performed using information of each other's database in cooperation with each other. The simplest thing is that the WWW server 17 of the image provider management server 17
c (FIG. 4) is integrated with a function as a lookup server.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a processing sequence between the image provider terminal 13 and the lookup server 14 described above.

In FIG. 9 and FIG. 8, the image provider terminal 1
Reference numeral 3 has the address of the lookup server 14 in advance, and when the IP address of the image forming apparatus 1 is required, requests connection to the lookup server 14 based on the address of the lookup server 14. (Step 4
00).

This request causes the lookup server 14
When the connection with the WWW server 14c is established (step 401), in the lookup server 14, the image forming apparatus information management unit 14d
e, the IP address of the image forming apparatus 1 is read (step 402), and the network I / F 14a controlled by the network I / F
(Step 40)
3). The image provider terminal 13 receives this (step 404), and proceeds to step 100 of FIG. 3 or FIG.

Note that the address of the lookup server 14 may be stored in a ROM built in the image provider terminal 13. In addition, if it is used on an intranet, broadcast may be used to search for the lookup server 14.

In this embodiment, the image provider information can be registered in the image provider management server 17 online from the image provider terminal 13 to the image provider management server 17. When such registration is made, FIG.
In response to a registration request from the image provider terminal 13,
In the image provider management server 17, the WWW server 17c transmits the image provider terminal 13 from the network I / F 17a.
The WW for image provider registration as shown in FIG.
A W page is provided, and the image provider terminal 13 uses the WWW browser to store the image provider information in the image provider information database 17 of the image provider management server 17.
h. When registration is completed, the image provider information management unit 17d
Assigns an image provider ID to the image provider and sends it to this image provider by e-mail. At this time, a registration fee may be charged to the image provider.

When the image provider requests the above registration using a WWW page as shown in FIG.
When a specific type of business is specified in the column "D", the image data provided by the image provider is transmitted only to the image forming apparatus 1 associated with the product of the specified specific type of business. Can be. To this end, in FIG.
The image forming apparatus information registered in the image forming apparatus database 17i may include information on the type of business, or, in FIG. Information about the type of business is also included, and steps 107 to 110 in FIG. 3 or steps 200 to 20 in FIG.
In step 3, when the type of business specified in the image provider information does not match the type of business in the image forming apparatus information, a verification result of failure is obtained. When the image provider designates a specific business in this manner, the registration fee may be determined according to the number of image forming apparatuses corresponding to the specified business.

When the manufacturer or the seller of the image forming apparatus 1 manages the image provider management server 17, the manufacturer or the seller can use the image provider management server at the time of the sales contract of the image forming apparatus. The purchaser's intention is confirmed whether or not to register with the 17 image forming apparatus server 17i (FIG. 4).
You may make it register with. The registration in this case may also be performed in an online format using a WWW server. The image provider management server 17 can be operated and managed independently of the manufacturer and the seller.

As described with reference to FIG. 3, when the image provider provides the image data to the image forming apparatus 1, the image forming apparatus 1 always asks the image provider management server 17 for the authentication of the image provider. Alternatively, the image provider management server 17 may count and store the number of inquiries for each inquiry or each time authentication is successful. Then, the number of times may be totaled for each image provider ID, and the image provider may be charged a mediation fee according to the total result.

Next, the use of image data registered in the HDD 6 of the image forming apparatus will be described.

In FIG. 2, the image data registered in the image database (HDD 6) as described above is read out from the database by a predetermined operation on the operation panel 7, and the display screen (shown in FIG. ), And a desired one can be selected and printed by the plotter 8 or written on a floppy disk mounted on the FDD 10.

By a predetermined operation on the operation panel 7, first, a list screen of all image data stored in the HDD 6 as shown in FIG. 11 (hereinafter, referred to as an all image list screen) is displayed on the display screen. This all image list screen displays the name (“image data name” as additional information in FIG. 7), the provider (providing company), the date and time when the image data was created, the number of pages of the image data, and the like for each product. Is what is done. Each product is arranged and displayed in the order of creation date and time. If there are many image data, the all image list screen 5
By scrolling through 0, a list of all image data can be viewed.

On the all image list screen 50, a "Save to Floppy" key 50a, a "Display" key 50b, a "Search" key 50c, and the like are displayed. After the user selects and decides, by clicking the "Save to Floppy" key 50a, the image data relating to the selected desired product can be read from the HDD 6 and recorded on the floppy disk mounted on the FDD 10,
Similarly, after selecting and deciding a column relating to a desired product in the list, by clicking on a "display" key 50b, detailed information regarding the desired product can be displayed.

"Search" key 50 on all image list screen 50
When c is clicked, a search screen 53 as shown in FIG.
Is displayed on the display screen. In this search screen 53, the search items "name input" 54, "provider selection" 55, "date and time input" 56, "category selection" 57, "keyword input"
58 are provided to enable image data retrieval from these. The search item "name input" 54 is provided with a selection key 54a for selecting any one of two selection items of "front match" and "perfect match". Also, there is provided a selection key 56a for selecting one of two selection items, "newer" and "older".

The search item "name input" 54 is for enabling image data to be searched from the product name ("name" in FIG. 11).
When the user clicks on the button 54, a keyboard screen (not shown) is displayed, and the name of the product can be input to the input field 59 of the search item "input name" 54. In this case, the input data includes a general product name such as a color television and a video deck and information for specifying the product such as a product type.
When "a" is selected by clicking on "a", a search can be performed only by inputting the name of a general product preceding the input data (for example, only "color television" is displayed). When input, a search is performed using the input data "color television". When the selection key 54a is clicked and "perfect match" is selected, the entire product name (for example, "color television XXX-YYY" in FIG. 11) is selected. ]) Must be entered. If the input data at this time is "color television", "color television XXX-YYY" does not completely match this "color television", so the name "color television XX"
X-YYY "cannot be searched. Select key 5
4a, if "Starts with" is selected and the input data is "color television" or "color television XXX-YYY", the image data of the general product name "color television" Are all searched.

The search item “select provider” 55 is a provider of image data (“provider” in FIG. 11, which is an image provider that provides image data at the image provider terminal 13 in FIG. 1).
Clicking this search item "select provider" 55
The "image provider name" (see FIG. 7) as additional information of the image data stored in the server is searched, and a provider selection screen (not shown) in which one of these can be selected is displayed. You. By selecting a desired image provider from the provider selection screen, the selected provider can be input in the input field 59 of the search item “select provider” 55 on the search screen 53.

The search item “input date and time” 56 is the date and time when the additional information of the image data stored in the HDD 6 was created (FIG. 7).
) To be searchable,
By clicking this, a date and time input screen (not shown) is displayed, and a desired date and time can be input in the input field 59. In this case, when the selection item "newer" is selected with the selection key 56a, the image data created after the date and time entered in the input field is searched, and the selection item "older" is selected. When selected, image data created before the date and time input in the input field is searched.

The search item "category selection" 57
6 of the additional information of the image data stored in
D (refer to FIG. 7), a category selection screen (not shown) is displayed by clicking the button, and a desired category ID is input in the input field 59. Can be.

The search item “keyword input” 58 is HD
This is for making it possible to search from the search keyword (see FIG. 7) of the additional information of the image data stored in D6, and when this is clicked, a keyboard selection screen (not shown) is displayed. Then, a desired keyword can be input in the input field 59.

A clear key 60 is provided for each of the search items 54 to 58. By clicking the clear key 60, the data input to the input column 59 of the relevant search item can be cleared.

At a predetermined position (here, a lower side portion) of the search screen 53, a “search execution” key 61 and a “cancel” key 62 are provided, and search items 54 to 58 are provided.
When the "execute search" key 61 is clicked in a state in which data has been entered in at least one input field 59, the image database (HDD 6) is searched for the search item data input in this input field 59. A search result list screen showing search results is displayed. In HDD6,
A list such as additional information of each image data (FIG. 7 described above) and an address of each image data in the image database is stored as directory information, and the list is searched.

When the "cancel" key 62 is clicked, the search screen 53 is cleared and the screen returns to the original all image list screen 50 shown in FIG.

FIG. 13 is a view showing a search result list screen 70 obtained by clicking the "execute search" key 61 on the search screen shown in FIG.
0, the name, the provider (providing company), the date and time when the image data was created, the number of pages of the image data, and the like are displayed for each product, similarly to the all image list screen 50 shown in FIG. Here, "select provider" is displayed on search screen 53 shown in FIG.
55 is XXX, and the result of searching for “date and time input” 56 as “newer” on September 1, 2000 is illustrated as “color television XXX-YYY”,
It is assumed that the image data of “VCR WWS” and “Hotable CD player XYZ” have been searched.

On the search result list screen 70, a "save floppy" key 70a, a "search" key 70b, an "all documents" key 70c, and a "display" key 70d are displayed.
In the search result list screen 70, a predetermined product in the list can be selected by a cursor (not shown) by a predetermined operation of the operation panel 7 (FIGS. 1 and 2).

Then, when a desired product in this list is selected and the "Save Floppy" key 70a is clicked,
1 and 2, the UI management unit 19 detects this and operates the FDD control unit 10a, and the image database control unit 6a operates to operate the image database (HDD 6).
Reads out the image data of the product selected from
(Portable Document Format) format and FDD1
Write to 0. When the "display" key 70d is clicked, the image data of the selected product is read from the image database (HDD 6), supplied to the operation panel 7, and displayed on the display screen. Further, when a “search” key 70b is clicked, a search screen 53 shown in FIG.
Return to Therefore, if the user wants to look at the contents on the search result list screen 70 and change to another search condition and search again, the user clicks the "search" key to return to the search screen 53, and again searches under the other search conditions. You can do it. Further, when a print start key (not shown) on the operation panel 7 is operated, the UI management unit 19 detects the key and operates the engine control unit 8a to read the image data of the selected product from the image database (HDD 6). It is output and printed by the plotter 8. Note that a “print” key may be provided on the search result list screen 70. Further, when the "all documents" key 70c on the search result list screen 70 is clicked, the screen returns to the all image list screen 50 shown in FIG.

Note that the list and keys 50a to 50 in FIG.
0c, search items 54 to 58 and keys 54a, 5 in FIG.
6a, 60 to 62, the list and keys 70a to 7 in FIG.
0d may be a touch key.

The storage device such as the HDD 6 or the flash memory 5 stores the image data ID (FIG. 7) and the image data ID.
The number of print copies information, which includes three data of the number of print copies for each D and a new print flag, is stored.
2. When printing of image data of a desired product is instructed on the search result list screen 70 shown in FIG.
The designated image data is read out based on the directory information stored in the
is supplied to the plotter 8 and printed by the plotter 8. At this time, the billing information management unit 22 obtains the image data ID of the image data to be printed and counts the number of copies of the image data. When printing is completed, the billing information management unit 22 searches for the number of print copies stored in the storage device using the acquired image data ID as a key. Is added to the number of print copies in the print copy information, and the number of print copies in the print copy information is 0.
If the new print flag has not been set in step, set it. If there is no print copy information corresponding to the image data ID, the above-described printed image data has been printed for the first time.
And the number of print copies counted and the new print flag set are newly provided.

As described above, the latest image data is registered in the image database of the HDD 6 from the image provider terminal 13, and the old image data is also stored in this image database. In the case of), the required image data can be selected from these and printed by the plotter 8 by a simple operation on the operation panel 7, and only the catalog of the required product can be obtained. Thus, it is possible to prevent a useless catalog from being created.

The billing information management unit 22 scans the number of print copies information at fixed time intervals (for example, once a day), and prints out the number of print copies information for which the new print flag is set.
Information including the apparatus ID of the image forming apparatus 1, the image provider ID, the image data ID, and the number of print copies is transmitted from the network I / F 11 to the billing server 16 as billing information. Is reset and the new print flag set. According to the image provider ID, the billing information is divided into the image data ID and the information on the number of prints for each image provider.

Here, an operation in the case where there is no free space for securing image data to be registered in the HDD 6 when registering image data from the image provider terminal 13 will be described.

When there is no such free space, the HD
Part of the image data stored in D6, that is, old image data that has passed a long period of time after acquisition or image data with a small number of prints is erased to secure free space. As a criterion for selecting image data, the value increases as the number of prints increases, and the value decreases as the number of prints increases. For example,

(Equation 1) Is calculated for each image data, and the image data to be deleted is determined in ascending order of the calculated value. Such a determination is performed by, for example, the image database control unit 6a. Alternatively, the last print date and time may be stored for each image data, and the image data may be deleted in chronological order.

As described above, by removing the image data that is not frequently used, the HDD 6 can be effectively used, and a large amount of necessary image data can be secured in the HDD 6.

Even if the image data is deleted, the additional information is left without being deleted. However, since the address of the image data to be deleted is unnecessary, it is deleted. Therefore, by leaving the information in the list in this manner, information on the deleted image data is also displayed on the all image list screen 50 shown in FIG. 11 or the search result list screen 70 shown in FIG. Therefore, such image data can also be designated for printing. When printing is designated in this manner, it is possible to obtain the image data from the image provider terminal 13 using the image data ID of the image data remaining in the list, and it is also possible to perform printing at the request of the user. . When the image data is registered in the HDD 6, the address of the image data in the HDD 6 and the like are newly added to the list. However, when the image data requested by the user has been deleted in the image provider terminal 13 in this manner, the additional information of this image data is also deleted from this list, and a message indicating that the image data cannot be printed on the display screen of the operation panel 7. Is displayed.

Next, a description will be given of a billing (billing of an image data mediation fee) when the mediation fee is charged to the image provider in accordance with the number of prints of the image data in the image forming apparatus 1.

FIG. 14 is a software configuration diagram of a specific example of the accounting server 16 shown in FIG. 1, in which 16a is a network I / F, 16b is a network I / F control unit,
c is a charge management unit, 16d is a mail transmission unit, 16e is a charge information database, and 16f is an image provider database.

In the figure, the charging information including the device ID, the image data ID, the number of print copies, and the image provider ID sent from the image forming apparatus 1 as described above is transmitted to the network I / F control unit 16b. Controlling network I /
The new print flag is set and stored in the accounting information database 16e from the accounting management unit 16c from F16a. At this time, the billing information in which the new print flag is set for this device ID is already stored, and the number of prints of the received new billing information is added to the number of prints of this billing information.

The image provider database 16f stores IDs (image provider I) for all image provider terminals 13.
The related information such as D) and the provided information such as the image data ID of the image data acquired by the image forming apparatus 1 are stored in association with each other.

Here, the processing sequence in the case where the above-mentioned billing information is transmitted from the image forming apparatus 1 to the billing server 16 will be described in further detail with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 2, FIG. 14 and FIG. 15, in the image forming apparatus 1, when it is time to send the billing information to the billing server 16, the billing information management unit 22 first stores the address of the billing server 16 from the flash memory 5. Read (step 500). Here, in order to specify the billing server 16 to which the image forming apparatus 1 sends the billing information, the IP address of the billing server 16 is registered in advance in the ROM 3 (FIG. 1) as in the case of the image provider management server 17. Alternatively, it is necessary to register in the flash memory 5, and when registering in the flash memory 5, there is a method of inputting from the operation panel 7 by the owner of the image forming apparatus 1.

Billing server 16 and image provider management server 1
7 is common to many information such as an image data ID and a device ID to be used.
7 is managed by the same vendor on the same computer, so that such information can be shared. Further, most generally, a development vendor of the image forming apparatus 1 manages the servers 16 and 17.

When the accounting information management unit 22 obtains the address of the accounting server 16, it uses this to request a connection with the accounting server 16 (step 501). Thereby, when the connection with the accounting server 16 is established (step 60)
0), the billing information management unit 22 sends the device ID of the image forming apparatus 1 to the billing server 16 (step 502), and subsequently, stores the new print flag in a storage device such as the HDD 6 or the flash memory 5. The set copy number information is transmitted to the accounting server 16 as accounting information, excluding the new print flag.

In the accounting server 16, the accounting management unit 16c
Receives the device ID from the image forming apparatus 1 (step 6).
01), upon receiving the billing information (step 60)
2), a charging information database 1 using the apparatus ID and the image provider ID and the image data ID in the charging information as keys.
6e is searched (step 603). As a result of this search,
If there is a corresponding record (recording field of information on the number of copies for this key) (step 604), the number of copies of the received billing information is added to the number of copies of this record and stored in this record (step 605). If there is no corresponding record (step 604), a new record is created and the received device ID, image data ID, number of copies, and image provider ID are stored (step 606). When the processing of steps 604 to 606 is completed, a new print flag is set in this record (step 607), and the charging information registration processing ends.

In FIG. 14, a charging management section 16c manages the charging information database 16e, and provides the charging information database 16e to each image provider at regular intervals.
A charge for an intermediary fee for image data registration based on the billing information stored in e. To this end, the charge management unit 16c
Examines all records stored in the charging information database 16e, and prints the number of copies in the record in which the new print flag is set and the image provider database 16f.
, The mediation fee is calculated from the number of copies for each image provider. The mail transmission unit 16d transmits, for each image provider (image provider terminal 13), the charge of the mediation fee calculated by the charge management unit 16c by e-mail from the network I / F 16a.

The payment of the intermediary fee by the image provider may be made by electronic payment. The paid brokerage fee may be distributed between the management vendor of the accounting server 16 and the owner of the image forming apparatus 1. In this way, in the case where a coin rack is juxtaposed in the image forming apparatus 1 and the user is charged for printing costs, at least part of the brokerage fee allocated to the image forming apparatus 1 is returned to the user. It is also possible to reduce the usage fee of the user.

Next, recording management of information relating to printing of image data will be described.

This management is performed by the print record management unit 23 in FIG. 2. When the user prints desired image data with a plotter, the print record information (input from the IC card reader 9) is stored. A user ID, a printed image data ID, an image provider ID of the printed image data, a category ID, a printing date and time, etc.) are created and stored in the flash memory 5. Such print record information,
It is sent to the print record management server 15 at regular intervals (for example, once a day) and is managed.

FIG. 16 is a software configuration diagram of a specific example of the print record management server 15, in which 15a is a network I / F, 15b is a network I / F controller,
15c is a print record management unit, and 15d is a print record database.

When the print record management section 23 of the image forming apparatus 1 in FIG. 2 sends the print record information to the print record management server 15, the print record information is obtained in the same manner as the addresses of the servers 16 and 17 described above. The address of the print record management server 15 stored in the flash memory 5 is read out, and a connection is requested to the print record management server 15 using this address. When the connection is established, the device ID of the image forming apparatus 1 and The print record information is sent to the print record management server 15.

Therefore, in the print record management server 15, in FIG. 16, the print record management unit 15c is connected to the network I / F control unit 15b.
/ F15a, the device IDs of these image forming apparatuses 1
And print record information, and print record database 15d
And save it.

The print record management unit 15c has a function of reading, for example, print record information stored in the print record database 15d and totalizing the category IDs of the image data printed for each user ID. The user's preference is analyzed from the tabulation result, or the user's preference distribution for the product is analyzed. This analysis result can be returned to the image provider, the owner of the image forming apparatus 1, the user thereof, and the like. For example, the print record management server 15 and the image forming apparatus 1
When the server having the function of the above is realized, or by associating the print record management server 15 with the image forming apparatus, based on the analysis result of the print record management server 15, the server matches the user's preference. When the image data is registered in, for example, the flash memory 5 or the HDD 6 of the image forming apparatus 1, the user can be notified of the registration by e-mail or the like. Therefore, the user can operate the image forming apparatus 1 based on the notification to acquire the image data for which the notification has been received.

Next, as still another specific example of a method of registering image data, there is a method of enabling registration from a terminal PC (personal computer).

This uses a dedicated registration application program (AP), and the registration AP is realized as a printer driver from the viewpoint of an image provider. The image provider
The user creates image data using his or her favorite application, and selects and prints the registration AP that appears in the printer driver. The registration AP generates a printable printer language and transmits it to the image forming apparatus 1. The image provider sets the image provider ID in the setting of the printer driver, and inputs additional information such as an image data name, an image data ID, a category ID, and a search keyword in a dialog displayed during printing. .

When registering image data, the image forming apparatus 1 can charge an image provider for a registration fee by e-mail. The registration fee may be differentiated according to the size (number of pages) of the image data, or the display priority on the operation panel may be included in the header of the image data, and the registration fee may be set according to the priority. It may be.

In the above embodiment, the image data is used as image data for a catalog of home electric appliances. However, the present invention is not limited to home electric appliances, but can be applied to arbitrary products. Needless to say, the image data can be applied to any data other than the catalog.

[0131]

As described above, according to the image data providing system of the present invention, when there is a request for registration of image data from the image provider terminal, the image forming apparatus receives the registration request and then receives the registration request. Receiving the image data provided by the terminal and registering it in the image database of the image forming apparatus,
By operating the operation panel of the image forming apparatus to select and print desired image data registered in the image database, image data from each image provider terminal is collectively collected. The image data is stored in the image database, and the user can select and print the image data required by the user. This eliminates the need to specify the image provider and allows the user to perform simple operations. Only necessary image data can be acquired as a printed matter.

Further, upon receiving the image data registration request from the image provider, the image forming apparatus authenticates the image provider terminal that has made the registration request, and receives the image data from the successfully authenticated image provider terminal. Is registered in the image database, it is possible to reliably obtain only the image data for which there is an acquisition right among the image data provided by the image provider, and unnecessary image data is registered in the image database. It is possible to prevent a reduction in the use efficiency of the image database.

This authentication is performed by the image provider management server connected to the image forming apparatus via the network using the image provider information of the image provider terminal registered therein. The image forming apparatus does not have the burden of the authentication process, and does not require a storage unit for storing the image provider information, so that the configuration can be simplified.

Alternatively, the image forming apparatus has a memory in which the image provider information of the image provider terminal is registered, and the authentication is performed by the image forming apparatus using the image provider information registered in this memory. Therefore, in response to a request for providing image data from the image provider terminal, the authentication can be immediately performed, and the authentication result can be immediately notified to the image provider terminal. In addition, from this, the image provider shortens the waiting time from when the request is made to when the authentication result is obtained, and the image data providing process can be performed smoothly.

As the image provider information,
Since image provider terminal information stored in an image provider management server for registering an image provider terminal connected to the image forming apparatus via a network can be acquired and used, the image forming apparatus side The user does not need to input the image provider information.

When the image forming apparatus acquires the image provider terminal information from the image provider management server as described above, the image provider management server authenticates the image forming apparatus. Acquisition of image provider terminal information from the terminal can be reliably prevented.

Further, since the image provider terminal can obtain the address of the image forming apparatus from the lookup server, the necessary image forming apparatus as the destination of the image data is automatically determined, and the input of the address is performed. Will save time and effort.

When the image server receives a request for the address of the image forming apparatus from the image provider terminal, the lookup server authenticates the image provider terminal. Can be reliably prevented.

Further, the charging server acquires the charging information accompanying the printing of the image data in each image forming apparatus, and transmits the registration mediation fee of the image data to the image provider terminal which provides the image data to the image forming apparatus. Since the calculation is performed, it is possible to collectively charge the image provider for the mediation fee by each image forming apparatus, and the billing process is simplified.

Further, since the print record management server acquires the print record information of each image forming apparatus and tabulates and analyzes the print record information for each user of the image forming apparatus, the print record management server uses the print data information such as the preference for the image data. The usage tendency of the elderly.

As described above, according to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, in response to an image data registration request from an image provider terminal, an image provider information management unit that authenticates the image provider terminal, an image provider An image data receiving unit that receives image data from the image provider terminal based on the authentication result of the authentication success of the user information management unit, and an image provider terminal that provides the image data received by the image data receiving unit. An image database to be registered together with the information; an operation panel for selecting desired image data from the image data registered in the image database; and a plotter for printing the image data selected by the operation panel. Since it has a configuration, image data from each image provider terminal is collectively stored in an image database,
The user can select the desired one and obtain it as a printed matter, eliminating the need to specify the image provider, and as a user, only the image data required by simple operation. It can be obtained as printed matter.

Further, additional information for search is provided in the image data registered and stored in the image database, and desired image data can be searched on the operation panel by using this additional information as a key. In addition, image data can be searched from the image database from different viewpoints, and the user can accurately obtain desired image data.

When the image data receiving unit receives new image data and the free space in the image database is insufficient, the image data is erased in ascending order of the calculated value of the above equation (1). Thus, a free area of the image database for the new image data is secured, and the additional information of the image data to be deleted and the information indicating the provider are left in the image database as they are.
In the image database, even if the image data is deleted, new image data and frequently used image data are stored in the image database, so that access to the image provider terminal is unnecessary and the image data can be easily used. Also, with regard to the erased image data, necessary data can be requested from the image provider using the additional information, and it is possible to easily and surely obtain the erased image data.

In addition, the image provider information management unit has a memory in which information of the image provider terminal is registered, and the image provider information management unit issues a request for registration of image data using the information registered in the memory. Since the authentication of the image provider terminal is performed, only the necessary image data can be obtained only from the image provider that provides the image data, and unnecessary image data can be prevented from being obtained.

The information of the image provider terminal registered in the memory is obtained from the image provider management server in which the image provider terminal connected via the network is registered. It is possible to save the trouble of inputting the information of the terminal.

Further, since billing information is formed from the number of print copies of image data managed by the billing information management unit and transmitted to the billing server via the network, a billing operation for mediating image data registration is performed. Burden is reduced.

Further, since print record information is formed from the number of copies of image data managed by the print record management unit and transmitted to the print record management server via the network, the print data management of the image data is performed. The burden is reduced.

As described above, according to the image provider management server of the present invention, the means for receiving the registration request of the image provider terminal, the database for storing the image provider information of the image provider terminal that has received the registration, and The image provider terminal that requests the image forming apparatus to register image data,
Using the image provider information in the database, authentication is performed, and the image forming apparatus has an image provider authentication unit that notifies the image forming apparatus of the authentication result. It can be used for authentication of the provider terminal, and in an image forming apparatus that requires such authentication, the trouble of inputting such information can be saved.

As described above, according to the image provider management server of the present invention, the means for receiving the registration request of the image provider terminal, the database for storing the image provider information of the image provider terminal that has received the registration, and And an image provider information transmission unit that transmits the image provider information stored in the database to the image forming apparatus. Such information can be obtained without having to enter the provider information.

In addition, since a means for authenticating the image forming apparatus is provided, a request for image provider information from an unqualified image forming apparatus can be reliably eliminated.

As described above, according to the lookup server of the present invention, the first means for receiving the registration request of the image forming apparatus and the address indicating the position on the network of the image forming apparatus having received the registration are stored. Since the configuration includes a database and a second means for searching an address of a transmission destination of image data by the image providing terminal from the database in response to a request from the image provider terminal and transmitting the address to the image provider terminal. The address of each image forming apparatus can be managed collectively, and the address of the image forming apparatus can be promptly provided in response to a request from the image provider terminal.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus and an image providing system using the same according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a specific example of a software configuration of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a specific example of a processing sequence of providing image data from an image provider terminal to an image forming apparatus in the image providing system illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a specific example of a software configuration of the image provider management server in FIG. 1,

5 is a flowchart illustrating another specific example of a processing sequence for providing image data from an image provider terminal to an image forming apparatus in the image providing system illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a specific example of a processing sequence when the image forming apparatus in the image providing system illustrated in FIG. 1 captures image provider information from an image provider management server.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram showing a specific example of image data uploaded from the image provider terminal in FIG. 1 to the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a specific example of a software configuration of a lookup server in FIG. 1;

9 is a flowchart showing a processing sequence when the image provider terminal shown in FIG. 1 acquires an address of an image forming apparatus from the lookup server shown in FIG.

10 is a diagram showing an image provider registration WWW page used when the image provider terminal shown in FIG. 1 registers in the image provider management server.

11 is a diagram showing a specific example of an all image list screen displayed on an operation panel of the image forming apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG.

12 is a diagram showing a specific example of a search screen obtained from the all image list screen shown in FIG.

13 is a diagram showing a specific example of a search result list screen obtained from the search screen shown in FIG.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating a specific example of a software configuration of a charging server in FIG. 1;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a processing sequence when sending billing information to the billing server shown in FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a block diagram illustrating a specific example of a software configuration of the print record management server in FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 Image forming apparatus 5 Flash memory 6 Hard disk drive (image database) 7 Operation panel 8 Plotter 9 IC card reader 10 Floppy disk drive 12 Network 13 Image provider terminal 14 Lookup server 14c WWW server 14e Image forming apparatus database 15 Print record management Server 15c print record management unit 15d print record database 16 accounting server 16c accounting management unit 16d mail transmission unit 16e accounting information database 16f image provider database 17 image provider management server 17c WWW server 17e image provider authentication unit 17f image forming apparatus information Management unit 17g Image provider information transmission unit 17h Image provider information database 17i Image forming device database 17j Image forming device authentication unit 20 images All data reception unit 21 the image provider information management section 22 traffic management unit 23 print recording management unit 24 print job managing unit 50 the image list screen 53 search screen 70 search result list screen

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2C061 AP01 HJ06 HJ08 HK11 HN04 HP00 HQ17 2C087 AA09 AB01 AB05 BA03 BB03 BB16 BC06 BC14 BD02 BD52 CB17 CB20 DA14 2C187 AE01 CD15 CD17 GD02 5B021 AA05 BB01 BB10 CC

Claims (22)

[Claims] An image provider terminal is connected to an image forming apparatus via a network. When there is a request for registration of image data from the image provider terminal, the image forming apparatus receives the registration request. After that, by receiving the image data provided by the image provider terminal, registering the image data in the image database of the image forming apparatus, and operating the operation panel on the image forming apparatus,
An image data providing system, wherein desired image data registered in the image database is selected and printed by a plotter. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein upon receiving a registration request for the image data from the image provider, the image forming apparatus authenticates the image provider terminal that has made the registration request, and succeeds in authentication. An image data providing system for registering the image data from the image provider terminal in the image database. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein an image provider management server in which image provider information of the image provider terminal is registered is connected to the image forming apparatus via the network. An image data providing system, wherein the apparatus authenticates the image provider terminal that has made a registration request using the image provider information registered in the image provider management server. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image forming apparatus has a memory in which image provider information of the image provider terminal is registered, and the image forming apparatus has the image registered in the memory. An image data providing system, wherein authentication of the image provider terminal that has made a registration request is performed using provider information. 5. The image provider according to claim 4, wherein an image provider management server for registering image provider information from the image provider terminal is connected to the image forming apparatus via the network. An image data providing system, wherein the image forming apparatus acquires image provider information from a management server and registers the acquired image provider information in the memory. 6. The image according to claim 5, wherein the image forming apparatus authenticates the image provider management server before acquiring the image provider information from the image provider management server. Data delivery system. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a lookup server in which an address indicating a position of the image forming apparatus on the network is registered is connected to the image provider terminal via the network. The image data providing system, wherein the image provider terminal specifies the image forming apparatus to which image data registration is requested, using the address registered in the lookup server. 8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the look-up server authenticates the image provider terminal before the image provider terminal requests an address of the image forming apparatus to which registration of image data is requested. An image data providing system characterized by the following. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a billing server is connected to the image forming apparatus via the network, and the billing server acquires billing information associated with printing of the image forming apparatus, and performs the image forming. An image data providing system for calculating an image data brokerage fee for an image provider terminal that provides image data to an apparatus. 10. The print record management server according to claim 1, wherein a print record management server is connected to the image forming apparatus via the network, and the print record management server acquires print record information of the image forming apparatus, An image data providing system, wherein the print record information is tabulated and analyzed for each user of the image forming apparatus. 11. An image forming apparatus connected to an image provider terminal via a network, wherein the image forming apparatus receives a request for registration of image data from the image provider terminal.
An image provider information management unit that authenticates the image provider terminal; and an image data receiving unit that receives image data from the image provider terminal based on an authentication result of the authentication success of the image provider information management unit. An image database for registering the image data received by the image data receiving section together with information indicating the image provider terminal of a provider; and selecting desired image data from image data registered in the image database. And a plotter for printing the image data selected by the operation panel. 12. The image data according to claim 11, wherein the image data from the image provider terminal registered in the image database has additional information for search. An image forming apparatus characterized in that desired image data can be searched from the image database by using a key as a key. 13. The image processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein when the image data receiving unit receives new image data, if the free space in the image database is insufficient. The image data is erased in ascending order of the image data to secure a free area of the image database for the new image data, and the additional information of the image data to be erased and information indicating the provider are stored in the image database. An image forming apparatus characterized by being left as it is. 14. The image provider management server according to claim 11, 12 or 13, wherein the image provider information management unit is an image provider management server in which information of the image provider terminal connected via the network is registered. An image forming apparatus, wherein authentication of the image provider terminal that has made a request for registration of image data is performed using the information. 15. The image provider information management unit according to claim 11, further comprising a memory in which information of the image provider terminal is registered, wherein the image provider information management unit stores the information registered in the memory. An image forming apparatus that authenticates the image provider terminal that has requested image data registration. 16. The image provider terminal according to claim 15, wherein the information of the image provider terminal registered in the memory is obtained from an image provider management server in which the image provider terminal connected via the network is registered. An image forming apparatus, comprising: 17. The system according to claim 11, further comprising: a billing information management unit that manages the number of copies of image data printed by the plotter, wherein billing information including the number of copies is formed at predetermined time intervals. An image forming apparatus for transmitting an image from a network to a billing server. 18. The printing apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising: a print record management unit that manages the number of prints of the image data by the plotter, wherein print record information including the number of prints is formed at predetermined time intervals. An image forming apparatus, wherein the image is transmitted from the network to a print record management server. 19. An image provider management server connected via a network to an image provider terminal and an image forming apparatus in which image data from the image provider terminal is registered, wherein a registration request for the image provider terminal is provided. Means for receiving image registration information, a database for storing image provider information of the image provider terminal that has received registration, and an image provider terminal for requesting the image forming apparatus to register image data. An image provider management server, comprising: an image provider authentication unit that performs authentication using user information and notifies the image forming apparatus of an authentication result. 20. An image provider management server connected via a network to an image provider terminal and an image forming apparatus in which image data from the image provider terminal is registered, wherein a registration request for the image provider terminal is provided. Receiving means, a database storing image provider information of the image provider terminal that has received registration, and an image of the image provider terminal stored in the database in response to a request from the image forming apparatus. An image provider information transmitting unit for transmitting provider information to the image forming apparatus. 21. The image provider management server according to claim 19, further comprising means for performing authentication of the image forming apparatus. 22. A look-up server connected via a network to an image provider terminal and an image forming apparatus in which image data from the image provider terminal is registered. A database storing an address indicating the location on the network of the image forming apparatus that has received the registration, and a destination of image data transmitted by the image providing terminal in response to a request from the image provider terminal. Second means for retrieving an address from the database and transmitting the address to the image provider terminal.