JP2007331142A - Image forming apparatus, method for controlling image forming apparatus and program for controlling image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus surely informing the condition of a supplied job, a method for controlling the image forming apparatus, and a program for controlling the image forming apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus for performing image forming processing, is equipped with an authenticating part for authenticating a user indicating the image forming processing, a condition detecting part for detecting the condition of the image forming processing, a user information acquiring part for acquiring an address to be informed registered in advance based on user information authenticated by the authenticating part, and an informing part for informing the information related to the condition detected by the condition detecting part to the address to be informed acquired by the user information acquiring part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, an image forming apparatus control method, and an image forming apparatus control program that notify the occurrence of an error.

Conventionally, there has been provided an image forming apparatus and a failure monitoring method having a failure monitoring notification function for notifying an occurrence of a failure to a preset notification destination when a failure occurs in the image forming process (for example, Patent Document 1). reference.).
JP 2004-130790 A

  However, the failure notification in the conventional image forming apparatus relates to the failure of the job input from the external computer to the image forming apparatus, and it was not possible to notify the job input in the image forming apparatus main body. .

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image forming apparatus, an image forming apparatus control method, and an image forming apparatus control program that reliably notify the status of a submitted job. And

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention is an image forming apparatus that performs an image forming process, an authentication unit that authenticates a user who instructs the image forming process, and a state detection that detects the state of the image forming process A user information acquisition unit that acquires a notification destination registered in advance based on information of a user authenticated by the authentication unit, and information on a state detected by the state detection unit. And a notification unit for notifying the notification destination acquired by.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus control method for controlling an image forming apparatus that performs an image forming process, wherein an authentication step for authenticating a user instructing the image forming process and a state of the image forming process are detected. Information detection step, a user information acquisition step for acquiring a pre-registered notification destination based on the information of the user authenticated by the authentication step, and information on the state detected by the state detection step. And a notification step of notifying the notification destination acquired by the information acquisition step.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus control program for causing a computer to control an image forming apparatus that performs image forming processing, an authentication step for authenticating a user instructing the image forming process, A state detection step for detecting a state, a user information acquisition step for acquiring a pre-registered notification destination based on information on the user authenticated by the authentication step, and information on the state detected by the state detection step. And a notification step of notifying the notification destination acquired in the user information acquisition step.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reliably notify the status of a job input to the image forming apparatus.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  First, the configuration of an image forming system using the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an image forming system according to the present embodiment. This image forming system includes an image forming apparatus 1, an authentication server 2, an authentication database 3, a PC 4, and a mobile phone 5. Among these, the image forming apparatuses 1 a and 1 b, the authentication server 2, the PC 4, and the mobile phone 5 are connected via a network 11. The authentication server 2 and the authentication database 3 are connected via a LAN (Local Area Network) 12.

  Next, the configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a control unit 21 (authentication unit, user information acquisition unit), a display unit 22, an operation unit 23, an image formation unit 24 (state detection unit), a communication unit 25 (notification unit), and a storage unit 26. . The control unit 21 controls each unit of the image forming apparatus 1. The display unit 22 displays information from the control unit 21 to the user. The operation unit 23 passes the user operation to the control unit 21. The image forming unit 24 performs image forming processing in accordance with instructions from the control unit 21. Further, the control unit 21 communicates with the outside via the communication unit 25. The storage unit 26 records settings of the image forming apparatus 1 and programs executed by the control unit 21.

  Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment will be described.

  First, personal registration processing performed in advance for each user in the image forming apparatus 1 will be described.

  The image forming apparatus 1 performs a personal registration process for a user to be used in advance. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the personal registration process according to the present embodiment. First, when the user instructs the start of the personal registration process in the operation unit 23, the control unit 21 displays a personal registration screen on the display unit 22 and starts the personal registration process (S11). FIG. 4 is a screen showing an example of a personal registration screen according to the present embodiment. On the personal registration screen, the user can input a user name, a password, and a plurality of notification destinations using the operation unit 23.

  Next, the control unit 21 causes the user to input authentication information, which is information necessary for authentication, such as a user name and password in the operation unit 23, and transmits the authentication information to the authentication server 2 (S12). Next, the authentication server 2 transmits authentication information to the authentication database 3. Next, the authentication database 3 determines whether or not the received authentication information is in the authentication database 3 and returns the determination result to the authentication server 2. Here, when the input user authentication information is not in the authentication database 3, the authentication database 3 determines that registration is permitted. On the other hand, if the same user information has already been registered, the authentication database 3 determines that registration is not permitted. Next, the authentication server 2 determines whether or not registration is permitted by a response from the authentication database 3 (S13).

  When registration is not recognized (S13, No), it transfers to process S18. On the other hand, when registration is permitted (S13, Yes), the authentication server 2 notifies the image forming apparatus 1 that registration is permitted. Next, the control unit 21 causes the user to input an individual notification destination (S14). The notification destination is a notification destination whose state should be notified after a user submits a job, for example, an e-mail address corresponding to the user's PC (Personal Computer) or mobile phone. Next, the control unit 21 determines whether registration of the received notification destination is permitted (S15). The case where registration is not permitted is a case where the input information is not in a predetermined e-mail address format.

  When registration is not recognized (S15, No), it transfers to process S18. On the other hand, when registration is permitted (S15, Yes), the control unit 21 displays an error level setting screen indicating an error type on the display unit 22, and an error indicating whether or not the user can deal with each error type The user is made to input the level setting at the operation unit 23, and the set error level setting is transmitted to the authentication server 2 (S16). The personal registration process may be performed by the image forming apparatus 1 or by the PC 4 or the like. When the personal registration process is performed in the PC 4, the PC 4 may execute a personal registration application that performs the same process as the personal registration process described above.

  FIG. 5 is a screen showing an example of the error level setting screen according to the present embodiment. Here, the types of errors include, for example, “paper jam”, “paper shortage”, “cover open”, “toner empty”, “HW (hardware) failure”, and the like. On the error level setting screen, a check box is provided for each type of error, and the user checks the types that can be handled by himself. When an error with a check occurs, the control unit 21 determines that the error is minor and notifies the user's notification destination. Further, by setting a level for the error type in advance and registering the user level, the type of error that can be dealt with (mild error) may be determined. Next, the image forming apparatus 1 determines whether registration of the input error level setting is permitted (S17). The case where registration is not permitted is when the error level setting is not entered correctly.

  When registration is not recognized (S17, No), it transfers to process S18. On the other hand, when registration is permitted (S17, Yes), the control unit 21 causes the authentication server 2 to register user authentication information, a notification destination, and an error level setting (S19). Next, the authentication server 2 associates these pieces of information and registers them in the authentication database 3, and this flow ends. If registration is not permitted in steps S13, S15, and S17, the control unit 21 displays a registration error on the display unit 22 (S18), and this flow ends.

  Further, in the authentication database 3, in addition to the above-described user registration, an administrator notification destination (e-mail address) is registered in advance as administrator information. If an error that is not checked on the error setting screen occurs, the control unit 21 determines that the error is a serious error and notifies the administrator's notification destination. The administrator is responsible for handling severe user errors. In addition, the administrator can also specify in advance an error type to be notified on the administrator error notification setting screen. FIG. 6 is a screen showing an example of the administrator error notification setting screen according to the present embodiment. On the administrator error setting screen, as with the error level setting screen, a check box is provided for each type of error, and the administrator checks the type to be notified. On the administrator error notification setting screen, the type of error notified to the service person may be set.

  Next, an operation when the user operates the image forming apparatus 1 will be described. First, the control unit 21 performs personal authentication processing (authentication step), and if this authentication is successful, performs image forming processing.

  First, personal authentication processing will be described.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the personal authentication process according to the present embodiment. When the operation is started by the user, the image forming apparatus 1 displays a personal authentication screen on the display unit 22 and starts a personal authentication process (S21). FIG. 8 is a screen showing an example of a personal authentication screen according to the present embodiment. On the personal authentication screen, the user can input a user name and password using the operation unit 23. Next, the control unit 21 causes the user to input a user name and password in the operation unit 23 (S22), and transmits the input authentication information to the authentication server 2 (S23). Next, the authentication server 2 searches the authentication database 3 for the received authentication information (S24), and determines whether the received authentication information is authentication information registered in the authentication database 3 (S25).

  If the authentication information is registered (S25, Yes), the authentication server 2 transmits a notification destination corresponding to the authentication information retrieved from the authentication database 3 to the image forming apparatus 1 (S26). The control unit 21 displays the authentication success and the received e-mail address on the display unit 22 (S27), and this flow ends.

  On the other hand, when the authentication information is not registered (S25, No), the authentication server 2 returns an authentication error to the image forming apparatus 1 (S28). Next, the control unit 21 displays an authentication error on the display unit 22 (S29), and this flow ends.

  In the present embodiment, the personal authentication process in which the user inputs the user name and password has been described. However, bio authentication, face authentication, card authentication, and the like may be used as the personal authentication process.

  After the personal authentication process is successful, the image forming apparatus 1 performs image forming processes such as a copy process and a scan process in accordance with an instruction from the user.

  Next, the image forming process will be described.

  In the image forming apparatus 1, the image forming unit 24 detects the state of the image forming process, and the control unit 21 notifies the user or administrator of information related to the state. The status of the image forming process is an error state in which an error has occurred during the job of the image forming process, a recovery state in which the error has been dealt with and has been recovered normally, and the job of the image forming process has been completed For example, the job end status.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the image forming process according to the present embodiment. When the user authentication is successful by the personal authentication process described above, this flow starts. First, the control unit 21 displays a basic screen on the display unit 22. FIG. 10 is a screen showing an example of a basic screen according to the present embodiment. On the basic screen, the user can display the notification item setting screen using the operation unit 23 and can set and submit a job such as scan, copy, fax, and box.

  If display of the notification item setting screen is not instructed on the basic screen, the process proceeds to step S33, and a normal job is submitted. When the display of the notification item setting screen is instructed on the basic screen, the control unit 21 causes the display unit 22 to display the notification item setting screen, and causes the user to input the notification item setting on the operation unit 23 and is input. The notification item setting is stored in the storage unit 26 (S32). The notification item is, for example, an error notification that is an error state notification, a job end notification that is a job end state notification, or a recovery notification that is a recovery state notification. The notification item setting is a setting as to whether or not to perform each notification item.

  FIG. 11 is a screen showing an example of a notification item setting screen according to the present embodiment. A check box is provided for each of the job end notification, error notification, recovery notification, and a plurality of notification destinations. In addition, the control unit 21 can save the input setting as a default setting by using a “default setting” button on the notification item setting screen, and can automatically input the setting on the next notification item setting screen. Further, the control unit 21 stores the input information as the notification item setting by the “execute” button on the notification item setting screen. In the present embodiment, a case where at least an error notification is set will be described.

  Next, the control unit 21 causes the image forming unit 24 to start an image forming process in accordance with a user operation on the operation unit 23 (S33). Next, the control unit 21 determines whether or not an error has occurred during the image forming process (S34). If no error occurs (S34, No), the process proceeds to S39. On the other hand, when an error occurs (S34, Yes), the control unit 21 notifies the user whether the type of error is to notify the administrator based on the error level setting registered corresponding to the user. It is determined whether or not (S35).

  If the notification is to be sent to the user (S35, user), the contents of the error are notified to the notification destination registered corresponding to the user (S36). Next, when the image forming unit 24 detects completion of error handling by the user (S37), the process proceeds to S38.

  On the other hand, if the notification is to be sent to the administrator (S35, administrator), the details of the error are notified to a preset notification destination of the administrator (S43). Next, when the image forming unit 24 detects completion of error handling by the administrator (S44), the process proceeds to S38.

  FIG. 12 is a screen showing an example of error notification according to the present embodiment. The error notification is an electronic mail and is displayed on a PC or the like corresponding to the notification destination. The error notification indicates the content of the error and how to deal with it. Further, the error notification instructs to reply when there is no paper or toner to deal with, and when the user who has received the notification is not near the image forming apparatus 1. The control unit 21 that has received a reply to the error notification notifies the administrator. Upon receiving this notification, the manager orders a shortage of paper and toner and calls a service person to deal with the problem.

  Next, as processing S38, the control unit 21 determines whether or not recovery notification is set in the notification item setting. When the recovery notification is not set (S38, No), the process proceeds to S40. On the other hand, when the recovery notification is set (S38, Yes), the control unit 21 notifies the content of the recovery to the notification destination registered corresponding to the user (S45). Next, when the image forming unit 24 detects the end of the job (S39), the control unit 21 determines whether a job end notification is set in the notification item setting (S40). If the job end notification is not set (S40, No), this flow ends. On the other hand, when the job end notification is set (S40, Yes), the control unit 21 notifies the end of the job to the notification destination registered corresponding to the user (S42), and this flow ends.

  In this embodiment, the notification method is e-mail and the notification destination is an e-mail address. However, a communication method such as a messenger may be used for the notification. In addition, for a plurality of notification destinations set on the personal registration screen, the control unit 21 may select a notification destination based on a time zone such as within working hours or outside working hours, and the type and processing amount of a job. The notification destination may be selected based on the above.

  According to the present embodiment, by registering the notification destination when performing personal registration, the user can be identified and in a state whether the job is input from the image forming apparatus main body or the user is separated from the image forming apparatus after authentication. The notification can be transmitted reliably. Accordingly, it is possible to notify an appropriate notification destination of not only a job input from an external computer to the image forming apparatus 1 as in the prior art but also a job input in the image forming apparatus 1. Since a mobile phone or the like can be set as a notification destination, even if the user is not near the image forming apparatus 1, an error or job end can be immediately known. Further, when a long time is required for image forming processing such as a large amount of copying, the user can work at the desk during this time and can immediately know the end of copying, thereby preventing the paper discharge from being left for a long time. In addition, it is possible to select whether to notify about recovery. In addition, by setting a notification destination of a person other than the user as a notification destination, it is possible to notify other people of a request for coping with an error, an influence on work, and the like.

  The state detection step corresponds to the processes S34, S37, S44, and S39 in the embodiment. The user information acquisition step corresponds to the processes S35, S36, S42, S43, and S45 in the embodiment. The notification step corresponds to the processes S36, S42, S43, and S45 in the embodiment.

  Each step in the processing in the image forming apparatus described above is realized by causing the control unit 21 to execute the image forming apparatus control program stored in the storage unit 26.

  In this embodiment, the function for implementing the invention is recorded in advance in the apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the same function may be downloaded from the network to the apparatus, and the same function is recorded. What is stored in the medium may be installed in the apparatus. The recording medium may be any form as long as the recording medium can store the program and can be read by the apparatus, such as a CD-ROM. Further, the function obtained by installing or downloading in advance may be realized in cooperation with an OS (operating system) or the like inside the apparatus.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an image forming system according to an exemplary embodiment. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of operation | movement of the personal registration process which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a screen which shows an example of the personal registration screen which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a screen which shows an example of the error level setting screen which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a screen which shows an example of the administrator error notification setting screen which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of operation | movement of the personal authentication process which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a screen which shows an example of the personal authentication screen which concerns on this Embodiment. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation of image forming processing according to the present embodiment. It is a screen which shows an example of the basic screen which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a screen which shows an example of the notification item setting screen which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a screen which shows an example of the error notification which concerns on this Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus, 2 Authentication server, 3 Authentication database, 4 PC, 5 Mobile phone, 11 Network, 12 LAN, 21 Control part, 22 Display part, 23 Operation part, 24 Image formation part, 25 Communication part, 26 Storage part .

Claims (15)

An image forming apparatus that performs image forming processing,
An authentication unit for authenticating a user instructing an image forming process;
A state detector for detecting the state of the image forming process;
A user information acquisition unit that acquires a pre-registered notification destination based on the information of the user authenticated by the authentication unit;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a notification unit that notifies information related to a state detected by the state detection unit to a notification destination acquired by the user information acquisition unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.
The state includes at least one of an error state indicating an error during the image forming process, a recovery state indicating that the error state has been recovered, and an end state indicating the end of the image forming process. . The image forming apparatus according to claim 2.
The user information acquisition unit acquires a notification setting that is registered in advance corresponding to the user authenticated by the authentication unit and indicates whether to perform notification for each type of the state, and is detected by the state detection unit An image forming apparatus characterized in that, when the type of the set state is set to be notified by the notification setting, a notification destination registered in advance is acquired. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2.
When an error state is detected by the state detection unit,
The user information acquisition unit acquires error level information that is registered in advance corresponding to the user authenticated by the authentication unit and indicates an error state level that can be handled by the user, and the error level information and An image forming apparatus characterized in that a notification destination registered in advance is acquired based on information on an error state detected by the state detection unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4.
The user information acquisition unit acquires a notification destination registered in advance corresponding to the user authenticated by the authentication unit when the error state detected by the state detection unit is milder than a predetermined level. An image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus control method for controlling an image forming apparatus that performs image forming processing,
An authentication step for authenticating a user instructing an image forming process;
A state detecting step for detecting the state of the image forming process;
A user information acquisition step of acquiring a pre-registered notification destination based on the information of the user authenticated by the authentication step;
An image forming apparatus control method that executes a notification step of notifying information about a state detected by the state detection step to a notification destination acquired by the user information acquisition step. The image forming apparatus control method according to claim 6.
The state includes at least one of an error state indicating an error during the image forming process, a recovery state indicating that the error state has been recovered, and an end state indicating the end of the image forming process. Control method. The image forming apparatus control method according to claim 7.
The user information acquisition step acquires a notification setting that is registered in advance corresponding to the user authenticated by the authentication step and indicates whether to perform notification for each type of the state, and is detected by the state detection step. A method for controlling an image forming apparatus, comprising: acquiring a pre-registered notification destination when the type of the set state is set to be notified by the notification setting. The image forming apparatus control method according to claim 7.
When an error state is detected by the state detection step,
The user information acquisition step acquires error level information that is registered in advance corresponding to the user authenticated by the authentication step and indicates the error state level that can be handled by the user, and the error level information An image forming apparatus control method, comprising: acquiring a pre-registered notification destination based on error state information detected by the state detection step. The image forming apparatus control method according to claim 9.
The user information acquisition step acquires a notification destination registered in advance corresponding to the user authenticated by the authentication step when the error state detected by the state detection step is milder than a predetermined level. An image forming apparatus control method. An image forming apparatus control program for causing a computer to execute control of an image forming apparatus that performs image forming processing,
An authentication step for authenticating a user instructing an image forming process;
A state detecting step for detecting the state of the image forming process;
A user information acquisition step of acquiring a pre-registered notification destination based on the information of the user authenticated by the authentication step;
An image forming apparatus control program that causes a computer to execute a notification step of notifying the notification destination acquired by the user information acquisition step of information related to the state detected by the state detection step. The image forming apparatus control program according to claim 11,
The state includes at least one of an error state indicating an error during the image forming process, a recovery state indicating that the error state has been recovered, and an end state indicating the end of the image forming process. Control program. The image forming apparatus control program according to claim 12,
The user information acquisition step acquires a notification setting that is registered in advance corresponding to the user authenticated by the authentication step and indicates whether to perform notification for each type of the state, and is detected by the state detection step. An image forming apparatus control program for acquiring a pre-registered notification destination when the type of the set state is set to be notified by the notification setting. The image forming apparatus control program according to claim 12,
When an error state is detected by the state detection step,
The user information acquisition step acquires error level information that is registered in advance corresponding to the user authenticated by the authentication step and indicates the error state level that can be handled by the user, and the error level information An image forming apparatus control program that acquires a pre-registered notification destination based on error state information detected by the state detection step. The image forming apparatus control program according to claim 14,
The user information acquisition step acquires a notification destination registered in advance corresponding to the user authenticated by the authentication step when the error state detected by the state detection step is milder than a predetermined level. A characteristic image forming apparatus control program.

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