JP2008257406A - Information processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processing system unitarily managing installation of a print driver and user registration, and allowing restriction of a printable user. <P>SOLUTION: In this information processing system 100, an image forming device 1, an information processing server 2, and a user terminal 3 are connected. The information processing server 2 has a user registration table 231 and an installation set 232. A registration user is stored in the user registration table 231 associatively to the image forming device. The user requires the installation of the installation set to the information processing server 2 by the user terminal 3, and the information processing server 2 authenticates whether the user is registered in the user registration table 231 or not. When it is authenticated, the information processing server 2 downlinks the installation set of the print driver of the image forming apparatus 1 to the user terminal 3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing system that provides a user terminal with permission to install a print driver of an image forming apparatus.

  In general, in an information processing system in which an image forming apparatus and a user terminal are connected via a network, when setting up a new user terminal, it is necessary to newly install a print driver in the user terminal. Anyone can install a print driver as long as he has a driver CD or serial number.

There is also provided an information processing system that restricts users who are allowed to print by a printer and performs printing after authenticating the users (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this information processing system, a user who is permitted to print is registered in the printer, and when print information including image information is transmitted from the user to the printer, it is confirmed whether or not the user is a registered user. It was.
JP 7-117238 A

  Conventionally, installation of a print driver itself can be performed by anyone as long as a driver CD or the like is available, and management of the number of user licenses has been complicated for an administrator. Further, when restricting the registered users who can print, it is necessary for the administrator to perform user registration and installation of the print driver, and this management is also complicated for the administrator.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing system that can centrally manage user registration and installation of a print driver and limit users who can print.

  The information processing system of the present invention is obtained by connecting an image forming apparatus and a user terminal via a network. The image forming apparatus forms an image based on the image data. The user terminal outputs image data to the image forming apparatus via a print driver dedicated to each image forming apparatus. The system further includes a user registration table and an installation permission unit. The user registration table stores the relationship between each image forming apparatus and user terminals permitted to use each image forming apparatus. The installation permission unit refers to the relationship stored in the user registration table before installing the print driver, and permits the installation only to the user terminals permitted to use.

  Therefore, installation of a print driver dedicated to each image forming apparatus can be limited to a user terminal permitted to use the image forming apparatus.

  You may provide the registration means which receives the registration with respect to a user registration table from an administrator.

  The user registration table, the installation permission unit, the registration unit, and the print driver file may be provided in any of the information processing server, the image forming apparatus, and the user terminal.

  According to the present invention, only those registered as user terminals permitted to be used in the user registration table can install the print driver dedicated to each image forming apparatus. Therefore, a person who manages the user registration table such as an administrator can easily apply a user restriction that allows printing on the image forming apparatus. For this reason, the administrator can centrally manage user restrictions and driver installation.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described by taking as an example an information processing system in which two image forming apparatuses, two user terminals, and an information processing server are connected on a LAN network. As shown in FIG. 1, an information processing system 100 is configured by connecting image forming apparatuses 1A and 1B, an information processing server 2, and user terminals 3A and 3B in a bus type via a LAN network 101. Yes. This network configuration is merely an example, and other network configurations can be employed.

  The two image forming apparatuses 1A and 1B each have a printer function, a copy function, and a FAX function. Each of the image forming apparatuses 1A and 1B executes an image forming process in response to a print request transmitted from the user terminals 3A and 3B by a printer function, and forms an image on a recording sheet based on the image data. Further, the original image to be set is read and copied onto a recording sheet by a copy function. In addition, a FAX job transmitted via a telephone line is printed by the FAX function.

  Each of the user terminals 3A and 3B authenticates the user and provides an image editing function and a text editing function to each authenticated user. Each of the user terminals 3A and 3B transmits a print request (image data) generated by the image editing function or the text editing function to the image forming apparatuses 1A and 1B via a print driver dedicated to each image forming apparatus. Each user terminal may be operated by a single user, but each user terminal realizes a multi-user environment in which a data storage area and a desktop environment for each of a plurality of users are prepared, It may be operated by a plurality of users. In a multi-user environment, it is desirable that a print driver can be installed for each user.

  The information processing server 2 has a registration function. With the registration function, the information processing server 2 can install print drivers dedicated to the image forming apparatuses 1A and 1B, and registers users who are permitted to use the image forming apparatuses.

  In addition, the information processing server 2 and the user terminals 3A and 3B perform user authentication in cooperation, and permit installation of the print driver to the user terminal.

  FIG. 2A is a block diagram of the image forming apparatus 1A. The image forming apparatus 1B has the same block configuration as the image forming apparatus 1A. Each of the image forming apparatuses 1A and 1B includes a CPU 11, a hard disk (HDD) 13, a volatile RAM 14, a communication unit 17, an encryption / decryption unit 16, a print engine 18, a paper storage unit 19, a paper transport unit 15, and a paper discharge unit 12. Is provided.

  The CPU 11 is responsible for controlling the entire apparatus. The communication unit 17 receives data transmitted from the user terminal or the information processing server, and transmits data to the user terminal or the information processing server. The encryption / decryption unit 16 decrypts the print data from the encrypted data transmitted from the user terminal. The volatile RAM 14 develops a plurality of programs for operating the apparatus itself. The paper storage unit 19 stores a large number of recording papers. The printed paper is discharged to the paper discharge unit 12. The paper transport unit 15 transports the recording paper stored in the paper storage unit 19 to the paper discharge unit 12 via the print engine 18. The print engine 18 prints the print data and image data developed by the encryption / decryption unit 16 on a recording sheet.

  The HDD 13 includes a user registration table 131. In the user registration table 131, users who are permitted to print on the self-image forming apparatus are registered. User registration in the user registration table 131 can be performed by an operation unit of an image forming apparatus (not shown) or from the information processing server 2 or a user terminal via a network. An example of the user registration table 131 is shown in FIG. Here, an example in which the number of users is four is shown. In the image forming apparatus 1A, for example, users A, B, and C are registered as registered users together with their passwords. In the image forming apparatus 1B, for example, users A, B, and D are registered as registered users together with their passwords. As described above, by storing the user registration table 131 in the image forming apparatus 1, user registration work in each of the image forming apparatuses 1 </ b> A and 1 </ b> B is performed without necessarily starting the information processing server 2 at the time of user registration. Just complete user registration. For example, registered users may be synchronized between the image forming apparatus 1A and the image forming apparatus 1B. By doing so, it is not necessary to perform user registration work by the administrator with a plurality of image forming apparatuses, and the work burden on the administrator can be reduced.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the user terminal 3A. The user terminal 3B has the same block configuration as the user terminal 3A. Each of the user terminals 3A and 3B includes a CPU 31, a RAM 32, a hard disk (HDD) 33, an operation unit 34, a display unit 35, a reading unit 36, and a communication unit 37.

  The operation unit 34 is a keyboard or a mouse. The display unit 35 is a liquid crystal display device or the like. The reading unit 36 reads information from an information record carrier 362 such as an optical disk or a magnetic disk. The CPU 31 is responsible for controlling the entire apparatus. The communication unit 37 receives data transmitted from the information processing server and the image forming apparatus, and transmits data to the information processing server and the image forming apparatus. The RAM 32 develops various programs and encrypts image data and print data to be transmitted to the image forming apparatus. The HDD 33 stores a plurality of operation programs. The operation program includes a print data editing program (text editing program or image editing program) and a WEB browsing program.

  The reading unit 36 reads information recorded on the information record carrier 362. Here, it is assumed that the information record carrier 362 is an installation CD on which an installation set including the print drivers of the image forming apparatuses 1A and 1B is recorded. By providing the reading unit 36 in each user terminal in this way, it is possible to install the print driver using the installation CD. At the time of the installation, it is desirable to perform user authentication and disable the installation of the print driver unless the user is approved.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the information processing server 2. The information processing server 2 includes a CPU 21, a RAM 22, a hard disk (HDD) 23, an operation unit 24, a display unit 25, and a communication unit 27.

  The operation unit 24 is a keyboard or a mouse. The display unit 25 is a liquid crystal display device or the like. The CPU 21 is responsible for controlling the entire apparatus. The communication unit 27 receives data transmitted from the user terminal and the image forming apparatus, and transmits data to the user terminal and the image forming apparatus. The HDD 23 stores a plurality of operation programs including a WEB server program, and also stores a user registration table 231 and an installation set 232. The RAM 22 develops various programs.

  In the user registration table 231 of the HDD 23, users who are permitted to print in each image forming apparatus are registered. User registration in the user registration table 231 can be performed by the operation unit 24 of the information processing server. The contents of the user registration table 231 registered by the operation of the information processing server 2 may be copied to the user registration table 131 of the image forming apparatuses 1A and 1B. Here, an example of the user registration table 231 is shown in FIG. Here, an example in which the number of users is four is shown. As registered users of the image forming apparatus 1A, users A, B, and C are registered together with their respective passwords. In addition, users A, B, and D are registered with their passwords as registered users of the image forming apparatus 1B. By storing the user registration table 231, user registration can be performed even when the image forming apparatuses 1 </ b> A and 1 </ b> B are not activated.

  It is preferable to synchronize the user registration table 231 and the user registration table 131 of the image forming apparatuses 1A and 1B so that the contents of the user registration table having the latest change are reflected in the contents of each user registration table. is there.

  The installation set 232 stored in the HDD 23 includes the print drivers for the image forming apparatuses 1A and 1B. By storing the installation set 232 in the information processing server 2 in this way, the print driver can be installed using the WEB page. At the time of installation, it is desirable to perform user authentication so that the installation set 232 can be downlinked to the user terminal if the user is approved.

  Note that the functions of the information processing server 2 may be provided to any of the image forming apparatuses partially or entirely.

Next, user registration processing performed by the administrator in the information processing server 2 will be described.
FIG. 5 is a program window W1 displayed on the display unit 25 of the information processing server 2. This program window W1 is displayed during the user registration process.

  In the lower left part of the program window W1, a user registration screen display button B11 and a registration list screen display button B12 are displayed.

  When the user registration screen display button B11 is selected, a user name input form F11, a password input form F12, and a registration processing button B13 are displayed in the lower right part of the window as shown in FIG. The user name input form F11 is an area for inputting a user name. The password input form F12 is an area for inputting the password of the user. The registration processing button B13 is a button for registering the contents in the user registration table 231 after input to the user name input form F11 and the password input form F12.

  When the registration list screen display button B12 is selected, a user name selection toggle T11 and a deletion processing button B14 are displayed in the lower right portion of the window as shown in FIG. The user name selection toggle T11 is for selecting a user name, and the deletion processing button B14 is a button for deleting the user selected by the user name selection toggle T11 from the user registration table 231.

  By using such a program window W1, when the administrator performs user registration, the registered user can be easily grasped and the registered contents of the user registration table 231 can be changed. An upper limit number of users registered in the user registration table 231 may be set. In addition, it is desirable that user registration can be performed only by an administrator from the viewpoint of information security. In addition, if authentication as an administrator is performed, user registration work may be performed on the user terminal via the WEB page.

Next, a print driver installation process performed by the user on the user terminals 3A and 3B will be described.
FIG. 6 is a program window W <b> 2 displayed on the display unit 35 of the user terminal 3. The program window W2 is a WEB browser window and is displayed during the print driver installation process.

  In the program window W2, a user name input form F21, a password input form F22, a process execution button B23, and a process cancel button B24 are displayed as shown in FIG. The user name input form F21 is an area for inputting a user name. The password input form F22 is an area for inputting a user password. The process execution button B23 is a button for transmitting the contents to the information processing server after the input to the user name input form F21 and the password input form F22. The process cancel button B24 is a button for deleting the program window W2 without transmitting user information.

  When the process execution button B23 is selected, information (user information) input in the user name input form F21 and the password input form F22 is transmitted to the information processing server 2. Then, the program window W2 disappears and the program window W3 is displayed. In the program window W3, data display areas L31 and T32, a re-search process button B31, a return process button B32, a process execution button B33, and a process cancel button B34 are displayed.

  The re-search process button B31 is an execution button for re-searching the user registration table 231. The return process button B32 is an execution button for deleting the program window W3 and displaying the program window W2 again. The process cancel button B34 is a button for deleting the program window W3.

  The data display areas L31 and T32 are areas for displaying whether or not the IP addresses of the image forming apparatuses 1A and 1B and the user name and password input in the program window W2 are registered in the user registration table 231. It is. In response to the response from the information processing server 2, the user terminal 3 receives the registration status information that is information about the presence / absence of the IP address and user registration, and displays the data display areas L31 and T32 based on the registration status information. These data display areas L31 and T32 can be alternatively selected, and the selected data display area is displayed in black and white inversion.

  If the user registration of the data display areas L31 and T32 that are displayed in black and white inversion is “Yes”, the user terminal 3 can select the process execution button B33. By selecting the process execution button B33, the request information of the print driver of the image forming apparatus corresponding to the data display area displayed in black and white reversed is transmitted to the information processing server 2. As a result, the installation set 232 is downloaded from the information processing server 2 to the user terminal 3. The print driver is installed in the user terminal 3 by the installation set downloaded to the user terminal 3.

  By using such program windows W2 and W3, the user does not need to perform installation processing for each of the image forming apparatuses 1A and 1B when installing the dedicated drivers for the plurality of image forming apparatuses 1A and 1B. The installation set 232 (including the print driver and the installer) of each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses can be installed only by connecting on the WEB page of the processing server 2. Further, by storing the installation set 232 in the information processing server 2, the installation set 232 can be downloaded and installed even if the driver CD is not at hand.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of the information processing server 2 during the installation process.

  First, when the user starts a WEB browser on the user terminal 3 (3A, 3B) and connects to the information processing server 2, the information processing server 2 transmits a predetermined WEB page to the user terminal 3 (S501). Thereby, the above-described program window W2 is displayed on the display unit 35 of the user terminal 3.

  Next, when the user inputs and transmits the user name and user password in the program window W2, the user information including the user name and password is received by the information processing server 2 (S502). As a result, the program window W2 disappears and the program window W3 is displayed on the display unit 35 of the user terminal 3.

  The information processing server 2 searches the user registration table 231 for the received user name and password (S503). If the user name and password are registered, registration status information, which is information indicating whether or not installation of the print driver of each image forming apparatus is permitted, is transmitted to the user terminal (S504). As a result, in the program window W3 of the user terminal 3, the name of the image forming apparatus, its IP address, and whether installation is possible are displayed in the data display areas L31 and T32.

  Thereafter, the information processing server 2 waits for a response from the user terminal 3, and if an image forming apparatus is selected and a process execution button is selected, selection information of the image forming apparatus is received (S505), and the selected image is selected. The installation set of the print driver of the forming apparatus is transmitted to the user terminal 3 (S508). If the re-search process button is selected and the information is received (S506), the process returns to the process of searching for user information (S503) again. If the return processing button is selected and the information is received (S507), it waits for the reception of user information again (S502).

  In addition, it cannot be overemphasized that the aspect of each program window shown above and a processing flow are examples.

  Further, the user registration table may be provided only in the image forming apparatus, or may be provided only in the information processing server. When the user registration table is provided only in the image forming apparatus, it is preferable that user registration work can be performed remotely from the information processing server. The user registration work for the user registration table may be performed on the operation panel of the image forming apparatus.

  The installation set may be provided in the image forming apparatus, may be provided in the information processing server, or may be read from the information record carrier to the user terminal.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims. That is, embodiments obtained by combining technical means appropriately changed within the scope of the claims are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

It is a figure which shows the network structure of the information processing system of embodiment. FIG. 1A is a block diagram of an image forming apparatus of the information processing system, and FIG. 1B is an example of a user registration table of the image forming apparatus. It is a block diagram of the user terminal of the information processing system. FIG. 1A is a block diagram of an information processing server of the information processing system, and FIG. 1B is an example of a user registration table of the information processing server. It is a figure explaining the program window displayed on the information processing server by user registration processing. It is a figure explaining the program window displayed on the same user terminal by installation processing. It is a figure explaining the flowchart in the installation process in the information processing server.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1A, 1B ... Image forming apparatus 2 ... Information processing server 3A, 3B ... User terminal 100 ... Information processing system 131, 231 ... User registration table 232 ... Installation set 362 ... Information record carrier B ... Button F ... Input form T ... User name Selection toggle L ... Data display area W ... Program window

Claims (5)

Information in which at least one image forming apparatus that forms an image based on image data and a user terminal that outputs image data to the image forming apparatus via a print driver dedicated to each image forming apparatus are connected via a network. A processing system,
A user registration table for storing a relationship between each of the image forming apparatuses and a user terminal permitted to use each image forming apparatus;
Before installing the print driver, referring to the relationship stored in the user registration table, installation permission means for permitting installation only to user terminals permitted to use;
An information processing system comprising:   The information processing system according to claim 1, further comprising registration means for accepting registration for the user registration table from an administrator.   The information processing server according to claim 1, further comprising: an information processing server that includes at least one of the user registration table, the installation permission unit, the registration unit, and the print driver file and is connected to the network. Information processing system.   The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus includes at least one of the user registration table, the installation permission unit, the registration unit, and the print driver file.   The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the user terminal includes at least one of the user registration table, the installation permission unit, the registration unit, and the print driver file.

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