JP2009187103A - Mobile communication terminal and printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing system for wirelessly transmitting a print job from a mobile communication terminal owned by a user to an image forming apparatus positioned with the shortest distance, which the user is authorized to use, and for, when the user moves while print processing is being executed by the image forming apparatus, automatically retransmitting the print job to the image forming apparatus installed in the nearest place from the position after the user's movement, which the user is authorized to use, and for stopping the print processing of the image forming apparatus which is executing the previously transmitted print job. <P>SOLUTION: A print job is transmitted to an image forming apparatus positioned with the shortest distance to a mobile communication terminal 2, which a user is authorized to use, that is, a color printer 3, and the color printer 3 is made to execute the print processing. While the print processing is being executed, the detection processing of the image forming apparatus positioned with the shortest distance to the mobile communication terminal 2, which the user is authorized to use, is continued. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a mobile communication terminal that transmits a print job, and a printing system that includes an image forming apparatus that receives a print job transmitted by the mobile communication terminal and executes the received print job.

Various printing systems have been proposed in which a print job is transmitted from a communication terminal to an image forming apparatus provided with a wireless communication apparatus, and the print job received by the image forming apparatus is executed.
In Patent Literature 1, an image forming apparatus installed near the planned movement path is extracted from image forming apparatuses installed at a plurality of locations based on the planned movement path of the user, and the extracted image is extracted. A print support apparatus is disclosed that re-extracts an image forming apparatus that satisfies a user-specified condition from among the forming apparatuses and transmits a print job from the mobile communication terminal possessed by the user to the re-extracted image forming apparatus. ing.
JP 2004-94777 A

  If the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 is used, an image forming apparatus closest to the user can be extracted as a print job transmission destination based on the user's scheduled movement route.

  However, the movement route of the user is not predetermined, and a print job is wirelessly transmitted from the mobile communication terminal to the image forming apparatus installed in the closest location to the user, and the image forming apparatus performs the printing process. Assume that the user suddenly moves during execution and must leave the image forming apparatus. For example, while a presentation material is being printed by an image forming apparatus on the user's desk that is wirelessly connected to the user's mobile communication terminal, the user can This is the case when the call is suddenly called into the conference room, which is a presentation venue several tens of meters away.

In such a case, the user must manually manually send the print job to the printer installed on the side of the destination conference room, that is, the printer located at the shortest distance from the user. I must.
In particular, at present, an image forming apparatus that can be used for each user or for each mobile communication terminal is determined from the viewpoint of security, and it is complicated to manually specify an image forming apparatus that is authorized to use.

Further, although printing in a printer near the user at the movement source continues as it is, if the printing is continued, a printed material by the printing is not used, and thus printing members such as recording paper and toner are wasted.
Furthermore, if the printed matter contains confidential information, the printed matter will be left in the source printer, resulting in a security problem that the confidential information is leaked to non-users. End up.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and wirelessly transmits a print job from a mobile communication terminal possessed by a user to an image forming apparatus that is authorized to be used and located at the shortest distance. If the user moves while printing processing is being executed on the forming device, the print job is automatically sent to the image forming device that has the right to use and is installed at the closest location after the move. It is another object of the present invention to provide a printing system capable of canceling the printing process of an image forming apparatus that is retransmitting the image data and executing the previously transmitted print job.

  A first technical means is provided in a mobile communication terminal that transmits a print job to a specific image forming apparatus among a plurality of image forming apparatuses including a wireless communication apparatus and executes the print job. It has been confirmed that there is a use right by a position detection unit that detects position information, a use right confirmation unit that checks whether or not the image forming apparatus detected by the position detection unit has use right, and the use right check unit. A shortest distance detecting unit that detects an image forming apparatus having a shortest distance from the current position of the mobile communication terminal from among the image forming apparatuses, has an authority to use, and has the shortest distance from the mobile communication terminal A mobile communication terminal that transmits a print job to the image forming apparatus at the position.

  The second technical means is the first technical means, when another image forming apparatus that is located nearer to the image forming apparatus to which the print job is transmitted and is authorized to use is detected. The execution of the print job in the image forming apparatus to which the print job is transmitted is stopped, or the print job is transmitted to the detected other image forming apparatus without being stopped. .

  A third technical means includes the GPS communication device according to the first or second technical means, grasps the current position of the mobile communication terminal by the GPS communication device, and stores the current position information in the plurality of image forming apparatuses. Based on this, the image forming apparatus having the shortest distance from the current position of the mobile communication terminal is detected.

  According to a fourth technical means, in the first or second technical means, the plurality of image forming apparatuses communicate with a wireless communication apparatus using UWB, and the mobile communication terminal is in a positional relationship with the plurality of image forming apparatuses. By grasping the above, the image forming apparatus having the shortest distance from the current position of the mobile communication terminal is detected.

  The fifth technical means is based on usage authority information indicating presence / absence of usage authority of the image forming apparatus transmitted from the server apparatus or individual image forming apparatus in any one of the first to fourth technical means. Further, it is characterized in that the presence / absence of authority to use the image forming apparatus is confirmed.

  The sixth technical means is based on layout information such as a room in which the image forming apparatus is installed, which is transmitted from the server apparatus or individual image forming apparatus in any one of the first to fourth technical means. The image forming apparatus having the shortest distance from the current position of the mobile communication terminal is detected.

  The seventh technical means comprises the mobile communication terminal of any one of the first to sixth technical means, and an image forming apparatus capable of executing or canceling a print job transmitted from the mobile communication terminal. Is a printing system.

  According to the present invention, while a print job is wirelessly transmitted from a mobile communication terminal possessed by a user to an image forming apparatus to which the user is authorized, the user moves while the image forming apparatus is executing print processing. However, since the print job can be automatically retransmitted to the image forming apparatus that is authorized to use and is located at the shortest distance from the moved position, the convenience for the user is improved. In addition, since the printing process of the image forming apparatus executing the previously transmitted print job can be automatically stopped, it is possible to reduce the waste of printing members such as recording paper and toner. Furthermore, even when the printed material contains confidential information, the printed material is not left in the source printer, and the confidential information can be prevented from leaking to a third party other than the user.

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a printing system including a mobile communication terminal and an image forming apparatus such as a color printer, a color multifunction peripheral, and a monochrome multifunction peripheral according to the present invention.
Reference numeral 1 denotes a printing system according to the present invention. From a mobile communication terminal 2 that transmits a print job to a color printer 3 and the like, an image forming apparatus such as the color printer 3, and a use authority information / layout information transmission server (apparatus) 8 Composed.
As is apparent from the figure, the color printer 3 is located 3 m east of the mobile communication terminal 2, the color multifunction machine A 4 is 10 m northeast, the color multifunction machine B 5 is 10 m southeast, and the south. A color multifunction device C6 is installed at a position 10m on the west side, and a monochrome multifunction device 7 is installed at a position 5m on the northwest side.

The use authority information / layout information transmission server 8 stores use authority information indicating the use authority of the image forming apparatus, and further layout information such as a room in which the image forming apparatus is installed, in response to a request from the mobile communication terminal 2. In response, the above-described information is transmitted to the mobile communication terminal 2. The server 8 is communicatively connected to the mobile communication terminal 2, the color printer 3, and the like.
Here, the use authority information indicates information for identifying an image forming apparatus authorized to be used by the user of the mobile communication terminal 2, for example, the name of the image forming apparatus.

(Send print job)
When a user who possesses the mobile communication terminal 2 tries to print the print data recorded in the mobile communication terminal 2, the mobile communication terminal 2 prints the print data using the UWB, GPS communication function, etc. described later. Prior to the transmission of the job, distance information and direction information with respect to the image forming apparatus that can communicate with the mobile communication terminal 2 are detected, that is, position information is grasped.
Further, with the start of the detection process, the usage authority information / layout information transmission server 8 is requested to transmit the usage authority information / layout information stored in the server 8, and Use authority information / layout information transmitted by the server 8 is received and recorded.

Then, the mobile communication terminal 2 detects an image forming apparatus authorized to be used by the user of the mobile communication terminal 2 from among the image forming apparatuses that can communicate with the mobile communication terminal 2 based on the recorded use authority information. To do.
Further, based on the layout information and the installation information corresponding to the recorded image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus that is the transmission destination of the print job is located at the substantially shortest distance from the mobile communication terminal 2 among the detected image forming apparatuses. The image forming apparatus to be detected is detected. A method for determining the image forming apparatus will be described later.

  The mobile communication terminal 2 can also display the grasped position information of the image forming apparatus on the display unit of the mobile communication terminal 2 as shown in FIG. When the image forming apparatus is displayed, the presence or absence of use authority can be identified by the color or shape of the icon. In FIG. 1, the color multifunction device B5 and the monochrome multifunction device 7 without use authority are indicated by “x” marks (icons).

In the example of FIG. 1, the user transmits a print job to an image forming apparatus that is authorized to use and is located at the shortest distance from the mobile communication terminal 2, that is, the color printer 3. Is executed. Further, during the execution of the printing process, the above-described detection process of the image forming apparatus that has the right to use and is located at the shortest distance from the mobile communication terminal 2 is continued.
Here, the print job is a unit of a print request and includes various data such as a print command and print data necessary for printing.

(Execute print job)
The color printer 3 that has received the print job transmitted by the mobile communication terminal 2 executes print processing related to the received print job. Then, when the printing process is completed, a print end signal indicating that the printing process is completed is transmitted to the mobile communication terminal 2.

(Moving mobile communication terminals)
While the printing process is being executed by the color printer 3, that is, until the mobile communication terminal 2 receives the print end signal, the user who owns the mobile communication terminal 2 may, for example, Assume that you have moved 15 meters and stopped. At this time, the image forming apparatus located at the shortest distance from the mobile communication terminal 2 after the movement is the color multifunction peripheral B5 as shown in FIG. However, since the user of the mobile communication terminal 2 is not authorized to use the color multifunction peripheral B5 (see “X”), the image forming apparatus to which the mobile communication terminal 2 transmits a print job has the authority to use. Next, the color multifunction peripheral C6 is located in the closest position.

  Similarly, corresponding to FIG. 1, a state is assumed in which each image forming apparatus is installed as shown in FIG. 3, that is, a case where the color multifunction peripheral B5 is installed in a separate room. Here, unlike FIGS. 1 and 2, it is assumed that the user of the mobile communication terminal 2 has the authority to use the color multifunction peripheral B5 (there is no “x” mark (icon)).

  When the user carrying the mobile communication terminal 2 moves as described above (see FIG. 2), as shown in FIG. 4, the color MFP B5 is the shortest on the straight line with respect to the mobile communication terminal 2 after the movement. Will be located at a distance. However, since the image cannot be brought close to the color multifunction device B5 unless it bypasses the wall W, the color multifunction device C6 is an image forming apparatus located at the shortest distance from the mobile communication terminal 2 as a substantial distance. Accordingly, in order to improve the convenience of the user of the mobile communication terminal 2, the mobile communication terminal 2 determines the color multifunction peripheral C6 located at the substantially shortest distance as the transmission destination of the print job.

  Thus, the color printer 3 is located at the shortest distance from the moved mobile communication terminal 2 by the movement of the mobile communication terminal 2 until the color printer 3 that has received the print job finishes the printing process. If not, the mobile communication terminal 2 transmits a print stop instruction signal to the color printer 3 to stop the print processing related to the print job. The color printer 3 that has received the print stop instruction signal stops the print process.

  Further, the same print job is transmitted again to the color multifunction peripheral C6 that is located at the substantially shortest distance with respect to the mobile communication terminal 2 after the movement, and the printing process is executed. The color multifunction peripheral C6 that has received the print job retransmitted by the mobile communication terminal 2 after the movement executes the received print job.

Next, the printing system 1 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the mobile communication terminal 2 constituting the printing system 1.
A communication unit 201 communicates with the image forming apparatus such as the color printer 3 and the use authority information / layout information transmission server 8. Specifically, it transmits a print job, various signals related to printing, for example, the print stop instruction signal to the image forming apparatus, and receives a print end signal transmitted from the image forming apparatus such as the color printer 3.
Further, as will be described later, request information for requesting to transmit the usage authority information / layout information stored in the server 8 is transmitted to the usage authority information / layout information transmission server 8, and the request is transmitted. The use authority information / layout information transmitted by the server 8 is received.
Further, the communication unit 201 also has a communication function for grasping the positional relationship between the mobile communication terminal 2 and the plurality of image forming apparatuses, and a UWB and GPS communication function described later.

  A memory 202 stores various data such as an identifier of the mobile communication terminal 2, and a display unit 203 includes a liquid crystal display that displays the diagrams shown in FIGS. In addition to the liquid crystal display, the display unit 203 may use an organic EL display (Organic Electroluminescence Display), FED (Field Emission Display), SED (Surface-conduction Electron-emitter Display), PTA display (Plasma Tube Array Display), or the like. I can do it.

  204 is an operation panel for operating the mobile communication terminal 2, 205 is a word processor software, spreadsheet software, image editing software, database software, presentation software, game, Web browser, electronic An application such as mail software. Reference numeral 206 denotes a CPU that controls each functional block.

Reference numeral 207 denotes a position detection unit that detects an image forming apparatus that can communicate with the mobile communication terminal 2 based on position information of the image forming apparatus such as the color printer 3.
The detection is executed prior to transmission of a print job under the control of a print job transmission control unit described later. In addition, after a print job is transmitted to the image forming apparatus that has the right to use and is located at the shortest distance from the mobile communication terminal 2, the print job is executed by the image forming apparatus that is the destination of the print job. Until the process is completed, for example, it is continuously executed at intervals of 1 minute.

Detection of the image forming apparatus can be executed by various known methods.
For example, a device that can grasp the current position information of the mobile communication terminal 2 such as a GPS communication device is mounted on the mobile communication terminal 2.
Then, the GPS communication device grasps the current position of the mobile communication terminal 2, calculates the relative position information between the mobile communication terminal 2 and the image forming apparatus based on the position information of the plurality of image forming apparatuses, 202.
The position information is recorded in the memory 202 together with the image forming apparatus name and calculation time, for example, “color printer 3, distance east side 3m calculation time 12h 01m 20s”.

  The position detection may use a communication method using UWB (hereinafter referred to as a UWB communication method). The UWB communication method is a wireless communication method capable of grasping (calculating) position information of a counterpart device having a communication function using UWB, and performs data transmission / reception by spreading data in an extremely wide frequency band of about 10 GHz. The calculation of the position information is executed at a predetermined interval, for example, at an interval of 1 minute.

Here, an example of a calculation method of position information, that is, distance information and azimuth information will be described. The UWB communication system is executed by the communication unit 201 described above, but the image forming apparatus that communicates with the mobile communication terminal 2 must also support the UWB communication system.
(Calculation of distance information)
The communication unit 201 transmits a UWB radio wave for calculating position information necessary for calculating the distance between the mobile communication terminal 2 and the color printer 3 and records the transmission time in the memory 202. The color printer 3 or the like that has received the UWB radio wave transmits a response UWB radio wave that responds to the UWB radio wave. The communication unit 201 receives the response UWB radio wave and records the reception time in the memory 202. The difference between the transmission time of the UWB radio wave for calculating the position information recorded in the memory 202 and the reception time of the UWB radio wave for response is calculated, and the distance information of the color printer 3 etc. is calculated and recorded in the memory 202.
Based on the position information of each image forming apparatus recorded in the memory 202, an image forming apparatus that can communicate with the mobile communication terminal 2 is detected.

(Calculation of direction information)
The communication unit 201 transmits a UWB radio wave for calculating position information necessary for calculating azimuth information between the mobile communication terminal 2 and the color printer 3, and records the radiation pattern X of the UWB radio wave in the memory 202. . The color printer 3 or the like that has received the UWB radio wave transmits a response UWB radio wave that responds to the UWB radio wave. The communication unit 201 records, in the memory 202, the radiation pattern Y of the UWB radio wave for position information calculation changed by the response UWB radio wave.
The communication unit 201 compares the radiation pattern X of the UWB radio wave recorded in the memory 202 with the radiation pattern Y of the UWB radio wave for position information calculation changed by the response UWB radio wave, and compares the pattern. Based on the information, the orientation information of the color printer 3 or the like is calculated and recorded in the memory 202.
The above-described position information is recorded in the memory 202 together with the image forming apparatus name and calculation time, for example, “Color printer 3, east side 3m, calculation time 12h 01m 20s”.

  A use authority confirmation unit 208 confirms whether or not the image forming apparatus detected by the position detection unit 207 has the use authority. A method for confirming whether or not the use authority exists will be described later.

Reference numeral 209 denotes a use authority information / layout information acquisition unit. The use authority information / layout information stored in the server 8 is stored in the use authority information / layout information transmission server 8 when the position information detection process starts. And the use authority information / layout information transmitted by the server 8 in response to the request is received and recorded in the memory 202.
The contents of the information will be described in detail later.

Reference numeral 210 denotes a shortest distance detection unit which is an image forming apparatus whose distance from the current position of the mobile communication terminal 2 is the shortest among the image forming apparatuses whose use authority is confirmed by the use authority confirmation unit 208. Is detected. Specifically, based on the position information of the image forming apparatus detected by the position detection unit 207 and the usage authority information / layout information acquired by the usage authority information / layout information acquisition unit 209, the mobile communication terminal 2 has the usage authority. On the other hand, the image forming apparatus located at the shortest distance, that is, the image forming apparatus that is the transmission destination of the print job is detected (determined).
The above-described detection process will be described in detail later.

  A print job transmission control unit 211 controls transmission of a print job output from the application 205 such as word processing software to the image forming apparatus detected by the shortest distance detection unit 210.

When the print job transmission control unit 211 transmits a print job to an image forming apparatus that is authorized to use and is located at the shortest distance from the mobile communication terminal 2, for example, the color printer 3, the printer 3 performs the print job. Is executed and the printing process is performed.
At the same time, the shortest distance detection unit 210 is instructed to continuously detect the image forming apparatus that has the authority to use and is located at the shortest distance to the mobile communication terminal 2.

Before the printing process related to the print job transmitted to the printer 3 is completed, the user of the mobile communication terminal 2 moves, so that the shortest distance detection unit 210 is a device other than the image forming apparatus that is executing the print job. When an image forming apparatus that has a use authority and is located at the shortest distance from the mobile communication terminal 2 is detected, the execution of the print job being executed is stopped as described above.
That is, when another image forming apparatus that is located at a distance closer to the image forming apparatus (printer 3) to which the print job is transmitted and is authorized to use is detected, the image formation to which the print job is transmitted is detected. The execution of the print job in the apparatus (printer 3) is stopped.

In the example of FIG. 2, the print job transmission control unit 211 relates to a print job that has been transmitted to the color printer 3 that is no longer the image forming apparatus located at the shortest distance from the mobile communication terminal 2 after movement. A print stop instruction signal, which is a signal for instructing stop of the print process, is transmitted to stop the print process.
In this way, for example, when the user who owns the mobile communication terminal 2 goes out of the building where the image forming apparatus is installed and no longer uses the printed matter, unnecessary print processing is performed. Since it can be canceled, printing members such as recording paper and toner are not wasted. Thereafter, when the color printer 3 becomes an image forming apparatus located at the shortest distance again, the canceled printing process may be restarted.

In addition, a print stop instruction signal is transmitted to stop the print processing. Further, the color multifunction peripheral C6, which is an image forming apparatus that has the print authority and is located at the shortest distance from the mobile communication terminal 2 after the movement, is provided. Again, the print job is transmitted.
In this way, even if the user moves, the print job can be automatically re-sent to the image forming apparatus installed in the place closest to the moved position, thereby improving the convenience for the user. .

  It can also be set so that execution of the print job in the image forming apparatus (printer 3) to which the print job has been transmitted is not stopped.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the use authority information / layout information transmission server 8 constituting the printing system 1.
A communication unit 81 communicates with the mobile communication terminal 2.

Reference numeral 82 denotes a use authority information / layout information storage unit which stores the table shown in FIG.
FIG. 7A shows a table in which identifiers of mobile communication terminals used as identification information for identifying users having authority to use the image forming apparatus corresponding to the image forming apparatus are recorded. 101 is shown.
Here, the identifier of the mobile communication terminal is used to identify a user who has the authority to use the image forming apparatus (assuming that the mobile communication terminal can only be used by a predetermined user). The user ID and password information can also be used.

FIG. 7B shows layout information of a room (for example, a sales department room or a conference room) in which the image forming apparatus is installed corresponding to the image forming apparatus, and installation information of the image forming apparatus in the room. Shows the table 102 in which is recorded.
The layout information of the room in which the image forming apparatus is installed includes, for example, position information indicating the position of the room wall and the entrance / exit of the room. The position information is recorded in a format such as absolute coordinates of latitude and longitude, or relative coordinates.
When the image forming apparatus is surrounded by a foliage plant or a board, the positional information of the foliage plant can be used as layout information.

The installation information of the image forming apparatus is the position information of the image forming apparatus in the room, and the position information is recorded in the form of absolute coordinates of latitude / longitude or relative coordinates.
The tables (101, 102) can be changed.

  Reference numeral 83 denotes a use authority information / layout information specifying unit, which is provided with an image forming apparatus having use authority and an image forming apparatus detected by the mobile communication terminal and capable of communicating with the terminal in response to a request from the mobile communication terminal. The layout information of the room and the like and the installation information of the image forming apparatus are specified. And the information etc. which were identified via the communication part 81 are transmitted to the said mobile communication terminal. The use authority information / layout information specifying unit 83 will be described in detail later.

84 is a ROM that records setting information and the like, and 85 is a RAM that records control information and the like.
Reference numeral 86 denotes a large-capacity recording device, for example, an HDD (Hard Disc Drive), but it is not particularly limited to an HDD (Hard Disc Drive), and any other large-capacity recording device may be used. It may be a Blu-ray Disc) or an HD DVD (High Definition DVD).

A CPU 87 controls each functional block. The use authority information / layout information transmission server 8 is operated by a keyboard and a mouse (not shown).
Note that each image forming apparatus may have the function of the use authority information / layout information transmission server 8.
Further, the use authority information / layout information transmission server 8 has both the use authority information transmission function and the layout information transmission function, but each function can be made separate. That is, the usage authority information / layout information transmission server 8 may be a usage authority information transmission server and a layout information transmission server.

Here, the determination process of the image forming apparatus that has the use authority and is located at the shortest distance from the mobile communication terminal 2 will be described in detail.
It is assumed that an image forming apparatus capable of communicating with the mobile communication terminal 2 has already been detected by the position detection unit 207.
(Obtain usage rights / layout information)
The usage authority information / layout information acquisition unit 209 of the mobile communication terminal 2 sends an identifier of the mobile communication terminal 2 stored in the memory 202 to the usage authority information / layout information transmission server 8 (in the example of FIG. xx001 "), the identifier of the detected image forming apparatus capable of communication (for example, the name of the image forming apparatus, in the above example, the color printer 3 etc.), and the usage authority information / layout information stored in the server 8 Send request information requesting to send.

  The usage authority information / layout information specifying unit 83 of the usage authority information / layout information transmission server 8 that has received the identifiers and the request information is the identifier of the mobile communication terminal 2 and the usage authority information / layout information storage unit 82. The image forming apparatus corresponding to the received identifier of the mobile communication terminal 2, that is, the image retrieval apparatus having the right to use is specified based on the table 101 stored in the table (see FIG. 7A). In the example of FIG. 7, the identified image forming apparatuses are the color printer 3, the color multifunction peripheral A4, and the color multifunction peripheral C6.

  Further, the specifying unit 83, based on the identifier of the image forming apparatus and the table 102 (see FIG. 7B), layout information on the room in which the image forming apparatus is installed, installation of the image forming apparatus Identify information.

  Then, information on the identified image forming apparatus (for example, the name of the image forming apparatus), layout information, and installation information are transmitted to the mobile communication terminal 2.

  The use authority information / layout information acquisition unit 209 of the mobile communication terminal 2 that has received the specified image forming apparatus information, layout information, and installation information records the information in the memory 202.

(Determining the print job destination)
First, the shortest distance detection unit 210 is used based on information on the identified image forming apparatus recorded in the memory 202 from among the image forming apparatuses that can communicate with the mobile communication terminal 2 detected by the position detection unit 207. An image forming apparatus that is authorized to do so is detected.
In the example of FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus is authorized to be used by the color printer 3, the color multifunction peripheral A4, and the color multifunction peripheral C6.

Next, the detection unit 210 is substantially the same as the mobile communication terminal 2 as an image forming apparatus to which a print job is transmitted based on the layout information and the installation information recorded in the memory 202 from the detected image forming apparatuses. The image forming apparatus located at the shortest distance is detected.
In the example of FIG. 1 (FIG. 3), the color printer 3 is detected as an image forming apparatus that is a print job transmission destination.

The print job transmission control unit 211 transmits the print job to the image forming apparatus that is the transmission destination of the print job detected by the shortest distance detection unit 210.
Thereafter, until the execution of the print job by the image forming apparatus that is the transmission destination of the print job is completed, for example, there is a right to use continuously at intervals of 1 minute, and the mobile communication terminal 2 is at the shortest distance. A determination (detection) process of the image forming apparatus located is executed.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an image forming apparatus that constitutes the printing system 1, for example, a color printer 3.
A communication unit 31 communicates with the mobile communication terminal 2 to receive a print job or the like transmitted from the mobile communication terminal 2 and transmit a print end signal or the like. When communication using UWB is performed, the communication unit 31 receives a UWB radio wave for position information calculation transmitted by the communication unit 201 of the mobile communication terminal 2 and responds to the UWB radio wave. The UWB radio wave is transmitted to the mobile communication terminal 2.

  Reference numeral 32 denotes a printing unit that executes a printing process related to a print job transmitted by the mobile communication terminal 2, and 33 denotes a print control unit that controls the printing unit 32. When the print control unit 33 receives a print stop instruction signal, which is a signal for instructing stop of the print processing related to the print job transmitted by the mobile communication terminal 2, the print control unit 33 stops the print processing being executed by the print unit 32. Then, a print end signal is transmitted to notify the mobile communication terminal 2 of the end of the print process.

When the user of the mobile communication terminal 2 who is not granted the use authority (for example, the print function) to the image forming apparatus makes a print request to the image forming apparatus, the print control unit 33 Processing for rejecting the print request is executed.
Further, as will be described later, information indicating the progress of the printing process relating to the print job is transmitted to the mobile communication terminal 2.

Reference numeral 34 denotes a ROM that records setting information and the like. Reference numeral 35 denotes a RAM that records control information and the like.
Reference numeral 36 denotes a large-capacity recording device, HDD (Hard Disc Drive), but it is not particularly limited to an HDD (Hard Disc Drive), and any large-capacity recording device may be used. ray Disc) or HD DVD (High Definition DVD). An operation panel 37 displays the state of the image forming apparatus, available paper size, copy magnification, and the like, and accepts an operator's operation using an input key. The operation panel 37 may be a liquid crystal display provided with a touch panel, and can be input by directly operating the touch panel. Instead of the liquid crystal display, an organic EL display (Organic Electroluminescence Display), FED (Field Emission Display), SED (Surface-conduction Electron-emitter Display), PTA display (Plasma Tube Array Display), or the like can be used. Reference numeral 38 denotes a CPU that controls each functional block.
The color printer 3 includes a scanner (not shown), and the printing unit 32 can print a document read by the scanner.

Next, processing related to a print job in the printing system 1 described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
When the print job is started, the position detection unit 207 of the mobile communication terminal 2 detects the position information of the image forming apparatus such as the color printer 3 (step S1), and the use authority information / layout information acquisition unit 209 further Use authority information / layout information is acquired from the use authority information / layout information transmission server 8 (step S2).

Then, the shortest distance detection unit 210 detects an image forming apparatus that is authorized to use and is located at the shortest distance from the mobile communication terminal 2 (step S3).
When the print job transmission control unit 211 transmits a print job to the image forming apparatus detected by the shortest distance detection unit 210 (step S4), the image forming apparatus executes print processing.
Even after the transmission of the print job, as described above, the detection processing of the image forming apparatus that is authorized to use and is located at the shortest distance from the mobile communication terminal 2 by the shortest distance detection unit 210 is continued. To be executed.

Next, the print job transmission control unit 211 determines whether or not the printing process is completed by receiving a print end signal transmitted from the image forming apparatus (step S5).
Since the printing process is not completed (step S5 / NO), and the mobile communication terminal 2 has moved, the shortest distance detection unit 210 of the mobile communication terminal 2 is the one other than the image forming apparatus that is executing the print job. If an image forming apparatus that is authorized to use and is located at the shortest distance from the mobile communication terminal 2 is detected (step S6 / YES), the print job transmission control unit 211 prints on the image forming apparatus that is printing. A stop instruction signal is transmitted (step S7).

Then, the print job is retransmitted to the detected image forming apparatus (step S8), and the process of step S5 is executed.
Note that only the process of transmitting a print stop instruction signal (step S7) may be executed, and the process of retransmitting the print job to the detected image forming apparatus (step S8) may be omitted.
Further, the process of transmitting the print stop instruction signal (step S7) may be omitted, and the print job re-transmission process (step S8) may be executed.

  Even if the mobile communication terminal 2 moves, if the image forming apparatus that is executing the print job is an image forming apparatus that is at the shortest distance from the mobile communication terminal 2 after the movement (NO in step S6), The process of step S5 is executed.

  When the mobile communication terminal 2 receives a print end signal indicating that the print process is completed, that is, when the print process is completed in the image forming apparatus (step S5 / YES), the entire sequence is completed.

When the printing process executed by the image forming apparatus that has received the print job transmitted by the mobile communication terminal 2 is almost completed, for example, printing of 80 pages out of 100 pages is already completed. When the mobile communication terminal 2 moves and the image forming apparatus is no longer the image forming apparatus located at the shortest distance from the mobile communication terminal 2, the printing process is stopped as described above. That is inefficient.
In such a case, the mobile communication terminal 2 that has received the information indicating the progress status of the print job being executed by the image forming apparatus transmitted by the image forming apparatus that is currently printing, the progress status of the print job is a predetermined rate. For example, when it exceeds 80%, it is also possible not to perform the above-described print job re-transmission processing and print cancel processing.

Further, when retransmitting a print job, it can be set not to transmit a print stop instruction signal. By doing so, the printing process in the color printer 3 that is no longer the image forming apparatus located at the shortest distance is continued. However, if there are other users who use the printed matter, the use of the printing process is continued. Since the person can use the printed matter, the convenience for the user is improved.
At this time, it may be set not to transmit the same print job again to the color multifunction peripheral C6 located at the shortest distance.

  The UWB communication system of the present invention has been described using the impulse system. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the DS-UWB system that uses two bands of the low band and the high band while avoiding the band used by the 802.11a wireless LAN in the band of 3.1 to 10.6 GHz, or 3.1 to 10.6 GHz. It is also possible to use an MB-OFDM scheme that divides the band into 14 bands with 528 MHz as a unit.

It is the 1st figure for explaining the printing system concerning the present invention. It is the 2nd figure for demonstrating the printing system concerning this invention. FIG. 9 is a third diagram for explaining the printing system according to the present invention. FIG. 10 is a fourth diagram for explaining the printing system according to the invention. It is a block diagram of a mobile communication terminal. It is a block diagram of a use authority information / layout information transmission server. It is a table for explaining use authority information / layout information. 1 is a block diagram of an image forming apparatus. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating processing related to a print job in the printing system.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printing system, 2 ... Mobile communication terminal, 201 ... Communication part, 202 ... Memory, 203 ... Display part, 204 ... Operation panel, 205 ... Application, 206 ... CPU, 207 ... Position detection part, 208 ... Usage authority confirmation part 209 ... Use authority information / layout information acquisition unit 210 ... Shortest distance detection unit 211 ... Print job transmission control unit 3 ... Color printer 31 ... Communication unit 32 ... Print unit 33 ... Print control unit 34 ... ROM, 35 ... RAM, 36 ... HDD, 37 ... control panel, 38 ... CPU, 4 ... color multifunction peripheral A, 5 ... color multifunction peripheral B, 6 ... color multifunction peripheral C, 7 ... monochrome multifunction peripheral, 8 ... use authority Information / layout information transmission server, 81... Communication unit, 82... Use authority information / layout information storage unit, 83... Use authority information / layout information specifying unit, 84. ... RAM, 86 ... HDD, 87 ... CPU, 101 ... table, 102 ... table.

Claims (7)

In a mobile communication terminal that transmits a print job to a specific image forming apparatus among a plurality of image forming apparatuses provided with a wireless communication apparatus and executes the print job.
A position detection unit for detecting position information of the image forming apparatus;
A use authority confirmation unit for confirming presence or absence of use authority for the image forming apparatus detected by the position detection unit;
A shortest distance detecting unit for detecting an image forming apparatus having a shortest distance from the current position of the mobile communication terminal from among the image forming apparatuses confirmed to have the use authority by the use authority confirming unit; Prepared,
A mobile communication terminal having a right to use and transmitting a print job to an image forming apparatus located at the shortest distance from the mobile communication terminal.   When another image forming apparatus that is located nearer to the image forming apparatus to which the print job is transmitted and is authorized to use is detected, the print job in the image forming apparatus to which the print job is transmitted is detected. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein the print job is transmitted to the detected other image forming apparatus without stopping or without stopping the execution.   A GPS communication device, a current position of the mobile communication terminal is grasped by the GPS communication device, and a distance from the current position of the mobile communication terminal is the shortest distance based on position information of the plurality of image forming apparatuses The mobile communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is detected.   The plurality of image forming apparatuses communicate with each other by a wireless communication apparatus using UWB, and the mobile communication terminal grasps the positional relationship with the plurality of image forming apparatuses, so that the distance from the current position of the mobile communication terminal is shortest. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein an image forming apparatus located at a distance is detected.   2. The presence / absence of use authority of the image forming apparatus is confirmed based on use authority information transmitted from the server apparatus or individual image forming apparatus and indicating use authority of the image forming apparatus. The mobile communication terminal of any one of -4.   Based on the layout information transmitted from the server apparatus or individual image forming apparatus such as the room in which the image forming apparatus is installed, the image forming apparatus having the shortest distance from the current position of the mobile communication terminal is detected. The mobile communication terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein:   A printing system comprising: the mobile communication terminal according to claim 1; and an image forming apparatus capable of executing or canceling a print job transmitted from the mobile communication terminal.

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