JP2010113620A - Image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a change of setting of a document registered in a document management server in printing, and to print the document according to the setting. <P>SOLUTION: An upper device extracts document data from a document data storage part according to an instruction for image formation of document data received from a terminal device, extracts image formation setting information associated to the document data from an image formation setting information storage part, and makes an image forming device form an image of the document data based on fixed setting information of the image formation setting information and variable setting information received from the terminal device. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming system that forms and prints an image based on setting information such as print settings and an output destination.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, document management servers that share and store documents such as drawings, photos, and brochures created by application software on a computer or generated by reading an image of an original with an image scanner among a plurality of users are generally known.
When printing a document stored on this document management server, it is common for the user to set the print settings and print destination each time. However, there are a wide range of conditions (parameters) to be set. However, there is a problem in terms of security such that it is difficult to print a document under desired conditions, and when there are a plurality of printers that can be selected as output destination printers, an incorrect printer is selected.

For this reason, in the conventional technology, when printing a document registered in the document management server in advance by associating the print settings and the output destination with the print settings and the output destination, the document attributes are registered as the document attributes to be registered in the document management server. Some prints are made with associated print settings and output destinations (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-2022846 (paragraph “0050” to paragraph “0053”, FIGS. 1 and 6)

  However, in the above-described conventional technology, when print settings and output destinations are registered in association with documents registered in the document management server, there is no choice but to print the document with the set print settings and output destinations. Since the same conditions are applied to all users, there is a problem in that settings such as print settings and output destinations cannot be specified even by an administrator or a highly skilled user who is used to printing operations.

  An object of the present invention is to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to change the setting of a document registered in a document management server at the time of printing and to print the document according to the setting.

  Therefore, the present invention includes a terminal device that accepts a user operation, a host device connected to the terminal device via a communication line, and an image forming device connected to the host device via a communication line. In the image forming system, the higher-level device includes, in the document data, image data setting information including a document data storage unit that stores a plurality of document data in advance, variable setting information that can be changed, and fixed setting information that cannot be changed. An image formation setting information storage unit stored in advance, wherein the terminal device accepts an operation for selecting document data stored in the document data storage unit, and the document data selected by the selection unit An input unit that accepts an operation for changing the variable setting information of the image formation setting information associated with the image forming unit, and an image formation unit for the document data selected by the selection unit. And a communication unit that transmits variable setting information changed by the input unit to the host device, wherein the host device receives the document data image received from the terminal device from the document data storage unit according to an instruction to form an image. The document data is extracted and the image formation setting information associated with the document data is extracted from the image formation setting information storage unit. The fixed setting information of the image formation setting information and the variable setting information received from the terminal device are extracted. An image of the document data is formed on the basis of the image forming apparatus.

  According to the present invention as described above, the setting of the document registered in the document management server can be changed at the time of printing, and an effect that the document can be printed according to the setting can be obtained.

  Embodiments of an image forming system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

A configuration of an image forming system that allows a user (user) to change setting information associated with a document registered in advance in the document management server and prints the document according to desired setting information selected by the user. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image forming system according to the first embodiment.
In FIG. 1, an image forming system includes a document management server (hereinafter referred to as “server”) 100 as a host device, and a plurality of users connected to the server 100 via a communication line such as a network. A client computer (hereinafter referred to as “client”) 200 as a terminal device that accepts an operation and a printer 300 as a plurality of image forming apparatuses.

  The server 100 is configured such that a user information registration unit 101, a printer registration unit 103, a print setting information registration unit 105, a document registration unit 110, and a print instruction unit 113 operate as services, and a Web application (software) 120. Transmits / receives an operation screen for providing these services to the client 200 and an instruction from the client 200 using a protocol such as HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) for the Web. The operation screen generated by the Web application 120 of the server 100 is displayed, and the client 200 transmits the input user instruction to the server 100.

In this embodiment, it is assumed that the service of the server 100 is executed from the client 200 by the Web browser 210 via the Web application 120 of the server 100. However, a dedicated application for remotely calling the service of the server 100 on the client 200 side. Software may be implemented.
When connecting to the server 100, the client 200 displays a user authentication screen 600 shown in FIG. 6, for example, inputs a user name (account) 601 and a password 602, selects a logon button 603, and logs on to the server 100.

  The services that can be used are limited according to the authority of the user identified by the type of the account of the logged-on user. For example, for the registrant who can use all the services shown in FIG. A screen 700 is displayed, and a client screen 800 that can use only a print instruction as shown in FIG. 8 is displayed on the client 200 logged on with a user name for the user.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the registrant screen 700 includes a document list 701 that displays documents available to the user, a check box 702 for selecting a document, a print button 703 for printing the selected document, Document registration button 704 for registering a document, user registration button 705 for registering a user, printer registration button 706 for registering a printer, print setting registration button 707 for registering print settings, a screen for registrants Is composed of an end button 708 and the like.

For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the user screen 800 includes a document list 801 that displays documents available to the user, a check box 802 for selecting a document, a print button 803 for printing the selected document, This is composed of an end button 804 and the like for ending the user screen.
In addition to the above-described configuration, the server 100 is configured to store user information for a plurality of users regarding the user authority as a list for each user in accordance with an instruction from the user information registration unit 101 and an instruction from the printer registration unit 103. The printer information storage unit 104 and the print setting information registration unit 105 store the printer information for a plurality of printers such as the printer connection destination (address), installation location, type, status, and printer configuration as a list. The print setting information storage unit 106 as an image formation setting information storage unit that stores a plurality of types of print setting information for printing a document in a desired state as a list, and the document (document data) according to instructions from the document registration unit 110 Document database 11 as a document data storage unit for registering in association with document information A document management service 111 for registering and obtaining documents in the document database 112, and a document information list related to the document from the document database 112 via the document management service 111 according to a print instruction from the print instruction unit 113 A print data generation unit 114 that acquires and generates print data from print settings associated with the document and the document attribute of the document information list, and a print data transmission unit 115 that transmits the generated print data to the printer 300 for printing. Has been.

The user information storage unit 102, the printer information storage unit 104, the print setting information storage unit 106, and the document database 112 described above are stored in a storage unit including a memory and a magnetic disk.
Before registering a document in the document database 112 and printing the registered document, the server 100 stores user name, user authority, affiliation, and usable printer information in the user information storage unit 102, a printer Printer information that stores the printer name, IP address, MAC address, model name, and installation location in the information storage unit 104; print setting name in the print setting information storage unit 106; a link to the substance of the print setting; and an available printer model It is assumed that print setting information for storing is registered in advance.

The setting of these information is performed using the Web application 120 of the server 100 from the Web browser 210 of the client 200, but may be performed by receiving an input through an input unit (not shown) of the server 100.
The user information registered in the user information storage unit 102 as the user information storage unit includes, for example, a user name given to each user as user identification information for identifying the user as shown in FIG. It consists of authority, affiliation, and usable printer (printer identification information) that can be used by the user.

For this usable printer, a plurality of printer names acquired from the printer information stored in the printer information storage unit 104 can be designated. When all the printers can be used, they are expressed as “ALL”.
The printer information registered in the printer information storage unit 104 includes, for example, a printer name, an IP address of the printer, a MAC address, a model name, and an installation location as shown in FIG.

The print setting information registered in the print setting information storage unit 106 serving as the image formation setting information storage unit is, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, a print setting entity indicating a link to an information entity including a print setting name and a print setting item. And a usable printer model (printer identification information) indicating the model name of the printer whose settings can be used.
The substance of the information including the print setting item is, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, the print setting item name, the setting value of the item, an item essential for obtaining a desired result, or an item that can be changed by the user. It consists of setting conditions that indicate

As shown in FIG. 4, this setting condition is “required” as fixed setting information that cannot be changed by the user, “recommended” as variable setting information that can be changed by the user but specified by a default value, and cannot be specified by the printer. One of “None” is set according to the specification.
As an example of classification of mandatory (fixed setting information) and recommended (variable setting information) setting conditions for print setting items, color matching methods for printing documents with appropriate quality and paper types that limit paper types are as follows: It is possible to classify as “required”, and it is possible to classify it as “recommended” that can be changed by the user because the designation of printing in units of copies or printing of copies does not affect print quality.

  The document database 112 includes a document file and a document information list. As shown in FIG. 5, the document information list may use a document name, a document entity indicating a link to the document file, an update date, and a document for each document. User name and print setting name for optimally printing the document. Note that the update date, the name of the user who can use the document, and the print setting name for optimally printing the document are the document attributes.

As the user name that can use the document, a plurality of user names acquired from the user information registered in the user information storage unit 102 can be designated. When all users can use the user name, it is expressed as “ALL”.
As the print setting name, one print setting name acquired from the print setting information stored in the print setting information storage unit 106 can be designated.

The server 100 configured as described above includes a storage unit configured by a memory or a magnetic disk (not shown) and a control unit such as a CPU, and the control unit is based on a control program (software) stored in the storage unit. Assume that the entire server 100 is controlled.
An operation for registering a document in the document database and an operation for printing the document registered in the document database in the above-described configuration will be described.

First, an operation for registering a document in the document database 112 will be described.
Registration of a document in the document database 112 is performed on the registrant screen 700 shown in FIG. 7 displayed on the display unit of the client 200 by logging on to the server 100 from the Web browser 210 of the client 200 with the user name of the registrant. And
When the document registration button 704 on the registrant screen 700 is selected by clicking with a mouse or the like, a document registration screen 900 shown in FIG. 9 is displayed on the display unit of the client 200.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the document registration screen 900 displays a document file name text box 901 for inputting a path name of a document file, a reference button 902 for displaying a file reference dialog box, and a user name. A user list list box 903 for selecting a user name, a check box 904 for selecting a user name, a print setting drop-down list 905 for displaying a print setting name, a registration button 906 for registering a document, and a document registration screen for ending. This is composed of an end button 907 and the like.

The user name list box 903 of the displayed document registration screen 900 displays user names stored in the user information storage unit 102 of the server 100, and the print setting drop-down list 905 displays the print setting information storage unit 106 of the server 100. The print settings saved in is displayed.
A user who is a registrant inputs a document file to be registered from a file reference dialog box that is displayed by inputting the path name of the document file to be registered in the document database 112 in the document file name text box 901 or clicking the browse button 902. A user who can select and refer to the document file to be registered is specified by clicking a check box 904 in the user list list box 903, and a print setting of the document to be registered is selected from the print setting drop-down list 905. Click the registration button 906.

When the registration button 906 is clicked, the client 200 uploads the designated document file to the Web application 120 of the server 100 and instructs the registration of the document file.
When receiving a document registration instruction from the client 200, the Web application 120 of the server 100 calls the document management service 111 from the document registration unit 110 and generates a document name in the document information list of the document database 112 from the document file uploaded from the client 200. The document name, the link to the document file entity in the document entity, the update date of the document file in the update date, and the user specified in the check box 904 of the document registration screen 900 as the user name are printed in the print setting name. Each print setting specified in the setting drop-down list 905 is added as document information.

In this way, the image forming system registers the document in the document database 112.
Next, an operation for printing a document registered in the document database 112 will be described.
To print a registered document, the user logs on to the server 100 from the Web browser 210 of the client 200 with the user name of the registrant or user. For example, the registrant screen 700 shown in FIG. 7 or the user screen 800 shown in FIG. It shall be done in

  In the registrant screen 700 shown in FIG. 7 or the user screen 800 shown in FIG. 8 displayed on the client 200, the document list 701 displaying the documents available to the user or the check displayed on the left side of the document list 801. A box 702 or a check box 802 is checked to select and specify a document to be printed (selection unit), and the print button 703 or the print button 803 is clicked to instruct the Web application 120 of the server 100 to print the document.

  When the Web application 120 receives an instruction to print a document from the client 200, it calls the document management service 111 from the print instruction unit 113 and is instructed to print from the document information list illustrated in FIG. 5 stored in the document database 112. The document information of the document name is extracted, the print information of the print setting name specified by the extracted document information is extracted from the print setting list illustrated in FIG. 4, and is associated with the print setting entity of the extracted print setting information. Acquire the actual print settings, and check all print setting items such as the paper size of the print settings.

  One of three types of “required”, “recommended”, or “not specified” is set in advance as the setting condition of each print setting item, and even one “recommended” is set as the setting condition of each print setting item. 10, the print setting screen 1000 illustrated in FIG. 10 is displayed on the client 200 to allow the user to change the setting changeable portion. If there is no “recommended”, the print setting screen illustrated in FIG. 10 is displayed. Is not displayed and the user is not allowed to change the setting.

  The print setting screen 1000 is, for example, the print setting screen 1000 of the print setting A shown in FIG. 10A or the print screen 1000 of the print setting C shown in FIG. 10B, and items that cannot be changed. Items displayed in the area 1001 and capable of changing the setting by the user are displayed in the area 1002. It is assumed that the user changes the setting of the default value displayed in the area 1002 as necessary (input unit) and clicks a print button 1003 for performing printing. It is assumed that a default value displayed in the area 1002 is a default value for optimally printing a document.

The print instruction unit 113 causes the print data generation unit 114 to generate print data by designating a document to be printed, print settings, and an output destination stored in the document database 112, and the print data from the print data transmission unit 115. The document is printed by sending it to the designated output destination printer 300.
In this way, the image forming system prints the registered document.

Next, the operation of the print instruction unit 113 of the server 100 will be described according to the step represented by S in the flowchart of the document print instruction process in the first embodiment of FIG.
Document names for which printing is instructed by the client 200 from the Web application 120 are passed to the print instruction unit 113 as a list. That is, the document name instructed to be printed is transmitted to the server 100 via the communication unit of the client 200 and notified to the print instruction unit 113.

It is assumed that each working memory (storage unit) such as an index for extracting a document from a list of document names for which printing has been instructed has been initialized.
S101: The print instruction unit 113 acquires a document name to be processed next from a list of document names instructed to be printed, and sets it as a document to be printed.
S102: It is determined whether or not there is a document name to be processed next in S101. If it is determined that the document name exists, the process proceeds to S103. If it is determined that the document name does not exist, the process ends.

S103: The document management service 111 is used to obtain document information to be printed from the document information list in the document management database 112 using the document name to be printed as a key.
S104: The print setting name of the document to be printed is acquired from the document information acquired in S103. In the case of the document information “document A” illustrated in FIG. 5, the print setting name is “print setting A”.
S105: The print setting information of the print setting name acquired in S104 is acquired from the print setting list illustrated in FIG. 4 stored in the print setting information storage unit 106, and the link to the actual print setting of the print setting information is used. The associated print setting entity is acquired and set as the print setting of the current print document.

S106: It is determined for all items whether there is an item for which “recommended” is set in the setting condition of each print setting item of the actual print setting acquired in S105.
S107: As a result of the determination in S106, if there is no print setting item for which “recommended” is set in the setting condition, the process proceeds to S109, and if it exists, the process proceeds to S108.

  S108: The print instruction unit 113 displays the print setting screen 1000 illustrated in FIG. 10 on the client 200 via the Web application 120, and the setting condition of each print setting item of the actual print setting acquired in S105 is “essential”. "Is displayed in a non-selectable area 1001 in an unchangeable area 1001 and the setting condition of each print setting item is" recommended "in the area 1002 where the setting name can be changed. Display in a state that can be changed by the user.

When the print setting screen 1000 is displayed, the user waits for an input operation. When the user clicks the print button 1003, the print instruction unit 113 reflects the print setting changed in the setting changeable area 1002 in the print setting of the current print document. And update.
The changed print setting is transmitted to the server 100 via the communication unit of the client 200 and notified to the print instruction unit 113.

S 109: The print instruction unit 113 obtains the substance of the document to be printed from the document management database 112 using the document management service 111.
S110: The print data generation unit 114 generates print data for printing based on the print setting of the current print document from the document entity acquired in S109.
S111: The output destination is determined based on the user information currently being processed and the print settings of the print document. Details of this processing will be described later.

S112: The print data generated in S110 is transmitted to the output destination printer 300 determined in S111 for printing.
In this way, the print instruction unit 113 of the server 100 performs document print instruction processing.
Next, the above-described output destination determination processing in S111 performed by the print instruction unit 113 of the server 100 will be described in accordance with the step represented by S in the flowchart of the output destination determination processing in the first embodiment of FIG.

S201: The print instruction unit 113 of the server 100 initializes the output destination list of the storage unit.
S202: The user name of the logged-on user who is currently performing this process is acquired.
S203: User information of the logged-on user is acquired from the user information illustrated in FIG. 2 stored in the user information storage unit 102 based on the user name of the logged-on user acquired in S202.

S204: A printer usable by the user is acquired from the user information acquired in S203.
S205: Extracting printer information (IP address, MAC address, model name, installation location) relating to the printer usable by the user acquired in S204 from the printer information illustrated in FIG. 3 stored in the printer information storage unit 104. To generate an output destination list.

S206: Information on the next printer to be confirmed is acquired from the output destination list.
S207: It is determined whether there is information on the next printer to be confirmed in the output destination list. As a result, if it is determined that the information exists, the process proceeds to S208. If it is determined that the information does not exist, the process proceeds to S211. Transition.
S208: Whether the printer model (model name) of the printer information acquired from the output destination list is included in the usable printer model (illustrated in FIG. 4) of the print setting of the document to be printed, that is, the output destination printer supports It is determined whether or not it has been done. If “ALL” is written in the printer model that can be used for print settings, the print settings indicate that all models of printers are supported.

S209: If it is determined in step S208 that the output destination printer is not supported, the process proceeds to step S210. If it is determined that the output destination printer is supported, the process proceeds to step S206.
S210: If it is determined that the output destination printer is not supported, the information of the currently confirmed printer is deleted from the output destination list, and the process proceeds to S206.

S211: After confirming the output destination printer in the output destination list, if only one piece of printer information exists in the output destination list, the printer information output destination (for example, IP address, MAC address, etc.) In response to the caller, the process ends.
S212: If a plurality of printer information exists in the output destination list, the process proceeds to S213. If the printer information does not exist, the process proceeds to S214.

S213: The print instruction unit 113 causes the client 200 to display information on a plurality of printers in the output destination list as an output destination list screen via the Web application 120, and allows the user to select a printer as an output destination from the output destination list screen. .
The print instruction unit 113 responds to the caller with the output destination (for example, IP address, MAC address, etc.) of the selected printer information, and ends the process.

S214: The print instruction unit 113 causes the client 200 to display a message indicating that the output destination printer does not exist via the Web application 120, and responds to the calling source that the determination of the output destination printer has failed, and ends the process. .
As described above, the image forming system classifies the print setting information associated with the document registered in advance in the document management server into the required item and the user variable item, and changes the user variable item by the user's operation when printing the document. By making it possible, the document can be printed in accordance with the desired print setting information selected by the user.

  As described above, in the first embodiment, the print setting information associated with the document registered in advance in the document management server is classified into the essential item and the user variable item, and the user variable item is set as the user variable when printing the document. By enabling the change by the above operation, it is possible to print the document with the optimum print setting according to the document, and to obtain the effect that the document can be printed with the print setting desired by the user.

In addition, since a predetermined value is provided for a user variable item that can be specified by the user, an effect that an optimum print setting corresponding to the document can be realized is obtained.
Furthermore, it is possible to print on a printer supported by the print settings associated with the document according to the user's authority.
Further, since only the printer / document that can be used by the user is displayed, it is possible to prevent the document from being leaked due to an erroneous operation.

The configuration of the second embodiment is different from the configuration of the first embodiment in that a user variable print setting information storage unit is added to the configuration of the image forming system of the first embodiment. The configuration of the image forming system according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to a block diagram showing the configuration of the image forming system according to the second embodiment shown in FIG.
Note that parts similar to those of the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

In FIG. 13, the server 100 sets user variable print settings in which print setting items to be reflected in items of user variable settings that are not indispensable items for optimally printing a document with print settings associated with the document are set in advance. A user variable print setting information storage unit 107 for storing information is provided in the storage unit.
Before registering the document in the document database 112 and printing the registered document, the server 100 stores the variable print setting name and variable print setting substance illustrated in FIG. 14 in the user variable print setting information storage unit 107. Assume that the user variable print setting information for storing the link and the usable printer model, the print setting item set in the user variable print setting, and the substance of the variable print setting for storing the set value are registered in advance.

The registration of the user variable print setting information is performed by using the Web application 120 of the server 100 from the Web browser 210 of the client 200. However, the user variable print setting information may be input by receiving an input unit (not shown) of the server 100. Good.
An operation of printing a document registered in the document database in the configuration described above will be described.
Since registration in the document database is the same as in the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

The registered document is printed by logging on to the server 100 from the Web browser 210 of the client 200 with the user name of the registrant or user, for example, on the user screen 1500 shown in FIG.
In the user screen 1500 shown in FIG. 15 displayed on the client 200, a check box 1502 displayed on the left side of the document list 1501 displaying the documents available to the user is checked to specify a document to be printed (first page). 1), the user variable box 1503 displayed on the right side of the document list 1501 is clicked, and a desired user variable print setting is designated from the user variable print setting name displayed in the drop-down list (second selection). The selection unit) clicks a print button 1504 to instruct the Web application 120 of the server 100 to print a document.

The designated variable print setting is also transmitted to the server 100 via the communication unit of the client 200 and notified to the Web application 120.
When the Web application 120 receives an instruction to print a document from the client 200, it calls the document management service 111 from the print instruction unit 113 and is instructed to print from the document information list illustrated in FIG. 5 stored in the document database 112. The document information of the document name is extracted, the print information of the print setting name specified by the extracted document information is extracted from the print setting list illustrated in FIG. 4, and is associated with the print setting entity of the extracted print setting information. The actual print setting is acquired, and the user variable print setting information of the user variable print setting name specified on the user setting screen 1500 in FIG. 15 is extracted from the user variable print setting list illustrated in FIG. Obtains the variable print setting information entity associated with the link to the variable print setting entity of the user variable print setting information. Examine all of the print setting items of paper size and the like of the print settings.

  As the setting conditions for each print setting item, any of the three types of “required”, “recommended”, or “not specified” is set in advance, and the setting condition of each print setting item is “recommended” If there is a setting item corresponding to the variable print setting, the setting value of the variable print setting item is adopted as the print setting item, and the print instruction unit 113 is stored in the document database 112 to the print data generation unit 114. A document to be printed, a print setting, and an output destination are designated to generate print data, and the print data is transmitted from the print data transmission unit 115 to the designated output destination printer 300 to print the document.

In this way, the image forming system prints the registered document.
Next, the operation of the print instruction unit 113 of the server 100 will be described according to the step indicated by S in the flowchart of the document print instruction process in the second embodiment of FIG.
The print instruction unit 113 receives a list of document names for which printing is instructed by the client 200 from the Web application 120 and user variable print setting information corresponding to the document. That is, the document name instructed to be printed is transmitted to the server 100 via the communication unit of the client 200 and notified to the print instruction unit 113.

It is assumed that each working memory (storage unit) such as an index for extracting a document from a list of document names for which printing has been instructed has been initialized.
S301 to S305: Since they are the same as S101 to S105 in FIG.
S306: Variable of the user variable print setting name in the user variable print setting information corresponding to the document stored in the user variable print setting information storage unit 107 and transferred from the user variable print setting list illustrated in FIG. Acquires the actual print setting and sets it as the variable print setting for the current print document.

S307: Acquire one print setting item of the actual print setting acquired in S305.
S308: It is determined whether or not “recommended” is set in the setting condition of the print setting item acquired in S307. If it is determined that “recommended” is not set, the process proceeds to S312 and “recommended” is set. If it is determined that it has been performed, the process proceeds to S309.
S309: The print setting item corresponding to the print setting item acquired in S307 is retrieved from the variable print setting entity acquired in S306.

S310: If the print setting item corresponding to the print setting item acquired in S307 from the variable print setting entity in S309 can be detected, the process proceeds to S311; otherwise, the process proceeds to S312.
S311: The setting value of the print setting item acquired in S307 is reflected as the setting value of the print setting item of the variable print setting searched in S309 corresponding to this print setting item.

S312: It is determined whether or not the process has been completed for all the print setting items in the print setting entity acquired in S305. If it is determined that the process has been completed for all the print setting items, the process proceeds to S313. If it is determined that there is an unprocessed print setting item, the process proceeds to S307.
S313 to S316: The description is omitted because it is the same as S109 to S112 in FIG. 11, and the process of determining the output destination in S315 is also the same as in the first embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted.

In this way, the print instruction unit 113 of the server 100 performs document print instruction processing.
As described above, the image forming system classifies the print setting information associated with the document registered in advance in the document management server into the essential item and the user variable item, and sets the variable print setting for setting the user variable item to the user. By printing the document according to the desired print setting information selected by the user by registering in advance in the variable print setting storage unit and enabling the user to select the variable print setting by user operation when printing the document Will be able to.

As described above, in the second example, in addition to the effect of the first example, the effect that the contents of the user variable item can be easily specified by the setting name is obtained.
In addition, since the contents of the user variable item can be specified by the setting name, an effect that the user can easily operate from a small-sized client such as a portable terminal can be obtained.

In the first and second embodiments, the configuration is described as a combination of a server and a client connected via a network. However, it may be configured by a single personal computer or the like instead of the server. Good.
Further, the client has been described as a client computer such as a personal computer, but may be a mobile terminal device such as a mobile phone.

Further, the printer may be a multi-function device having a printer function, that is, a multi-function device including the client and the printer in the first and second embodiments.
Further, the printer and the server may be connected on a one-to-one basis through a communication line such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus).
Further, the document data stored in the document database may be a file (for example, a jpeg file, a gif file, or a pdf file) that can be directly output to a printer, and in particular, a portable general-purpose format that can be directly output to a printer. A file (for example, a pdf file) may be used.

1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image forming system in a first embodiment. Explanatory diagram of user information in the first embodiment Explanatory drawing of printer information in the first embodiment Explanatory drawing of print setting information in the first embodiment Explanatory drawing of the document information list of the document database in the first embodiment Explanatory drawing of the user authentication screen in the first embodiment Explanatory drawing of the screen for registrants in 1st Example Explanatory drawing of the screen for users in the first embodiment Explanatory drawing of the document registration screen in the first embodiment Explanatory drawing of the print setting screen in the first embodiment Flowchart of document print instruction processing in the first embodiment Flowchart of output destination determination processing in the first embodiment FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image forming system in a second embodiment. Explanatory drawing of user variable print setting information in the second embodiment Explanatory drawing of the screen for users in the 2nd example Flowchart of document print instruction process in the second embodiment

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Server 101 User information registration part 102 User information storage part 103 Printer registration part 104 Printer information storage part 105 Print setting information registration part 106 Print setting information storage part 107 User variable print setting information storage part 110 Document registration part 111 Document management service 112 Document database 113 Print instruction unit 114 Print data generation unit 115 Print data transmission unit 120 Web application 200 Client 210 Web browser 300 Printer

Claims (13)

In an image forming system comprising: a terminal device that accepts a user operation; a host device connected to the terminal device via a communication line; and an image forming device connected to the host device via a communication line.
The host device is
A document data storage unit for storing a plurality of document data in advance;
An image formation setting information storage unit that stores in advance image formation setting information including variable setting information that can be changed and fixed setting information that cannot be changed in association with the document data;
The terminal device
A selection unit that accepts an operation of selecting document data stored in the document data storage unit;
An input unit that receives an operation of changing variable setting information of image formation setting information associated with document data selected by the selection unit;
A communication unit that transmits an instruction to form an image of document data selected by the selection unit and variable setting information changed by the input unit to a host device;
The host device extracts the document data from the document data storage unit in accordance with the image formation instruction of the document data received from the terminal device, and forms an image associated with the document data from the image formation setting information storage unit An image forming system, wherein setting information is extracted, and an image of the document data is formed by the image forming apparatus based on fixed setting information of the image forming setting information and variable setting information received from the terminal device. In an image forming system comprising: a terminal device that accepts a user operation; a host device connected to the terminal device via a communication line; and an image forming device connected to the host device via a communication line.
The host device is
A document data storage unit for storing a plurality of document data in advance;
A fixed setting information storage unit for storing fixed setting information of image formation setting information that cannot be changed in advance in association with the document data, and variable setting information of changeable image formation setting information in association with the document data are stored in advance. An image formation setting information storage unit comprising a variable setting information storage unit,
The terminal device
A first selection unit that accepts an operation of selecting document data stored in the document data storage unit;
A second selection unit that receives an operation of selecting the variable setting information associated with the document data selected by the first selection unit;
A communication unit that transmits an instruction to form an image of the document data selected by the first selection unit and variable setting information selected by the second selection unit to a host device;
The higher-level device extracts the document data from the document data storage unit in accordance with an instruction for image formation of the document data received from the terminal device, and the fixed setting information associated with the document data from the fixed setting information storage unit , And the image forming apparatus forms an image of the document data based on the fixed setting information and the variable setting information received from the terminal device. The image forming system according to claim 1 or 2,
The host device is
A user information storage unit that stores identification information of the image forming apparatus that can be used in association with user identification information given to a user;
The image formation setting information storage unit that stores the identification information of the image forming apparatus that can form an image of the document data in addition to the fixed setting information associated with the document data;
The terminal device
A user identification information input unit for inputting user identification information;
In addition to the image formation instruction of the document data and the variable setting information, the communication unit that transmits the user identification information to a host device,
The host apparatus is configured to identify the image forming apparatus extracted from the user information storage unit based on the user identification information received from the terminal apparatus and the image forming apparatus identified in the fixed setting information associated with the document data. An image forming system that determines an image forming apparatus that can be used based on information. The image forming system according to claim 1, 2 or 3,
An image forming system, wherein the terminal device is a computer device. The image forming system according to claim 1, 2 or 3,
An image forming system, wherein the terminal device is a portable terminal device. The image forming system according to claim 1, 2 or 3,
An image forming system, wherein the host device is a computer device. The image forming system according to claim 1, 2 or 3,
An image forming system, wherein the image forming apparatus is a printer. The image forming system according to claim 1, 2 or 3,
An image forming system, wherein the image forming apparatus is a multifunction peripheral. The image forming system according to claim 1, 2 or 3,
An image forming system, wherein the terminal device and the host device are the same computer device. The image forming system according to claim 1, 2 or 3,
An image forming system, wherein the terminal device and the image forming apparatus are the same computer apparatus. The image forming system according to any one of claims 1 to 10,
An image forming system, wherein the image forming setting information is print setting information which is a condition for printing document data. The image forming system according to any one of claims 1 to 11,
An image forming system, wherein the document data is in a format that can be directly output to the image forming apparatus. The image forming system according to any one of claims 1 to 12,
An image forming system, wherein the document data is a portable general-purpose file that can be directly output to the image forming apparatus.

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