JP2010250862A - Image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming system that facilitates setting a network, and capable of reducing a burden of setting work as to a user limitation of an image forming device. <P>SOLUTION: A driver and an identifier notification function for the image forming device 1 is automatically installed, based on programs, when the driver installation program and the installation program for the identifier notification function for the image forming device 1 are stored in an external memory connected to a connection means 24, in an information processor 2 side. At the same time, the image forming device 1 is constituted to determine the presence of the identifier notified by the identifier notification function, when forming an image, forms the image when the identifier exists, and rejects the image formation when no identifier exists. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming system using an image forming apparatus applied to, for example, an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer apparatus, or an ink jet printer apparatus.

In recent years, in offices and the like, network environments have been built with the spread of LANs, and peripheral devices such as printers have been shared. .
Incidentally, in order to purchase an image forming apparatus such as a printer apparatus and use it in a network environment, network information including an IP address must be set for each printer apparatus. In this case, a multifunctional multifunction device having various functions such as a printer, copy, and fax, and a large printer usually have a dedicated operation panel having a large LCD display section and operation keys. Various settings (customization) including network information settings can be performed relatively easily from the operation panel.

  In contrast, small and relatively inexpensive printers can be connected to the network, but they do not have a dedicated large operation panel, and at most have a small LCD display and a few. In general, an operation unit using the operation buttons is provided.

  In addition, when managing the use of the apparatus by restricting the users of the image forming apparatus, the user inserts a dedicated card into the card reader or inputs a recitation number or the like from the operation panel, and the administrator side makes the image forming apparatus In general, the image forming apparatus is permitted to be used by the user when it matches the identifier (identification information such as an ID) set in.

  However, in this case, the administrator must perform user registration (setting) for the image forming apparatus in advance, and the registration work is very troublesome for the administrator.

  For such user restrictions, conventionally, a user code registration means, a means for writing the registered user code in the portable memory, and a means for inputting the user code are provided, and the registered user code is inputted. A technique is disclosed in which it is determined whether or not the user codes match and the use of the image forming apparatus is permitted or prohibited according to the determination result (for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-73253

  However, since the small and inexpensive printer device as described above is equipped with only a small display unit and several operation buttons, network setting work is not easy. That is, the setting is finally completed by repeating the operation of switching the menu by operating the operation button while watching a small screen and setting each time.

  If it is a familiar user, it can be done in a short time because it is a simple operation, but if it is an unfamiliar user, considerable labor is required.

  Further, regarding the setting related to the user restriction, even if there is the above-described known technique, if the number of users to be set is large, the man-hours required for setting by the administrator must be increased and a considerable time must be spent. In addition, every time the user uses the image forming apparatus, the user side must input a user code, a password, and the like, which is a troublesome operation.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides an image forming system capable of easily performing network setting and further reducing the burden of setting work for user restriction of the image forming apparatus. Is an issue.

The above problem is solved by the following means.
(1) An image forming system comprising: an image forming apparatus; and an information processing apparatus connected to the image forming apparatus directly or via a network and instructing the image forming apparatus to form an image. Whether the information processing apparatus stores an installation program for a driver for the image forming apparatus and an installation program for an identifier notification function in a connection unit capable of connecting an external storage device and the external storage device connected to the connection unit. Determining means for determining whether or not, and when the determining means determines that the program is stored, a control means for installing a driver and identifier notification function for the image forming apparatus based on the program The image forming apparatus includes an image forming job instructed by the information processing apparatus. When executing, a determination unit that determines presence / absence of the identifier notified by the identifier notification function, and performs the instructed image formation when the identifier exists, and forms an image when the identifier does not exist And an image forming system characterized by comprising:
(2) The image forming apparatus further includes connection means capable of connecting the external storage device, and the driver installation program and the identifier notification function installation program are connected to the connection means of the image forming apparatus. 2. The image forming system according to item 1, wherein the image forming system is written in the storage device from the image forming apparatus.
(3) The image forming apparatus executes an image forming process when the identifier exists, and selects whether to perform a process of rejecting the image forming process when the identifier does not exist. 3. The image forming system according to item 1 or 2, further comprising:

  According to the invention described in (1) above, on the information processing apparatus side, a driver installation program and an identifier notification function installation program for the image forming apparatus are stored in the external storage device connected to the connection means. In this case, a driver and identifier notification function for the image forming apparatus is automatically installed based on the program. On the other hand, when executing the image formation, the image forming apparatus determines whether or not the identifier notified by the identifier notification function is present. If the identifier is present, the image forming apparatus performs image formation and the identifier is not present. In some cases, image formation is rejected.

  For this reason, since image formation is executed only when an identifier exists, the user of the image forming apparatus can be restricted by the identifier, and the identifier communication function and driver installation in the information processing apparatus are automatically performed. Since this is done, it is possible to simplify the setting work of the administrator and user for performing the user restriction.

  According to the invention described in item (2) above, when the external storage device is connected to the connection means of the image forming apparatus, the driver installation program and the identifier notification function installation program are written from the image forming apparatus. The installation program can be easily stored in the external storage device without requiring any input operation.

  According to the invention described in (3), whether or not to execute the image forming process when the identifier is present, and to perform the process of rejecting the image forming process when the identifier is not present, It is easy to use because the administrator can select it.

1 is a configuration diagram of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the image forming apparatus. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the electric constitution of host PC. It is a figure which shows the example of a format which described network setting information. It is a figure which shows the example of a format which described several network setting information. It is a figure which shows the file state after completion of the network setting using the file of FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating network setting processing in the image forming apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the installation process in host PC. It is a flowchart which shows the installation process of the identifier notification function of step S102 of FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a communication format between a host PC and an image forming apparatus. FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a communication procedure between the host PC and the image forming apparatus when a print instruction is transmitted from the host PC to the image forming apparatus.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  1, the image forming system in this embodiment is composed of one or a plurality of image forming apparatuses 1... Composed of a relatively small printer device such as an inkjet printer device, and one or a plurality of computers composed of a computer or the like. The information processing apparatus (hereinafter also referred to as a host PC) 2 is provided, and the image forming apparatus 1 and the host PC 2 are connected directly or via a network NW as in this example.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the image forming apparatus 1.

  2, in addition to the ROM 12 and the RAM 13, the bus of the CPU 11 includes a network interface unit (indicated as a network I / F unit) 18, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory connection unit 14, an operation panel unit. 15, a storage unit 16, a printing unit 17, and the like are connected.

  In addition to overall control of the entire image forming apparatus 1, the CPU 11 determines whether or not network setting information is stored in the USB memory 3 connected to the USB memory connection unit 14. In this case, the network setting of the image forming apparatus 1 is executed based on the network setting information, and the storage unit 16 has a function of storing the contents of the executed network setting information.

  Further, the network setting information stored in the storage unit 16, the driver installation program installed in the host PC 2 and the identifier notification function installation program are written and stored in the USB memory 3 connected to the USB memory connection unit 14. It has a function to make it.

  Furthermore, as will be described later, when executing a print job issued from the host PC 2, the presence / absence of an identifier is determined, and control processing corresponding to the determination result is executed.

  The ROM 12 is a memory that stores an operation program of the CPU 11 and other data, and the RAM 13 is a memory that provides a work area when the CPU 11 executes various programs.

  The network interface unit 18 is an interface for transmitting and receiving data to and from the host PC 2 and other image forming apparatuses 1.

  The USB memory connection unit 14 is detachably connected to the USB memory 3 which is a portable external storage device capable of rewriting stored contents, and the network setting information is transferred to a specific format via the connection unit 14. The network setting information can be read from the USB memory 3 in which the file describing the above is stored, and the network setting information and program can be written from the image forming apparatus 1 side.

  The operation panel unit 15 includes various operation buttons and a display unit.

  The storage unit 16 stores USB memory setting information read from the USB memory 3, and stores various data such as a driver installation program installed in the host PC 2 and an identifier notification function installation program.

  The print unit 17 executes a print job instructed by the host PC 2 or the like and prints image data on paper.

  FIG. 3 shows the electrical configuration of the host PC 2. The host PC 2 includes a CPU 21, a ROM 22 and a RAM 23, a network interface unit 28, a USB memory connection unit 24, an input unit 25, a storage unit 26, a display device 27, and the like.

  In addition to the overall control of the host PC 2, the CPU 21 has a driver installation program for the image forming apparatus 1 stored in the USB memory 3 connected to the USB memory connection unit 24 and an identifier notification function in this embodiment. And install the driver and identifier notification function.

  The ROM 22 is a memory that stores an operation program of the CPU 21 and other data, and the RAM 23 is a memory that provides a work area when the CPU 21 executes various programs.

  The network interface unit 28 is an interface for transmitting and receiving data to and from the image forming apparatus 1 and other devices.

  The USB memory connection unit 24 is detachably connected to the USB memory 3, and the installation program can be written from the USB memory 3 through the connection unit 14.

  The input unit 25 includes a keyboard and a mouse.

  The storage unit 26 stores a driver installation program, an identifier notification function installation program, and other data read from the USB memory 3.

  The display device 27 displays data input from the input unit 25 and other data, and includes a liquid crystal display device and a CRT.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of a specific format describing the network setting information.

  In order to connect the plurality of image forming apparatuses 1... To the network NW and share them within a group such as an office, each image forming apparatus 1 needs its own IP address. Subnet mask and default gateway settings are required.

  The USB memory 3 has a file in which network related information as shown in FIG. 3 is written in a specific format. Then, by inserting and connecting the USB memory 3 to the USB memory connection unit 14 of the image forming apparatus 1, the network setting information is read from the file stored in the USB memory 3, and the network setting is automatically performed. Done.

  The network setting process in the image forming apparatus 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. This process is executed by the CPU 11 operating according to a control program stored in the ROM 12 or the like.

  In FIG. 7, in step S001, it is determined whether or not the USB memory 3 is connected to the connection unit 14. If the USB memory 3 is connected (YES in step S001), the process proceeds to step S002, and the USB memory 3 is connected. If not connected (NO in step S001), the process ends.

  In step S002, it is determined whether there is a file in which the network setting information is written in the USB memory 3. If there is a file in which the network setting information is written in the USB memory 3 (YES in step S002), in S003, The network setting information is read from the file. In S004, the read network setting information is stored in the storage unit 16, the network setting is performed, and then the process ends.

  If there is no file in which the network setting information is described in the USB memory 3 (NO in S002), in S006, the file in which the network setting information stored in the storage unit 16 of the image forming apparatus 1 is described is stored in the USB memory 3. After writing to and storing, the process is terminated.

  After that, when the file is edited by the user and the USB memory 3 in which the network setting information is described is connected to the connection unit 14 again, the network setting is performed through S003 and S004. The network setting of another image forming apparatus 1 may be performed using the USB memory 3 in which the file is edited.

  Thus, in this embodiment, when the USB memory 3 is connected to the USB connection unit 14 of the image forming apparatus, it is determined whether or not the network setting information is stored in the USB memory 3, and the network setting information is stored. If it is determined that the network setting of the image forming apparatus is automatically performed based on the network setting information, even if the image forming apparatus is a small image forming apparatus with a small operation panel, display unit, etc. Since there is no need to input network settings using the operation panel or display unit, the work load of network settings by an administrator or the like can be reduced.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the network setting information is not stored in the USB memory 3 connected to the connection unit 14, the network setting information stored in the internal storage unit 16 of the image forming apparatus is the USB memory 3. Since the information is written in the memory 3, the administrator or the like can edit the written network setting information and use it for the network setting again or for the network setting of another image forming apparatus.

  Further, when the network setting information (Data 1 to 6) of a plurality of image forming apparatuses 1 is described in the file of the USB memory 3 as shown in FIG. The network setting of the image forming apparatus can be performed, and the work for performing the network setting of a plurality of image forming apparatuses can be simplified and the working time can be shortened.

  In this case, each image forming apparatus 1 selects and sets arbitrary network setting information from among a plurality of network setting information as its own setting, and further deletes the set network setting information from the file in the USB memory 3. It is.

  Accordingly, when the network setting is performed using one of the files (for example, Data 6) in which the network setting information shown in FIG. 5 is described, when the network setting of one image forming apparatus 1 is completed. As shown in FIG. 6, the used network setting data (Data 6) is erased. For this reason, it is possible to avoid the inconvenience that duplicate network settings are made by using the network setting information that has been used in other image forming apparatuses.

  The network setting information may be used from the beginning of the data in the file, from the end of the data, or may be extracted completely at random.

  Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. In this embodiment, a printer driver installation program for the image forming apparatus 1 and an identifier (ID) notification function installation program are stored in the USB memory 3, and the USB memory 3 is used to send data to the host PC 2. While installing the driver, it is possible to set up a user restriction function.

  That is, when the USB memory 3 storing the printer driver and the identifier notification function installation program is inserted and connected to the USB memory connection unit 24 of the host PC 2, the installer is activated to install the printer driver and the identifier notification function installation program. Are installed in the host PC 2 respectively.

  The installation process performed in the host PC 2 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. This process is executed by the CPU 21 operating in accordance with a control program stored in the ROM 22 or the like.

  In FIG. 8, in step S101, the printer driver installation program is installed. In step S102, the identifier notification function installation program is installed and the process ends.

  The installation process (step S102) of the identifier notification function installation program will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. Here, the identifier is described as an ID code.

  In FIG. 9, in step S201, it is determined whether or not the ID code has been installed. If the ID code has been installed (YES in step S201), the process ends. If the ID code has not been installed (NO in step S201), installation is executed in step S202, and the ID code is updated in step S203 and the process is terminated.

  These installation programs may be stored in the USB memory 3 by connecting an arbitrary USB memory 3 to the USB memory connection unit 14 of the image forming apparatus 1 and writing to the USB memory 3 from the image forming apparatus 1. Further, the USB memory 3 in which the installation program is stored in advance may be included when the image forming apparatus 1 is purchased. Alternatively, it may be downloaded from the Internet by inputting the serial number of the image forming apparatus 1.

  In the installation of the identifier notification function, only one user restriction may be performed as one ID code for one image forming apparatus 1, or the ID code is updated for each setup to count the number of printed sheets and the operation based thereon. It is good also as an identifier for restricting.

  The update of the ID code is provided as an installer function of the identifier notification function, and is configured to update the installer itself upon completion of installation on the host PC 2. Separately, the file may be updated as long as the file holding the ID code is stored in the USB memory 3 and the ID code is read from the file and set in the host PC 2.

  FIG. 10 shows an example of a communication format when a print instruction is issued from the host PC 2 to the image forming apparatus 1.

  If the identifier notification function installation program is installed, normal print instruction data (command) is transmitted with the ID code at the head, but if it is not installed, the image forming apparatus has no ID code. Sent to 1. For this reason, it is possible to control whether or not to execute printing based on the presence or absence of the ID code.

  FIG. 11 shows a communication procedure between the host PC 2 and the image forming apparatus 1 from when printing is instructed until actual image data output.

  In this embodiment, it is possible to select whether to restrict the user (valid / invalid of user restriction) from the operation panel unit 15 of the image forming apparatus 1.

  If the user restriction function is set to “valid”, a print instruction from the host PC 2 that does not transmit the ID code is not accepted, and “not printable” is notified to the host PC 2.

  When the ID code is transmitted, the host PC 2 is notified that “printing is possible”, and when the preparation of the image forming apparatus 1 is completed, the image forming apparatus 1 is notified that “image writing is possible” and printing is performed according to the image data from the host PC 2. Will perform the action.

  If the user restriction function is set to “invalid” on the image forming apparatus 1 side, “printing is permitted” is notified regardless of the presence or absence of the ID code, and printing is performed.

  Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, although the USB memory is exemplified as the external storage device, a floppy disk, a CD, or other storage device may be used.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 2 Information processing apparatus (host computer)
3 USB memory (external storage device)
11 CPU (determination means, control means)
14 USB memory connection unit 16 Internal storage unit 21 CPU (determination unit, control unit)
24 USB memory connection

Claims (3)

An image forming system comprising: an image forming apparatus; and an information processing apparatus connected to the image forming apparatus directly or via a network and instructing the image forming apparatus to form an image;
The information processing apparatus includes:
A connection means capable of connecting an external storage device;
Determining means for determining whether or not a driver installation program and an identifier notification function installation program for the image forming apparatus are stored in the external storage device connected to the connection means;
A control unit that installs a driver and an identifier notification function for the image forming apparatus based on the program when the determination unit determines that the program is stored;
With
The image forming apparatus includes:
A determination unit that determines the presence or absence of the identifier notified by the identifier notification function when executing an image forming job instructed by the information processing apparatus;
Control means for performing the instructed image formation when the identifier is present, and rejecting image formation when the identifier is not present;
An image forming system comprising: The image forming apparatus further includes connection means capable of connecting the external storage device,
The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the driver installation program and the identifier notification function installation program are written from the image forming apparatus to the external storage device connected to the connection unit of the image forming apparatus. .   The image forming apparatus includes a selection unit that performs an image forming process when the identifier exists, and selects whether to perform a process of rejecting the image forming process when the identifier does not exist. The image forming system according to claim 1 or 2.

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