JP2010283652A - Data output system, data output device which output data, information processing apparatus, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mechanism to prevent the output of data which are not intended by a user as compared with the case where there is not this configuration, when the information of a configuration established in the information processing apparatus and the information of the current configuration of the device to output the data are different. <P>SOLUTION: A storage portion of an image forming device stores the information of configuration of the self device. A terminal device accepts the configuration information of the image forming device, and makes the storage portion store it, makes correspondence of a processing condition selected from among the processing conditions corresponding to the configuration of the image forming device, the data to become the object of processing, and the configuration information stored in the storage portion, and transmits it. The image forming device stops the output processing of the data transmitted from the terminal device, when the configuration information transmitted from the terminal device and the information of the configuration stored in the storage portion of the self device do not correspond. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a data output system, an output device that outputs data, an information processing device, and a program.

  A technique is known in which information indicating the configuration of an image forming apparatus is acquired so that only printing conditions according to the configuration of the image forming apparatus can be set. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for acquiring information about a function supported by a printer from the printer, constructing a user interface based on the acquired information, and displaying a print condition setting screen. Patent Document 2 discloses configuration information from other installed printer drivers when a driver that does not have configuration information corresponding to the printer model, such as a PDF direct printer driver, is used. A technique for acquiring and displaying a print setting screen based on the acquired configuration information is disclosed.

JP 2004-72247 A JP 2005-92744 A

  In the present invention, when the information on the configuration set in the information processing device is different from the information on the current configuration of the device that outputs data, the user's The purpose is to provide a mechanism to prevent unintended data output.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a data output system including at least one of output means for outputting data transmitted from an information processing device, data to be processed, and information of a configuration set by the information processing device. Data transmission means for transmitting the information on the configuration of the device that outputs the data to the device that outputs the data, the information on the configuration transmitted from the data transmission means, and the data Control means for controlling the output of data from the output means based on comparison with the configuration information set in the apparatus.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a data output system comprising: a first storage unit that stores information on a configuration of a device that outputs data; an output unit that outputs data transmitted from an information processing device; and the information Second storage means for storing information on the configuration of the apparatus that outputs the data received by the processing apparatus, data to be processed, and information on at least a part of the configuration stored in the second storage means Based on a comparison between the data transmission means for transmitting the data to the data output device, the configuration information transmitted from the data transmission means, and the configuration information stored in the first storage means And control means for controlling the output of data from the output means.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the data output system according to the second aspect, wherein the control means is stored in the first storage means and information on the structure transmitted from the data transmission means. If the information of the configuration is correct, output of data from the output means is permitted.

  A data output system according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the data output system according to the second or third aspect, wherein the output means performs a process of transmitting the data transmitted from the information processing apparatus by facsimile or printing the data. The data transmitting means does not transmit the information of the configuration stored in the second storage means when the data printing process is instructed. To do.

  In the data output system according to claim 5 of the present invention, in the configuration according to claim 4, when the information of the configuration is not transmitted from the data transmission unit, the control unit transmits the data from the output unit. It is characterized by permitting output.

  A data output system according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is the configuration according to any one of the second to fifth aspects, wherein the configuration information transmitted from the data transmission means and the first storage means When the stored configuration information does not match the configuration information, the configuration information transmitting unit transmits the configuration information stored in the first storage unit to the information processing apparatus.

  A data output system according to a seventh aspect of the present invention corresponds to the configuration according to any one of the second to sixth aspects, based on the configuration information stored in the second storage means. Selection receiving means for receiving a selection of processing conditions from among the processing conditions, wherein the data transmission means receives the processing conditions received by the selection receiving means, the data to be processed, and the second storage; Associating at least a part of the configuration information stored in the means and transmitting the data to the device that outputs the data, and the output means outputs the data according to the processing condition transmitted from the data transmitting means It is characterized by that.

  The data output system according to an eighth aspect of the present invention is the data output system according to the seventh aspect, wherein the data transmission means is configured to receive the information of the configuration stored in the second storage means by the selection receiving means. Information on a configuration used when data is output in accordance with a processing condition accepted for selection is transmitted to a device that outputs the data.

  A data output system according to a ninth aspect of the present invention is the configuration according to the seventh or eighth aspect, wherein the configuration information transmitted from the data transmission means and the first storage means are stored. If the information does not match, the processing condition that is not normally processed by the configuration of the device that outputs the data among the processing conditions transmitted from the data transmission means is displayed on the display means, and the data output Instruction receiving means for receiving an instruction as to whether or not to execute the operation, and the control means prevents the output means from outputting data when the instruction receiving means receives an instruction to stop outputting data. And when the instruction receiving unit receives an instruction to execute the output of data, the output unit performs the processing according to processing conditions other than the processing conditions that are not normally processed. And controlling so that over data is output.

  An output device that outputs data according to claim 10 of the present invention is set by a storage unit that stores configuration information, an output unit that outputs data transmitted from the information processing device, and the information processing device. Based on the comparison between the configuration information transmitted from the information processing apparatus and the configuration information stored in the storage means, and at least part of the configuration information of the output device that outputs data And control means for controlling the output of data from the output means.

  An information processing apparatus according to an eleventh aspect of the present invention is stored in the storage means that stores information on the configuration of the apparatus that outputs data and is received by the information processing apparatus, and data to be processed. Data transmitting means for transmitting at least a part of the configuration information to a device for outputting the data.

  According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program that outputs at least information on a configuration of an output unit that outputs data transmitted from an information processing device and an output device that outputs data set by the information processing device. Based on the comparison of the configuration information transmitted from the information processing apparatus and the configuration information stored in the storage unit that stores the configuration information of the output apparatus that outputs data. , A program for causing a function as a control means for controlling the output of data from the output means.

  According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided at least a part of a program stored in storage means for storing data to be processed and information on a configuration of a device that outputs data received by the information processing device. Is a program for functioning as data transmission means for transmitting the information of the configuration to the device that outputs the data.

According to the inventions according to claims 1 to 3 and 10 to 13, this configuration is provided when the configuration information set in the information processing device and the current configuration information of the device that outputs data are different. Compared to the case where the user does not, data output unintended by the user can be prevented.
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when processing for printing data is performed, it is possible to prevent transmission of configuration information.
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, data output can be permitted when data printing is performed.
According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, when the information of the configuration set in the information processing device and the current configuration of the device that outputs data are different, the information can be obtained without making a request from the information processing device. Information on the current configuration of the apparatus from which the processing apparatus outputs data can be acquired.
According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, data can be output according to the selected processing condition.
According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, even if the configuration that is not used when outputting data according to the selected processing condition is different from the current configuration of the device that outputs data, the data is output. Can do.
According to the invention according to claim 9, when the information on the configuration set in the information processing device is different from the information on the current configuration of the device that outputs data, whether or not the data output is executed is used. Person can instruct.

The figure which shows the structure of the data output system which concerns on embodiment. The block diagram which shows the structure of a terminal device. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus. The figure which shows an example of device configuration information. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a driver screen of the image forming apparatus. The sequence diagram which shows an output process. The figure which shows an example of a fax structure screen. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a structure of data transmitted to an image forming apparatus.

[Constitution]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a data output system 1 according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the data output system 1 includes a terminal device 10 and an image forming apparatus 20. The terminal device 10 and the image forming apparatus 20 are connected via a communication line N such as a LAN (Local Area Network).

(Configuration of terminal device)
Next, the configuration of the terminal device 10 will be described. The terminal apparatus 10 is an example of an information processing apparatus according to the present invention, and a printer driver for controlling the image forming apparatus 20 is installed. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the terminal device 10. As shown in the figure, the terminal device 10 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11, a memory 12, a communication unit 13, a storage unit 14, an operation unit 15, and a display unit 16. The CPU 11 controls each unit of the terminal device 10 by executing a program stored in the memory 12. The memory 12 includes, for example, a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory), and stores programs and data executed by the CPU 11. The communication unit 13 establishes communication with the image forming apparatus 20 connected via the communication line N, and transmits and receives data. The storage unit 14 includes, for example, a hard disk and stores various data. The operation unit 15 includes, for example, a mouse and a keyboard, and inputs an operation signal corresponding to a user operation to the CPU 11. The display unit 16 includes a liquid crystal display, for example, and displays an image according to the control of the CPU 11.

(Configuration of image forming apparatus)
Next, the configuration of the image forming apparatus 20 will be described. The image forming apparatus 20 is an example of an output apparatus that outputs data according to the present invention, and has a plurality of functions such as a printer function, a scanner function, a copy function, and a facsimile function. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the image forming apparatus 20. As shown in the figure, the image forming apparatus 20 includes a CPU 21, a memory 22, a communication unit 23, a storage unit 24, a display operation unit 25, a facsimile unit 26, an image reading unit 27, and an image forming unit. 28. The CPU 21 controls each unit of the image forming apparatus 20 by executing a program stored in the memory 22. The memory 22 includes, for example, a ROM and a RAM, and stores programs and data executed by the CPU 21. The communication unit 23 transmits / receives data to / from the terminal device 20 connected via the communication line N. The storage unit 24 includes, for example, a hard disk, and stores device configuration information D1 that is configuration information of the image forming apparatus 20. The display operation unit 25 includes, for example, a touch panel, displays an image according to the control of the CPU 21, and inputs an operation signal according to a user operation to the CPU 21.

  The facsimile unit 26 transmits / receives data to / from a communication device (not shown) connected via a telephone network (not shown) according to the facsimile standard. For example, the facsimile unit 26 performs direct fax processing in which data transmitted from the terminal device 10 is transmitted to the communication device described above in accordance with processing conditions transmitted in association with the data. The “direct fax processing” means that a document created by application software or the like is transmitted from the terminal device 10 via the image forming apparatus 20 by facsimile. The facsimile unit 26 is an example of an output unit that performs a process of transmitting data transmitted from the terminal device 10 by facsimile. This “sending by facsimile” means sending data in accordance with the facsimile standard. In the following description, transmitting data by facsimile is referred to as “facsimile transmission”. The image reading unit 27 includes a scanner device, for example, and reads an image of a document to generate image data. The image forming unit 28 includes a printer device that forms an image by, for example, electrophotography, and forms and outputs an image corresponding to the image data on a sheet. For example, when the image data transmitted from the terminal device 10 is supplied, the image forming unit 28 forms an image corresponding to the image data on a sheet in accordance with the processing conditions transmitted in association with the image data. Perform print processing. That is, the image forming unit 28 is an example of an output unit that performs processing for printing data transmitted from the terminal device 10. “Printing data” means forming an image corresponding to the data on a recording material. Further, as described above, the function of the output means includes not only forming an image according to data on a sheet but also transmitting data used in facsimile transmission.

  Next, the device configuration information D1 stored in the storage unit 24 will be described. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the device configuration information D1. As shown in the figure, the configuration information of each configuration provided in the image forming apparatus 20 is arranged in the device configuration information D1. This configuration information is information indicating whether or not the image forming apparatus 20 has the configuration, the type of configuration, setting contents for the configuration, and the like. For example, it refers to information on a configuration that is attached as an option to the image forming apparatus 20. In the device configuration information D1 shown in the figure, the “memory capacity” is “768 MB”. This indicates that the image forming apparatus 20 includes the memory 22 and the capacity of the memory 22 is “768 MB”. In the device configuration information D1, “double-sided printing unit” is “present”. This indicates that the image forming unit 28 of the image forming apparatus 20 includes a double-sided printing unit used when performing double-sided printing. This double-sided printing is a process for forming images on both sides of a sheet. This device configuration information D1 may be set by, for example, a user, or when the image forming apparatus 20 has a detection function for detecting that the configuration of the apparatus itself has been changed, The CPU 21 may set the detected configuration change. Further, as will be described later, the device configuration information set in the image forming apparatus 20 (device configuration information stored in the storage unit 24) and the device configuration information received by the terminal device 10 may be different. . For example, the device configuration information set in the image forming apparatus 20 includes configuration information of a configuration that is attached to the image forming apparatus 20 as an option. The device configuration information set in the terminal apparatus 10 includes this configuration information. Information may not be included.

[Operation]
Next, the operation of the data output system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described. Here, a process when the terminal apparatus 10 acquires the device configuration information D1 from the image forming apparatus 20 will be described first. The user displays the driver screen P shown in FIG. 5A on the display unit 16 of the terminal device 10 and then operates the operation unit 15 to acquire the acquisition button B written “Acquire device configuration information”. Press. When the acquisition button B is pressed, the CPU 11 transmits an acquisition request for requesting device configuration information from the communication unit 13 to the image forming apparatus 20.

  When an acquisition request is transmitted from the terminal device 10, the CPU 21 of the image forming apparatus 20 receives this acquisition request via the communication unit 23. Subsequently, the CPU 21 reads the device configuration information D1 stored in the storage unit 24 and transmits the device configuration information D1 from the communication unit 23 to the terminal device 10. When device configuration information D1 is transmitted from the image forming apparatus 20, the CPU 11 of the terminal apparatus 10 receives the device configuration information D1 via the communication unit 13, and stores the received device configuration information D1 in the storage unit 14. Let That is, the storage unit 14 is an example of a second storage unit that stores information on the configuration of the image forming apparatus 20 received by the terminal device 10. This “accepted by the terminal device 10” may be acquired by the terminal device 10 from the image forming apparatus 20 as described above, or set by the user in the terminal device 10 as described later. This includes cases where In this case, as shown in FIG. 5B, the device configuration information D1 stored in the storage unit 14 is displayed on the driver screen P described above.

  Next, an output process in which the image forming apparatus 20 outputs the image data transmitted from the terminal apparatus 10 will be described with reference to the sequence diagram shown in FIG. The image forming apparatus 20 performs a print process for printing the image data transmitted from the terminal apparatus 10 and a direct fax process for transmitting the image data transmitted from the terminal apparatus 10 by fax. First, the user operates the operation unit 15 to designate which process is to be executed. Here, it is assumed that print processing is designated by the user. In this case, the CPU 11 of the terminal device 10 generates screen data of a setting screen for setting processing conditions for print processing based on the device configuration information D1 stored in the storage unit 14. Subsequently, the CPU 11 displays a setting screen corresponding to the generated screen data on the display unit 16 (step S11).

  In this setting screen, processing conditions that are normally processed when the configuration of the image forming apparatus 20 indicated by the device configuration information D1 is used are displayed in a selectable manner. This “normally processed” means that the process intended by the user is performed. For example, in the example of FIG. 5B, “double-sided printing unit” is “present” in the device configuration information D1. In this case, the processing condition “double-sided printing” is displayed in a selectable manner on the setting screen. Further, in the example of FIG. 5B, “large-capacity paper feeding unit” and “offset discharge unit” are both “none” in the device configuration information D1. In this case, “large-capacity paper feeding unit” and “offset discharge unit” are not displayed or displayed so that they cannot be selected. That is, the CPU 11 and the display unit 16 are an example of a selection receiving unit that receives selection of a processing condition from processing conditions corresponding to the configuration based on the configuration information stored in the storage unit 14.

  When the setting screen is displayed on the display unit 16, the user operates the operation unit 15 to select a processing condition. Here, it is assumed that the processing condition including the above-described “double-sided printing” is selected. When the processing condition is selected, the CPU 11 generates a processing request including the selected processing condition and image data to be processed. This image data is created by, for example, an application program stored in the storage unit 14. Subsequently, the CPU 11 reads the device configuration information D1 from the storage unit 14, and transmits the generated processing request and the device configuration information D1 from the communication unit 13 to the image forming apparatus 20 (step S12). That is, the CPU 11 associates the processing conditions for which selection has been accepted on the setting screen, the data to be processed, and the configuration information stored in the storage unit 14, and transmits the data to the image forming apparatus 20. It is an example of a means.

  When the processing request and the device configuration information D1 are transmitted, the CPU 21 of the image forming apparatus 20 receives this via the communication unit 23 (step S13). Subsequently, the CPU 21 compares the received device configuration information D1 with the device configuration information stored in the storage unit 24, and determines whether or not both pieces of device configuration information match (step S14). For example, when the configuration of the image forming apparatus 20 has not been changed after the above-described device configuration information D1 is transmitted to the terminal device 10, the device configuration information D1 shown in FIG. Will be. In this case, the CPU 21 determines in step S14 that the received device configuration information D1 matches the device configuration information stored in the storage unit 24 (step S14: YES). And CPU21 performs the output process according to the process request received in step S13 mentioned above (step S15). In this example, the CPU 21 controls the image forming unit 28 to form an image corresponding to the image data on a sheet according to the processing condition included in the received processing request. That is, the CPU 21 controls the output of data from the facsimile unit 26 or the image forming unit 28 based on the comparison between the configuration information transmitted from the terminal device 10 and the configuration information stored in the storage unit 24. It is an example of the control means to do. When the configuration information transmitted from the terminal device 10 matches the configuration information stored in the storage unit 24, the CPU 21 outputs data from the facsimile unit 26 or the image forming unit 28. to approve.

  On the other hand, it is assumed that the “double-sided printing unit” is removed from the image forming apparatus 20 after the above-described device configuration information D1 is transmitted to the terminal apparatus 10. In this case, the device configuration information D1 shown in FIG. 4 is updated, and “duplex printing unit” is changed to “none”. In the following description, the updated device configuration information D1 is referred to as “device configuration information D2”. In this case, the CPU 21 determines in step S14 described above that the received device configuration information D1 does not match the device configuration information stored in the storage unit 24 (step S14: NO). And CPU21 stops the output process according to the process request received in step S13 mentioned above (step S16). At this time, the CPU 21 may supply the image data included in the processing request to the image forming unit 28, and then control the image forming unit 28 to stop the printing process, or the image data included in the processing request may be displayed as an image. The printing process may be stopped by not supplying to the forming unit 28. When the output process is stopped, the CPU 21 may transmit information indicating that the output process is stopped from the communication unit 23 to the terminal device 10.

  As described above, when the device configuration information does not match, the output processing is stopped when the device configuration information stored in the terminal device 10 is different from that indicating the current configuration of the image forming apparatus 20. This is because the output process may not be executed according to the processing conditions included in the processing request. For example, as described above, when the “double-sided printing unit” is “present” in the device configuration information D1 stored in the terminal device 10, and the processing condition “double-sided printing” is selected by the user, The image forming apparatus 20 is requested to perform “double-sided printing”. However, if the “double-sided printing unit” is removed from the image forming apparatus 20, the requested double-sided printing cannot be performed. In this case, if the image forming apparatus 20 executes the output process, an output process unintended by the user is performed.

  After stopping the output process, the CPU 21 reads the device configuration information D2 from the storage unit 24, and transmits the device configuration information D2 from the communication unit 23 to the terminal device 10 (step S17). That is, when the configuration information transmitted from the terminal device 10 and the configuration information stored in the storage unit 24 do not match, the CPU 21 uses the configuration information stored in the storage unit 24 as the terminal. 3 is an example of a configuration information transmission unit that transmits to the apparatus 10; When new device configuration information D2 is transmitted from the image forming apparatus 20, the CPU 11 of the terminal device 10 receives the device configuration information D2 via the communication unit 13 (step S18), and receives the received device configuration information D2. Is stored in the storage unit 14 (step S19). As a result, on the setting screen displayed next time, processing conditions that are normally processed when the configuration of the image forming apparatus 20 indicated by the device configuration information D2 is used are displayed in a selectable manner.

  Next, a process when the terminal apparatus 10 does not have a function of acquiring the device configuration information D1 from the image forming apparatus 20 will be described. In this case, the user needs to set the device configuration information D1 indicating the configuration of the image forming apparatus 20 by operating the operation unit 15 of the terminal device 10. At this time, for example, if the type of the fax card is not set correctly, there is a possibility that erroneous transmission of the facsimile may occur. The “fax card” is hardware including a line port necessary for the image forming apparatus 20 to realize a facsimile reception function or transmission function. “Facsimile transmission of facsimile” means that data is not transmitted to the destination intended by the user.

  For example, the facsimile unit 26 of the image forming apparatus 20 supports two types of fax cards, “fax card A” and “fax card B”. The functions of these two types of fax cards differ in the following points. For example, the effective range of the abbreviated number of “Fax Card A” is 1 to 999, and only “NN *” and “***” are permitted for wild card designation. The maximum number of broadcasts of “fax card A” is 50. On the other hand, the valid range of the abbreviated number of “fax card B” is 1 to 2000, and only “NNN *” and “NN **” are permitted for wild card designation. The maximum number of broadcasts of “fax card B” is 200. Due to these differences, for example, if the user cannot set the type of the fax card correctly, there is a risk of erroneous transmission of the facsimile described above.

  Next, specific processing will be described. First, after installing the above-described printer driver in the terminal device 10, the user causes the display unit 16 to display the fax configuration screen Q shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, information on the optional configuration of the facsimile unit 26 of the image forming apparatus 20 is displayed on the fax configuration screen Q. The user operates the operation unit 15 to set information on this optional configuration. The CPU 11 causes the storage unit 14 to store information on the option configuration set by the user.

  When the direct fax processing is designated by the user and the processing conditions are selected, the CPU 11 selects the “fax module”, “external / extension switching kit”, “IP fax (SIP :) corresponding to the type of fax card”. Information of an optional configuration “Session Initiation Protocol) kit” is read from the storage unit 14. The “fax module”, “external / extension switching kit”, and “IP fax kit” have a configuration that may cause erroneous transmission of a facsimile in direct fax processing if they are not set correctly. . Then, the CPU 11 transmits the configuration information read from the storage unit 14 as device configuration information to the image forming apparatus 20 from the communication unit 13 together with a processing request for direct fax processing. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a structure of data transmitted to the image forming apparatus 20 at this time. As shown in the figure, the data transmitted to the image forming apparatus 20 includes a command k corresponding to the set values of the configuration of “fax module”, “external / extension switch kit”, and “IP fax kit”. ing.

  In this case, the CPU 21 of the image forming apparatus 20 receives the device configuration information and the processing request transmitted from the terminal device 10 via the communication unit 23 as described above, and the received device configuration information and the storage unit 24. If the device configuration information stored in the device does not match, output processing corresponding to the processing request, that is, direct fax processing is stopped.

  The terminal device 10 has not only a function for generating a processing request for direct fax processing but also a function for generating a processing request for print processing for the purpose of performing test printing of a fax transmission sheet. When this print processing is performed, erroneous transmission of a facsimile does not occur. Therefore, the terminal device 10 may not transmit the above-described device configuration information. That is, the CPU 11 of the terminal device 10 does not have to transmit the information of the configuration stored in the storage unit 14 when the data printing process is instructed. In this case, the CPU 21 of the image forming apparatus 20 has received the processing request from the terminal device 10, but if the device configuration information has not been transmitted, the CPU 21 does not perform the above-described determination and performs the printing process as it is according to the processing request. Do. That is, the CPU 21 permits the output of data when configuration information is not transmitted from the terminal device 10.

[Modification]
The above is the description of the embodiment, but the contents of this embodiment can be modified as follows. Further, the following modifications may be combined as appropriate.
(Modification 1)
In the above-described embodiment, if the device configuration information does not match in step S14, the image forming apparatus 20 itself transmits the device configuration information D2 to the terminal device 10 in step S17. Accordingly, the device configuration information D2 may be transmitted. In this case, when it is determined that the device configuration information does not match, the CPU 21 of the image forming apparatus 20 transmits information indicating that the device configuration information does not match from the communication unit 23 to the terminal device 10. When information indicating that the device configuration information does not match is transmitted from the image forming apparatus 20, the CPU 11 of the terminal apparatus 10 transmits an acquisition request for requesting device configuration information from the communication unit 13 to the image forming apparatus 20. When an acquisition request is transmitted from the terminal device 10, the CPU 21 of the image forming apparatus 20 reads the device configuration information D <b> 2 stored in the storage unit 24 and transmits the device configuration information D <b> 2 from the communication unit 23 to the terminal device 10.

(Modification 2)
In the above-described embodiment, all the device configuration information D1 stored in the storage unit 14 in step S12 is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 20, but only a part of the device configuration information D1 is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 20. May be. In this case, the CPU 11 of the terminal device 10 extracts, from the device configuration information D1 stored in the storage unit 14, information related to the process selected by the user and the process conditions. For example, when the processing condition “double-sided printing” is selected by the user, the configuration information of “double-sided printing unit” used when performing double-sided printing is extracted. Subsequently, the CPU 11 transmits the extracted device configuration information D1 as use device configuration information from the communication unit 13 to the image forming apparatus 20. That is, the CPU 11 extracts, from the configuration information stored in the storage unit 14, configuration information indicating a configuration used when performing output processing according to the selected processing condition, and uses the extracted configuration information as an image of used configuration information. Transmit to the forming apparatus 20. When used device configuration information is transmitted from the image forming apparatus 20, the CPU 21 of the image forming apparatus 20 determines whether or not the used device configuration information is included in the device configuration information stored in the storage unit 24. If it is included, output processing is performed. If it is not included, output processing is stopped. That is, when the usage configuration information transmitted from the terminal device 10 is not included in the configuration information stored in the storage unit 24, the CPU 21 performs control so that the above-described output processing is not executed.

  Further, the CPU 21 of the image forming apparatus 20 may extract from the device configuration information D1 transmitted from the terminal device 10 information related to the processing conditions transmitted in association with the device configuration information D1. In this case, the CPU 21 determines whether or not the extracted device configuration information is included in the device configuration information stored in the storage unit 24. If included, the CPU 21 performs an output process, and is included. If not, the output process is stopped.

(Modification 3)
In the above-described embodiment, when the device configuration information does not match in step S14, the output process is stopped. However, the user may select whether or not to stop the output process. In this case, when the CPU 21 of the image forming apparatus 20 determines that the device configuration information does not match, the device configuration information D2 stored in the storage unit 24 indicates the processing conditions included in the received processing request. For the processing conditions that are not processed normally in the configuration of the image forming apparatus 20, a message indicating that normal processing cannot be performed is displayed on the display operation unit 25. This “unsuccessfully processed” means that a process unintended by the user (for example, erroneous transmission of a facsimile) is performed. For example, if the processing request includes the processing condition “double-sided printing” but the “double-sided printing unit” in the device configuration information D2 stored in the storage unit 24 is “none”, the CPU 21 A message indicating that “print” cannot be performed is displayed on the display operation unit 25. The display operation unit 25 also displays an execution button for instructing execution of output processing and a cancel button for instructing cancellation of output processing together with this message. That is, when the configuration information transmitted from the terminal device 10 and the configuration information stored in the storage unit 24 do not match, the CPU 21 among the processing conditions transmitted from the terminal device 10, This is an example of an instruction receiving unit that displays processing conditions that are not normally processed depending on the configuration of the image forming apparatus 20 on the display operation unit 25 and receives an instruction as to whether or not to execute data output.

  In this case, the user sees the message displayed on the display operation unit 25 and selects whether to execute the output process. For example, when the user operates the display operation unit 25 and presses a cancel button for instructing to cancel the output process, the CPU 21 proceeds to step S16 described above and stops the output process. That is, when receiving an instruction to stop outputting data, the CPU 21 performs control so that data is not output. On the other hand, when the display operation unit 25 is operated by the user and the execution button for instructing execution of the output process is pressed, the CPU 21 proceeds to step S15 described above and performs the output process. In this output process, instead of “double-sided printing”, for example, a process of forming an image for two sides on one side of one sheet of paper or a process of forming an image on one side of two sheets of paper is performed. That is, when receiving an instruction to execute data output, the CPU 21 performs control so that data is output according to processing conditions other than the processing conditions that are not normally processed.

  In this modification, processing conditions that cannot be processed normally are displayed on the display / operation unit 25 of the image forming apparatus 20. However, processing conditions that cannot be processed normally may be displayed on the display unit 16 of the terminal device 10. In this case, the CPU 21 of the image forming apparatus 20 transmits processing conditions that cannot be processed normally from the communication unit 23 to the terminal device 10. The CPU 11 of the terminal device 10 receives processing conditions transmitted from the image forming apparatus 20 that cannot be processed normally via the communication unit 13 and causes the display unit 16 to display the processing conditions. When the user operates the operation unit 15 to instruct whether or not to execute output processing, the CPU 11 transmits the instructed content from the communication unit 13 to the image forming apparatus 20.

(Modification 4)
The device configuration information D1 indicating the configuration of the image forming apparatus 20 is not limited to the example illustrated in FIG. For example, the device configuration information D1 includes the version of the memory 22, the presence / absence of various paper feeding units, the presence / absence of various discharging units, the presence / absence of various finishers, the presence / absence of a mailbox for storing e-mails, Information indicating presence / absence, presence / absence of extension of destination table in fax processing, presence / absence of a facsimile card used in fax processing, presence / absence of an internal / external line switching unit for switching between an internal line and an external line in the fax processing may be included. In short, the device configuration information only needs to indicate the configuration of the image forming apparatus 20.

  In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the “double-sided printing unit” is removed from the image forming apparatus 20 has been described as an example of changing the configuration of the image forming apparatus 10. Not limited to. For example, a new configuration may be added to the image forming apparatus 20. In this case, configuration information of a new configuration is added to the device configuration information D1 stored in the storage unit 24. Further, when the configuration of the image forming apparatus 10 cannot be used due to a failure or the like, the image forming apparatus 20 may be regarded as not having the configuration. In this case, in the device configuration information D1 stored in the storage unit 24, the configuration information of the configuration that can no longer be used is changed to “none” indicating that the image forming apparatus 20 does not have the configuration.

(Modification 5)
In the embodiment described above, the processing performed by the CPU 21 of the image forming apparatus 20 may be performed by the cooperation of the CPU 21 and other hardware, or may be performed by one or a plurality of hardware instead of the CPU 21. Also good. Further, the processing performed by the CPU 21 of the image forming apparatus 20 or the CPU 11 of the terminal device 10 may be realized by a single program or may be realized by a plurality of programs. Each program executed by the CPU 11 of the terminal device 10 and the CPU 21 of the image forming apparatus 20 is a magnetic recording medium such as a magnetic tape or a magnetic disk, an optical recording medium such as an optical disk, a magneto-optical recording medium, or a semiconductor memory. It may be provided in a state stored in a computer-readable recording medium. It is also possible to download this program via a communication line such as the Internet.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Data output system, 10 ... Terminal device, 11 ... CPU, 12 ... Memory, 13 ... Communication part, 14 ... Memory | storage part, 15 ... Operation part, 16 ... Display part, 20 ... Image forming apparatus, 21 ... CPU, 22 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS Memory ... 23 Communication part 24 ... Storage part 25 ... Display operation part 26 ... Facsimile part 27 ... Image reading part 28 ... Image forming part

Claims (13)

Output means for outputting data transmitted from the information processing device;
Data transmitting means for transmitting data to be processed and information on a configuration of a device that outputs at least a part of configuration information set in the information processing device to a device that outputs the data When,
Control means for controlling the output of data from the output means based on a comparison between the information on the configuration transmitted from the data transmission means and the information on the configuration set in the device that outputs the data; Having data output system. First storage means for storing information on the configuration of the apparatus for outputting data;
Output means for outputting data transmitted from the information processing device;
Second storage means for storing information on a configuration of a device that outputs the data received by the information processing device;
Data transmitting means for transmitting data to be processed and at least part of the information stored in the second storage means to a device for outputting the data;
Control means for controlling the output of data from the output means based on a comparison between the configuration information transmitted from the data transmission means and the configuration information stored in the first storage means; Having data output system. The control means permits the output of data from the output means when the configuration information transmitted from the data transmission means matches the configuration information stored in the first storage means. The data output system according to claim 2, wherein: The output means performs either a process of transmitting the data transmitted from the information processing apparatus by facsimile or a process of printing the data,
The said data transmission means does not transmit the information of the structure memorize | stored in the said 2nd memory | storage means, when the process which prints data is instruct | indicated. Data output system. 5. The data output system according to claim 4, wherein, when the information on the configuration is not transmitted from the data transmission unit, the control unit permits the output of data from the output unit. If the configuration information transmitted from the data transmission unit does not match the configuration information stored in the first storage unit, the configuration information stored in the first storage unit 6. The data output system according to claim 2, further comprising: a configuration information transmitting unit that transmits the information to the information processing apparatus. Based on the information on the configuration stored in the second storage unit, a selection receiving unit that receives selection of a processing condition from processing conditions corresponding to the configuration,
The data transmission unit associates the processing condition received by the selection receiving unit, the data to be processed, and the information of at least a part of the configuration stored in the second storage unit. , Send to the device that outputs the data,
The data output system according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the output unit outputs data in accordance with a processing condition transmitted from the data transmission unit. The data transmission means includes information on a configuration used when outputting data in accordance with a processing condition received by the selection receiving means among the information on the configuration stored in the second storage means. The data output system according to claim 7, wherein the data output system transmits the data to a device that outputs the data. When the configuration information transmitted from the data transmission unit does not match the configuration information stored in the first storage unit, among the processing conditions transmitted from the data transmission unit, An instruction receiving means for displaying a processing condition that is not normally processed by the configuration of the apparatus for outputting the data on the display means and receiving an instruction as to whether or not to execute the output of the data;
The control means controls so that data is not output from the output means when the instruction accepting means accepts an instruction to stop outputting data, and the instruction accepting means accepts an instruction to execute data output. The data output system according to claim 7 or 8, wherein, in a case where data is output, data is output from the output unit in accordance with processing conditions other than the processing conditions that are not normally processed. Storage means for storing configuration information;
Output means for outputting data transmitted from the information processing device;
Configuration information that is at least a part of configuration information of an output device that outputs data set by the information processing device and is transmitted from the information processing device, and stored in the storage unit An output device that outputs data having control means for controlling output of data from the output means based on comparison with the information. Storage means for storing information on the configuration of the device that outputs data, received by the information processing device;
An information processing apparatus comprising: data transmission means for transmitting data to be processed and information on at least a part of the configuration stored in the storage means to an apparatus that outputs the data. Computer
Output means for outputting data transmitted from the information processing device;
Information on the configuration of the output device that outputs data set by the information processing device, information on the configuration transmitted from the information processing device, and the configuration of the output device that outputs the data The program for functioning as a control means which controls the output of the data from the said output means based on the comparison with the information of the structure memorize | stored in the memory | storage means which memorize | stores information. Computer
Data to be processed and at least a part of the configuration information stored in the storage means for storing the configuration information of the device that outputs the data received by the information processing device are transmitted to the device that outputs the data Program to function as a data transmission means.

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