JP2011028437A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce waste of a time of a user by effectively using a waiting time of the user until printing ends in printing of image data by an image forming apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus includes: a data transmission/reception part receiving display data associated with at least one of user information and the image data to be printed; a storage part storing the received display data associatively with the user information or the image data; an input part inputting a print request and the user information; a display part displaying the display data; and a control part reading the display data associated to the image data during the printing or the display data associated to the input user information from the storage part and displaying them on the display part when printing the image data to be printed correspondingly to the input print request. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus including a display unit capable of displaying an image or the like.

In recent years, an image forming apparatus (MFP: Multi Function Printer) capable of realizing a plurality of functions such as a printer, a copy, a FAX, and a scanner in one apparatus has been provided.
In such an image forming apparatus, when printing with a large number of copies or prints, or when one image forming apparatus is shared by many users, the user is in front of the image forming apparatus until printing is completed. In many cases, the user is forced to wait, and there is a case where useless waiting time occurs.

In order to make effective use of such useless waiting time, an image forming apparatus that displays advertising information on a display display for a user during printing and reduces the charge for printing instead of the user viewing the advertising information Has been proposed (see Patent Document 1).
In addition, the stored image associated with the relevant information such as the shooting date and time and the subject extracted from the image being printed is retrieved by searching the HDD, and the extracted images are sequentially displayed on the display device so that the user can print during printing. Has proposed a printing apparatus that performs display that leads to further printing of another image without causing the user to get bored by browsing them (see Patent Document 2).

JP 2002-82581 A JP 2007-98794 A

Such conventional literature is a proposal to effectively use the printing time by displaying advertisements and related images on a display device during printing.
However, the displayed advertisement information and related images are information and images registered in advance by the administrator, information stored in the HDD in advance and searched based on predetermined conditions, and the like as desired by the user It does not display information or images.
That is, in many cases, an image that the user does not want or information that is not interesting is displayed, and it may not always be said that the printing time is effectively utilized.

  The present invention takes the above circumstances into consideration, and by displaying the display data registered by the user on the display unit, when the user is printing, the display data desired by the user can be confirmed, And it aims at eliminating the waste of the waiting time of the user.

The present invention provides a data transmitting / receiving unit that receives display data associated with at least one of user information and image data to be printed, and a storage unit that stores the received display data in association with the user information or the image data, An input unit for inputting a print request and user information, a display unit for displaying the display data, and image data to be printed in response to the input print request are printed. An image forming apparatus comprising: a control unit that reads display data associated with image data or display data associated with the input user information from the storage unit and displays the display data on the display unit It is to provide.
According to this, when the image data to be printed is printed, the display data stored in association with the user information or the image data being printed is displayed, which is useful for the user during printing. Information can be confirmed visually, and the waiting time at the time of printing can be used effectively, and the waste of time of the user can be reduced.

When the data transmitting / receiving unit receives both the display data and the image data associated with the display data, the display unit and the image data received by the control unit are associated with each other and stored in the storage unit. It is characterized by.
According to this, since the display data and the image data associated in advance are received and stored in the storage unit as they are, the input operation for the association is newly performed when the image data is printed. Without this, the display data associated with the image data being printed can be displayed.

The storage unit stores a plurality of display data in association with one individual user information or one image data.
According to this, when displaying the display data associated with the user information or the image data, the display data to be displayed has more choices, so that the waiting time until the end of printing can be used more effectively.
For example, if a user is copying a very large number of documents, and there are multiple items of display data associated with that user, even if the printing takes a long time, the user's display data can be switched. Different display data can be confirmed by an instruction or sequential switching at regular intervals, and a long standby time can be used more effectively.

In addition, the input unit has a function of inputting an instruction to permit display of display data and an instruction to prohibit display of display data, and the control unit, when an instruction to permit display is input, Display data is displayed on the display unit, and when an instruction to prohibit the display is input, display of display data on the display unit is prohibited or display of the displayed display data is stopped.
According to this, since it is possible to instruct whether or not display data is displayed at the user's will, for example, by preventing display of display data that other people do not want to see, the confidentiality of confidential documents can be improved. Can do.

In addition, the user information stored in the storage unit includes a user ID and a password, and whether or not the user ID and password input by the input unit match the user information stored in the storage unit. A user authentication unit that confirms whether or not the user information matches the user information, and the control unit displays display data associated with the user information on the display unit. It is characterized by.
According to this, when the user performs an input operation in the image forming apparatus and the user authentication is successful, the display data associated with the user is displayed, so that the user can be sure when the user is near the image forming apparatus. The display data can be confirmed at the same time, and the possibility that the display data can be seen by others can be reduced.

The content of the display data stored in the storage unit is address information indicating the location of the display data. When the display data A is displayed on the display unit, the data transmitting / receiving unit The display data A is obtained from the location of the display data A based on the address information.
The location of the display data means a storage device that is installed at a different position from the image forming apparatus and stores the display data. For example, a server or NAS connected via a LAN corresponds to the location of display data.
According to this, since the display data is stored in an apparatus installed at a position different from the image forming apparatus that performs printing, the possibility of the display data being leaked is reduced and the security of information leakage prevention is increased. Can do.

Further, when the image data to be printed is a document to be copied in an image forming apparatus, display data associated with user information input from the input unit is displayed on the display unit. .
In this case, when the user is performing so-called copy processing in the image forming apparatus, display data related to the user is displayed on the display unit, so that the standby time during printing by the user's copy can be effectively used. Can do.

If the image data to be printed is a file requested to be printed from an information processing apparatus connected via a network, the image data is associated with display data associated with the file and user information input from the input unit. If there is received display data or user information received together with the file, display data associated with the received user information is displayed on the display unit.
In this case, when the user inputs an instruction to print the created image data on the image forming apparatus in an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer, for example, the user goes to the image forming apparatus to pick up the printed paper. If printing is still in progress, the user's standby time can be effectively utilized by displaying useful display data by the user.

  According to the present invention, when a user prints image data in the image forming apparatus, information (display data) that is effective for the user can be visually confirmed, and the standby time at the time of printing is effectively used. In addition, the waste of time of the user can be reduced.

It is explanatory drawing of one Example of the use environment of the image forming apparatus of this invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. It is a flowchart of the display process at the time of copying of this invention. It is a flowchart of the display process at the time of printing of this invention. It is a flowchart of the display process at the time of printing of this invention. It is a flowchart of the display process of the display data linked | related with the image data printed. It is a flowchart of the display process of the display data linked | related with the user. It is a flowchart of a transmission process of image data and display data. It is explanatory drawing of one Example of the display data management information of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the operation mode of the display process of display data. It is explanatory drawing of one Example of the information displayed on the operation panel part of this invention. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, this invention is not limited by description of the following examples.

<Outline of Image Forming Apparatus of the Present Invention>
FIG. 12 shows a schematic block diagram of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.
The image forming apparatus of the present invention mainly includes functional blocks of an input unit 11, a display unit 12, a data transmission / reception unit 13, a control unit 14, a storage unit 15, a user authentication unit 16, a printing unit 17, and an image reading unit 18. .
The input unit 11 is a part where the user inputs various information and instructions, and a key, a touch panel, or the like is used.

Examples of input information include user information including a user ID and a password, a print request, an instruction for permitting display of display data, and an instruction for prohibiting display of display data.
Here, when an instruction for permitting display of the display data is input, the display data is displayed on the display unit. On the other hand, when an instruction to prohibit the display of the display data is input, even if there is display data to be displayed on the display unit, the display is prohibited or there is already display data already displayed on the display unit If so, display of the display data is stopped.

The display unit 12 displays various data, and an LCD, an organic EL panel, or the like is used. The data displayed on the display unit 12 includes, for example, various print information displayed on a normal copier or printer, display data registered in the storage unit by the user, input operation information, and the like.
Here, the display data means data displayed on the display unit 12 when image data or a document is printed in the image forming apparatus. In the present invention, the display data is particularly data associated with the printing user or data associated with the image data being printed.

The display data means a file or an image created by an application program, and is data that is created or selected in advance by the user and stored in the storage unit 15, or sent from an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer or a server. This is the data that has been received and stored in the storage unit 15. In principle, the display data is stored in the storage unit in advance, but may be acquired from a server or the like when display is necessary.
The display unit 12 and the input unit 11 may be provided at different positions, but display and input may be performed in the same region by using a touch panel or the like. An operation panel section to be described later corresponds to an area for executing both display and input functions.

The data transmission / reception unit 13 is a part that performs data communication with an information processing apparatus (personal computer PC) or server connected to a network via a network such as a LAN.
In the present invention, for example, it is a part that receives user information, image data, or display data created by an information processing device, in particular, display data related to user information, display data related to image data, It is a part for receiving display data related to both user information and image data.

When both the display data and the image data associated with the display data are received, the received display data and the image data are associated and stored in the storage unit.
Further, for example, when the address information indicating the location of the display data A is stored in the storage unit, but the display data A itself is not stored, based on the address information indicating the location of the display data A, Display data A is acquired from the location of display data A (for example, a server) via the network.

The storage unit 15 stores various information and control programs. In addition to semiconductor elements such as ROM and RAM, a storage medium such as a hard disk, CD, and DVD is used.
For example, display data 211, image data 210, user information, display data management information 212, etc. received by the data transmitter / receiver 13 are stored. Alternatively, these data may be input directly by the user through the input unit 11.
The display data management information 212 is information used when selecting display data to be displayed on the display unit 12 and includes user information, address information, an image file name, a display file name, and the like. Are stored in association with each other.

The address information is information indicating the location of the display data (also referred to as a display file storage address). When display data is required, the location of the display data (for example, a server) is accessed based on this address information. Then, display data 211 is obtained from the location and stored in the storage unit 15.
Therefore, by storing this address information, the display data 211 itself is normally not stored in the storage unit 15 of the image forming apparatus, but is displayed at a different position when it is necessary to display it. When the display data 211 is acquired from the installed server or the like and the display is completed, the display data 211 may be deleted from the storage unit 15. As a result, it is possible to effectively use the storage capacity of the storage unit 15 and ensure the confidentiality of the display data.

The display file name is the identification information of the display data 211 stored in the storage unit 15 or the identification information of the display data 211 whose location is specified by the address information.
The image file name is identification information of the image data 210 stored in the storage unit 15.
By storing such user information, display file name, and image file name in association with each other, display data 211 to be displayed on the display unit 12 during printing can be selected.
For example, when the input user information and the display file name for specifying display data are stored in association with each other, when the user specified by the user information inputs a print request, the user makes a print request. While the image data 210 is being printed, the display data 211 associated with the user information is read from the storage unit 15 and displayed on the display unit 12.

  In addition, when the image file name of the image data and the display file name of the display data are stored in association with each other, when the image data to be printed corresponding to the input print request is being printed, Display data 211 associated with the image data 210 being printed is read from the storage unit 15 and displayed on the display unit 12.

Here, the association between the user information and the display data 211 and the association between the image data 210 and the display data 211 may not be one-to-one. For example, a plurality of display data 211 is associated with one individual user information. You may remember. Further, a plurality of display data 211 may be associated with one image data 210 and stored.
When a plurality of display data 211 are associated with each other, there are various methods for determining which display data is to be displayed. For example, a list such as file names of a plurality of display data may be displayed on the display unit so that the user can select display data to be displayed. Alternatively, the display data may be switched at predetermined time intervals in a predetermined order, or may be sequentially switched every time a predetermined input operation is performed by the user.

  The image data 210 means information to be printed on a predetermined sheet by the image forming apparatus. The image data 210 is a scanned image itself (bitmap data) when read from a scanner, and an image (bit map data) when sent from a personal computer. Bitmap data) or PDL data generated by a printer driver. Here, the PDL data is expanded into a bitmap at the time of printing by the image forming apparatus and printed.

The image data printed by the printing unit 17 may be a document that is copied in the image forming apparatus, or a file that is requested to be printed from an information processing apparatus connected via a network or the like.
In the former case, two-dimensional information of a document read by the image reading unit 18 is stored as image data 210 by a so-called user copy operation. In this case, since the user is near the image forming apparatus, display data 211 associated with the user information input from the input unit 11 is mainly displayed on the display unit 12.

In the latter case, a file transferred by a so-called print (print request) operation executed on a personal computer PC or the like is stored as image data 210. In this case, when the display data 211 associated with the file transferred from the information processing device is stored in the storage unit 15 in advance, the display data is read from the storage unit 15 and displayed on the display unit 12. Also good. Alternatively, display data 211 associated with user information input from the input unit 11 may be displayed on the display unit 12.
Further, when there is user information received together with the file requested to be printed, display data 211 associated in advance with the received user information may be displayed on the display unit 12. In addition, when the file requested to be printed and the display data 211 associated with the file are transferred together, the transferred display data is displayed on the display unit 12 when the file is printed. You may make it do.

  The user authentication unit 16 is a part for confirming whether or not the user information stored in advance in the storage unit 15 matches the user information (user ID and password) input from the input unit 11 by the user. For example, when it is confirmed that both user information matches, display data 211 associated with the user information is displayed on the display unit 12. On the other hand, if the match of user information is not confirmed, for example, display data may not be displayed, or arbitrary display data that does not require user authentication may be displayed.

There are various methods for user authentication. For example, a user ID assigned in advance for each user may be combined with a password determined by the individual user.
As user information for specifying a user, information including a user ID and a password can be used as described above, but the user information is not limited to this. Various combinations of information such as user ID and fingerprint, user ID and voiceprint, user ID and retina data can be used as user information.

In addition, the image forming apparatus has the same basic functions as those provided in general printers and multifunction peripherals. That is, a printing unit 17 and an image reading unit (scanner unit) 18 are provided.
The control unit 14 is a part that controls the operation of each functional block as described above, and is mainly realized by a microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, an I / O controller, a timer, and the like.
Here, the CPU implements the functions of the functional blocks by organically operating various hardware based on a control program stored in a ROM or the like.

The above is the schematic configuration of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a configuration block diagram of an embodiment corresponding to each functional block of FIG.
For example, the operation panel unit 206 in FIG. 2 executes the functions of the input unit 11 and the display unit 12 in FIG.
The control unit 14 corresponds to the CPU 203, the printing unit 17 corresponds to the image forming unit 202, and the other functional blocks with the same name are portions that execute the same function.

<Description of environment for using image forming apparatus>
FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the use environment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
In FIG. 1, a plurality of information processing apparatuses (personal computers) PC 101 to 103, a plurality of image forming apparatuses (MFP: Multi Function Printer, hereinafter referred to as MFP) 104 to 105, and a server 108 are connected to a local area network (LAN). Connected via 107.
Image data and display data created by the PC are transferred to the MFPs 104 to 105 and the server 108 via the LAN 107.
Note that one PC or MFP may be used, or two or more devices may be connected.

<Configuration of One Embodiment of Image Forming Apparatus>
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
The image forming apparatus 200 mainly includes an image reading unit 201, an image forming unit 202, a CPU 203, a display data creation unit 204, a user authentication unit 205, an operation panel unit 206, a data transmission / reception unit 207, and a storage unit 209.

The storage unit 209 is a part that stores image data 210, display data 211, display data management information 212, and the like.
Here, the display data management information 212 is information including a user ID 213, a password 214, a print file name 215, a display file name 216, and a display file storage address 217.
As the storage unit 209, a hard disk or various storage media is used, and a rewritable nonvolatile storage element is preferable.

For example, when copying, the document is read as image data by the image reading unit 201, transferred to the storage unit 209, and stored as image data 210.
When printing from a personal computer PC, image data created by the PCs 101 to 103 is transferred via the LAN 107, received by the data transmission / reception unit 207, and stored as image data 210 in the storage unit 209.
The image data 210 is converted into data for printing when copying or printing is performed, and is printed on a sheet by the image forming unit 202.

  The CPU 203 transfers the image data read by the image reading unit 201 to the storage unit 209, transfers the display data created by the PCs 101 to 103 and transferred to the data transmission / reception unit 207, etc. This is a part that performs data transfer control processing between each functional block, data conversion processing, display data selection processing, display control processing, print control processing, and the like.

The operation panel unit 206 is a part that performs various key input operations of the image forming apparatus and displays settings / operation statuses, and is a part that performs two types of processing such as key input processing and display processing such as a touch panel.
However, the key input unit and the display unit may be provided as separate hardware.

The display data 211 that is a feature of the present invention is data displayed on the operation panel unit 206 separately from the information to be copied during copying or printing.
The display data 211 is data created by the user in the PCs 101 to 103 and transferred to the storage unit 209, and is data created by an application program such as document creation or spreadsheet. When displaying the display data on the operation panel unit 206, the display data creating unit 204 converts the display data into a data format that can be displayed on the operation panel unit 206, and then transfers the display data to the operation panel unit 206.

The display data 211 is associated with any one or more of the user ID 213, the password 214, the print file name 215, the display file name 216, and the display file storage address 217 constituting the display data management information 212. Stored in advance.
Here, the print file name 215 is a file name of a certain data among a large number of image data 210 stored in the storage unit 209, and the display file name 216 is a large number of data stored in the storage unit 209. Of the display data 211, the file name of one data is used.
When printing image data, display data 211 associated with the image data 210 received by the MFP 200 is displayed on the operation panel unit 206. The association between the image data 210 and the display data 211 is performed, for example, by a user specifying on the personal computer side.

In addition, after performing user authentication using the user ID 213 and password 214, display data related to the authenticated user may be displayed when confidential printing is executed.
Confidential print is different from normal print that prints immediately after receiving image data 210. After receiving, user authentication is performed with the image data temporarily stored in storage unit 209, and the authentication is successful. When printing is performed, printing is executed.
In user authentication, the user authentication unit 205 confirms whether the user ID and password input by the operation panel unit 206 match the user ID 213 and password 214 stored in advance as the display management information 212, respectively. To do.
The user ID 213 can also be used as information for associating a user with display data. The association between the user and the display data is performed, for example, by the user himself / herself or by the user having higher authority than the user ID 213 (for example, the supervisor).

For example, when a plurality of display data are associated with one user, each display data and the user ID 213 of the user are stored in pairs. When printing is executed by the user, the display data paired with the user ID 213 of the user is read out, and the user selects the desired display data from a plurality of display data associated with the user. May be displayed.
In FIG. 2, display data 211 is stored in the storage unit 209 of the MFP 200. However, if the address of the server 108 is set as the display file storage address 217 indicating the storage position of the display data, the display data need not be stored in the storage unit 209 of the MFP, but only if it is stored in the server 108. Good.

<Display processing during copying>
FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of an embodiment of display processing at the time of copying in the image forming apparatus of the present invention. Here, display processing when the user who came to the image forming apparatus makes a copy is shown.
Also, assume that the user of the PC 101 owner creates display data on the PC 101, transfers the display data to the MFP 104, and the user's display data is stored in the MFP 104 in advance. In this state, when the user comes to the MFP 104 and performs copying, the following display processing is executed.
First, when there is no copy request in step S301, the MFP 104 enters a standby state until a copy request operation is performed.

If a copy request is detected by the user's operation, the process proceeds to step S302 to check whether printing is currently being performed.
Whether or not printing is in progress can be confirmed by providing the image forming apparatus with a known job status management function.

If printing is in progress, the process proceeds to step S303, the printing process is interrupted, and the requested copy is started in step S304.
If printing is not in progress in step S302, the process proceeds to step S304 to start copying.
The interruption of the printing process means the interruption of the display process at the time of printing shown in FIG.
After copying is started, in step S305, it is confirmed whether or not there is an instruction input by the user as to whether or not to display display data (association data) registered in association with the user.

If there is an instruction input for displaying the association data, a display requesting the user to input a user ID is made, and the process proceeds to step S306.
If there is an input of the user ID, in step S306, the display data registered in association with the user ID is retrieved and read from the storage unit, and a list display of the display data is displayed on the operation panel unit.

  In step S307, when the user inputs an operation for selecting display data from the list display, only the selected display data is displayed on the operation panel unit.

If there is no instruction input to display the association data in step S305, any display data that is not associated with the user is selected, and a list display of any display data that is not associated with the user is displayed in step S310. Is displayed on the operation panel.
Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S307, and as described above, when the display data is selected by the user, only the selected display data is displayed.

In step S308, it is confirmed whether or not the copying is completed. The display of the display data is continued until copying is completed.
When copying is completed, the process proceeds to step S309, and display of display data is also ended.

If it is confirmed in step S311 that the print has been interrupted, the process proceeds to step S312 to restart the interrupted print. Thereafter, the process returns to step S301.
On the other hand, if printing has not been interrupted, the process returns to step S301 in the copy request waiting state.

<Display processing during printing>
FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of an embodiment of display processing during printing.
First, in step S401, it is confirmed whether or not data to be printed has been received.
If it is received, the process proceeds to step S402, and it is checked whether or not the print data is confidential print.
If it is not confidential printing, the process advances to step S403 to check whether printing is currently being executed.
If printing is in progress, the process proceeds to step S404, the received print data is registered at the end of the queue, and the process returns to step S401 again.

If it is determined in step S403 that printing is not currently being executed, the flow advances to step S408 to execute print processing and display data display processing on the operation panel unit.
Details of the processing in step S408 will be described later.
When the print process and the display process are completed, the process returns to step S401 again.

  If it is confidential print in step S402, the process proceeds to step S405, where display data associated with the print data is extracted, and the print data is associated with the extracted display data as image data and registered in the storage unit 209. . After registration, the process returns to step S401 again.

  If no data to be printed is received in step S401, the process advances to step S406 to check whether print data is registered in the queue. If there is data, the process proceeds to step S407, and the data registered in the queue is called. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S408 described above.

FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of another embodiment of display processing during printing.
First, in step S409, it is checked whether or not there is a confidential print request by the user. When the user performs an operation of selecting the confidential print mode on the operation panel unit, the process proceeds to step S410.
In step S410, it is checked whether printing is currently in progress.
If printing is currently in progress, the process proceeds to step S411, and the printing process is interrupted.
Thereafter, in step S412, user authentication is performed. The user authentication is performed, for example, by confirming whether the user ID and password input on the operation panel unit 206 match the user ID 213 and password 214 stored in advance as the display data management information 212, respectively. Just do it. When both match, the user authentication is OK, and when they do not match, the user authentication is NG.

  If the user authentication is NG in step S412, the user authentication is repeated again. On the other hand, if the user authentication is OK, the process proceeds to step S413, and when the user ID and password are both entered into the print data in the display data management information 212, the print data registered as confidential print is Display a list on the operation panel.

In step S414, when the user inputs an instruction to select data to be printed, the print data and display data are read from the storage unit.
In step S415, the selected print data is printed, and display data related to the print data is displayed on the operation panel unit.
This process is the same as the process performed in step S408.

In step S416, it is checked whether the print processing has been interrupted. If it has been interrupted, the process proceeds to step S417, and the interrupted print processing is resumed. Thereafter, the process returns to step S409.
On the other hand, if the print process has not been interrupted, the process directly returns to step S409.

FIG. 6 shows a flowchart of an embodiment of the processing performed in steps S408 and S415 described above. Here, it is assumed that the display data is related to the image data requested to be printed.
First, in step S501, printing processing of image data to be printed is started.
In step S502, display data associated with the image data printed on the operation panel unit is displayed.
The display of display data continues while printing is being performed.
If it is detected in step S503 that printing has ended, the process proceeds to step S504, and display of display data is also ended.

FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of another embodiment of the processing of steps S408 and S415 described above. Here, it is assumed that the display data is related to the user, and processing when there are a plurality of display data related to the display data is shown.
First, in step S601, printing of data to be printed is started.
In step S602, a list of a plurality of display data associated with the user is displayed on the operation panel unit.

In step S603, when the user inputs an instruction to select display data from the list-displayed data, the selected display data is displayed.
Display of the display data continues during printing.
If it is detected in step S604 that printing has ended, the process proceeds to step S605, and display of display data is also ended.

<Image data and display data transmission processing>
FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of an embodiment of transmission processing of image data and display data.
The image data and display data are created or selected by the user on the PC and transmitted to the MFP. This flow of transmission processing is performed by the PC.
First, in step S701, the user performs an operation input for selecting a copy mode or a print mode on the PC.
If there is an input for selecting the copy mode in step S701, it waits for a selection input of display data to be displayed in step S702.
At this time, it is also checked that a setting input as to whether to associate the selected display data with the user is input.
When a setting input is made to associate display data with a user, it waits for an associated user ID to be input.

Next, in step S703, an input for setting a display data registration destination is awaited.
The display data registration destination means an MFP or a server that transmits display data. That is, it waits for either the MFP or the server to be input as a registration destination.
If there is a registration destination setting input, it is checked in step S704 if the data transmission key has been pressed.
If it is depressed, the process proceeds to step S712, and the display data is transmitted to the registration destination.

On the other hand, if the print mode is selected in S701, the process proceeds to step S705 and waits for selection input of display data to be displayed as in the copy mode.
At the same time, it waits for a setting input as to whether to associate display data with the user.
Thereafter, in step S706, image data to be printed is created.
In step S707, it is checked whether the setting input for confidential printing is performed.

If there is an input indicating confidential printing, the process proceeds to step S708 to wait for the user ID and password to be input.
On the other hand, if there is an input indicating that confidential printing is not performed, the user ID and password are not required, and the process proceeds to step S709.
In step S709, as in step S703, there is an input for setting a display data registration destination.
If the registration destination setting has been input, it is checked in step S710 if the data transmission key has been pressed.
If it is depressed, the process proceeds to step S711, and the image data is transmitted to the registration destination.
In step S712, the display data is transmitted to the same registration destination.

<Description of display data management information>
FIG. 9 shows an embodiment of display data management information stored in the storage unit of the MFP.
Here, the display data management information 212 is configured by a user ID, a password, a print file name, a display file name, and a display file storage address, as shown in FIG.
When the display data 211 is stored in the storage unit 209, these data are generated, for example, by storing in the storage unit 209 from management information data created in advance by a personal computer.

FIG. 9 shows that N / A (Not Available) is input for items whose contents are not important.
For example, when the user ID is N / A, it means that the display data is display data not associated with the user.
Further, when the print file name is N / A, it means that the display data is display data to be displayed regardless of the print data printed at the time of copying or printing.

In No. 5 of FIG. 9, two display files are stored in association with one print file.
In this case, when printing the print file, the user may select and input which of the two display files is to be displayed.

<Description of operation mode of display processing>
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of an operation mode of display processing of display data assumed in the present invention.
Here, five operation modes are shown.
Of the display data management information, the processing content is determined by the user ID, password, and print file name.
The display file and the display file storage address are omitted because they are used in all operation modes.

For example, operation mode No. 1 is an operation mode when the user ID, password, and print file name are N / A (Not Available). When copying in this operation mode The display data not related to the user is displayed.
The operation mode No. 2 is an operation mode when only the user ID is input. In this case, display data associated with the user is displayed.
That is, when performing a copying operation, if no user ID is input, arbitrary display data is displayed without being associated with the user, and if there is an input of the user ID, display data associated with the user is displayed.

On the other hand, FIG. 10 shows that display data is displayed regardless of the presence or absence of a print file name in any of the five modes when performing a printing operation.
However, the display data associated with the user is displayed when the user ID is input, as in the copying operation. If there is no user ID input, arbitrary display data is displayed.
When a print operation is performed, if a print file name is input, that is, in modes No. 3, 4, and 5, display data associated with the print file is displayed.
Furthermore, as shown in mode No. 5, when printing is performed, confidential printing is executed when both a user ID and a password are input.

<Description of an example of display data>
FIG. 11 illustrates an example of display data displayed on the operation panel of the image forming apparatus.
In FIG. 11, a mode selection key (copy, print, etc.) is displayed at the upper left, and the display data is displayed below it.
When the display data spans a plurality of pages, the page is switched by pressing the “previous page” or “next page” key at the lower right of the display data.

Further, the display data display is erased by pressing the “display switching OFF” key at the lower left of the display data display. Thereby, when highly confidential data is displayed, it is possible to prevent the display content from being viewed by a third party.
If a plurality of display data is registered in the image data being printed, a list of registered display data is displayed in the display file selection list portion of the operation panel on the upper right of FIG. The display data may be switched by selectively inputting these.

101 PC
104 MFP
107 LAN
108 Server 200 Image forming apparatus (MFP)
201 Image Reading Unit 202 Image Forming Unit 203 CPU
204 Display data creation unit 205 User authentication unit 206 Operation panel unit 207 Data transmission / reception unit 209 Storage unit 210 Image data 211 Display data 212 Display data management information 213 User ID
214 Password 215 Print file name 216 Display file name 217 Display file storage address

Claims (8)

A data transmission / reception unit for receiving display data associated with at least one of user information and image data to be printed;
A storage unit that stores the received display data in association with the user information or the image data;
An input unit for inputting a print request and user information;
A display unit for displaying the display data;
When image data to be printed is printed in response to the input print request, display data associated with the image data being printed or display data associated with the input user information An image forming apparatus comprising: a control unit that reads out the image from the storage unit and displays the image on the display unit. When the data transmitter / receiver receives both the display data and the image data associated with the display data,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein display data received by the control unit and image data are associated with each other and stored in a storage unit.   3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit stores a plurality of display data in association with one individual user information or one image data. The input unit has a function of inputting an instruction to permit display of display data and an instruction to prohibit display of display data;
The control unit displays display data on a display unit when an instruction to permit the display is input,
4. The display device according to claim 1, wherein when an instruction to prohibit the display is input, display of display data on the display unit is prohibited or display of the displayed display data is stopped. The image forming apparatus described in 1. User information stored in the storage unit is composed of a user ID and a password,
A user authentication unit for confirming whether the user ID and password input by the input unit match the user information stored in the storage unit;
The control unit displays display data associated with the user information on the display unit when the user authentication unit confirms the coincidence of the user information. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The content of the display data stored in the storage unit is address information indicating the location of the display data,
2. When displaying the display data A on the display unit, the data transmitting / receiving unit acquires the display data A from the location of the display data A based on the address information of the display data A. 6. The image forming apparatus according to any one of items 1 to 5.   The display data associated with user information input from the input unit is displayed on the display unit when the image data to be printed is a document to be copied in an image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to any one of 1 to 6.   When the image data to be printed is a file requested to be printed from an information processing apparatus connected via a network, the display data associated with the file and the user information input from the input unit 7. If there is display data or user information received together with the file, display data associated with the received user information is displayed on the display unit. The image forming apparatus according to any one of the above.

Images