JP2012064030A - Location-free printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve usability in a location-free printing system including a printer supporting wireless communication.SOLUTION: A high functional mobile terminal such as a smart phone carried by a user is made to function as an authentication token, and as a connection setting token for an unset printer supporting wireless communication. Besides, a display screen of the terminal is made to function as an operation panel customized for each user. As a result, the user only carrying his/her mobile terminal can print and output a desired file at any time from any place he/she likes even when the network print system includes an unset wireless printer.

Description

  The present invention relates to a location-free printing system, and more particularly to a location-free printing system that includes a wireless printer.

  In recent years, mobile phones have been made to function as identification cards, commuter passes, electronic money, and the like. In this case, the mobile phone functions as a token device that holds information necessary for personal authentication and billing processing. These mobile phones are equipped with a proximity wireless communication function of several centimeters level compliant with standards such as NFC (Near Field Communication) and TJ (Transfer Jet). Authentication and payment can be done easily.

  In addition, in recent years, mobile phones capable of the ad hoc communication mode are rapidly spreading. These mobile phones have a short-range wireless communication function compliant with standards such as Bluetooth and WirelessUSB, and can directly communicate with peripheral devices in the range of several meters to several tens of meters. Furthermore, some of these mobile phones have been equipped with a sophisticated graphical user interface (GUI) such as a multi-touch screen system.

  On the other hand, in recent years, a solution called location-free printing has been proposed in which a file to be printed on a dedicated server is updated and the file can be printed out at any place (printer device) at any time. In this regard, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2009-294889 (Patent Document 1) discloses a location-free printing system having a high degree of freedom that does not depend on the manufacturer or model of the printer.

  Furthermore, in recent years, wireless compatible printer devices capable of an ad hoc communication mode have appeared, and a print system including these wireless printer devices has been increasingly built. However, setting for wirelessly connecting the user terminal and the wireless printer device is very complicated, and a print system including these wireless printer devices has not been highly usable for a user who has not set the terminal. In this regard, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-75806 (Patent Document 2) makes it easy to wirelessly connect a wireless printer to a wireless LAN, a host PC, or the like without requiring specialized knowledge or complicated settings related to wireless communication. Disclosed is a printer that can perform the same and a control method thereof.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to improve usability in a location-free printing system including a wireless printer.

  As a result of intensive studies on a configuration capable of improving usability in a location-free printing system including a wireless printer, the present inventor has made a high-function mobile terminal such as a smartphone carried by a user function as an authentication token, and It came to the present invention by conceiving a configuration in which it functions as a connection setting token for a wireless printer of setting and further functions as an operation panel customized for each user.

  That is, according to the present invention, a location including a short-range wireless compatible network print server and a plurality of short-range wireless compatible printing apparatuses, and a short-range wireless compatible mobile portable terminal connected to each other in the infrastructure mode. In the free printing system, the mobile portable terminal includes setting information including at least user authentication information and wireless connection setting information for setting a short-range wireless connection between the network print server and the printing apparatus. A setting information storage unit that stores the setting information, and a setting information transmission unit that transmits the setting information by proximity wireless communication. The network print server and the printing apparatus are respectively connected from the mobile portable terminal by proximity wireless communication. A setting information acquisition unit for acquiring the setting information; and the user authentication information. A user authentication unit that requests authentication from the user certificate authority, and a wireless communication establishment unit that establishes ad hoc wireless communication with the mobile portable terminal based on the wireless connection setting information on the condition of successful authentication, The network print server further generates a device selection GUI for selecting the printing device as a printing destination, and the device selection GUI is generated by ad hoc wireless communication established with the mobile portable terminal. An ad hoc established with the mobile portable terminal, further including a GUI for generating an operation panel for operating the printing apparatus; Location location free including an operation panel GUI generation unit that downloads the operation panel GUI to the mobile portable terminal by wireless communication. The printing system is provided.

1 is a network diagram of a location-free printing system according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of each device constituting the location free printing system of the present embodiment. FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram of processing executed in the location-free printing system according to the embodiment. The figure which shows the apparatus selection GUI screen of the mobile terminal in this embodiment. The figure which shows the GUI screen for operation panels of the mobile terminal in this embodiment.

  Hereinafter, although this invention is demonstrated with embodiment, this invention is not limited to embodiment mentioned later. In the drawings referred to below, the same reference numerals are used for common elements, and the description thereof is omitted as appropriate.

  FIG. 1 shows a network diagram of a location-free printing system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The location free printing system 10 includes a location free printing server 200 and a plurality of printing apparatuses 300, all of which include a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), Alternatively, they are connected to a network 12 referred to as a network infrastructure such as the Internet, and are configured to communicate with each other in an infrastructure mode.

  The location-free print server 200 is a wireless-compatible network print server having a file sharing function and a router function, and is configured to be compatible with both the ad hoc mode and the infrastructure mode. Further, the location-free print server 200 is equipped with a printer driver corresponding to the printer engine installed in each printing apparatus 300 in order to realize direct printing. The location-free print server 200 converts a file to be printed (hereinafter referred to as a print file) transmitted from the user into print data and transmits the print data to the printing apparatus 300.

  The printing apparatus 300 functions as a network printer and outputs print data received from the location free print server 200. Note that the printing apparatus is configured as a wireless printer capable of supporting both the ad hoc mode and the infrastructure mode. In the following description, the printing apparatus 300 is referred to as the MFP 300.

  The location-free printing system 10 is connected to an external user certificate authority 400 via the network 12, and the location-free print server 200 and the MFP 300 request user authentication from the user certificate authority 400 when necessary. Can be done.

  The location-free printing system 10 according to the present embodiment further includes a mobile portable terminal 100 managed and carried by a user who uses the system. The mobile portable terminal 100 according to the present embodiment essentially includes a graphical user interface (GUI), and in addition to a near field communication function compliant with standards such as Bluetooth and WirelessUSB, NFC (Near Field Communication) and TJ (TJ) The mobile portable terminal 100 is a notebook PC as long as it has the above-mentioned functions. Although it may be a PDA (personal digital assistant), in order to facilitate understanding of the convenience of this system, in the following description, the mobile portable terminal 100 has begun to spread rapidly in recent years. Please refer to a smartphone that uses a multi-touch screen system. In the following description, the mobile portable terminal 100 is referred to as the mobile terminal 100.

  Here, the location-free print server 200 and the MFP 300 will be described again. Each of the location-free print server 200 and the MFP 300 according to the present embodiment is configured as a short-range wireless compatible device equipped with a short-range wireless communication function compliant with the same standard as the mobile terminal 100. Are configured to be able to perform ad hoc wireless communication.

  Furthermore, both the location-free print server 200 and the MFP 300 are equipped with a proximity wireless communication function that conforms to the same standard as the mobile terminal 100, and each interface conforms to a proximity wireless communication standard (such as NFC / TJ). The read / write device 201 and the read / write device 301 are provided. In this embodiment, the read / write devices 201 and 301 and the read / write device 101 included in the mobile terminal 100 are close to each other so that data can be exchanged between them. As described above, each device constituting the location-free printing system 10 of the present embodiment has been outlined. Next, functions of each device constituting the location-free printing system 10 will be described.

  The CPU of each device (location-free print server 200 and MFP 300) is connected to each read / write device 201, 301 via a NB, PCI BUS, or USB host with a USB cable, and each read / write. Control is performed by transmitting a command to the devices 201 and 301 to communicate with the mobile terminal 100. Data such as key information for accessing various setting information, which will be described later, is transmitted and received through this USB communication path. In the present embodiment, it is preferable to encrypt the transmission and reception of commands and data on the USB in order to prevent information leakage due to the monitoring of the USB bus. Before performing encryption, authentication is performed between each of the read / write devices 201 and 301, and a common key obtained from the result is generated. Can be secure.

  FIG. 2 shows a functional block diagram of each device constituting the location-free printing system 10 of the present embodiment.

  The mobile terminal 100 includes a setting information storage unit 102, a setting information transmission unit 104, and a location free printing function unit 106 (hereinafter referred to as the LF printing function unit 106). The LF print function unit 106 includes known function units such as an FTP client unit and a GUI control unit, and provides a user with a GUI for using the system, and a file instructed to be printed via the provided GUI. Is transferred to the location-free print server 200, or a series of processing such as transmitting a print output command input via the provided GUI to the MFP 300 is executed.

  In the setting information storage unit 102 of the mobile terminal 100, at least “wireless connection setting information” and “user authentication information” are stored as setting information. Preferably, “device use authority information”, “function use authority information” are stored. ", Usage history information" and the like are stored.

  Here, “wireless connection setting information” refers to setting parameters for wireless connection. In the case of short-range wireless communication (Bluetooth / WirelessUSB), the wireless connection setting information includes ESSID, channel number, WEP key, and the like. “Pairing information”. In the following description, “wireless connection setting information” is referred to as “pairing information”.

  The “user authentication information” can be configured as authentication information including a user ID and other appropriate authentication information (password, certificate). Further, the “apparatus usage authority information” may be configured by an ID of a device of the MFP 300 to which the user has usage authority, and the “function usage authority information” may be configured by an ID of a function to which the user has the usage authority in each MFP 300. it can. Furthermore, the “use history information” can be configured as information that records a history of functions used by the user and print setting conditions (paper size, energy saving toner save setting, etc.).

  The location-free print server 200 includes a setting information acquisition unit 202, a user authentication unit 204, a wireless communication establishment unit 206, and a device selection GUI generation unit 208, and further includes a location-free print function unit 210 (hereinafter referred to as LF printing function). (Referred to as part 210). The LF printing function unit 210 includes known function units such as a printer driver unit, an FTP server unit, and a database unit. The LF printing function unit 210 accepts a print file transferred from a user and can process the print file by a printer engine installed in the MFP 300. A series of processes such as conversion to correct print data and transfer are executed.

  The MFP 300 includes a setting information acquisition unit 302, a user authentication unit 304, a wireless communication establishment unit 306, and an operation panel GUI generation unit 308, and further includes a location free printing function unit 310 (hereinafter referred to as an LF printing function unit 310). To be referred to). The LF print function unit 310 includes known function units such as a printer engine unit and an FTP client unit (not shown), and transmits a print data request to the location-free print server 200 in response to a print instruction from the user. Then, a series of processes such as printing out the print data received from the location free print server 200 is executed.

  The function of each device has been outlined above. Next, the function of each device will be described in more detail while explaining the processing executed by the system based on FIG. In the following description, FIG. 2 will be referred to as appropriate.

  FIG. 3 shows a sequence diagram of processing executed in the location-free printing system 10 of the present embodiment. In the following description, it is assumed that the location-free print server 200 (hereinafter referred to as the LF print server 200) is installed in an appropriate place in the office (for example, a shared space in the office).

  The user first goes from his / her desk to the place where the LF print server 200 is installed, and uses the mobile terminal 100 that he / she carries on the read / write device (hereinafter referred to as R / W) of the LF print server 200. Hold (close). Then, near field communication (NFC / TJ) is established between the R / W 201 of the LF print server 200 and the R / W 101 built in the mobile terminal 100, and various types of information stored in the setting information storage unit 102 of the mobile terminal 100 are stored. Among the setting information, “pairing information”, “user authentication information”, and “apparatus usage authority information” are transmitted to the LF print server 200 by the setting information transmitting unit 104 (step 101).

  Various setting information transmitted from the mobile terminal 100 by proximity wireless communication is analyzed by the setting information acquisition unit 202 of the LF print server 200 (step 102). The user authentication unit 204 requests user authentication from the user certificate authority 400 based on the “user authentication information” acquired by the setting information acquisition unit 202 (step 103).

  The user authentication station 400 performs user authentication based on the “user authentication information” transmitted from the setting information acquisition unit 202, and when the authentication is successful, responds to that effect (step 104).

  When the wireless communication establishment unit 206 of the LF print server 200 receives the authentication success response, the wireless communication establishment unit 206 sets up short-range wireless communication (Bluetooth / WirelessUSB) based on the “pairing information” acquired by the setting information acquisition unit 202 (hereinafter, referred to as “pairing information”). This process is called pairing). As a result, a transmission path for ad hoc communication is established between the mobile terminal 100 and the LF print server 200 (step 105).

  When ad hoc communication is established with the mobile terminal 100, the device selection GUI generation unit 208 of the LF print server 200 uses the device usage authority information acquired by the setting information acquisition unit 202. A device selection GUI that displays only MFPs having a selection is generated (step 106), and is downloaded to the mobile terminal 100 by ad hoc communication (step 107).

  Here, the following description will be given by taking as an example the case where the user prints the “plan” stored in the storage of the mobile terminal 100. The user operates the mobile terminal 100 to open the device selection GUI screen downloaded in step 107 (step 108). FIG. 4 illustrates a device selection GUI screen 500 displayed on the mobile terminal 100.

  As shown in FIG. 4, an icon of a data file held in the storage of the mobile terminal 100 is displayed on the left side of the device selection GUI screen 500, and on the right side, 2 indicating the MFP 300 to which the user has usage authority. One icon and an icon indicating the LF print server 200 are displayed. Further, on the upper side, a guide “Drag and drop the file to be printed to the printer or LF server to be output” is displayed.

  The user who wants to output the “plan” on the MFP 300 installed in the “conference room” touches the icon of the “plan” file according to the displayed guidance, and indicates the MFP 300 installed in the “conference room”. Drag and drop to. In response to this, the LF printing function unit 106 of the mobile terminal 100 associates the “plan” file stored in the storage with the device ID and user ID of the output destination (that is, the “meeting room” MFP). Then, it is transmitted to the LF print server 200 by ad hoc communication (step 109).

  When the LF print server 200 receives the “plan book” file, the LF print function unit 106 specifies the output destination (“MFP 300 in“ meeting room ”) using the device ID as a key, and the“ plan book ”file is the output destination. The data is converted into print data by a print driver corresponding to the MFP 300. The LF print function unit 106 associates the converted print data with the user ID and transmits the print data to the output destination (the MFP 300 in the “conference room”) (step 110). The MFP 300 in the “conference room” manages the print data of the “plan” transmitted from the LF print server 200 in association with the user ID (step 111).

  On the other hand, a user who wants to set the output destination of the “plan book” as free touches the icon of the “plan book” file and drags and drops it on the icon indicating the LF print server 200 in accordance with the displayed guidance. In response to this, the LF printing function unit 106 of the mobile terminal 100 transmits the “plan book” file stored in the storage to the LF printing server 200 by ad hoc communication (step 109). When the LF print server 200 receives the “plan book” file, the LF print function unit 106 manages the “plan book” file in association with the user ID (step 112).

  A user who designates the MFP 300 in the “conference room” as the output destination of the “plan” goes to the conference room and holds the mobile terminal 100 that he / she carries over the R / W 301 of the MFP 300 installed there. Then, near field communication (NFC / TJ) is established between the R / W 201 of the LF print server 200 and the R / W 101 built in the mobile terminal 100, and various types of information stored in the setting information storage unit 102 of the mobile terminal 100 are stored. Among the setting information, “pairing information”, “user authentication information”, “function use authority information”, and “use history information” are transmitted to the MFP 300 by the setting information transmission unit 104 (step 113).

  Various setting information transmitted from the mobile terminal 100 by proximity wireless communication is analyzed by the setting information acquisition unit 302 of the MFP 300 (step 114). The user authentication unit 304 requests the user authentication station 400 to perform user authentication based on the “user authentication information” acquired by the setting information acquisition unit 302 (step 115).

  The user authentication station 400 executes user authentication based on the “user authentication information” transmitted from the setting information acquisition unit 302, and when the authentication is successful, responds to that effect (step 116).

  When receiving the authentication success response, the wireless communication establishment unit 306 of the MFP 300 executes pairing based on the “pairing information” acquired by the setting information acquisition unit 302 and establishes ad hoc communication (step 117).

  When ad hoc communication is established with the mobile terminal 100, the operation panel GUI generating unit 308 of the MFP 300 has a function that the user has usage authority based on the “function usage authority information” acquired by the setting information acquisition unit 302. A GUI for an operation panel that displays only the selection is generated. Further, based on the “use history information” acquired by the setting information acquisition unit 302, an operation panel GUI reflecting the history of functions and print setting conditions (paper size, energy saving toner save setting, etc.) used by the user in the past. (For example, icons of frequently used functions and conditions are displayed prominently) (step 118). The MFP 300 downloads the generated operation panel GUI to the mobile terminal 100 by ad hoc communication (step 119).

  Here, a case where the user designates MFP 300 in “Conference Room” as an output destination of “Proposal Document” will be described first. The user operates the mobile terminal 100 to open the operation panel GUI screen downloaded in step 119 (step 120). FIG. 5 illustrates an operation panel GUI screen 700 displayed on the mobile terminal 100.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the operation panel GUI screen 700 has various functions such as condition setting icons for setting various printing conditions such as “paper selection” and “magnification”, “layout”, and “2 in 1”. Function setting icons for setting are displayed, and operation icons such as “start” and “stop” are also displayed. Here, as described above, the operation panel GUI screen 700 is configured as an operation panel that displays only functions for which the user has use authority. The operation panel GUI screen 700 is configured as an operation panel customized based on the user's usage history, such as when a user touches each icon, a condition frequently used in the past is displayed at the top of the pull-down menu. Has been.

  When the user touches various icons displayed on the operation panel GUI screen 700 to input desired functions and printing conditions, operates the numeric keypad 600 to input the number of prints, and then touches the “start” icon, the mobile The LF print function unit 106 of the terminal 100 transmits a print request associated with the user ID to the MFP 300 by ad hoc communication (step 121). The input information input via the operation panel GUI screen 700 is sequentially sent from the GUI control unit of the mobile terminal 100 to the setting information storage unit, and the “usage status information” is based on the input information. Updated. The MFP 300 searches the database using the user ID included in the print request from the mobile terminal 100 as a key, and prints out the acquired print data (print data of “plan”) (step 122).

  Next, a case where the user sets the output destination of the “plan book” to be free will be described. Similarly, the user operates the mobile terminal 100 to open the operation panel GUI screen illustrated in FIG. 5, operates the displayed icons and the numeric keypad 600, and then touches the “start” icon. In response to this, the LF print function unit 106 of the mobile terminal 100 transmits a print request associated with the user ID to the MFP 300 by ad hoc communication (step 121). In response to the print request from the mobile terminal 100, the MFP 300 further associates its own device ID and transfers it to the LF print server 200 (step 123).

  The LF print server 200 searches the database using the user ID included in the received print request as a key, obtains the corresponding print file (“plan book” file), and then includes the device included in the print request that has received the file. The printer driver corresponding to the ID is used to convert it to print data, which is sent to the MFP 300 (step 124). The MFP 300 prints out the print data received from the LF print server 200 (step 125).

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, a user can cause a mobile terminal (such as a smartphone) carried by the user to function as an authentication token, and further, an unconfigured wireless communication using the mobile terminal. Connection settings can be easily made for the printer. Furthermore, the display screen can be used as an operation panel customized for the user. As a result, as long as the user carries his / her mobile terminal, the desired file can be retrieved from a favorite place at any time, even if the network print system includes an unconfigured wireless printer. Can be printed out.

  As described above, the present invention has been described with the embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, the communication method of the mobile terminal is replaced with the WLAN (Wireless / Wireless USB) instead of the WLAN. Can be adopted. In this case, the mobile terminal stores “association information” as setting information instead of “pairing information” as “wireless connection setting information”. In addition, it is included in the scope of the present invention as long as the effects and effects of the present invention are exhibited within the scope of embodiments that can be considered by those skilled in the art.

  The functions of the above-described embodiments are as follows: assembly language, C, Visual C, C ++, Visual C ++, Java (registered trademark), Java (registered trademark) Beans, Java (registered trademark) Applet, Java (registered trademark) Script, Perl , Ruby, and the like, which can be realized by a device-executable program written in a legacy programming language, an object-oriented programming language, or the like, and can be stored and distributed in a device-readable recording medium.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Location free printing system 12 ... Network 100 ... Mobile portable terminal 101 ... Read / write device 102 ... Setting information storage part 104 ... Setting information transmission part 106 ... Location free printing functional part 200 ... Location free printing server 201 ... Read / write Device 202 ... Setting information acquisition unit 204 ... User authentication unit 206 ... Wireless communication establishment unit 208 ... Device selection GUI generation unit 210 ... Location free printing function unit 300 ... Printing device 301 ... Read / write device 302 ... Setting information acquisition unit 304 User authentication unit 306 Wireless communication establishment unit 308 Operation panel GUI generation unit 310 Location-free print function unit 400 User authentication station 500 Device selection GUI screen 600 Keypad 700 Operation panel GUI screen

JP 2009-294889 A JP 2009-75806 A

Claims (7)

A location-free printing system including a short-range wireless compatible network print server and a plurality of short-range wireless compatible printing devices, and a short-range wireless compatible mobile mobile terminal connected to each other in infrastructure mode,
The mobile portable terminal is
A setting information storage unit that stores at least user authentication information and setting information including wireless connection setting information for setting a short-range wireless connection between the network print server and the printing apparatus;
A setting information transmitting unit for transmitting the setting information by proximity wireless communication;
Including
The network print server and the printing apparatus are respectively
A setting information acquisition unit that acquires the setting information from the mobile portable terminal by proximity wireless communication;
A user authentication unit that requests authentication from a user certificate authority based on the user authentication information;
A wireless communication establishment unit that establishes ad hoc wireless communication with the mobile portable terminal based on the wireless connection setting information on the condition of successful authentication;
The network print server further includes:
Device selection for generating a device selection GUI for selecting the printing device as a printing destination, and downloading the device selection GUI to the mobile portable terminal by ad hoc wireless communication established with the mobile portable terminal Including a GUI generation unit for
The printing apparatus further includes:
An operation panel GUI for operating the printing apparatus is generated, and the operation panel GUI is downloaded to the mobile portable terminal by ad hoc wireless communication established with the mobile portable terminal. Including parts,
Location free printing system. The setting information further includes device usage authority information,
The device selection GUI generation unit customizes the device selection GUI based on the device usage authority information.
The location-free printing system according to claim 1. The setting information further includes function use authority information,
The operation panel GUI generation unit customizes the operation panel GUI based on the function use authority information.
The location-free printing system according to claim 1 or 2. The setting information further includes usage history information that records a history of functions used by the user or printing setting conditions for the printing apparatus,
The operation panel GUI generation unit customizes the operation panel GUI based on the use history information.
The location-free printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The GUI control unit of the mobile portable terminal updates the usage history information based on the input information input via the operation panel GUI.
The location-free printing system according to claim 4. The ad hoc wireless communication conforms to the Bluetooth (registered trademark) or Wireless USB standard,
The location free printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 5. The near field wireless communication conforms to NFC (Near Field Communication) or TJ (Transfer Jet) standards.
The location free printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 6.