JP2014128928A - Image formation device, portable terminal, information processing system, and methods and programs therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system capable of guiding a user to an image formation device and allowing the user to easily access the image formation device to use when the user uses the image formation device.SOLUTION: An image formation device includes: storage means for storing information including specific information for specifying the image formation device used for communicating with the image formation device; read image generation means for generating a read image that can be read by a portable terminal by using the information according to operation directly made by a user to the image formation device; display means for displaying the generated read image; reception means for receiving an authentication request including authentication information for user authentication transmitted according to the reading of the read image by the portable terminal; authentication control means for performing authentication control by using the authentication information; and login control means for performing login control to the image formation device when authentication is obtained by the authentication control means.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, a portable terminal, an information processing system, and methods and programs thereof.

  In recent years, regarding the use of an image forming apparatus such as a multifunction peripheral, it is widely performed to perform user authentication, identify a user who uses the image forming apparatus, and use the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus means a device in which functions such as a copying machine, a printer, an image scanner, and a facsimile are integrated.

When authenticated, a list of print jobs (print jobs stored in the image forming apparatus or server) for the authenticated user is displayed on the display unit of the image forming apparatus. Then, the user selects a desired print job and executes printing by giving a print instruction.
In such a printing environment, a mechanism using a portable terminal (especially a smartphone) that has been widely used in recent years has been considered (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2008-165567 A

  As described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-260, it is convenient to use a portable terminal and specify a print job from the portable terminal to execute printing because of the low operability of the display unit of the image forming apparatus.

  In the case of a printing mechanism using a portable terminal and an image forming apparatus, it is conceivable that the portable terminal is held over a card reader for authentication and printing. In this case, if the mobile terminal is registered in the authentication information and the mobile terminal is a terminal that can be read by a card reader, the user can log in to the image forming apparatus by holding the mobile terminal over the card reader, which is highly convenient. However, in the case where the mobile terminal is not registered in the authentication information or is a mobile terminal that cannot be read by the card reader, the user can input the user information using the mobile terminal instead of holding it over the card reader. However, it is necessary to specify an image forming apparatus to be accessed by the user at this time, and there is a problem in that it is not easy to use.

  In particular, when using conventional technology, the user must obtain a list of image forming apparatuses from the server, search for and select the image forming apparatus that he / she wants to print, and send authentication information. I had to. In addition, if an incorrect image forming apparatus is selected, the user logs in to an irrelevant image forming apparatus and prints from an image forming apparatus that the user does not expect when a print instruction is issued from a portable terminal. There was a case.

  In addition, when an image forming apparatus is simply selected from a list with a portable terminal, authentication is performed without going to the front of the image forming apparatus, and printing can be executed, resulting in a low security state. was there.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism that guides a user to an image forming apparatus and facilitates access to the used image forming apparatus when the image forming apparatus is used.

  In order to achieve the object of the present invention, an image forming apparatus that receives a request from a portable terminal, and stores information including specific information for specifying the image forming apparatus used to communicate with the image forming apparatus A storage unit, a read image generation unit that generates a read image that can be read by the portable terminal using the information in response to a direct operation of the image forming apparatus by a user, and the generated read image is displayed. Display means, receiving means for receiving an authentication request including authentication information for user authentication transmitted in accordance with reading of the read image by the portable terminal, authentication control means for performing authentication control using the authentication information, And log-in control means for controlling log-in to the image forming apparatus when authentication is obtained by the authentication control means.

  According to the present invention, when using an image forming apparatus, a user can be guided to the image forming apparatus and access to the used image forming apparatus can be facilitated.

System configuration diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of a print system in the present embodiment The block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of the information processing apparatus applicable to a print management server, an authentication server, a print server, a client terminal, and a smart phone in this embodiment A block diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of a printer in the present embodiment Schematic diagram showing the outline of processing in this embodiment Block diagram showing functions of printer and smartphone in this embodiment Flowchart of print job accumulation processing in this embodiment Flowchart of print job list acquisition processing in the printer in this embodiment Smartphone authentication flowchart in the present embodiment Flowchart of print job list acquisition processing (screen lock processing) on a smartphone in this embodiment Flowchart of print job list acquisition processing (screen lock release processing) on a smartphone in this embodiment Flowchart of print processing from a smartphone in this embodiment The flowchart of the deletion process from the smart phone 600 in this embodiment In this embodiment, the screen displayed on the LCD display unit of the operation unit of the printer In this embodiment, an initial setting screen displayed on the display unit of the smartphone, an error screen without a login user, an error screen due to login by another user, an error screen without a job In this embodiment, a job list screen, a detailed setting screen, a print error screen A, and a print error screen B displayed on the display unit of the smartphone Configuration diagram showing an example of the configuration of a bibliographic information data table and a job list table in the present embodiment The block diagram which shows an example of the structure of the table of login information in this embodiment Configuration diagram showing an example of QR code information in the present embodiment Login information input screen displayed on the display unit of the smartphone in this embodiment

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
<Basic configuration: Overall overview>
FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram illustrating an example of an overall configuration of a print system including a print management server 100, an authentication server 200, a printer 300, a print server 400, a client terminal 500, and a smartphone 600 (portable terminal) in the present embodiment. is there. The printer 300 constitutes an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. Further, the smartphone 600 constitutes an example of a mobile terminal according to the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the print system of this embodiment includes a print management server 100, an authentication server 200, a printer 300, a print server 400, a client terminal 500, and a smartphone 600 (portable terminal) in a local area network (wired LAN, wireless). It is connected via a LAN 700 (including a LAN) to transmit and receive information.

  The print management server 100 is an information processing apparatus that stores and manages job information of a print job received from the client terminal 500 by the print server 400. The job information (also referred to as bibliographic information) is print job management information, and is managed as 1400 in FIG.

  In response to a request from the printer 300, the print management server 100 transmits a list of print jobs or transmits a request to the print server 400 to perform LPR printing to the requested printer 300. The transmission / reception among the print management server, the print server 400, and the printer 300 is performed using a known technique.

  The print server 400 is an information processing apparatus that receives a print job from the client terminal 500 and stores and manages it. A plurality of print servers 400 may be installed. In response to the print request from the print management server 100, the print server executes LPR printing to the printer 300 that has issued the print instruction in accordance with the printer identification information (for example, IP address) included in the print request.

  In the present embodiment, the print management server 100 and the print server 400 are configured as separate casings, but may be the same casing. In addition, a configuration may be adopted in which a multifunction peripheral is connected to the LAN 700, and the multifunction peripheral has functions of a print management server and a print server.

  A printer driver is installed in the client terminal 500, and the printer driver generates a print job from the specified document and transmits the print job to the print server 400. At this time, the print server 400 is set as an output destination in the printer driver.

  The authentication server 200 stores an authentication table, and in response to an authentication request (authentication request including card information read from the IC card) made by holding the IC card over the card reader of the printer 300, the authentication server 200 stores the authentication table. Authentication processing is performed using the authentication table. In addition to the IC card, the user name and password input to the printer 300 can be authenticated. Furthermore, the user name and password input from the smart phone 600 are received from the printer 300, and an authentication process is performed.

  The printer 300 acquires a print job list of a user who has logged into the printer 300 from the print management server 100, and displays the print job list. A print request for a print job designated in accordance with a user operation is transmitted to the print management server 100. The print management server 100 identifies the storage location of the print job requested to be printed, and transmits a print request for the requested print job to the identified print server 400. When a print job is received from the print server 400 in response to this print request, printing is executed. In addition, the print job list of the user who has requested from the smartphone 600 is acquired, and the print job list is transmitted to the smartphone 600. When the user is authenticated and the printer 300 is logged in, the printer 300 manages the user information of the logged-in user. When another user logs in during login, the previous login user is forcibly logged out, and the user information of the user who logged in later is managed as the user information of the login user. A plurality of printers 300 may be installed.

  In this embodiment, since the destination where the print job is stored is held, the printer 300 issues a print request to the print management server 100 and transmits the print request via the print management server 100. The print request may be transmitted directly to the print server 400.

  The smartphone 600 is a portable terminal having the function of an information processing apparatus, and is a terminal that can be connected to wireless communication or a telephone line. The smartphone 600 stores an application that can communicate with the printer 300, and can transmit data input via the application, display data received from the printer 300, and the like.

  In the present embodiment, the print management server 100 and the print server 400 are provided. However, the printer 300 may store a print job and job information as print job management information.

<Basic configuration: Information processing device>
Hereinafter, the hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus applicable to the print management server 100, the authentication server 200, the print server 400, the client terminal 500, and the smartphone 600 illustrated in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of an information processing apparatus applicable to the print management server, the authentication server, the print server, the client terminal, and the smartphone illustrated in FIG.

  In FIG. 2, reference numeral 201 denotes a CPU that comprehensively controls each device and controller connected to the system bus 204. Further, the ROM 202 or the external memory 211 is necessary to realize a BIOS (Basic Input / Output System) or an operating system program (hereinafter referred to as an OS), which is a control program of the CPU 201, or a function executed by each server or each PC. Various programs to be described later are stored.

  The RAM 203 functions as a main memory, work area, and the like for the CPU 201. The CPU 201 implements various operations by loading a program or the like necessary for execution of processing from the ROM 202 or the external memory 211 into the RAM 203 and executing the loaded program.

  The input controller 205 controls input from a keyboard (KB) 209 or a pointing device such as a mouse (not shown). A video controller 206 controls display on a display device such as a CRT display (CRT) 210. In FIG. 2, although described as CRT 210, the display device is not limited to the CRT, but may be another display device such as a liquid crystal display. These are used by the administrator as needed.

  The memory controller 207 is connected via an adapter to a hard disk (HD), flexible disk (FD), or PCMCIA card slot for storing a boot program, various applications, font data, user files, editing files, various data, and the like. Controlling access to an external memory 211 such as a CompactFlash (registered trademark) memory.

  The communication I / F controller 208 is connected to and communicates with an external device via a network (for example, the LAN 700 shown in FIG. 1), and executes communication control processing on the network. For example, communication using TCP / IP is possible.

  Note that the CPU 201 enables display on the CRT 210 by executing outline font rasterization processing on a display information area in the RAM 203, for example. In addition, the CPU 201 enables a user instruction with a mouse cursor (not shown) on the CRT 210.

  Various programs to be described later for realizing the present invention are recorded in the external memory 211 and executed by the CPU 201 by being loaded into the RAM 203 as necessary. Furthermore, definition files and various information tables used when executing the program are also stored in the external memory 211, and a detailed description thereof will be described later.

  In addition to the above configuration, the smartphone 600 has a configuration capable of voice communication by connecting to a telephone line. In the case of the smartphone 600, the CRT 210 is a display unit such as a touch panel.

  If it demonstrates in detail about the smart phone 600, a smart phone will have a control part which controls operation | movement of the whole smart phone, and operate | moves according to the program stored in ROM202.

  Also, it has a receiver, and the receiver is a speaker or the like, which converts a digital audio signal supplied from the controller into an analog audio signal and emits sound from the speaker. Also, it has a transmitter, and the transmitter is a microphone or the like, takes in the voice data to be transmitted, converts it into a digital signal, and supplies it to the controller.

  In addition, it has a transmission / reception unit, and communicates with the printer 300 via an antenna via a wireless LAN. Note that communication with the printer 300 may be performed using WAN or Bluetooth (registered trademark). It also has a display unit and displays various information.

Furthermore, it has an input part, and an input part inputs various instructions with operation keys, such as a dial button. In the case of a smartphone, the display unit is a touch panel, and the display unit includes an input unit.
Further, it has a ROM and stores an operation program of the control unit and fixed data.
Furthermore, it has RAM, functions as a work area of the control unit, and temporarily stores information acquired from the outside.

  In addition, it also has an IC chip in which predetermined identification information is written. The predetermined identification information is information for identifying a manufacturing number or an individual, and can be estimated by a card reader. Further, a camera is provided, and information can be read from a read image (for example, a QR code or a two-dimensional bar code) captured through the camera.

<Basic configuration: Printer>
Next, the hardware configuration of the printer 300 shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. Since the printer 300 may be a multi-function peripheral, the printer 300 will be described as a configuration of the multi-function peripheral.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the printer 300 illustrated in FIG. 1.

  In FIG. 3, reference numeral 314 denotes a controller unit which is connected to a scanner unit 319 functioning as an image input device and a printer unit 312 functioning as an image output device, while being connected to a LAN (for example, the LAN 700 shown in FIG. 1) or a public line ( (WAN) (for example, PSTN or ISDN) to input / output image data and device information.

  In the controller unit 314, reference numeral 301 denotes a CPU, which is a processor that controls the entire system. A RAM 302 is a system work memory for the CPU 301 to operate, and is also a program memory for recording a program and an image memory for temporarily recording image data.

  The ROM 303 stores a system boot program and various control programs. A hard disk drive (HDD) 304 stores various programs for controlling the system, image data, and the like.

  An operation unit interface (operation unit I / F) 307 is an interface unit with the operation unit (keyboard) 308. Further, the operation unit I / F 307 serves to transmit the key information (for example, pressing of the start button) input from the operation unit 308 to the CPU 301.

  A network interface (Network I / F) 305 is connected to a network (LAN) 700 and inputs / outputs data. A modem (MODEM) 306 is connected to a public line and inputs / outputs data such as FAX transmission / reception.

  An external interface (external I / F) 316 is an I / F unit that accepts external inputs such as USB, IEEE 1394, printer port, RS-232C, and the like. A card reader 317 for reading (storage medium) is connected to the external I / F unit 316. Then, the CPU 301 can control reading of information from the IC card of the portable terminal by the card reader 317 via the external I / F 316, and can acquire information read from the IC card of the portable terminal. The above devices are arranged on the system bus 309.

Reference numeral 320 denotes an image bus interface (IMAGE BUS I / F), which is a bus bridge that connects the system bus 309 and an image bus 313 that transfers image data at high speed and converts the data structure.
The image bus 313 is configured by a PCI bus or IEEE1394. The following devices are arranged on the image bus 313.

  A raster image processor (RIP) 310 develops vector data such as a PDL code into a bitmap image. A printer interface (printer I / F) 311 connects the printer unit 312 and the controller unit 314 to perform synchronous / asynchronous conversion of image data. A scanner interface (scanner I / F) 318 connects the scanner unit 319 and the controller unit 314, and performs synchronous / asynchronous conversion of image data.

  The image processing unit 315 corrects, processes, and edits input image data, and performs printer correction, resolution conversion, and the like on print output image data. In addition, the image processing unit 315 performs image data rotation and compression / decompression processing such as JPEG for multi-valued image data and JBIG, MMR, MH for binary image data.

  The scanner unit 319 illuminates an image on paper as an original and scans it with a CCD line sensor, thereby converting it into an electrical signal as raster image data. The original paper is set on the tray of the original feeder, and when the apparatus user gives a reading start instruction from the operation unit 308, the CPU 301 gives an instruction to the scanner unit 319, and the feeder feeds the original paper one by one to read the original image. Perform the action.

  The printer unit 312 is a part that converts raster image data into an image on paper. The method is an electrophotographic method using a photosensitive drum or a photosensitive belt, and ink is ejected from a micro nozzle array directly on the paper. There is an inkjet method for printing an image, but any method may be used. The activation of the printing operation is started by an instruction from the CPU 301. The printer unit 312 has a plurality of paper feed stages so that different paper sizes or different paper orientations can be selected, and has a paper cassette corresponding thereto.

  The operation unit 308 has an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) display unit, and a touch panel sheet is pasted on the LCD. The operation unit 308 displays an operation screen of the system, and when the displayed key is pressed, the position information is displayed. This is transmitted to the CPU 301 via the operation unit I / F 307. The operation unit 308 includes, for example, a start key, a stop key, an ID key, a reset key, and the like as various operation keys.

  The display unit has a different display performance depending on the multifunction device. The multifunction device can be operated via a touch panel. The multifunction device is simply equipped with a liquid crystal display and displays a character string (displays the print status and printed document name). Thus, the present invention is constituted.

  Here, the start key of the operation unit 308 is used when starting a document image reading operation. At the center of the start key, there are two color LEDs, green and red, which indicate whether or not the start key can be used. Further, the stop key of the operation unit 308 functions to stop the operation in operation. The ID key of the operation unit 308 is used when inputting the user ID of the user. The reset key is used when initializing settings from the operation unit.

  The card reader 317 reads information stored in an IC card provided in the portable terminal under the control of the CPU 301 and notifies the CPU 301 of the read information via the external I / F 316.

  With the configuration described above, the printer 300 can transmit the image data read from the scanner unit 319 to the LAN 700 and print out the print job received from the LAN 700 by the printer unit 312.

  Further, the image data read from the scanner unit 319 can be fax-transmitted on the public line by the modem 306, and the image data received by FAX from the public line can be output by the printer unit 312.

<Operating principle: Overview>
Hereinafter, the outline of processing in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
First, a print job is stored in the print server 400, and job information of the print job is managed by the print management server 100. As described above, the print job and the job information may be stored in the printer 300.

  (0) First, a user who wants to operate a print job with a smartphone operates the printer 300 and selects an authentication method (smartphone authentication / IC card authentication). When the smartphone authentication is selected, a QR code for accessing the printer 300 is displayed on the display unit of the printer 300. Read the QR code with the smartphone 600. A user name and a password are received by a user operation, and communication is performed from the smartphone 600 to the printer 300 using an IP address included in the QR code to perform user authentication. When IC card authentication is selected, the IC card is held over the printer 300 in order to log in directly with the printer 300. The printer reads the card information from the IC card and authenticates the user. When the authentication is performed, a list of user print jobs (job list) is acquired from the print management server 100 based on the user name obtained as a result of the authentication, and stored in the RAM of the printer 300. At this time, a list of print jobs is also displayed on the printer 300. As described above, the reason why the user makes the printer 300 perform login processing is to increase the security of printing by allowing the user to go in front of the printer 300.

  (1) A request for a print job list including a user name input to the smartphone 600 is transmitted to the printer 300 by an operation of a user who has logged into the printer 300.

  (2) The printer 300 acquires the print job list (job list) stored in (0) based on the user name of the logged-in user (user A), and transmits it to the smartphone 600. At this time, it is determined whether or not the user name of the login information managed by the printer 300 matches. Further, since the operation is performed from the smartphone 600, the screen is locked so that the screen of the printer 300 cannot be operated.

  (3) Here, another user logs in by holding the IC card over the printer 300 or the like. At this time, the previous login user (user A) logs out and the other user (user B) logs in. At this time, the login information is rewritten with the user B information. Then, the print job list of user B is displayed on the printer 300.

  (4) The smartphone 600 selects a print job to be printed from the print job list, and transmits a print request to the printer 300. At this time, the print request includes the user name (user A).

  (5) The printer 300 compares the user name included in the print request received from the smartphone 600 with the user name of the login information stored in the printer 300 to determine whether another user is logged in. .

  (6) In this example, since the user B has logged in later, the user name does not match, so error information is returned to the smartphone 600. Thus, since printing is not executed when another user is logged in, it is possible to prevent a decrease in security due to mixing of originals caused by a remote printing operation and removal of originals.

  If the user names match in (5), the print job requested to be printed is printed. At this time, since the destination where the print job is stored is held as the bibliographic information, a print request may be transmitted from the printer 300 to the print server 400, or a print request is sent to the print management server 100 to perform printing. A print request may be transmitted via the management server 100. Also, when user B logs in, user A is forcibly logged out, but when user A's user information is stored in the RAM and user A makes a print request from the smartphone, the user information in the RAM is stored. It is also possible to return the error information indicating that the logout is forcibly performed.

<Function: Printer and Smartphone>
Hereinafter, basic functions of the printer 300 and the smartphone 600 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing functional blocks of the printer 300 and the smartphone 600 in the present embodiment. In addition, since the detailed process in each function is mentioned later, description of the function part described in each apparatus is described here. Needless to say, functions other than the function units 501 to 514 may be provided. It goes without saying that the processing of each functional unit is controlled by the CPU of each device.

<Printer functions>
The storage unit 501 is a functional unit that stores information including specific information for specifying the image forming apparatus used to communicate with the image forming apparatus. This information includes a unique code for the read image.
The read image generation 502 is a functional unit that generates a read image that can be read by the portable terminal using the information in response to a direct operation of the image forming apparatus by the user. Further, the functional unit generates a read image using information including a code.
A display unit 503 is a functional unit that displays the generated read image. In addition, when it is determined that the read image is displayed, the functional unit is configured to hide the read image after receiving the authentication request.
The receiving unit 504 is a functional unit that receives an authentication request including authentication information for user authentication that is transmitted in accordance with reading of a read image by the portable terminal.
The authentication control unit 505 is a functional unit that performs authentication control using the authentication information. Further, when the codes are matched by the comparison unit 509, authentication control is performed.
The login control unit 506 is a functional unit that controls login to the image forming apparatus when authentication is obtained by the authentication control unit 505.

The determination unit 507 is a functional unit that determines whether a read image is displayed on the display unit 503.
The code acquisition unit 508 is a functional unit that acquires a code included in the authentication request by the reception unit 504.
The comparison unit 509 is a functional unit that compares the acquired code with the code included in the information stored in the storage unit 501.
The deletion unit 510 is a functional unit that deletes information stored in the storage unit 501 when the codes match by the comparison unit 509.
The transmission unit 511 is a functional unit that, when logged in by the login control unit 506, transmits a job list to the portable terminal without displaying a job list corresponding to the logged-in user on the image forming apparatus.

<Smartphone functions>
The reading unit 512 is a functional unit that reads the read image.
The input unit 513 is a functional unit that inputs authentication information for user authentication.
The transmission unit 514 is a functional unit that transmits an authentication request including the authentication information to the image forming apparatus in accordance with identification information for identifying the image forming apparatus obtained as a result of reading by the reading unit 512.

<Operating principle>
Next, the operation principle of the printing process in the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. Note that each step in the flowchart is executed by the CPU of each device.
Further, screens and data used in each flowchart will be described in each step of the flowchart.

<Print job storage processing>
FIG. 6 is a flowchart of print job accumulation processing.
First, in step S601, the print server 400 receives a print job from the client terminal 500, and in step S602, the print job is stored in a predetermined storage first. Thereafter, in step S <b> 603, the print server 400 acquires job information (user name, job name, time stamp, print data storage destination, printer group, etc.) of the print job, and transmits it to the print management server 100. The user name and job name are information included in the print job as print job attributes, the time stamp is information generated by the print server 400, and the print data storage destination is the print job saved It is a folder path, and the printer group is printer attribute information obtained from the printer driver (may be the printer model name). The time stamp may be generated by the print management server. Further, the group information specified from the printer model name is stored in the print management server 100, the group is specified from the printer model name by the print management server 100, and this group is stored as attribute information. May be.

  In step S604, the print management server 100 receives job information from the print server 400. In step S605, the print management server 100 stores the job information in a predetermined bibliographic information data table 1400 of the print management server 100.

<Data structure of bibliographic information data table>
Here, the data configuration of the bibliographic information data table 1400 stored in the external memory 211 of the print management server 100 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 14 is a data configuration diagram showing an example of the configuration of the bibliographic information data table 1400.

  As shown in FIG. 14, the bibliographic information data table 1400 includes data items such as a user name 1401, a job name 1402, the number of copies 1403, a time stamp 1404, a print data storage destination 1405, a printer group 1406, and the like.

  The user name 1401 is a data item in which information for specifying the user who is the owner of the print job is registered. A job name 1402 is a data item for registering the name of the print job. As the number of copies 1403, the number of copies for printing the print data is registered.

  The time stamp 1404 registers date and time information when the print job is stored in the external memory 211 of the print server 400. Based on this information, the print management server 100 makes a request to the print server to delete print data that has not been printed for a certain period of time after the print data is stored in the print server 400. Since the time stamp is unique data, it is also used to specify a print job.

  The print data storage destination 1405 is a data item for registering the path information of the destination where the print job is stored, and the print job can be specified based on this information.

  A printer group 1406 is a data item for registering attribute information such as printer group information such as a printer group capable of monochrome printing only and a printer group capable of color printing. Based on this information, the printer group 1406 is displayed on the LCD display unit of the printer 300. Only the printable job list (job list table 1450 in FIG. 14) of the login user (USER1) can be displayed. The printer group may be a printer model name.

<Printer job list acquisition processing for printer>
Next, a print job list acquisition process in the printer 300 will be described with reference to FIG. 7A. This process is performed by the control unit 301 of the printer 300, the CPU 201 of the authentication server 200, and the print management server 100. Further, it is a login process when the card is read by the card reader.

  First, in step S701, the CPU 301 of the printer 300 (hereinafter, appropriately referred to as “control unit 301”) prompts the user who uses the printer 300 to perform user authentication using an IC card (see FIG. 11). 1101) is displayed on the LCD display unit of the operation unit 308. Thereafter, in step S <b> 702, the control unit 301 of the printer 300 transmits a polling start request to the card reader 317. Thereby, in step S703, the card reader 317 starts polling for detecting the card.

  In step S704, when the card reader 317 detects that the IC card is held up, the card reader 317 acquires the card information of the held IC card and transmits the acquired card information to the printer 300. In step S705, the printer 300 receives card information from the card reader. In step S706, the control unit 301 of the printer 300 acquires the received card information.

  Here, in step S <b> 707, the control unit 301 of the printer 300 confirms whether there is a user logged in to the printer 300. More specifically, there is login information, and it is determined whether the card information included in the login information matches the acquired card information. If there is a logged-in user, that is, if there is card information different from the acquired card information (YES in S707), in step S720, the control unit 301 of the printer 300 does not accept an operation by the user. 11 determines whether the lock screen (1103) shown in FIG. 11 is displayed on the LCD display unit of the operation unit 308. If the lock screen has been displayed (YES in S720), in step S721, the print job list stored in the RAM of the printer 300 is deleted. If the screen is not locked (NO in S720), the process proceeds to step S708. In step S722, the control unit 301 of the printer 300 releases the lock for not accepting an operation by the user. That is, it corresponds to a process of canceling the screen in response to a login of a user different from the currently logged-in user.

In step S708, the logged-in user is forcibly logged out. Logout is performed by discarding login information. If there is no logged-in user, the process proceeds to step S709.
Note that the processing in steps S707 to S708 may be executed when the authentication result is received in step S714 and the authentication is successful.

  In step S709, the control unit 301 of the printer 300 creates authentication request data including the card information acquired in step S706, and transmits the authentication request data to the authentication server 200, thereby using the acquired card information. User authentication is requested from the authentication server 200. When the processing is shifted from step 747, the authentication server 200 is requested to perform user authentication using the user name and password received in step S744. That is, it corresponds to an authentication control process for performing authentication control using authentication information.

  In step S <b> 710, the CPU 201 of the authentication server 200 (hereinafter, appropriately referred to as “control unit 201”) receives authentication request data from the printer 300. Thereafter, in step S711, the control unit 201 of the authentication server 200 refers to the user authentication table stored in the external memory 211 and searches for users from the card information. In the case of an authentication request using a user name and a password, a user is searched from the user name to determine whether the passwords match.

  As a result of the user authentication processing in step S711, if the authentication is successful (for example, a user matching the card information can be searched), in step S712, the control unit 201 of the authentication server 200 indicates that the authentication result is successful. The authentication result data indicating that is created. This authentication result data includes user information (user name, password, e-mail address, etc.) associated with the card information used for user authentication.

  On the other hand, if the authentication fails as a result of the user authentication process in step S711 (for example, a user matching the card information cannot be searched), in step S712, the control unit 201 of the authentication server 200 determines that the authentication result is Create authentication result data indicating failure.

  In step S713, the control unit 201 of the authentication server 200 transmits the authentication result data created in step S712 to the printer 300 that has made the user authentication request.

  In step S <b> 714, the control unit 301 of the printer 300 receives the authentication result data transmitted from the authentication server 200. Then, it is determined whether the user authentication has succeeded or failed based on the authentication result data. If it is determined that the user authentication is successful, the received user information is stored as login information 1500 (see FIG. 15) in order to make the printer 300 usable. That is, this corresponds to login control processing for controlling login to the image forming apparatus when authentication is performed.

  As a result, the printer 300 is logged in. Note that this step S714 constitutes an example of “in the image forming apparatus, the second user identification information indicating the authenticated user is stored according to the user's operation” according to the present invention. . FIG. 15 shows an example of login information according to the present invention.

When logging in, in step S715, the control unit 301 of the printer 300 transmits a job acquisition request including the user name to the print management server 100. In step S716, the CPU 201 of the print management server 100 receives a job acquisition request. Thereafter, in step S717, the CPU 201 of the print management server 100 refers to the bibliographic information data table 1400 in FIG. 14 stored in the external memory 211, and from the user name, the print job list of the user (in FIG. 14). A job list table 1450) is generated, and the print job list is transmitted to the printer 300. In step S718, the control unit 301 of the printer 300 receives and acquires the print job list transmitted from the print management server 100. Note that step S718 constitutes an example of “acquiring a list of print jobs corresponding to the second user identification information according to authentication” according to the present invention.
In step S718, when the authentication is performed by the smartphone authentication in FIG. 7B, since the communication between the smartphone 600 and the printer 300 is established, the process proceeds to step S824. Thereby, in the access in smart phone authentication, operativity and convenience can be improved. That is, when logged in, this corresponds to a transmission process for transmitting the job list to the requested mobile terminal without displaying the job list corresponding to the logged-in user on the image forming apparatus.

  In step S719, the control unit 301 of the printer 300 stores the print job list in the RAM, and displays the job list screen (1102) illustrated in FIG. 11 on the LCD display unit of the operation unit 308. The data image of the print job list stored in the RAM of the printer 300 has the same contents as 1450 in FIG. That is, it corresponds to processing for displaying a screen for controlling a job. Further, this corresponds to processing for displaying a screen for controlling a job in response to a user login.

  On the other hand, if the control unit 301 of the printer 300 determines in step S714 that the user authentication has failed, display information for displaying an error screen (not shown) is created, and not shown in accordance with the created display information. Displays the authentication error screen.

Thereafter, it is determined whether to perform the user authentication process again according to the user's operation instruction. If it is determined that the user authentication is performed again, the process may proceed to S701 and the above-described process may be repeated.
On the other hand, when it is determined that the user authentication process is not performed again, the process illustrated in FIG.

  In the present embodiment, the user who has logged into the printer 300 thereafter operates the smartphone and issues a print instruction for the print job. Therefore, another user may hold the IC card over the printer 300. In this case, the card reader detects the IC card, receives the card information in step S705, and the authentication process is executed. Become. In this case, the print job list of another user is stored in the RAM, and the print job list is displayed on the printer 300.

  In the present embodiment, description will be made on the assumption that a print instruction is given using the smartphone 600. However, it is also possible to select a print job on the display unit included in the operation unit 308 of the printer 300 and give the print instruction. Assume that the processing after the printing instruction is given by the printer 300 is executed in steps S917 to S919 described later.

<Smartphone authentication process using QR code>
Next, with reference to FIG. 7B, an authentication process from the smartphone 600 using a QR code (registered trademark) will be described. Each step is a process performed by the CPU 201 of the smartphone 600 (hereinafter, referred to as “control unit 201” as appropriate) and the control unit 301 of the printer 300. In the present embodiment, this is a flowchart showing one of the characteristic processes. Further, although the present embodiment will be described using a QR code, the QR code may not be used as long as it can be read.

Note that an application program for reading and authenticating the QR code is installed in the smartphone 600, and is realized by starting the application program.
First, in order to allow the user to use the printer, the authentication is not possible unless the user operates the printer. In order to authenticate, it is necessary to hold the IC card over the card reader of the printer 300 or display the QR code so that the portable terminal can read it. As a result, the user can be referred to the printer.

  In step S730, the CPU 301 of the printer 300 operates the login selection screen (1105) shown in FIG. 11 to select whether the user who uses the printer 300 performs authentication using an IC card or authentication using a smartphone. The image is displayed on the LCD display unit of the unit 308.

In step S731, the control unit 301 of the printer 300 determines whether authentication by a smartphone is selected. If authentication by a smartphone is selected (YES in S731), the process proceeds to step S733. If authentication by the smartphone is not selected (NO in S731), the process proceeds to step S732. In step S733, the CPU 301 of the printer 300 creates a QR code used for authentication by the smartphone based on the QR code information (1600) shown in FIG. More specifically, an IP address 1602 and a printer name 1603 (corresponding to specific information) possessed by the printer 300, and code information 1601 (unique information) that is a time stamp based on the time managed by the printer are QR-coded. Obtained as code information, a QR code is generated from this QR code information. That is, this corresponds to read image generation processing that generates a read image that can be read by the mobile terminal using information including specific information in response to a direct operation of the image forming apparatus by the user.
The time stamp is used here so that the same QR code is not generated when the QR code is generated. This is because when the user knows the IP address, if the user himself / herself generates a QR code, he / she can access the printer 300 and log in without going to the printer.
The IP address 1602 and the printer name 1603 (corresponding to specific information) are information stored in advance in the ROM 303 and HDD 304 of the printer 300. This corresponds to a storage unit that stores information including specific information.

In step S734, the QR code information used to generate the QR code is stored in the RAM 302 of the printer 300. That is, it corresponds to a process of storing information including specific information for specifying the image forming apparatus used for communicating with the image forming apparatus.
Thereafter, in step S735, the QR code screen (1106) shown in FIG. 11 is displayed on the LCD display unit of the printer 300 for a predetermined time. This predetermined time is a predetermined time and is stored in the printer 300. In addition, the printer can be changed to operate in the administrator mode for a predetermined time. That is, it corresponds to a display process for displaying the generated read image.

  In step S736, the control unit 301 of the printer 300 determines whether an authentication request is received from the smartphone 600 within a predetermined time. If the authentication request is not received within the predetermined time (NO in S736), the process proceeds to step S737. In step S737, the control unit 301 of the printer 300 deletes the QR code screen (1106) from the LCD display unit. Also, the QR code information stored in the printer 300 is deleted. The QR code deletion may not be performed at the same time as deleting the QR code screen. For example, the QR code screen can be displayed only while it is read, and QR code information can be stored only while it is accessed from a smartphone. That is, it is possible to delete the QR code information when a predetermined time has elapsed after deleting the QR code screen. When the QR code screen is deleted, the login selection screen (1105) shown in FIG. 11 is displayed on the LCD display unit of the operation unit 308 again.

  In step S732, the control unit 301 of the printer 300 determines whether authentication using an IC card has been selected. If authentication using an IC card is selected (YES in S732), the process proceeds to step S701.

In step S <b> 738, the smartphone 600 reads the QR code displayed on the LCD display unit of the printer 300. That is, it corresponds to a reading process for reading a read image.
In step S739, the control unit 201 of the smartphone 600 acquires QR code information (1600) illustrated in FIG. 16 from the read QR code. Thereafter, in step S740, the control unit 201 of the smartphone 600 displays the login information input screen (1701) illustrated in FIG. 17 on the display unit 210 of the smartphone 600 in order to perform authentication from the smartphone 600. The printer name of the acquired QR code information is displayed in the login destination area. Although not displayed, IP address information for accessing the printer A is stored in the memory.

In step S741, the control unit 201 of the smartphone 600 receives input of a user name to be authenticated and password information. That is, it corresponds to an input process for inputting authentication information for user authentication.
In step S742, the control unit 201 of the smartphone 600 determines whether or not the user name and password information are input by the user and the OK button is pressed. If the OK button has been pressed (YES in S742), in step S743, the control unit 201 of the smartphone 600 determines the printer 300 based on the printer IP address information (1602 in FIG. 16) acquired in step S739. Then, an authentication request including QR code information (1601 in FIG. 16) is transmitted. More specifically, the user name, password, and code information (time stamp) are transmitted to the printer 300. If the OK button is not pressed (NO in S742), the system waits for input of the user name and password information. That is, it corresponds to a transmission process for transmitting an authentication request including authentication information to the image forming apparatus in accordance with specifying information for specifying the image forming apparatus obtained as a result of reading the read image.
In this embodiment, the user name and password are input after reading the QR code. However, the user name and password may be input first. For example, when a user name and a password are input and an OK button is pressed, a smartphone camera is activated to read the QR code, the QR code is read via the camera, and communication with the printer 300 is performed for authentication. There is.

In step S744, the control unit 301 of the printer 300 receives an authentication request including QR code information from the smartphone 600. That is, it corresponds to a receiving process for receiving an authentication request including authentication information for user authentication transmitted in accordance with reading of a read image by the mobile terminal.
Thereafter, in step S745, the control unit 301 of the printer 300 acquires QR code information (1601 in FIG. 16) from the request. That is, it corresponds to a code acquisition process for acquiring a code included in the authentication request.
In step S746, the control unit 301 of the printer 300 determines whether the code information (time stamp) acquired in step S745 matches the code information stored in the RAM 302 of the printer 300 in step S734. That is, it corresponds to a comparison process for comparing the acquired code with the code included in the stored information.
If the code information does not match (NO in S746), the control unit 301 of the printer 300 transmits error information indicating that the codes do not match to the smartphone 600 (step S748). In step S <b> 749, the control unit 201 of the smartphone 600 receives code mismatch error information from the printer 300. In step S750, the control unit 201 of the smartphone 600 displays a code mismatch error screen on the display unit 210 of the smartphone 600 based on the error content analyzed and received by the control unit 201 of the smartphone 600. If the error is evaluated, the process proceeds to step S738, and the QR code is read again. In the case of an error, the QR code information and the image may be deleted from the printer 300, and the QR code may be generated again.

If the code information matches (YES in S746), the process proceeds to step S747. That is, it corresponds to a process of performing authentication control when the codes match.
In step S747, the control unit 301 of the printer 300 deletes the QR code information (FIG. 16) stored in the RAM 302. That is, it corresponds to a deletion process for deleting stored information when the codes match.
In step S751, it is determined whether or not a QR code screen is displayed on the printer 300 at this QR code information deletion timing. That is, it corresponds to a determination process for determining whether or not a read image is displayed.
If it is determined that it is displayed, the QR code screen displayed in step S752 is deleted (not displayed). That is, when it is determined that the read image is displayed, this corresponds to a display process for hiding the read image after receiving the authentication request.
Then, the process proceeds to step S707. If the QR code screen is not displayed, the process proceeds to step S707. Note that the processing order of step S747 and step S751 is not limited to this embodiment.

In the present embodiment, the access from the smartphone 600 to the printer 300 is a mechanism using an IP address, but the access may be performed using a Bluetooth (registered trademark) technology. In this case, it is assumed that the device name of the printer as the connection destination is included in the QR code, and the Bluetooth connection is performed using the device name.
In this embodiment, a time stamp is used. However, a random number may be generated by a printer, and the random number may be used as code information.

<Smartphone print job list acquisition processing>
Next, print job list acquisition processing (screen lock and screen lock release processing) in the smartphone 600 will be described with reference to FIGS. 8A and 8B.
Each step is a process performed by the CPU 201 of the smartphone 600 (hereinafter, referred to as “control unit 201” as appropriate) and the control unit 301 of the printer 300.
Note that an application program for acquiring and displaying a list of print jobs is installed in the smartphone 600, and is realized by starting the application program.

  First, in step S <b> 801, the control unit 201 of the smartphone 600 displays an initial setting screen (1201) illustrated in FIG. 12 on the display unit 210 of the smartphone 600 in order to perform print control from the smartphone 600. Then, input of IP address information and a user name of a printer to be accessed (that is, a printer to which the user has logged in in the flowchart of FIG. 7) is received. Note that the input of IP address information is accepted, but any information that enables communication by specifying a printer may be used. The user name may be a mail address.

  In step S802, the control unit 201 of the smartphone 600 determines whether the user has input a printer IP address and a user name and has pressed the OK button. If the OK button is pressed (YES in step S802), in step S803, the control unit 201 of the smartphone 600 acquires a job list including the user name from the printer 300 based on the input IP address information of the printer. Send a request. If the OK button is not pressed down (NO in S802), it waits for input of an IP address and a user name.

  In step S819, the process waits for the application to end. When the application is terminated in response to the user's operation (YES in S819), the control unit 201 of the smartphone 600 transmits an application termination notification to the printer 300 to notify that the application is terminated ( Step S820).

  In step S <b> 821, the control unit 301 of the printer 300 receives an application end notification from the smartphone 600. Thereafter, in step S822, the logged-in user of the printer 300 is forcibly logged out (step S823). In the printer 300, the control unit 301 of the printer 300 releases the screen lock for not accepting the operation by the user, and displays the authentication screen (1101) in FIG. 11 on the LCD display unit of the operation unit 308.

  In step S <b> 804, the control unit 301 of the printer 300 receives a job list acquisition request including the user name from the smartphone 600. That is, it corresponds to receiving a request for controlling a job from the portable terminal. In step S806, the control unit 301 of the printer 300 acquires a user name from the request.

  In step S <b> 807, the control unit 301 of the printer 300 acquires a user name from login information stored in the RAM 302 of the printer 300. In step S808, the control unit 201 of the printer 300 checks whether the user name acquired in step S806 matches the user name acquired in step S807. An example of “a process for comparing the first user identification information with the second user identification information when transmitting a list of print jobs to the portable terminal” according to the present invention by the step S808 and the later-described step S814. Is configured.

  If the user names match (YES in S808), the control unit 301 of the printer 300 is locked as shown in FIG. 11 in step S824 in order to prevent a double operation from the smartphone and the printer. The screen (1103) is displayed on the LCD display unit of the operation unit 308. In other words, this corresponds to the process of locking the screen so that the mobile terminal can perform a job control operation in response to the reception of the request in step S804.

  In step S813, the control unit 301 of the printer 300 prints out a print request rejection flag (1500 in FIG. 15) stored in the RAM of the printer 300 in order to permit the print request from the smartphone 600. 15 of 1505) is set to “0” (step S825).

  In step S813, the control unit 301 of the printer 300 acquires user job list information (1450 in FIG. 14) stored in the RAM 302 of the printer 300. Thereafter, in step S <b> 814, the control unit 301 of the printer 300 transmits print job list information to the smartphone 600. That is, it corresponds to processing for transmitting information for controlling a job to the mobile terminal.

  In step S <b> 815, the control unit 201 of the smartphone 600 receives job list information from the printer 300. In step S816, the control unit 201 of the smartphone 600 analyzes the job list information. If the number of jobs is zero from the analysis result in step S816 (S816: no job), in step S817, the control unit 201 of the smartphone 600 displays the no-job error screen (1204) illustrated in FIG. It is displayed on the display unit 210.

  On the other hand, when the number of jobs is not zero (S816: Job present), in step S818, the control unit 201 of the smartphone 600 displays the job list screen (1301) illustrated in FIG. 13 on the display unit 210 of the smartphone 600. .

  On the other hand, as a result of the user confirmation in S808, if the user does not match (that is, if another user has logged in later, or if the login information is automatically cleared due to no operation for a predetermined time), step S809 is performed. The control unit 201 of the printer 300 determines whether the login information is empty (NULL). If it is empty, since no one is logged in, the process proceeds to step S819. If it is not empty, the user is logged in separately, and the process proceeds to step S810. .

  If the log-in information is empty, that is, if the log-in information is forcibly logged out due to auto-clear or auto-sleep of the log-in information when there is no operation for a predetermined time (step S809: YES), in step S819, the printer The control unit 201 of 300 transmits error information indicating that no user is logged in to the printer 300 to the smartphone 600.

  If the login information is not empty (step S809: NO), in step S810, the control unit 201 of the printer 300 logs in to the printer 300 because a user other than the operator of the smartphone 600 has logged in. Error information that indicates that is logged in is transmitted to the smartphone 600.

  In step S811, the control unit 201 of the smartphone 600 receives user mismatch error information from the printer 300. In step S812, the control unit 201 of the smartphone 600 analyzes the error information, and based on the content of the received error information, The user mismatch error screen shown in FIG. 12 is displayed on the display unit 210 of the smartphone 600. Specifically, when the login information is empty (in the case of an error in step S819), an error screen 1202 for no login user is displayed, and when the login information is not empty (in the case of an error in S810), another An error screen 1203 due to user login is displayed.

  In step S826, the control unit 301 of the printer 300 displays the lock screen (1103) shown in FIG. 11 on the LCD display unit of the operation unit 308, and waits for an unlock instruction from the user (NO in S826). When an unlock button (for example, an OK key that is a hard key provided in the printer) is pressed (YES in S826), the control unit 301 of the printer 300 acquires card information necessary for unlocking. An unlock screen (1104) shown in FIG. 11 is displayed on the LCD display unit of the operation unit 308. That is, it corresponds to a process of receiving a lock release instruction.

  When the card reader 317 detects that the IC card is held up, the card reader 317 acquires the card information of the held IC card and transmits the acquired card information to the printer 300. The printer 300 receives card information from the card reader, and the control unit 301 acquires the received card information (step S827).

Here, in step S <b> 828, the control unit 301 of the printer 300 confirms whether there is a user logged in to the printer 300. More specifically, there is login information, and it is determined whether the card information (1504 in FIG. 15) included in the login information (1500 in FIG. 15) matches the acquired card information. If the same card information as the acquired card information exists (YES in S828), in step S829, the control unit 301 of the printer 300 displays login information (1500 in FIG. 15) in order to reject the print request from the smartphone 600. The value of the included print rejection flag (1505 in FIG. 15) is set to “1”. That is, it corresponds to a process of suppressing the job control operation by the portable terminal so that the job control operation is performed by the image forming apparatus when the lock release instruction is received. Thereby, since the request | requirement from a smart phone is not received, double operation can be prevented.
If the same card information as the acquired card information does not exist (NO in S828), the process ends without unlocking.

  In step S830, the control unit 301 of the printer 300 transmits a job list deletion request to the smartphone 600. That is, it corresponds to a process of suppressing the job control operation by the portable terminal so that the job control operation is performed by the image forming apparatus when the lock release instruction is received.

  In step S832, the smartphone 600 receives a job deletion request from the printer 300. In step S833, the smartphone 600 deletes the job list stored and displayed in the smartphone 600. When it is desired to operate again from the smartphone, the process is repeated from step S801.

  In step S831, the control unit 301 of the printer 300 unlocks the printer and displays the job list screen (1102) illustrated in FIG. 11 on the LCD display unit of the operation unit 308. That is, it corresponds to a process of unlocking the screen. Also, this corresponds to a process of unlocking the screen when an unlock instruction is received from the logged-in user.

<Smartphone printing>
Next, the details of the printing process from the smartphone 600 will be described with reference to FIG. This processing is performed by the control unit 201 of the smartphone 600 and the control unit 301 of the printer 300.

  First, in step S901, the control unit 201 of the smartphone 600 displays a job list screen (1301) illustrated in FIG. 13 on the display unit 210 of the smartphone 600, and accepts job selection.

  In step S904, the control unit 201 of the smartphone 600 displays the detailed setting screen (1302) illustrated in FIG. On the detailed setting screen, it is possible to change the print settings such as changing the number of copies or changing the monochrome color setting. When the OK button is pressed, the process proceeds to S902, and in step S902, the control unit 201 of the smartphone 600 determines whether or not the end button is pressed.

  Here, when the end button displayed on the display unit 210 of the smartphone 600 is pressed (YES in step S902), the application program installed in the smartphone 600 is ended. On the other hand, when the end button is not pressed (NO in step S902), in step S903, the control unit 201 of the smartphone 600 determines whether the delete button is pressed.

  If the delete button is pressed (YES in step S903), the deletion process of the job selected in step S906 is performed. Details of the job deletion processing will be described with reference to FIG. If the delete button has not been pressed (NO in step S903), in step S905, the control unit 201 of the smartphone 600 determines whether the print button has been pressed.

When the print button is pressed (YES in step S905), the control unit 201 of the smartphone 600 generates a print request including the user name and time stamp, and transmits the print request to the printer 300. If the print button is not pressed in S905 (NO in S905), the printer waits for the print button to be pressed.
Note that the processing order of steps S901 to S905 varies depending on the user's operation, so the processing order is not limited.

  Also, in step S906, the control unit 201 of the smartphone 600 selects all print jobs by transmitting a user name without transmitting a time stamp when all print jobs are selected or batch printing is executed. It is also possible to print. That is, it is sufficient that at least the user name is transmitted in the print request from the smartphone. Note that the information indicating the user name transmitted from the smartphone constitutes an example of “first user identification information” according to the present invention.

  In step S907, the control unit 301 of the printer 300 receives a print request from the smartphone 600. Thereafter, in step S908, the control unit 301 of the printer 300 analyzes the received request and obtains a user name. The user name analyzed and acquired constitutes an example of the first user identification information according to the present invention.

  In step S <b> 909, the control unit 301 of the printer 300 acquires a user name from login information stored in the RAM 302 of the printer 300. An example of the second user identification information according to the present invention is configured by the user name acquired from the login information.

  Thereafter, in step S910, the control unit 301 of the printer 300 checks whether the user name acquired in step S908 matches the user name acquired in step S909. This step S910 corresponds to the user comparison process according to the present invention.

  In step S910, if the user names do not match (that is, if another user has logged in later, or if the login information is automatically cleared due to no operation for a predetermined time), in step S911, the printer 300 The control unit 301 determines whether the user name acquired in step S909 is empty.

  If the user information stored in the RAM 302 of the printer 300 is empty (YES in step S911), the control unit 301 of the printer 300 is in a state where no user is logged in in step S925. Therefore, the first error information indicating that no user is logged in to the printer 300 is transmitted to the smartphone 600.

  If the user information stored in the RAM 302 of the printer 300 is not empty (NO in step S911), the control unit 301 of the printer 300 is in a state where another user is logged in in step S912. The second error information is transmitted to the smart phone 600 indicating that the 300 logged-in users and the smart phone 600 users are different.

  In step S <b> 913, the control unit 201 of the smartphone 600 receives user mismatch error information from the printer 300. In step S914, the control unit 201 of the smartphone 600 displays the error screen 1202 without a login user in the case of an error from step S925 based on the error content analyzed and received by the control unit 201 of the smartphone 600. In the case of an error from step S912, an error screen 1203 due to the login of another user is displayed on the display unit 210 of the smartphone 600.

  In particular, when the user names do not match in step S910, in detail, printing from the smartphone 600 is not executed in the case of an error in step S925 or an error in step S912. That is, NO in step S910 described above, and in step S925 and step S912 described above, “if the user identification information does not match, do not execute printing of the print job in response to the print request from the mobile terminal. An example of “a print control process for controlling printing” is configured.

  When another user logs in, the logged-in user (the user who logs in to the printer and is currently operating the smartphone) is forcibly logged out. The login information of the forcibly logged-out user is stored in the RAM. When a user who has been saved and forcibly logged out makes a print request from a smartphone, it is determined whether or not the login information saved in the RAM and stored is the same as the user name. It is also possible to return an error to the effect.

  On the other hand, if the user matches as a result of the user confirmation in S910 (Yes in S910), in step S915, the control unit 301 of the printer 300 determines whether the printer 300 is in an online state or an offline state. If the printer 300 is offline (NO in S915), in step S916, the control unit 301 of the printer 300 transmits an error to the smartphone 600 indicating that the printer 300 is in an offline state and printing is not possible. .

  The control unit 201 of the smartphone 600 displays the print error screen B (1304) illustrated in FIG. 13 on the display unit 210 of the smartphone 600 based on the error content received and analyzed by the control unit 201 of the smartphone 600. The offline state here refers to a state in which a print job is not accepted from the outside, and the printer 300 can perform network communication. Therefore, the printer 300 and the smartphone 600 are in a communicable state. For example, a state where a print job is not accepted when a paper jam occurs or the user explicitly presses the offline button is referred to as an offline state.

  If the printer 300 is online (YES in S915), in step S917, the control unit 301 of the printer 300 transmits a job acquisition request including a time stamp to the print management server 100, and the print management server 100 performs a job. A print job to be printed is specified according to the time stamp included in the acquisition request and the bibliographic information data table 1400 in FIG. Accordingly, in step S <b> 918, the control unit 301 of the printer 300 receives a print job from the print server 400 via the print management server 100.

  In step S919, the control unit 301 of the printer 300 prints the print job received in step S918. In step S920, the control unit 301 of the printer 300 generates a print result and transmits it to the smartphone 600. Note that when the users match in step S910 described above, and in step S918, “if the first user identification information and the second user identification information match, the print job is acquired”. An example of this is configured. Further, step S919 constitutes an example of “execution of printing by the image forming apparatus” according to the present invention.

  When printing is executed in step S919, the printed job information is deleted from the job list table (1450 in FIG. 14). In step S <b> 921, the control unit 301 of the printer 300 determines whether the printer 300 has made a job acquisition request for all print jobs requested from the smartphone 600.

  If all job acquisition requests have been made, the process ends (YES in S921). If all job acquisition requests have not been completed, the process proceeds to S917, and the process continues. Note that the print result transmission in step S920 may be performed at the end of making all job acquisition requests. In this case, the job name and the corresponding print result (print success / print failure) are sent together.

  As described above, in this embodiment, a job acquisition request is transmitted from the printer 300 to the print management server 100 to acquire a print job, and printing (print control via the print management server) is executed. However, the printer 300 may directly execute a print request to the print server 400 without using the print management server 100 to execute printing. In this case, the time stamp of the print job requested for printing is transmitted to the print management server 100. As a result, job information (also referred to as bibliographic information) is deleted from the bibliographic information data table (1400 in FIG. 14). Note that job information is managed as printed. In addition, the configuration in which the printer 300 has the functions of the print server 400 and the print management server 100 can be realized in various forms such as a configuration in which a print request is made from the printer to the printer in which the print job is stored.

In step S922, the control unit 201 of the smartphone 600 receives the print result from the printer 300. In step S923, the control unit 201 of the smartphone 600 analyzes the print result. If the analysis result in S923 is a print failure, in step S924, the control unit 201 of the smartphone 600 displays the print error screen A (1303) illustrated in FIG. 13 on the display unit 210 of the smartphone 600.
On the other hand, if printing is successful, the process proceeds to S803 in FIG. Get the print job list again to refresh the screen.

<Smartphone deletion process>
Next, the details of the deletion process from the smartphone 600 will be described with reference to FIG. This processing is performed by the control unit (CPU) 201 of the smartphone 600, the control unit (CPU) 301 of the printer 300, and the control unit (CPU) 201 of the print management server 100.

  In step S <b> 1001, the control unit 201 of the smartphone 600 generates a print deletion request including a user name and a time stamp, and transmits the print deletion request to the printer 300. Note that this step S1001 constitutes an example of “when deletion is requested from a list of print jobs” according to the present invention.

In step S <b> 1002, the control unit 301 of the printer 300 receives a print deletion request from the smartphone 600. Thereafter, in step S1003, the control unit 301 of the printer 300 analyzes the received request and obtains a user name. In step S <b> 1004, the control unit 301 of the printer 300 acquires the user name from the login user information stored in the RAM 302 of the printer 300.
In step S1005, the control unit 301 of the printer 300 determines whether the user name acquired in S1003 matches the user name acquired in S1004.

  If the user names do not match (NO in step S1005), in step S1006, the control unit 301 of the printer 300 transmits error information notifying that the job cannot be deleted because the user name does not match, to the smartphone 600. The control unit 201 of the smartphone 600 displays a print deletion error screen (not shown) on the display unit 210 of the smartphone 600 based on the received and analyzed error contents.

  On the other hand, if the user names match (YES in step S1005), in step S1007, the control unit 301 of the printer 300 lists print jobs stored in the RAM 302 of the printer 300 based on the user name acquired in step S1003. Delete job information whose time stamp matches from the information. Incidentally, this (YES in step S1005) constitutes an example of “when the first user identification information and the second user identification information are compared and matched” according to the present invention. Further, step S1007 constitutes an example of “deletion control processing for performing deletion control of a print job corresponding to a deletion request according to a print deletion request” according to the present invention.

  In step S <b> 1008, the control unit 301 of the printer 300 generates a print deletion request including a user name and a time stamp, and transmits the print deletion request to the print management server 100. As described above, by deleting the job information from the print job list information of the printer 300 and then transmitting a deletion request to the print management server 100, the job management of the printer 300 and the print management server 100 can be reliably matched. It becomes.

  In step S <b> 1009, the control unit 201 of the print management server 100 receives a print deletion request from the printer 300. In step S <b> 1010, the control unit 201 of the print management server 100 deletes job information (bibliographic information) with a matching time stamp from the bibliographic information data table 1400 illustrated in FIG. 14 stored in the RAM 203. At this time, in order to delete the print job stored in the print server 400 that matches the time stamp, a delete request is transmitted from the print management server 100 to the print server 400 according to the storage location of the job information. Thereafter, in step S <b> 1011, the control unit 201 of the print management server 100 transmits a job deletion result to the printer 300.

  In step S1012, the control unit 301 of the printer 300 receives a job deletion result from the print management server 100. Thereafter, in step S <b> 1013, the control unit 301 of the printer 300 acquires the print job list information stored in the RAM 302 and transmits the print job list information to the smartphone 600. Note that this step S1013 constitutes an example of “after deletion, acquire the list of print jobs and send it again to the portable terminal”.

  In step S <b> 1014, the control unit 201 of the smartphone 600 receives the print job list information transmitted from the printer 300. Thereafter, in step S1015, the control unit 201 of the smartphone 600 displays the job list screen (1301) illustrated in FIG. 13 on the display unit 210 based on the received print job list information. This process is a process for updating the job list screen because the deletion process has been performed. Note that step S1015 constitutes an example of “(a list of print jobs is acquired and transmitted again to the mobile terminal) and displayed on the mobile terminal” according to the present invention.

  According to the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent a double operation between the portable terminal and the image forming apparatus.

  As another effect, it is possible to appropriately perform printing according to a print instruction from the mobile terminal. In addition, a print job executed by a user using the portable terminal and a print job of another user are not mixed, and as a result, a plurality of user originals are stacked on the paper discharge unit of the image forming apparatus. This is no longer the case. In addition, since a plurality of users' originals coexist, it is possible to prevent the user from leaving behind the originals printed by a user different from the user who has instructed printing, thereby maintaining security. In addition, it is possible to prevent a decrease in security due to a remote operation from the mobile terminal. In addition, the printer and the smartphone operate in cooperation, improving the operability of the printer, and handling the printer with the smartphone, so that the user who actually operates the printer and the user who performs the operation from the smartphone Inconsistency can be eliminated and security degradation can be improved.

  It should be noted that the configuration and contents of the various data described above are not limited to this, and it goes without saying that the various data and configurations are configured according to the application and purpose. For example, in the present embodiment, the control of the print job has been described, but the present invention is also applicable to a system using a scan ticket. Further, although the list of print jobs has been described so as to prevent double operations between the portable terminal and the image forming apparatus, it may be a list of scan tickets. Further, the present invention can be applied not only to a list of print jobs but also to a mechanism for preventing a double operation for an operation for controlling a job such as print settings.

  Although one embodiment has been described above, the present invention can take an embodiment as, for example, a system, apparatus, method, program, or recording medium, and specifically includes a plurality of devices. The present invention may be applied to a system including a single device.

  The program according to the present invention is a program that allows a computer to execute the processing method of the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 6 to 10, and the storage medium according to the present invention is a program that allows the computer to execute the processing method according to FIGS. Is remembered. The program according to the present invention may be a program for each processing method of each apparatus shown in FIGS.

  As described above, a recording medium that records a program that implements the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus, and a computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus stores the program stored in the recording medium. It goes without saying that the object of the present invention can also be achieved by executing the reading.

  In this case, the program itself read from the recording medium realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the recording medium storing the program constitutes the present invention.

  As a recording medium for supplying the program, for example, a flexible disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, DVD-ROM, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, EEPROM, silicon A disk, solid state drive, or the like can be used.

  Further, by executing the program read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS (operating system) operating on the computer based on an instruction of the program is actually It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by performing part or all of the processing and the processing is included.

  Furthermore, after the program read from the recording medium is written to the memory provided in the function expansion board inserted into the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion board is based on the instructions of the program code. It goes without saying that the case where the CPU or the like provided in the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

  Further, the present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a program to a system or apparatus. In this case, by reading a recording medium storing a program for achieving the present invention into the system or apparatus, the system or apparatus can enjoy the effects of the present invention.

Furthermore, by downloading and reading a program for achieving the present invention from a server, database, etc. on a network using a communication program, the system or apparatus can enjoy the effects of the present invention.
In addition, all the structures which combined each embodiment mentioned above and its modification are also included in this invention.

  The preferred embodiments of the information processing system and the like according to the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not limited to such examples. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes or modifications can be conceived within the scope of the technical idea disclosed in the present application, and these naturally belong to the technical scope of the present invention. Understood.

100... Print management server 200... Authentication server 300... Printer 400. ... Client terminal 600 ... Smartphone 501 ... Storage unit 502 ... Readed image generation unit 503 ... Display unit 504 Receiving unit 505 Authentication control unit 506 Login control unit 507 ···········································. ... Transmission unit 512 ... Reading unit 513 ... Input unit 514 ... Transmission unit

Claims (13)

An image forming apparatus that receives a request from a mobile terminal,
Storage means for storing information including identification information for identifying the image forming apparatus used to communicate with the image forming apparatus;
A read image generation unit configured to generate a read image that can be read by the mobile terminal using the information in response to a direct operation by the user on the image forming apparatus;
Display means for displaying the generated read image;
Receiving means for receiving an authentication request including authentication information for user authentication transmitted in accordance with reading of a read image by the portable terminal;
An authentication control means for performing authentication control using the authentication information;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a login control unit that performs login control to the image forming apparatus when authentication is obtained by the authentication control unit. Determination means for determining whether or not a read image is displayed on the display means;
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when it is determined that the read image is displayed, the display unit hides the read image after receiving the authentication request. . The information stored in the storage means includes a unique code for the read image,
The read image generation unit generates a read image using information including the code,
Code acquisition means for acquiring a code included in the authentication request by the reception means;
A comparison means for comparing the acquired code with a code included in the information stored in the storage means;
3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the codes match by the comparison unit, the authentication control unit performs authentication control. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a deletion unit that deletes information stored in the storage unit when the code matches by the comparison unit. The apparatus further comprises a transmission unit configured to transmit the job list to the portable terminal without displaying the job list corresponding to the logged-in user on the image forming apparatus when logged in by the login control unit. Item 5. The image forming apparatus according to any one of Items 1 to 4. Storage means for storing information including specific information for specifying the image forming apparatus used for communication with the image forming apparatus, and using the information according to a direct operation by the user to the image forming apparatus. Read image generation means for generating a read image readable by the mobile terminal, display means for displaying the generated read image, and reception means for receiving an authentication request including authentication information for user authentication from the mobile terminal And an authentication control means for performing authentication control using the authentication information, and a login control means for controlling login to the image forming apparatus when authentication is obtained by the authentication control means. A portable device,
Reading means for reading the read image;
An input means for inputting authentication information for user authentication;
A portable terminal comprising: a transmission unit configured to transmit an authentication request including the authentication information to the image forming apparatus in accordance with identification information for identifying an image forming apparatus obtained as a result of reading by the reading unit. . An information processing system including a mobile terminal and an image forming apparatus that receives a request from the mobile terminal,
The image forming apparatus includes:
Storage means for storing information including identification information for identifying the image forming apparatus used to communicate with the image forming apparatus;
A read image generation unit configured to generate a read image that can be read by the mobile terminal using the information in response to a direct operation by the user on the image forming apparatus;
Display means for displaying the generated read image;
Receiving means for receiving an authentication request including authentication information for user authentication from a mobile terminal;
An authentication control means for performing authentication control using the authentication information;
A login control means for controlling login to the image forming apparatus when authentication is obtained by the authentication control means.
Reading means for reading the read image;
An input means for inputting authentication information for user authentication;
An information processing apparatus comprising: a transmission unit configured to transmit an authentication request including the authentication information to the image forming apparatus according to identification information for identifying an image forming apparatus obtained as a result of reading by the reading unit. system. A processing method for processing in a control unit of an image forming apparatus that receives a request from a portable terminal,
A storage step of storing information including identification information for identifying the image forming apparatus used to communicate with the image forming apparatus;
A read image generation step of generating a read image that can be read by the mobile terminal using the information in response to a direct operation by the user on the image forming apparatus;
A display step for displaying the generated read image;
A receiving step of receiving an authentication request including authentication information for user authentication transmitted according to reading of the read image by the portable terminal;
An authentication control step for performing authentication control using the authentication information;
A login control step of controlling login to the image forming apparatus when authentication is obtained in the authentication control step. Storage means for storing information including specific information for specifying the image forming apparatus used for communication with the image forming apparatus, and using the information according to a direct operation by the user to the image forming apparatus. Read image generation means for generating a read image readable by the mobile terminal, display means for displaying the generated read image, and reception means for receiving an authentication request including authentication information for user authentication from the mobile terminal And an authentication control means for performing authentication control using the authentication information, and a login control means for controlling login to the image forming apparatus when authentication is obtained by the authentication control means. A processing method for processing in a control unit of a possible portable terminal,
A reading step of reading the read image;
An input step of inputting authentication information for user authentication in the control unit;
And a transmitting step of transmitting an authentication request including the authentication information to the image forming apparatus in accordance with specifying information for specifying the image forming apparatus obtained as a result of reading in the reading step. . A processing method of an information processing system including a mobile terminal and an image forming apparatus that receives a request from the mobile terminal,
In the image forming apparatus,
A storage step of storing information including identification information for identifying the image forming apparatus used to communicate with the image forming apparatus;
A read image generation step of generating a read image that can be read by the mobile terminal using the information in response to a direct operation by the user on the image forming apparatus;
A display step for displaying the generated read image;
A receiving step of receiving an authentication request including authentication information for user authentication from the mobile terminal;
An authentication control step for performing authentication control using the authentication information;
A login control step for controlling login to the image forming apparatus when authentication is obtained in the authentication control step.
A reading step of reading the read image;
An input step for inputting authentication information for user authentication;
And a transmitting step of transmitting an authentication request including the authentication information to the image forming apparatus in accordance with specifying information for specifying the image forming apparatus obtained as a result of reading in the reading step. . A program for an image forming apparatus that accepts a request from a mobile terminal,
The image forming apparatus;
Storage means for storing information including identification information for identifying the image forming apparatus used to communicate with the image forming apparatus;
A read image generation unit configured to generate a read image that can be read by the mobile terminal using the information in response to a direct operation by the user on the image forming apparatus;
Display means for displaying the generated read image;
Receiving means for receiving an authentication request including authentication information for user authentication transmitted in accordance with reading of a read image by the portable terminal;
An authentication control means for performing authentication control using the authentication information;
A program that functions as login control means for controlling login to the image forming apparatus when authentication is obtained by the authentication control means. Storage means for storing information including specific information for specifying the image forming apparatus used for communication with the image forming apparatus, and using the information according to a direct operation by the user to the image forming apparatus. Read image generation means for generating a read image readable by the mobile terminal, display means for displaying the generated read image, and reception means for receiving an authentication request including authentication information for user authentication from the mobile terminal And an authentication control means for performing authentication control using the authentication information, and a login control means for controlling login to the image forming apparatus when authentication is obtained by the authentication control means. A portable terminal program,
The portable terminal;
Reading means for reading the read image;
An input means for inputting authentication information for user authentication;
A program that causes an image forming apparatus to function as a transmission unit that transmits an authentication request including the authentication information in accordance with identification information for identifying an image forming apparatus obtained as a result of reading by the reading unit. A program for an information processing system including a mobile terminal and an image forming apparatus that receives a request from the mobile terminal,
The image forming apparatus;
Storage means for storing information including identification information for identifying the image forming apparatus used to communicate with the image forming apparatus;
A read image generation unit configured to generate a read image that can be read by the mobile terminal using the information in response to a direct operation by the user on the image forming apparatus;
Display means for displaying the generated read image;
Receiving means for receiving an authentication request including authentication information for user authentication from a mobile terminal;
An authentication control means for performing authentication control using the authentication information;
When authentication is obtained by the authentication control means, it functions as a login control means for controlling login to the image forming apparatus,
The portable terminal;
Reading means for reading the read image;
An input means for inputting authentication information for user authentication;
A program that causes an image forming apparatus to function as a transmission unit that transmits an authentication request including the authentication information in accordance with identification information for identifying an image forming apparatus obtained as a result of reading by the reading unit.

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