JP2015114904A - Cloud printing system and cloud printing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cloud printing system capable of increasing data confidentiality without using a GPS receiver.SOLUTION: A compound machine 2 extracts identification information d1 on a portable terminal 1 from printing instruction information J1, generates second request information K2 showing the identification information d1 on the portable terminal 1 and the like, and transmits the second request information K2 to an authentication management server 3 through a cloud network N. The portable terminal 1 generates first request information K1 showing the identification information d1 on the portable terminal 1 and the like, and transmits the first request information K1 to the authentication management server 3 through the cloud network N. The authentication management server 3 checks the identification information d1 on the first request information K1 against the identification information d1 on the second request information K2, and transmits/receives printing data pd from the authentication management server 3 to the compound machine 2 through the cloud network N only when both identification information d1 is matched.

Description

  The present invention relates to a cloud printing system and a cloud printing method for requesting data supply to an image forming apparatus from a portable terminal to a server through a network and supplying data from the server to the image forming apparatus through the network in response to the request.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, the authentication management server acquires GPS data from a registered mobile terminal, collates the GPS data of the mobile terminal with GPS data of a plurality of image forming apparatuses registered in advance, and The image forming apparatus near the terminal is searched, the document information data corresponding to the print instruction from the portable terminal is transferred to the searched image forming apparatus, and the document information data is printed out from the image forming apparatus.

  Also, in Patent Document 2, the job management server device receives identification information and print data from the mobile terminal device, stores the identification information and print data in association with each other, and stores the short-range communication unit on the image forming apparatus side. Acquires identification information of surrounding mobile terminal devices, transmits and receives the identification information from the image forming apparatus to the job management server apparatus, and in response to this, print data corresponding to the identification information is formed from the job management server apparatus. The data is transferred to the apparatus, and the print data is printed out from the image forming apparatus.

JP 2009-42807 A JP 2012-138075 A

  However, in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to register GPS data of a plurality of image forming apparatuses in advance, and it is necessary to mount each GPS receiver in each image forming apparatus. Further, since the image forming apparatus is installed indoors, it becomes difficult to receive radio waves of GPS satellites by the GPS receiver of the portable terminal and the GPS receiver of the image forming apparatus, and the image forming apparatus near the portable terminal can be searched. Not always.

  Further, in Patent Document 2, even when the user loses the portable terminal device and stops using the portable terminal device, the identification information of the portable terminal device is acquired by the short-range communication unit on the image forming apparatus side. Since the print data corresponding to the identification information is transferred from the job management server apparatus to the image forming apparatus, the confidentiality of the print data cannot be maintained.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems, and provides a cloud printing system and a cloud printing method capable of improving the confidentiality of data without using a GPS receiver. For the purpose.

  In order to solve the above problems, a cloud printing system of the present invention includes a mobile terminal, a server, and an image forming apparatus, and connects the mobile terminal, the server, and the image forming apparatus through a network. The portable terminal indicates a first network communication unit that performs data communication through the network, a first line communication unit that performs data communication through a line different from the network, and data supply to the image forming apparatus. A first control unit configured to transmit first request information from the first network communication unit to the server, and to transmit instruction information related to the data supply from the first line communication unit to the image forming apparatus, An image forming apparatus includes a second network that performs data communication through the network. A data supply to the image forming apparatus in response to the instruction information transmitted from the mobile terminal and received by the second line communication unit; a communication unit; a second line communication unit that performs data communication through the line; A second control unit that transmits second request information indicating the second request information from the second network communication unit to the server, and the server transmits from the portable terminal a third network communication unit that performs data communication through the network The first request information received by the third network communication unit is compared with the second request information transmitted from the image forming apparatus and received by the third network communication unit. And a third control unit for transmitting data to the image forming apparatus through the network communication unit and the network.

  In such a cloud printing system, first request information indicating data supply to the image forming apparatus is transmitted / received from the portable terminal to the server through the network, and instruction information related to data supply is transmitted / received from the portable terminal to the image forming apparatus through the line. In response to the instruction information, second request information indicating data supply to the image forming apparatus is transmitted and received from the image forming apparatus to the server through the network. Then, on the server side, the first request information from the portable terminal and the second request information from the image forming apparatus are collated, and data is transmitted and received from the server to the image forming apparatus through the network based on the collation result. Therefore, if the server cannot receive and collate the first request information from the portable terminal and the second request information from the image forming apparatus, the server does not transmit data to the image forming apparatus, Even if the collation result between the request information and the second request information is incomplete, the data is not transmitted to the image forming apparatus. Thereby, the confidentiality of data is maintained. In addition, when the user loses the mobile terminal and stops using the mobile terminal, the first request information is not transmitted from the mobile terminal to the server through the network, and data is formed from the server through the network. Data is kept confidential without being sent to or received from the device. Furthermore, since data transmission / reception is not performed by the mobile terminal, the charging fee of the mobile terminal does not increase.

  In the cloud printing system of the present invention, the first request information and the second request information include both identification information of the mobile terminal, and the third control unit is included in the first request information. The identification information is collated with the identification information included in the second request information. In this case, the instruction information includes the identification information, and the second control unit extracts the identification information from the instruction information, adds the identification information to the second request information, and adds the second request information to the second request information. You may transmit to the said server from a 2nd network communication part.

  If the identification information of the portable terminal is added to the instruction information transmitted / received from the portable terminal to the image forming apparatus through the line in this way, the image forming apparatus acquires the identification information from the instruction information, and the identification information Can be added to the second request information.

  Furthermore, in the cloud printing system of the present invention, the line is a short-range wireless communication line.

  Examples of short-range wireless communication include WiFi (Wireless Fidelity), infrared communication, and Bluetooth (Bleutooth) having a longer communication distance than infrared communication.

  In the cloud printing system of the present invention, the second control unit may form the image before the data transmitted from the server and received by the second network communication unit is output from the image forming apparatus. When the line between the device and the portable terminal is cut off, reception or output of the data is stopped.

  In this case, if the user of the portable terminal is far away from the image forming apparatus so that the line between the portable terminal and the image forming apparatus is cut off during the reception or output of the data on the image forming apparatus side, Since reception or output is stopped, the confidentiality of the data is maintained.

  Furthermore, in the cloud printing system of the present invention, the third control unit receives the first request information at the third network communication unit even if the second request information is received at the third network communication unit. If not, it is considered that the mobile terminal is in a disconnected state in the network.

  For example, if a user loses his / her mobile terminal and the use of the mobile terminal is stopped, but someone else is illegally using the mobile terminal, the mobile terminal is in a disconnected state It is regarded.

  Next, the cloud printing method of the present invention requests data supply to the image forming apparatus from the portable terminal to the server through the network, and supplies data from the server to the image forming apparatus through the network in response to the request. In the cloud printing method, the portable terminal transmits first request information indicating data supply to the image forming apparatus to the server through the network, and instruction information related to the data supply is transmitted through the line to the image forming apparatus. When the instruction information is received through the line, the image forming apparatus transmits second request information indicating data supply to the image forming apparatus to the server through the network, and the server 1 request information and 2nd request information Upon receiving through the workpiece, against the said first request information and said second request information is transmitted to the image forming apparatus via the data based on the verification result said network.

  In such a cloud printing method of the present invention, the same effects as the above-described cloud printing system of the present invention are exhibited.

  According to the present invention, the first request information indicating data supply to the image forming apparatus is transmitted / received from the portable terminal to the server via the network, and the instruction information related to the data supply is transmitted / received from the portable terminal to the image forming apparatus via the line, In response to the instruction information, second request information indicating data supply to the image forming apparatus is transmitted from the image forming apparatus to the server through the network. Then, on the server side, the first request information from the portable terminal and the second request information from the image forming apparatus are collated, and data is transmitted and received from the server to the image forming apparatus through the network based on the collation result. Therefore, if the server cannot receive and collate the first request information from the portable terminal and the second request information from the image forming apparatus, the server does not transmit data to the image forming apparatus, Even if the collation result between the request information and the second request information is incomplete, the data is not transmitted to the image forming apparatus. Thereby, the confidentiality of data is maintained. In addition, when the user loses the mobile terminal and stops using the mobile terminal, the first request information is not transmitted from the mobile terminal to the server through the network, and data is formed from the server through the network. Data is kept confidential without being sent to or received from the device. Furthermore, since data transmission / reception is not performed by the mobile terminal, the charging fee of the mobile terminal does not increase.

1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of a cloud printing system of the present invention. It is a figure which shows notionally the database in the external storage device of the authentication management server in the cloud printing system of FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure from when a data supply request to a multifunction device is issued from a portable terminal to when data is transmitted and received from the authentication management server to the multifunction device in the first embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure from when a data supply request to a multifunction device is issued from a mobile terminal to when data is transmitted and received from the authentication management server to the multifunction device in the second embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure from when a data supply request to a multifunction device is issued from a portable terminal to when data is transmitted and received from the authentication management server to the multifunction device in the third embodiment.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of a cloud printing system of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the cloud printing system Sy includes a mobile terminal 1, a multifunction peripheral (MFP) 2, and an authentication management server 3, and is connected between the mobile terminal 1 and the authentication management server 3 through the cloud network N. Data communication between the MFP 2 and the authentication management server 3 through the cloud network N, or between the portable terminal 1 and the MFP 2 through another type of line n different from the cloud network N. Data communication between them.

  Although a single mobile terminal 1 is shown here, a plurality of mobile terminals 1 may be provided. Even in a configuration in which a plurality of portable terminals 1 are provided, if each identification information is assigned to each portable terminal 1, the multifunction device 2 and the authentication management server 3 can identify the portable terminal 1 based on the identification information. it can. Further, although a single multifunction device 2 is shown, a plurality of multifunction devices 2 may be provided. Even in a configuration in which a plurality of multifunction devices 2 are provided, if each identification information is assigned to each multifunction device 2, the portable terminal 1 or the authentication management server 3 can identify the multifunction device 2 based on the identification information. it can.

  The cloud network N includes a mobile communication system such as a public telephone line and a mobile phone line, a wireless communication system, the Internet, and the like. The line n is a wireless communication line using WiFi (Wireless Fidelity). The line n may be another type of wireless communication line using Bluetooth, infrared communication, or the like as long as the communication area can be narrowly limited.

  The mobile terminal 1 is, for example, a mobile phone, and includes a control unit 11, a display unit 12, a storage unit 13, an operation input unit 14, a network communication unit 15, a short-range communication unit 16, and the like. The control unit 11 executes necessary programs and the like to control the entire mobile terminal 1. The storage unit 13 includes a RAM that functions as a work area for programs executed by the control unit 11 and a non-volatile memory such as an HDD that stores various control programs, application programs, databases, and the like.

  The display unit 12 is a liquid crystal display device or the like. The control unit 11 expands text, images, and the like in the display memory area of the storage unit 13 and causes the display unit 12 to display the expanded texts, images, and the like.

  The network communication unit 15 performs data communication between the mobile terminal 1 and the authentication management server 3 through the cloud network N, and performs voice communication with other mobile terminals. The short-range communication unit 16 performs data communication between the mobile terminal 1 and another terminal such as the multifunction peripheral 2 located around the mobile terminal 1 through the line n.

  The operation input unit 14 has a plurality of operation keys and outputs an input instruction according to the operation of the operation keys to the control unit 11. For example, the control unit 11 controls the network communication unit 15 in response to an input instruction from the operation input unit 14 and connects the network communication unit 15 to a server or the like through the cloud network N. Or the network communication unit 15 is connected to another portable terminal through the cloud network N to enable voice communication between the portable terminal 1 and the other portable terminal.

  The multifunction device 2 has, for example, a copying function, a facsimile function, and a printer function, and includes a control unit 21, a display unit 22, a storage unit 23, an operation input unit 24, a printing unit 25, an image reading unit 26, and a network communication unit. 27, a short-range communication unit 28, and the like. The control unit 21 executes necessary programs and the like to control the entire multifunction machine 2. The storage unit 23 includes a RAM that functions as a work area for a program executed by the control unit 21 and a nonvolatile memory such as an HDD that stores various control programs, application programs, image data, and the like.

  The display unit 22 may be of any type such as a liquid crystal display device, a CRT, an EL display device, etc., and may be a small one integrated in the multifunction device 2 or connected to the multifunction device 2. It may be a large one.

  The image reading unit 26 reads an image of a document. The printing unit 25 prints and records an image on a recording sheet by, for example, an electrophotographic method. The printing unit 25 prints an image of a document read by the image reading unit 26 on a recording sheet or is transmitted through the cloud network N. An image received by the network communication unit 27 is printed on a recording sheet, and the recording sheet is output.

  The operation input unit 24 includes a plurality of operation keys and a touch panel overlaid on the screen of the display unit 22, and outputs an input instruction according to operation of the operation keys and the touch panel to the control unit 21. For example, the control unit 21 controls the image reading unit 26 in response to an input instruction from the operation input unit 24, causes the image reading unit 26 to read an image of a document, and controls the printing unit 25 to perform printing. The image of the original is printed on the recording paper by the unit 25.

  The network communication unit 27 performs data communication between the MFP 2 and the server through the cloud network N. The short-range communication unit 28 performs data communication between the multifunction device 2 and another terminal such as the portable terminal 1 through the line n.

  The authentication management server 3 includes a control unit 31, a storage unit 32, a network communication unit 33, and the like. The control unit 31 executes a necessary program or the like to control the entire authentication management server 3 and includes a comparison authentication unit 31a and a data search unit 31b. The storage unit 32 includes a RAM that functions as a work area for programs executed by the control unit 31, and a non-volatile memory such as an HDD that stores various control programs, application programs, databases, and the like.

  The network communication unit 33 performs data communication between the authentication management server 3 and the multifunction device 2, the portable terminal 1, another server, and the like through the cloud network N.

  In the cloud printing system Sy having such a configuration, when data supply to the multifunction device 2 is requested from the portable terminal 1 to the authentication management server 3 through the cloud network N, data is transmitted from the authentication management server 3 to the multifunction device through the cloud network N. The data is printed on recording paper by the multi-function device 2 and output. Therefore, no data is transmitted to and received from the mobile terminal 1, and the charging fee for the mobile terminal 1 does not increase.

  Prior to the transmission / reception of data from the authentication management server 3 to the multifunction device 2, the identification information of the mobile terminal 1 is transmitted / received from the mobile terminal 1 to the authentication management server 3 through the cloud network N, and the mobile terminal 1. Is transmitted from the portable terminal 1 to the authentication management server 3 through the line n, the multi-function device 2 and the cloud network N, and the identification information is collated by the authentication management server 3, and the identification information matches. Only occasionally, data is transmitted and received from the authentication management server 3 to the multi-function device 2 through the cloud network N. Thereby, the confidentiality of data is improved.

  Next, a procedure from when a request for data supply to the multifunction device 2 is issued from the portable terminal 1 until data is sent and received from the authentication management server 3 to the multifunction device 2 will be described in detail.

  Here, the database D in the storage unit 32 in the authentication management server 3 will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram conceptually illustrating an example of the database D in the storage unit 32. As shown in FIG. 2, the database D includes, for example, a mobile identification table T in which identification information d1 including addresses of the mobile terminals 1 on the cloud network N is registered, and a file Fi to which the identification information d1 of the mobile terminals 1 is attached. Consists of. If there are a plurality of portable terminals 1, the identification information d1 of each portable terminal 1 is registered in the portable identification table T, and a plurality of files Fi to which the identification information d1 is attached are generated. The file Fi stores print data pd, a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) indicating a file (not shown) storing print data pd on the cloud network N, and the like. When the identification information d1 of the portable terminal 1 is instructed, the comparison / authentication unit 31a of the control unit 31 determines whether or not the identification information d1 is registered in the identification table Td. When the comparison and authentication unit 31a determines that the identification information d1 is registered, the data search unit 31b of the control unit 31 searches for the file Fi to which the identification information d1 is attached, and print data pd from the file Fi. Or read the URL from the file Fi, search the file (not shown) corresponding to the URL on the cloud network N through the network communication unit 33, and read and acquire the print data pd from this file. To do. The print data pd may be of any type such as text data and image data.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure from when a request for data supply to the multifunction device 2 is issued from the portable terminal 1 until data is sent and received from the authentication management server 3 to the multifunction device 2. First, the user of the mobile terminal 1 instructs the activation of an application program for searching for data resources on the cloud network N and printing them out by operating the operation input unit 14 of the mobile terminal 1. In response to this, the control unit 11 of the portable terminal 1 reads the application program from the storage unit 13 and executes it, and starts data resource search and print output processing (step S101).

  When starting the processing, the control unit 11 connects the network communication unit 15 to the authentication management server 3 through the cloud network N, and sends a search request for data resources on the cloud network N together with the identification information d1 of the mobile terminal 1 to the network communication unit 15. To the authentication management server 3 (step S102).

  In the authentication management server 3, the network resource 33 receives the data resource search request and the identification information d1 of the portable terminal 1 and inputs them to the controller 31 (step S301). The control unit 31 determines whether or not the identification information d1 is registered in the mobile identification table T. If the identification information d1 is registered in the mobile identification table T, the control unit 31 searches the file Fi to which the identification information d1 is attached. Then, the name and URL of the print data pd are read from the file Fi to generate list data dg indicating a list of the names and URLs of the print data pd in the file Fi, and the list data dg is used as identification information of the portable terminal 1. It transmits to the portable terminal 1 through the cloud network N from the network communication part 33 with d1 (step S302). Further, if the identification information d1 is not registered in the mobile identification table T, the control unit 31 does not search for the file Fi and create or transmit the list data dg.

  In the portable terminal 1, the list data dg and the identification information d1 are received by the network communication unit 15 and input to the control unit 11 (step S103). The control unit 11 determines whether or not the identification information d1 is that of its own mobile terminal 1, and if the identification information d1 is that of its own mobile terminal 1, the control unit 11 stores the information in the file Fi indicated by the list data dg. A list of names and URLs of the print data pd is displayed on the screen of the display unit 12 (step S104). Further, the control unit 11 discards the list data dg if the identification information d1 is not that of its own mobile terminal 1.

  Then, the user of the mobile terminal 1 operates the operation input unit 14 of the mobile terminal 1 while the list of the print data pd and the list of URLs in the file Fi are displayed on the screen of the display unit 12. The name or URL of desired print data pd in the list is instructed (step S105). In response to this, the control unit 11 generates print instruction information J1 indicating the name or URL of the instructed print data pd and the identification information d1 of the mobile terminal 1, and controls the short-range communication unit 16 to The distance communication unit 16 is connected to the multifunction device 2 via the line n, and the print instruction information J1 is transmitted from the short distance communication unit 16 to the multifunction device 2 (step S106).

  In the multifunction device 2, the print instruction information J1 is received by the short-range communication unit 28 and input to the control unit 21 (step S201). The control unit 21 extracts the name or URL of the print data pd and the identification information d1 of the mobile terminal 1 from the print instruction information J1, and the response information J2 indicating the identification information d1 of the mobile terminal 1 and the identification information d2 of the multifunction device 2 And the response information J2 is transmitted from the short-range communication unit 28 to the portable terminal 1 through the line n (step S202). Further, the control unit 21 generates the second request information K2 indicating the name or URL of the print data pd, the identification information d1 of the portable terminal 1, and the identification information d2 of the multifunction device 2, and controls the network communication unit 27. The network communication unit 27 is connected to the authentication management server 3 through the cloud network N, and the second request information K2 is transmitted from the network communication unit 27 to the authentication management server 3 (step S203).

  In the portable terminal 1, the response information J2 is received by the short-range communication unit 16 and input to the control unit 11 (step S107). The control unit 11 extracts the identification information d1 of the portable terminal 1 and the identification information d2 of the multifunction device 2 from the response information J2, determines whether the identification information d1 belongs to the own portable terminal 1, and identifies the identification information d1. If the information d1 is for the mobile terminal 1 of its own, the first request information indicating the name or URL of the print data pd instructed in step S105, the identification information d1 of the mobile terminal 1, and the identification information d2 of the multifunction device 2 K1 is generated, and the first request information K1 is transmitted from the network communication unit 15 to the authentication management server 3 through the cloud network N (step S108). Moreover, if the identification information d1 is not the thing of the own portable terminal 1, the control part 11 will not produce | generate the 1st request information K1, and will not transmit.

  In the authentication management server 3, the second request information K2 is received by the network communication unit 33 and input to the control unit 31 (step S303). The control unit 31 extracts the name or URL of the print data pd, the identification information d1 of the portable terminal 1, and the identification information d2 of the multifunction device 2 from the second request information K2, and the identification information d1 of the portable terminal 1 is stored in the portable identification table. It is determined whether it is registered in T, and if the identification information d1 is registered in the mobile identification table T, the second request information K2 is acquired (step S304). If the identification information d1 is not registered in the mobile identification table T, the control unit 31 discards the second request information K2.

  In the authentication management server 3, the first request information K1 is received by the network communication unit 33 and input to the control unit 31 (step S305). The control unit 31 extracts the name or URL of the print data pd, the identification information d1 of the portable terminal 1, and the identification information d2 of the multifunction device 2 from the first request information K1, and the identification information d1 of the portable terminal 1 is stored in the portable identification table. It is determined whether or not it is registered in T, and if the identification information d1 is registered in the mobile identification table T, the first request information K1 is acquired (step S306). If the identification information d1 is not registered in the mobile identification table T, the control unit 31 discards the first request information K1.

  And the comparison authentication part 31a of the control part 31 collates the identification information d1 of the portable terminal 1 extracted from the 1st request information K1, and the identification information d1 of the portable terminal 1 extracted from the 2nd request information K2, and both It is determined whether or not the identification information d1 matches (step S307). For example, if the two pieces of identification information d1 match (“Yes” in step S307), the data search unit 31b of the control unit 31 names the print data pd extracted from the first request information K1 and the second request information K2. Alternatively, the file Fi is searched based on the URL, the print data pd is read from the file Fi and acquired, or the URL is read from the file Fi, and the file corresponding to the URL on the cloud network N through the network communication unit 33 (not shown). And the print data pd is read out from this file and obtained. When acquiring the print data pd, the control unit 31 transmits the print data pd and the identification information d2 of the multifunction device 2 from the network communication unit 33 to the multifunction device 2 through the cloud network N (step S308).

  In addition, if the identification information d1 of both does not match (“No” in step S307, the control unit 31 sends the error notification and the identification information d2 of the multifunction device 2 from the network communication unit 33 to the multifunction device 2 through the cloud network N). After transmitting (step S309), the process is terminated.

  The multifunction device 2 waits for reception of the print data pd and the identification information d2 or the error notification and the identification information d2 of the multifunction device 2 (steps S204 and S206), and the network communication unit 27 receives the print data pd and the identification information d2. When received (“Yes” in step S204), the print data pd is stored in the storage unit 23, and the identification information d2 is input to the control unit 21. The control unit 21 determines whether or not the identification information d2 belongs to its own multifunction device 2, and if the identification information d2 belongs to its own multifunction device 2, controls the printing unit 25 to store the storage unit The print data pd in 23 is printed on a recording sheet and output (step S205). Further, the control unit 21 discards the print data pd if the identification information d2 is not that of the MFP 2 itself. In addition to printing the print data pd on a recording sheet, the print data pd is output to a portable memory such as a USB memory, output to the portable terminal 1 through the line n, a PC or the like through the cloud network N, etc. You may output to the terminal device.

  When the network communication unit 27 receives the error notification and the identification information d2 of the multifunction device 2 (“Yes” in step S206), the error notification and the identification information d2 of the multifunction device 2 are input to the control unit 21. The control unit 21 determines whether or not the identification information d2 belongs to its own multifunction device 2, and if the identification information d2 belongs to its own multifunction device 2, displays an error notification on the screen of the display unit 22. (Step S207), and the process ends. In addition, if the identification information d2 is not that of the MFP 2, the error notification is discarded.

  As described above, in the first embodiment, prior to the transmission / reception of the print data pd from the authentication management server 3 to the multifunction device 2, the print instruction indicating the identification information d1 of the portable terminal 1 from the portable terminal 1 to the multifunction device 2 through the line n. The information J1 is transmitted / received, the multifunction device 2 extracts the identification information d1 of the portable terminal 1 from the print instruction information J1, and generates second request information K2 indicating the identification information d1 of the portable terminal 1, etc. The second request information K2 is transmitted to and received from the authentication management server 3 through the cloud network N, and the first request information K1 indicating the identification information d1 and the like of the portable terminal 1 is generated by the portable terminal 1, and the cloud network is transmitted from the portable terminal 1. The first request information K1 is transmitted to the authentication management server 3 through N, and the identification information d1 extracted from the first request information K1 and the identification information d1 extracted from the second request information K2 by the authentication management server 3 Only when the identification information d1 of the two matches, the authentication management server 3 sends and receives the print data pd to the multifunction device 2 through the cloud network N, and the multifunction device 2 prints the print data pd on the recording paper. And output.

  Therefore, if the authentication management server 3 cannot receive and collate the first request information K1 from the portable terminal 1 and the second request information K2 from the multifunction device 2, the print data pd is sent to the multifunction device 2. The print data pd is not transmitted to the multifunction device 2 even if the identification information d1 extracted from the first request information K1 and the identification information d1 extracted from the second request information K2 do not match. Thereby, the confidentiality of the print data pd is maintained. Further, when the user loses the mobile terminal 1 and stops using the mobile terminal 1, the first request information K1 is not transmitted from the mobile terminal 1 to the authentication management server 3 through the cloud network N. The print data pd is not transmitted from the authentication management server 3 to the multifunction peripheral 2 through the cloud network N, and the confidentiality of the print data pd is maintained. Furthermore, the print data pd can be printed out by the multifunction device 2 around the portable terminal 1 without using a GPS receiver.

  Next, a second embodiment of the cloud printing system of the present invention will be described. The cloud printing system according to the second embodiment includes the mobile terminal 1, the multifunction device 2, and the authentication management server 3 as in FIG. 1, and connects them through the cloud network N. Also, the authentication management as in FIG. Although the database D of the server 3 is configured, the processing in the portable terminal 1 and the processing in the multifunction machine 2 are different from those in the first embodiment.

  In the second embodiment, the processing in the portable terminal 1 and the processing in the multifunction device 2 generally hold the line n between the portable terminal 1 and the multifunction device 2 without being blocked, and the print data pd If the line n is interrupted by an external factor before printing is completed, the user of the portable terminal 1 is regarded as being far away from the multifunction device 2 and stops receiving or printing the print data pd. It is.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure from when a request for data supply to the multifunction device 2 is issued from the portable terminal 1 to when data is transmitted and received from the authentication management server 3 to the multifunction device 2 in the second embodiment. It is. In FIG. 4, steps that perform the same processing as in FIG. 3 are given the same reference numerals.

  First, in the mobile terminal 1, the operation input unit 14 is operated by the user to start an application program for searching for data resources and printing them out (step S101), and a search request for data resources on the cloud network N Is transmitted from the network communication unit 15 to the authentication management server 3 through the cloud network N (step S102).

  In the authentication management server 3, when a data resource search request is received (step S301), list data dg indicating a list of names and URLs of the print data pd in the file Fi is created, and the list data dg is network communication. The data is transmitted from the unit 33 to the mobile terminal 1 through the cloud network N (step S302).

  In the mobile terminal 1, the list data dg is received by the network communication unit 15 (step S 103), and a list of names and URLs of the print data pd in the file Fi indicated by the list data dg is displayed on the screen of the display unit 12. (Step S104).

  In the portable terminal 1, the name or URL of the desired print data pd in the list is designated (step S105), and the designated print data pd name or URL and the print instruction indicating the identification information d1 of the portable terminal 1 are indicated. Information J1 is transmitted from the short-range communication unit 16 to the multi-function device 2 through the line n (step S106). Thereafter, the mobile terminal 1 controls the short-range communication unit 16 to hold the line n connected to the multifunction device 2 without being blocked, and can perform data communication with the multifunction device 2 through the line n. The state is maintained (step S121).

  In the MFP 2, the print instruction information J1 is received by the short-range communication unit 28 via the line n (step S201), and the name or URL of the print data pd and the identification information d1 of the portable terminal 1 are extracted from the print instruction information J1. Then, the response information J2 indicating the identification information d1 of the portable terminal 1 and the identification information d2 of the multifunction device 2 is transmitted from the short-range communication unit 28 to the portable terminal 1 through the line n (step S202). Thereafter, the multifunction device 2 controls the short-range communication unit 28 to hold the line n connected to the mobile terminal 1 without being cut off, and can perform data communication with the mobile terminal 1 through the line n. The state is maintained (step S221).

  In the multifunction device 2, the name or URL of the print data pd, the identification information d1 of the portable terminal 1, and the second request information K2 indicating the identification information d2 of the multifunction device 2 are created, and the second request information K2 is generated on the network. The data is transmitted from the communication unit 27 to the authentication management server 3 through the cloud network N (step S203).

  In the portable terminal 1, when the response information J2 is received by the short-range communication unit 16 through the line n (step S107), the identification information d1 of the portable terminal 1 and the identification information d2 of the multifunction device 2 are extracted from the response information J2. The first request information K1 indicating the name or URL of the print data pd, the identification information d1 of the portable terminal 1, and the identification information d2 of the multifunction device 2 is transmitted from the network communication unit 15 to the authentication management server 3 through the cloud network N. (Step S108).

  In the authentication management server 3, when the first request information K1 and the second request information K2 are received, the identification information d1 of the first request information K1 and the identification information d1 of the second request information K2 are collated, and both are identified. If the information d1 matches, the print data pd is transmitted to the multifunction device 2 through the cloud network N. If the identification information d1 of both does not match, an error notification is transmitted to the multifunction device 2 through the cloud network N ( Steps S303 to S309).

  At this time, the MFP 2 is in a standby state for receiving print data pd or an error notification. While waiting for reception of the print data pd or error notification (steps S204 and S206), the control unit 21 determines whether or not the line n is blocked before the print data pd is received (step S204). In step S222), when the print data pd is received through the cloud network N (“Yes” in step S204) while the line n is kept without being blocked (“No” in step S222), the print data pd Is stored in the storage unit 23, and the print data pd is printed on the recording paper (step S205). Then, when the printing of the print data pd is completed, the control unit 21 controls the short-range communication unit 16 to block the line n between the portable terminal 1 and the multifunction device 2 (step S224).

  When the error notification is received through the cloud network N (“Yes” in step S206), the control unit 21 displays the error notification on the screen of the display unit 22 (step S207).

  Further, if the line n is blocked before the print data pd or the error notification is received (“Yes” in step S222), the control unit 21 controls the network communication unit 27 to transmit the data through the cloud network N. The reception of the print data pd is stopped (step S223).

  As described above, in the second embodiment, after the print instruction information J1 and the response information J2 are transmitted and received between the portable terminal 1 and the multifunction device 2 through the line n, the print data pd is received by the multifunction device 2. If the line n is blocked before the print data pd is received, the reception of the print data pd through the cloud network N is stopped.

  For this reason, the user of the portable terminal 1 is farther away from the multifunction device 2 as the line n is blocked, and the user cannot immediately obtain the recording paper printed by the multifunction device 2. The reception of the print data pd is stopped, and the confidentiality of the print data pd is maintained.

  Before the printing of the print data pd is finished, it is determined whether or not the line n is cut off. If the line n is kept without being cut off, the printing of the print data pd is continued. If the line n is shut off before the printing of the print data pd is completed, the printing of the print data pd may be stopped immediately.

  Next, a third embodiment of the cloud printing system of the present invention will be described. The cloud printing system according to the third embodiment includes the mobile terminal 1, the multifunction device 2, and the authentication management server 3 as in FIG. 1, and connects them through the cloud network N. Also, the authentication management as in FIG. Although the database D of the server 3 is configured, the processing in the multifunction machine 2 and the processing in the authentication management server 3 are different from those in the first embodiment.

  In the third embodiment, the processing in the multifunction device 2 and the processing in the authentication management server 3 are roughly the case where the authentication management server 3 has not been able to receive the first request information K1 from the mobile terminal 1. Even though the user loses the mobile terminal 1 and the use of the mobile terminal 1 is stopped, another person operates the mobile terminal 1 to print the print data pd to the multifunction device 2. In addition, it is assumed that the output is illegally requested, and the user is notified of unauthorized use of the mobile terminal 1.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a procedure from when a data supply request to the multifunction device 2 is issued from the portable terminal 1 to when data is transmitted to and received from the authentication management server 3 to the multifunction device 2 in the third embodiment. It is. In FIG. 5, steps that perform the same processing as in FIG.

  Here, it is assumed that the use of the mobile terminal 1 is stopped. In this case, the cloud network N including the public telephone line cannot be used by the mobile terminal 1, and data communication cannot be performed between the mobile terminal 1 and the authentication management server 3. However, since the mobile terminal 1 can use the line n made of WiFi or the like, data communication can be performed between the mobile terminal 1 and the multifunction device 2.

  Therefore, even if the mobile terminal 1 starts an application program for searching for data resources on the cloud network N and printing out, list data dg indicating the list of print data pd names and URLs in the file Fi is displayed. The authentication management server 3 cannot be requested and the list data dg cannot be received and input.

  However, if the list data dg is received and stored in the storage unit 13 before the use of the portable terminal 1 is stopped, the application program is started (step S101), and the list data dg is stored. The name of the print data pd in the file Fi indicated by the list data dg and the list of URLs can be displayed on the screen of the display unit 12 (step S104). Then, by operating the operation input unit 14, the name or URL of the desired print data pd in the list is instructed (step S105), and the print instruction information J1 indicating the name or URL of the instructed print data pd, etc. Can be transmitted from the short-range communication unit 16 to the MFP 2 through the line n (step S106).

  In the multi-function device 2, the print instruction information J1 is received by the short-range communication unit 28 (step S201), and the response information J2 indicating the identification information d2 of the multi-function device 2 is sent from the short-range communication unit 28 through the line n to the portable terminal 1 (Step S202). Also, the second request information K2 indicating the name or URL of the print data pd is transmitted from the network communication unit 27 to the authentication management server 3 through the cloud network N (step S203).

  In the portable terminal 1, when the response information J2 is received by the short-range communication unit 16 (step S107), the name or URL of the print data pd, the identification information d1 of the portable terminal 1, and the identification information d2 of the multifunction device 2 are indicated. The first request information K1 is created, and a communication process for transmitting the first request information K1 from the network communication unit 27 to the authentication management server 3 is performed (step S108). However, since the use of the mobile terminal 1 is stopped, the first request information K1 is not transmitted from the mobile terminal 1 to the authentication management server 3.

  Therefore, in the authentication management server 3, even if the second request information K2 is received by the network communication unit 33 (steps S303 and S304), the first request information K1 is not received by the network communication unit 33. The control unit 31 determines whether or not the first request information K1 has been received until the predetermined time elapses after the elapse of the predetermined time from the reception point of the second request information K2 in step S303 ( In step S331), the first request information K1 is not received (“No” in step S331), so a communication failure notification is transmitted from the network communication unit 33 to the MFP 2 through the cloud network N (step S332), and the process is terminated. To do.

  The MFP 2 is in a reception standby state for the print data pd, error notification, or disconnection notification (steps S204, S206, S231), and neither the print data pd nor the error notification is received (in step S204, “ No ”,“ No ”in S206), and the communication failure 27 is received by the network communication unit 27 (“ Yes ”in Step S231). When the non-communication notice is input, the control unit 21 regards the mobile terminal 1 as being illegally used, and performs data communication between the mobile terminal 1 and the multifunction device 2 through the line n to obtain information on the mobile terminal 1. The data is loaded from the storage unit 13 of the portable terminal 1 to the storage unit 23 of the multifunction device 2. And the control part 21 notifies the unauthorized use of the portable terminal 1 with respect to the user of the portable terminal 1 using the information of the portable terminal 1 (step S232). For example, if the user's e-mail address is included in the information loaded from the portable terminal 1 to the multifunction device 2, the control unit 21 extracts the e-mail address from the loaded information, and the portable terminal 1 An e-mail indicating the unauthorized use of the device and the location information of the multifunction device 2 (the approximate location of the portable terminal 1), and the e-mail is transmitted from the network communication unit 27 to the cloud network N with the e-mail address as the destination. . Alternatively, the identification information d1 of the portable terminal 1 and the position information of the multifunction device 2 are transmitted from the multifunction device 2 through the cloud network N to the server of the telephone station of the portable terminal 1, and the identification information of the portable terminal 1 on the server side of the telephone station The user of the portable terminal 1 may be specified based on d1, and the unauthorized use of the portable terminal 1 and the location information of the multifunction device 2 may be notified to the user.

  Further, instead of notifying the unauthorized use of the portable terminal 1 from the multifunction device 2, it is also possible to notify from the authentication management server 3. In this case, the e-mail address of the user of the mobile terminal 1 is registered in the database D in the storage unit 32 of the authentication management server 3 in association with the identification information d1 of the mobile terminal 1, and a plurality of multifunction devices 2 are registered. Is registered in association with the identification information d2 of each MFP 2. If the first request information K1 is not received before the predetermined time elapses from the reception time point of the second request information K2, the control unit 21 determines the identification information d1 of the mobile terminal 1 and the multifunction device from the second request information K2. 2 is extracted from the database D for the user's email address corresponding to the identification information d1 of the portable terminal 1 and the location information of the multifunction device 2 corresponding to the identification information d2 of the multifunction device 2. Then, an e-mail indicating the unauthorized use of the mobile terminal 1 and the location information of the multifunction device 2 (the approximate position of the mobile terminal 1) is created, and the e-mail is sent from the network communication unit 27 to the cloud network N with the e-mail address as the destination. Send to.

  If the use of the mobile terminal 1 is not stopped, the first request information K1 is transmitted from the mobile terminal 1 to the authentication management server 3, so that the authentication management server 3 receives the first request information K1. (“Yes” in step S331), the process proceeds to step S306 and the subsequent steps, and print data pd or an error notification is transmitted to the multifunction device 2. In the MFP 2, when the print data pd is received (“Yes” in step S204), the print data pd is printed (step S205), and an error notification is received (“Yes” in step S206). A notification is displayed (step S207).

  As described above, in the third embodiment, even if the authentication management server 3 can receive the second request information K2 from the multifunction device 2, the authentication management server 3 receives the first request information K1 from the portable terminal 1. If the mobile terminal 1 cannot be used, it is assumed that the mobile terminal 1 is illegally used, and the user of the mobile terminal 1 is notified of the unauthorized use of the mobile terminal 1 and the location information of the multifunction device 2. The user can know the unauthorized use of the mobile terminal 1 and the position of the multifunction device 2 (the approximate position of the mobile terminal 1).

  The present invention is not limited to the first to third embodiments, and can be variously modified. For example, the first to third embodiments may be appropriately combined.

  As mentioned above, although preferred embodiment and modification of this invention were described referring an accompanying drawing, it cannot be overemphasized that this invention is not limited to the example which concerns. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made within the scope of the claims, and these are naturally within the technical scope of the present invention. It is understood.

1 mobile terminal 2 multifunction device (image forming device)
3 Authentication management server (server)
11 Control unit (first control unit)
12 Display unit 13 Storage unit 14 Operation input unit 15 Network communication unit (first network communication unit)
16 Near field communication part (1st line communication part)
21 Control unit (second control unit)
22 Display unit 23 Storage unit 24 Operation input unit 25 Printing unit 26 Image reading unit 27 Network communication unit (second network communication unit)
28 Short-range communication unit (second line communication unit)
31 control unit (third control unit)
31a Comparison and authentication unit 31b Data search unit 32 Storage unit 33 Network communication unit (third network communication unit)
D Database Fi file J1 Print instruction information J2 Response information K1 First request information K2 Second request information N Cloud network (network)
Sy cloud printing system T mobile identification table d1, d2 identification information n line pd print data

Claims (7)

A cloud printing system comprising a mobile terminal, a server, and an image forming apparatus, and connecting the mobile terminal, the server, and the image forming apparatus through a network,
The portable terminal includes a first network communication unit that performs data communication through the network, a first line communication unit that performs data communication through a line different from the network, and first request information that indicates data supply to the image forming apparatus. And a first control unit that transmits instruction information relating to the data supply from the first line communication unit to the image forming apparatus.
The image forming apparatus includes: a second network communication unit that performs data communication through the network; a second line communication unit that performs data communication through the line; and the second line communication unit that is transmitted from the portable terminal and received by the second line communication unit. A second control unit that transmits second request information indicating data supply to the image forming apparatus from the second network communication unit to the server in response to the instruction information.
The server includes a third network communication unit that performs data communication through the network, the first request information that is transmitted from the portable terminal and received by the third network communication unit, and the image forming apparatus that transmits the first request information. A third control unit that collates the second request information received by the third network communication unit and transmits data to the image forming apparatus through the network communication unit and the network based on the collation result; A cloud printing system characterized by The cloud printing system according to claim 1,
The first request information and the second request information include both identification information of the mobile terminal,
The third control unit collates the identification information included in the first request information with the identification information included in the second request information. The cloud printing system according to claim 2,
The instruction information includes the identification information,
The second control unit extracts the identification information from the instruction information, adds the identification information to the second request information, and transmits the second request information from the second network communication unit to the server. Cloud printing system. A cloud printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The cloud printing system, wherein the line is a short-range wireless communication line. A cloud printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The second control unit includes the line between the image forming apparatus and the portable terminal until the data transmitted from the server and received by the second network communication unit is output from the image forming apparatus. When the communication is interrupted, reception or output of the data is stopped. A cloud printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
When the second request information is received by the third network communication unit but the first request information is not received by the third network communication unit, the third control unit performs the portable operation in the network. A cloud printing system characterized by the terminal being regarded as being out of service. A cloud printing method of requesting data supply to an image forming apparatus from a portable terminal to a server through a network, and supplying data from the server to the image forming apparatus through the network in response to the request,
The portable terminal transmits first request information indicating data supply to the image forming apparatus to the server through the network, and transmits instruction information related to the data supply to the image forming apparatus through the line.
When the image forming apparatus receives the instruction information through the line, the image forming apparatus transmits second request information indicating data supply to the image forming apparatus through the network to the server,
When the server receives the first request information and the second request information through the network, the server collates the first request information and the second request information, and based on the collation result, transmits data to the image through the network. A cloud printing method comprising: transmitting to a forming apparatus.

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