JP2015136813A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve problems, for example, in an image forming device for forcibly storing a printing job in an auxiliary memory device, a printing job which is sent by short-range radio communication, is also stored forcibly, and for the purpose of prevention of printed matter neglect, the printing job which is sent by short-range radio communication does not have to be necessarily stored, there is less convenience.SOLUTION: Printing is performed without storing a printing job forcibly, when a log-in user of an image forming device and a sender of the printing job match, even when a job control mode of the image forming device is a forcible storage mode.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus capable of switching between print processing of a print job and storage processing in an auxiliary storage device.

  A general image forming apparatus not only prints a print job received from an information processing terminal but also stores a received print job in an auxiliary storage device such as a large-capacity hard disk and prints it at an arbitrary timing. I have.

  Further, there is an image forming apparatus having a forced storage mode in which a print job input from an information processing terminal is stored in an auxiliary storage device without performing printing for the purpose of suppressing the leaving of the printed material. In an image forming apparatus having such a forced storage mode, it is possible to switch whether or not to perform forced storage according to a specific condition as disclosed in Patent Document 1. In Patent Document 1, if the number of copies is less than a predetermined number, the image is forcibly saved, and if the number is greater than the predetermined number, a printing process is performed. It is also possible to switch between forced storage and print processing according to the job owner of the print job.

  On the other hand, a PC is generally used as the information processing terminal described above, but in recent years, mobile terminals such as smartphones and tablet PCs have been widely used. Furthermore, some of these mobile terminals are equipped with a near field communication technology called Wi-Fi Direct (registered trademark) by Wi-Fi Alliance and NFC (Near Field Communication).

JP 2009-143081 A

  According to Patent Document 1, it is possible to switch between print processing and storage processing according to the number of received print jobs and the job owner. However, there is a case where a print job received by short-range communication is stored without being printed. A print job submitted from a mobile terminal or the like by short-range communication is desired to be printed without being forcibly stored from the viewpoint of convenience.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide means capable of suitably switching between print processing and storage means in an image forming apparatus.

  In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a printing unit that prints out the input print job in an image forming apparatus capable of receiving a print job input from an information processing terminal, and a print output. Forcibly saving means for saving in an auxiliary storage device in the image forming apparatus, a processing method selecting means capable of switching between the printing means and the forced saving means, and a user authentication means for specifying a user of the image forming apparatus, In addition, even if the processing method selected by the processing method selection unit is a forced storage unit, a forced printing unit applies a printing unit when the user is logged in by the user authentication unit. And a job control means characterized by the above.

  Even if the image forming apparatus is operating in the forced storage mode, it is possible to directly print a print job received by short-range communication or the like, and convenience is improved.

It is a figure which shows a system configuration. It is a block diagram of an information processing terminal. 1 is a block diagram of an image forming apparatus. It is a module diagram of a control program of the image forming apparatus. It is a figure which shows the basic processing flow of Wi-Fi Direct. It is an example of a user authentication screen. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a structure of a print job. It is an example of a setting screen of a job control mode. 6 is a flowchart of a print control unit when a print job is received.

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[First embodiment]
In this embodiment, job control in a system in which the image forming apparatus 102 forcibly saves a print job received from an information processing terminal will be described. In particular, a description will be given of a means for performing print processing without forcibly storing when the user is logged in to the image forming apparatus 102 and the job owner of the received print job matches the login user of the image forming apparatus 102. .

  FIG. 1 is an example of a printing system that includes an information processing terminal 101 and an image forming apparatus 102. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes an information processing terminal equipped with a short-range wireless communication function (Wi-Fi Direct, NFC, etc.). Reference numeral 102 denotes an image forming apparatus 102 capable of printing a print job received from the information processing terminal 101. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the information processing terminal 101 and the image forming apparatus 102102 are connected via wireless communication using Wi-Fi Direct. The present invention connects the information processing terminal and the image forming apparatus 102 by other wireless communication (Bluetooth (registered trademark), NFC, etc.) or wired communication (communication via a parallel cable, a serial cable, a USB cable, etc.). Even if it is a form, it is applicable.

  FIG. 2 is an example of the internal configuration of the information processing terminal, and the internal configuration of the information processing terminal 101 in FIG. 1 is as described above.

  201 is a CPU that performs information processing when controlling the present invention, 202 is a RAM that provides a work area of the CPU 201, 203 is an auxiliary storage device (hard disk, floppy (registered trademark) disk, and the like) that provides a control program in this embodiment. CD-ROM etc.). Reference numeral 204 denotes an image display device (specifically, a liquid crystal display, a touch panel, etc.) used for the purpose of notifying a user of a message in the present invention. Reference numeral 205 denotes a user command input device (specifically, a keyboard, a mouse, etc.) for inputting a user command. The user command input device 205 and the screen display device 204 may be the same device such as a touch panel. A wireless LAN I / F 206 is used to exchange data with other information processing terminals via the wireless LAN 210. The NFC control unit 207 performs control for performing the NFC communication 211. The antenna 208 is an antenna for transmitting and receiving radio waves for performing the NFC communication 211. Reference numeral 209 denotes a main bus.

  FIG. 3 is an example of a diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the image forming apparatus 102. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 301 denotes a CPU that performs information processing when controlling the image forming apparatus 102. Reference numeral 302 denotes a RAM for providing a work area for the CPU 301 and temporarily storing data. Reference numeral 303 denotes an auxiliary storage device (hard disk, CD-ROM, etc.) that is used for temporary storage of data and instead of the RAM 102. An image display device 304 such as a touch panel can be used to display the state of the image forming apparatus 102, an error message, and the like. Reference numeral 305 denotes a user command input device (such as a touch panel) that is used when the user uses various functions of the image forming apparatus 102.

  Reference numeral 306 denotes a NIC for bidirectionally exchanging data with other network devices via the LAN 320. Reference numeral 307 denotes a printing unit (print engine) for printing scanned image data or the like on a sheet. Reference numeral 308 denotes a reading unit (scanner) that reads a paper document placed on a document table and generates black-and-white binary or color multi-value image data. The read image data can be printed by the printing unit 307, can be stored in the auxiliary storage device 303, and can be printed at an arbitrary timing. A wireless LAN I / F 310 is used to exchange data with other information processing terminals via the wireless LAN 311. The NFC control unit 312 performs control for performing the NFC communication 314. The antenna 313 is an antenna for transmitting and receiving radio waves for performing the NFC communication 314.

  FIG. 4 is an example of a program module related to the present embodiment stored in the auxiliary storage device 303 of the image forming apparatus 102. The control modules 401 to 403 are assumed to be read and executed by the CPU 301 from the auxiliary storage device 303 to the RAM 302. Reference numeral 401 denotes a user authentication unit for specifying a user who uses the image forming apparatus 102. Although user authentication information can be input from the user command input device 305, an authentication system using an IC card reader or the like may be used. A print job storage unit 402 is provided when a print job input from the information processing terminal 101 is stored in the auxiliary storage device 303.

  Reference numeral 403 denotes a print job control unit used when receiving control of a print job input from the information processing terminal 101 or performing print processing of a print job stored in the auxiliary storage device 303.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram for briefly explaining the processing sequence of Wi-Fi Direct. Both the information processing apparatus 101 and the image forming apparatus 102 are assumed to support Wi-Fi Direct. First, the information processing apparatus 101 and the image forming apparatus 102 search whether there are other apparatuses that are attempting to establish wireless connection by Wi-Fi Direct in the vicinity and detect each other (501). When the other party is detected, it is determined which is the access point (GroupOwner) and which is the client (Client) (502).

  Here, in FIG. 5, it is assumed that as a result of the role determination, the image forming apparatus 102 becomes Group Owner and the information processing apparatus 101 becomes Client. Next, using WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup), parameters for wireless connection are provided from the image forming apparatus 102 as the Group Owner to the information processing apparatus 101 as the Client (503). Then, wireless connection is performed using the parameters (504). When the wireless connection is established, addressing for performing IP communication between the image forming apparatus 102 and the information processing apparatus 101 is performed (505). At this time, the image forming apparatus 102 that is a Group Owner serves as a DHCP server and assigns a predetermined IP address to the information processing apparatus 101 that is a Client. The above is the basic processing sequence of Wi-Fi Direct. By executing this processing sequence, the application service installed in the image forming apparatus 102 and the application service installed in the information processing apparatus 101 can directly communicate with each other.

  FIG. 6 shows a user information input screen for the user authentication unit 401 to perform user authentication. In the image forming apparatus 102, the user authentication unit 401 displays a user authentication screen 400 on the image display device 304. In the user authentication screen 400, 401 is an area for inputting a user ID, 402 is an area for inputting a password, and the image forming apparatus 102 can be used when the user ID and the password are appropriate. In this embodiment, when the user logs in to the image forming apparatus, the logged-in user ID is held in the RAM 302 and can be referred to by the print job control unit 503 at an arbitrary timing. The details of the user authentication are not important in the present invention, so a detailed description is omitted.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of the structure of a print job that the information processing apparatus 101 inputs to the image forming apparatus 102. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the print job 700 includes a job owner 701, a print setting 702, and image data 703. JobOwner 701 is an ID for identifying a user who has submitted a print job. A print setting 702 is a job setting for printing a print job, and includes, for example, a color attribute, a single side / double side attribute, a staple attribute, and the like. Image data 703 is image data to be printed. When the print job control unit 403 of the image forming apparatus 102 receives the print job 700, the job owner 701, the print setting 702, and the image data 703 are held in the RAM 302 or the auxiliary storage device 303, and these information can be referred to / controlled at an arbitrary timing. Shall.

  FIG. 8 shows an example of a setting screen for specifying a job control mode when the print job control unit 403 receives the print job 700 (800). In this embodiment, the job control mode includes a forced save ON mode and a forced save OFF mode. The forced save ON mode is a mode in which when the print job control unit 403 receives the print job 700, the print job storage unit 402 performs the save process without performing the print process. The forced saving OFF mode is a mode in which print processing is performed when the print job control unit 403 receives the print job 700. The forced storage ON mode is assumed to be used with the intention of preventing a print job submitted from the information processing terminal 101 from being left unprinted. When the user selects 801 and presses the 803 button, the forced save ON mode is set.

  When the user selects 802, the forced saving OFF mode is set. When the 804 button is pressed, the job control mode designation screen 800 is closed. The job control mode set on this screen is held in the auxiliary storage device 303 and can be referred to by the print job control unit 403 at an arbitrary timing.

  FIG. 9 is an example of a flowchart illustrating job control processing of the image forming apparatus 102 when the information processing apparatus 101 inputs a print job to the image forming apparatus 102. FIG. 9 shows processing when the above-described job control mode is the forced save ON mode. When the print job control unit 403 detects reception of a print job from the information processing apparatus 101 (S902), the print job control unit 403 acquires the ID of the user who is logged in to the image forming apparatus 102 (S903).

  Next, the print job control unit 403 acquires the JobOwner 701 included in the print job 700 (S904). Next, the print job control unit 403 determines whether the user is logged in the image forming apparatus 102 in S903 (S905). If the print job control unit 403 determines in step S905 that the user has not logged in to the image forming apparatus 102, the print job 700 received and detected in step S902 is stored in the auxiliary storage device 303 via the print job storage unit 402 ( S908) The process is terminated (S909). If the print job control unit 403 determines in step S <b> 905 that the user is logged in to the image forming apparatus 102, it is determined whether the ID of the logged-in user matches the JobOwner 701 included in the print job 700 ( S906).

  If the print job control unit 403 determines in step S906 that the login user ID of the image forming apparatus 102 does not match the job owner 700, the processing of step S908 is executed. If the print job control unit 403 determines in step S906 that the login user ID of the image forming apparatus 102 matches the job owner 700, the print job 700 received and detected in step S902 is printed using the print unit 307 (S907). The process ends (S909).

  According to this embodiment, even when the job control mode is forced save ON, if the user logged in the image forming apparatus 102 matches the Job Owner included in the print job 700, the forced save process is not performed. It is possible to print on. As a result, it is possible to directly print a print job 700 that has been input using short-range wireless communication or the like that does not need to be forcibly saved while preventing the printed matter from being left unattended, thereby improving user convenience.

(Other embodiments)
The object of the present invention can also be achieved by executing the following processing. That is, a program stored in a storage medium by a computer (CPU, MPU) of the apparatus (or system) supplied with a storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments. This is a process of reading a code. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment.

  The program code and a storage medium storing the program code constitute the present invention. The storage medium may be, for example, a RAM (Random Access Memory) or a ROM (Read Only Memory). Further, the storage medium may be a CD (Compact Disc), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), a Blu-ray (registered trademark) Disc, a flash memory, a memory card, or the like. In addition, one or more functions of the above-described embodiments may be realized by one processor, may be realized by a plurality of processors, or may be realized by a plurality of computers on a network.

101 Information processing terminal 102 Image forming apparatus 301 CPU
303 Auxiliary storage device 305 User command input device 307 Printing unit 308 Reading unit 312 NFC control unit 312

Claims (5)

An image forming apparatus capable of receiving a print job submitted from an information processing terminal,
Printing means for printing data of the input print job;
Forced storage means for storing data of the input print job in an auxiliary storage device;
A processing method selection unit capable of switching between the printing unit and the storage unit;
User authentication means for identifying the user of the image forming apparatus;
Even if the processing method selected by the processing method selection unit is a forced storage unit, if the user is logged in by the user authentication unit, a forced printing unit that applies the printing unit; An image forming apparatus comprising:   Only when the job submitter identification means for identifying the job submitter of the submitted print job, the job submitter identified by the job submitter identification means, and the user of the image forming apparatus match, the forced The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a printing unit is applied.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing terminal and the image forming apparatus communicate with each other by short-range wireless communication. An image forming apparatus control method capable of receiving a print job submitted from an information processing terminal,
A printing step in which printing means prints data of the input print job;
A storage step for storing data of the input print job in an auxiliary storage device;
A processing method selection step capable of switching between the printing unit and the storage unit;
A user authentication step for identifying a user of the image forming apparatus;
Even if the processing method selected in the processing method selection step is a storage unit, if the user is logged in by the user authentication unit, a forced printing step of applying the printing unit;
A control method for an image forming apparatus, comprising: To an image forming apparatus that can receive a print job submitted from an information processing terminal,
A printing step in which printing means prints data of the input print job;
A storage step for storing data of the input print job in an auxiliary storage device;
A processing method selection step capable of switching between the printing unit and the storage unit;
A user authentication step for identifying a user of the image forming apparatus;
Even if the processing method selected in the processing method selection step is a storage unit, if the user is logged in by the user authentication unit, a forced printing step of applying the printing unit;
A program characterized by having executed.