JP2015219545A - Information processing system, information processing method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable data which is desired to be output by an apparatus to be transmitted to a proper transmission destination with a simple operation.SOLUTION: An information processing system including one or more information processors comprises: a first reception part which receives a request transmitted from a terminal device using address information acquired by the terminal device accessing a prescribed access destination via a network as a destination; a first transmission part which transmits a transmission request of data to the terminal device in accordance with the request; a second reception part which receives data transmitted from the terminal device in accordance with the transmission request; and a storage processing part which stores output information of data received by the second reception part in a first storage part used as an acquisition destination of output information by an apparatus.

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing system, an information processing method, and a program.

  There is a printing method called pull printing (for example, Patent Document 1). In pull print printing, a user transmits print data to a predetermined server using a PC (Personal Computer) or the like. The server stores print data. In response to a user operation on the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus acquires (pulls) print data stored in a server set in advance as a reference destination, and executes a print job. In pull print printing, a print job is executed when the user is near the image forming apparatus, so that paper on which confidential information or the like is printed can be prevented from being left or referred to by others. . Also, according to pull print printing, a print job can be executed for the same print data from any of a plurality of image forming apparatuses that have the same server as a reference destination.

  However, in pull print printing, the user needs to know in advance the address information of the server that is the data transmission destination. Therefore, for example, when the server (that is, the data transmission destination server) referred to by the image forming apparatus belonging to the office is different for each office in the company, the user can store the storage destination in the business trip destination office. There is a possibility that pull print printing cannot be performed smoothly because work for knowing the server address information is required.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide that data desired to be output to a device can be transmitted to an appropriate transmission destination with a simple operation.

  Therefore, in order to solve the above problem, an information processing system including one or more information processing devices transmits address information acquired by a terminal device accessing a predetermined access destination via a network as a destination from the terminal device. Transmitted from the terminal device in response to the transmission request, a first transmission unit to transmit a data transmission request to the terminal device in response to the request, A second receiving unit that receives data, and a storage processing unit that stores output information of the data received by the second receiving unit in a first storage unit from which the device obtains output information, Have.

  Data desired to be output to the device can be transmitted to an appropriate transmission destination with a simple operation.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of the printing system in 1st embodiment. It is a figure which shows the hardware structural example of the receiving server in 1st embodiment. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment. It is a figure which shows the function structural example of the printing system in 1st embodiment. FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram for explaining a processing procedure of print data storage processing in the first embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structural example of an address information storage part. It is a figure which shows the structural example of a user information storage part. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the printing information storage part of 1st embodiment. 5 is a flowchart for explaining an example of a processing procedure of print information generation processing in the first embodiment. 4 is a flowchart for explaining an example of a processing procedure executed by the image forming apparatus in the first embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a login screen. FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram for explaining a processing procedure of print data storage processing according to the second embodiment. 15 is a flowchart for explaining an example of a processing procedure of print information generation processing in the third embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the record which PIN code was memorize | stored in the user information storage part as a user name.

  The first embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a printing system according to the first embodiment.

  In the printing system 1 shown in FIG. 1, each area such as area A and area B is an area including one of a plurality of activity bases of a certain company A, for example. For example, area A may be Japan and area B may be China. There may be more than two areas. All areas may be within Japan. For example, area A may be Tokyo and area B may be Osaka. Note that “a” is added to the end of the code of the device belonging to area A, and “b” is added to the end of the code of the device belonging to area B. When the devices in the area A and the area B are not distinguished, “a” or “b” at the end of the code is omitted.

  Each area includes one or more user terminals 30, a reception server 10, a storage server 60, one or more image forming apparatuses 20, and the like. These terminals, devices, and the like are communicably connected via a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) (whether wired or wireless).

  The user terminal 30 is an information processing apparatus that is directly operated by a user of the printing system 1. For example, the user operates the user terminal 30 to upload (transmit) data to be printed to the receiving server 10 belonging to the same area. Uploading data to be printed corresponds to a print request for the data. Examples of the user terminal 30 include a PC (Personal Computer), a mobile phone, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, and a PDA (Personal Digital Assistance). Each model of the plurality of user terminals 30 may be different from each other.

  The receiving server 10 is a computer that receives data uploaded from the user terminal 30 (that is, data related to a print request) and generates print data for the data. The print data is data in a format that can be interpreted by the image forming apparatus 20. The data uploaded from the user terminal 30 may have a format as print data. The receiving server 10 associates the generated print data with the user name of the user terminal 30 that is the data upload source, or an identifier generated for each data upload (for each print request), and a storage server belonging to the same area. 60. The print data transmission destination storage server 60 is set in advance in the reception server 10, for example.

  When the host name of the print request source user terminal 30 is associated with the user name and managed by the authentication server 50, the print data is associated with the user name. When the host name of the user terminal 30 that is the print request source is associated with the user name and not managed by the authentication server 50, an identifier generated for each print request is associated with the print data. Hereinafter, this identifier is referred to as a “PIN (Personal Identification Number) code”. The print data associated with the PIN code can be printed by inputting the PIN code to the image forming apparatus 20. Therefore, it can be said that the PIN code is information for identifying the output authority regarding the print data.

  In the present embodiment, users of the printing system 1 are classified into “regular users” and “guest users”. An authorized user refers to a user whose information is registered with respect to the printing system 1 (strictly, with respect to a user information storage unit 52 described later). That is, the regular user is a user who is scheduled as a user of the printing system 1. An example of a regular user is an employee of company A. A guest user refers to a user whose user information is not registered in the printing system 1. That is, the guest user is a user who does not have authority to use the printing system 1. An example of a guest user is a visitor of company A. A PIN code is generated for the guest user.

  The storage server 60 is a computer that stores print data transmitted from the receiving server 10.

  The image forming apparatus 20 is a device having a printing function, such as a multifunction peripheral or a printer. The image forming apparatus 20 forms the image by the user among the print data stored in the storage server 60 (storage server 60 set as the print data acquisition destination) belonging to the same area as the image forming apparatus 20. This is a device that executes printing of print data associated with a user name or PIN code input to the apparatus 20.

  Note that the receiving server 10, the storage server 60, each image forming apparatus 20, and each user terminal 30 belonging to the same area may belong to different offices or the like. For example, when the area A is Japan and the receiving server 10a and the storage server 60a are installed in Tokyo, an image forming apparatus 20a and a user terminal 30a are installed in Osaka. Also good.

  A network such as a business office or office belonging to each area is connected to the address management server 40, the authentication server 50, and the like via a wide area network such as a WAN (Wide Area Network) or the Internet.

  For each authorized user, the authentication server 50 manages information (hereinafter referred to as “user information”) including the username and password of the authorized user and the host name of the user terminal 30 used by the authorized user. A computer that executes processing using user information. For example, the authentication server 50 executes an authentication process in response to an authentication request in which a user name, a password, and the like are specified. In addition, the authentication server 50 executes processing in response to an acquisition request for a user name corresponding to the host name. Note that the authentication server 50 may be arranged for each area. In this case, user information of regular users in each area may be managed by the authentication server 50 in the area.

  The address management server 40 manages address information of the receiving server 10 in each area. In response to access from the user terminal 30 via the network, the address management server 40 returns address information of the receiving server 10 belonging to the area (location) where the user terminal 30 is located. The address information (for example, URL (Uniform Resource Locator)) of the address management server 40 is common across the areas. Therefore, each user can obtain the address information of the receiving server 10 in the area where the user is located by accessing the same access destination in any area. The function by the address management server 40 may be provided in the form of a cloud service.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the receiving server according to the first embodiment. The reception server 10 in FIG. 2 includes a drive device 100, an auxiliary storage device 102, a memory device 103, a CPU 104, an interface device 105, and the like that are mutually connected by a bus B.

  A program for realizing processing in the receiving server 10 is provided by a recording medium 101 such as a CD-ROM. When the recording medium 101 storing the program is set in the drive device 100, the program is installed from the recording medium 101 to the auxiliary storage device 102 via the drive device 100. However, the program need not be installed from the recording medium 101 and may be downloaded from another computer via a network. The auxiliary storage device 102 stores the installed program and also stores necessary files and data.

  The memory device 103 reads the program from the auxiliary storage device 102 and stores it when there is an instruction to start the program. The CPU 104 executes functions related to the reception server 10 in accordance with a program stored in the memory device 103. The interface device 105 is used as an interface for connecting to a network.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. 3, the image forming apparatus 20 includes hardware such as a controller 21, a scanner 22, a printer 23, a modem 24, an operation panel 25, a network interface 26, and an SD card slot 27.

  The controller 21 includes a CPU 211, RAM 212, ROM 213, HDD 214, NVRAM 215, and the like. The ROM 213 stores various programs and data used by the programs. The RAM 212 is used as a storage area for loading a program, a work area for the loaded program, and the like. The CPU 211 realizes various functions by processing a program loaded in the RAM 212. The HDD 214 stores a program and various data used by the program. The NVRAM 215 stores various setting information and the like.

  The scanner 22 is hardware (image reading means) for reading image data from a document. The printer 23 is hardware (printing means) for printing print data on printing paper. The modem 24 is hardware for connecting to a telephone line, and is used to execute transmission / reception of image data by FAX communication. The operation panel 25 is hardware including input means such as buttons for accepting input from a user, display means such as a liquid crystal panel, and the like. The liquid crystal panel may have a touch panel function. In this case, the liquid crystal panel also functions as an input unit. The network interface 26 is hardware for connecting to a network such as a LAN (whether wired or wireless). The SD card slot 27 is used for reading a program stored in the SD card 80. That is, in the image forming apparatus 20, not only the program stored in the ROM 213 but also the program stored in the SD card 80 can be loaded into the RAM 212 and executed. The SD card 80 may be replaced by another recording medium (for example, a CD-ROM or a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory). That is, the type of recording medium corresponding to the positioning of the SD card 80 is not limited to a predetermined one. In this case, the SD card slot 27 may be replaced by hardware corresponding to the type of recording medium.

  In the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus 20 does not necessarily have the scanner 22 and the modem 24. In other words, the image forming apparatus 20 may be a printer instead of a multifunction peripheral.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the printing system according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 4, the address management server 40 has an address determination unit 41. The address determination unit 41 is realized by processing that causes the CPU of the address management server 40 to execute one or more programs installed in the address management server 40. The address management server 40 also uses the address information storage unit 42. The address information storage unit 42 can be realized by using an auxiliary storage device included in the address management server 40 or a storage device connected to the address management server 40 via a network.

  The address determination unit 41 determines address information of the receiving server 10 corresponding to the user terminal 30 in accordance with access from the user terminal 30 in each area. The address determination unit 41 returns address information of the determination result to the user terminal 30. Therefore, the access from the user terminal 30 substantially corresponds to an inquiry request for address information of the receiving server 10 corresponding to the user terminal 30. The reception server 10 corresponding to the user terminal 30 refers to the reception server 10 belonging to the area where the user terminal 30 is located. Information stored in the address information storage unit 42 is used to determine the address information of the receiving server 10. The address information storage unit 42 stores the address information of the receiving server 10 in each area in association with the range of IP addresses that can be assigned in each area.

  The reception server 10 includes an access request reception unit 11, a screen reply unit 12, a data reception unit 13, a user identification unit 14, a PIN code generation unit 15, a print information generation unit 16, a response information generation unit 17, a response unit 18, and a print An information transmission unit 19 and the like are included. Each of these units is realized by processing that one or more programs installed in the reception server 10 cause the CPU 104 to execute.

  The access request receiving unit 11 receives an access request from the user terminal 30 that has received the address information of the receiving server 10 from the address management server 40. The screen reply unit 12 replies screen data for designating data (such as a file) to be uploaded. The screen data is an example of a data transmission request. The data receiving unit 13 receives data that is specified on a screen displayed on the user terminal 30 based on the screen data (hereinafter referred to as “upload screen”) and uploaded from the user terminal 30. The host name of the user terminal 30 is also received along with the data. In the present embodiment, the screen data is a Web page described in HTML (HyperText Markup Language). However, the screen data may be configured in a format other than the web page.

  The user specifying unit 14 relates to the data upload source by inquiring of the authentication server 50 about the user name stored in the user information storage unit 52 in association with the host name of the user terminal 30 that is the data upload source. Specify the user name. The user information storage unit 52 does not store guest user information. Therefore, the user name is specified when the data upload source is the user terminal 30 of the regular user, but the user name is not specified when the upload source is the user terminal 30 of the guest user.

  The PIN code generation unit 15 generates a PIN code when the user name is not specified by the user specifying unit 14, that is, when the user related to the data upload source is a guest user. The print information generation unit 16 generates print information of uploaded data. The print information includes a user name, a PIN code, and the like in addition to print data generated based on the data and information on a print job of the print data. That is, when the user name is specified by the user specifying unit 14, the print information includes the user name. If the user name is not specified by the user specifying unit 14, the print information includes a PIN code.

  The response information generation unit 17 generates a Web page (hereinafter referred to as “response page”) indicating a response to data upload. The response unit 18 returns a response page to the user terminal 30 that is the data upload source. When the PIN code is generated, the response page includes the PIN code. As a result, the guest user can know the PIN code issued to the guest user.

  The authentication server 50 includes a request response unit 51, a user information storage unit 52, and the like. The user information storage unit 52 stores user information for each authorized user. The request response unit 51 executes processing corresponding to an authentication request, an acquisition request for a user name corresponding to the host name, and the like. The request response unit 51 is realized by a process that a program installed in the authentication server 50 causes the CPU of the authentication server 50 to execute. The user information storage unit 52 can be realized using an auxiliary storage device of the authentication server 50 or a storage device connected to the authentication server 50 via a network.

  The storage server 60 includes a print information receiving unit 61, a print information storage unit 62, a print information providing unit 63, and the like. The print information receiving unit 61 receives the print information transmitted from the receiving server 10 and stores (saves) it in the print information storage unit 62. In response to the print information acquisition request from the image forming apparatus 20, the print information providing unit 63 includes the user name specified in the acquisition request among the print information stored (saved) in the print information storage unit 62. Alternatively, print information including a PIN code is returned to the image forming apparatus 20.

  The print information receiving unit 61 and the print information providing unit 63 are realized by a process in which one or more programs installed in the storage server 60 are executed by the CPU of the storage server 60. The print information storage unit 62 can be realized by using an auxiliary storage device of the storage server 60 or a storage device connected to the storage server 60 via a network.

  The image forming apparatus 20 includes an authentication control unit 221, a print information acquisition unit 222, a print control unit 223, and the like. Each of these units is realized by processing executed by the CPU 211 by one or more programs installed in the image forming apparatus 20. The authentication control unit 221 receives an input of a user name and password or a PIN code from the user. When the user name and password are input, the authentication control unit 221 requests the authentication server 50 to authenticate the user name and password. The print information acquisition unit 222 transmits a print information acquisition request to the storage server 60 that belongs to the same area as the image forming apparatus 20. In the acquisition request, at least one of the user name and the PIN code received by the authentication control unit 221 is designated. The print control unit 223 executes print processing on the print data acquired by the print information acquisition unit 222.

  Hereinafter, a processing procedure executed in the printing system 1 will be described. FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram for explaining the processing procedure of the print data storage processing in the first embodiment. In FIG. 5, the storage process executed in area A will be described. When the storage process is executed in another area, the user terminal 30a, the reception server 10a, and the storage server 60a may be replaced with the user terminal 30, the reception server 10, and the storage server 60 in the other area.

  In step S <b> 101, the user terminal 30 a transmits an HTTP request indicating an address information inquiry request corresponding to the user terminal 30 a to the address information of the address management server 40 in response to an operation by the user. The address information (for example, URL) of the address management server 40 is known in advance. Alternatively, the address information may be attached to the housing or the like of the image forming apparatus 20. The address information may be affixed in the form of a barcode or a two-dimensional code. In this case, if the user terminal 30a is a mobile phone or a smartphone, the address information of the address management server 40 may be read from the barcode or the two-dimensional code.

  Upon receiving the address information inquiry request, the address determination unit 41 of the address management server 40 applies the P address related to the transmission source of the request to the information stored in the address information storage unit 42, thereby The receiving server 10a corresponding to the transmission source user terminal 30a is determined. Note that the IP address related to the transmission source of the request is included in the request.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the address information storage unit. In FIG. 6, each record of the address information storage unit 42 stores an IP address, a port number, an IP range, and the like in association with each other.

  The IP address and the port number are an example of address information of the receiving server 10. That is, the IP address is the IP address of the receiving server 10. The port number is the port number of the port established by the access request receiving unit 11 of the receiving server 10. The IP range is a range of IP addresses that can be assigned in the area to which the receiving server 10 belongs. That is, the range of IP addresses that can be assigned varies from area to area. Each user terminal 30 is assigned an IP address in the area where the user terminal 30 is located. For example, even in the same user terminal 30, the IP address assigned in area A and the IP address assigned in area B are different. Therefore, based on the current IP address of the user terminal 30, the area where the user terminal 30 is currently located can be specified.

  In step S102, a record storing an IP range including the IP address related to the transmission source of the address information inquiry request is searched, and the IP address and port number of the record are acquired. The address determination unit 41 generates a URL including the IP address and port number. The address information storage unit 42 may store a URL instead of an IP address and a port number.

  Subsequently, the address determination unit 41 returns a Web page including a link to the URL of the receiving server 10a to the user terminal 30a that has transmitted the inquiry request (S103).

  The address information inquiry request from the user terminal 30a may be transmitted by e-mail. In this case, the address determination unit 41 applies the IP address of the user terminal 30a that is the transmission source of the electronic mail (hereinafter referred to as “received mail”) to the information stored in the address information storage unit 42, and receives it. The URL of the server 10a can be generated. The address determination unit 41 may return a reply mail including a link to the URL to the mail address of the transmission source of the received mail.

  The user terminal 30a displays the returned web page or e-mail. When the user clicks on a link included in the Web page or e-mail, the user terminal 30a transmits an HTTP request indicating an access request to the URL associated with the link (S104). That is, an access request is transmitted to the receiving server 10a corresponding to the user terminal 30a.

  Note that the information returned from the address determination unit 41 in step S103 may be a redirect command whose destination is the URL of the receiving server 10a. In this case, the user terminal 30a automatically transmits the access request in step S104.

  When the access request is received by the access request receiving unit 11 of the receiving server 10a, the screen reply unit 12 returns a Web page for displaying the upload screen to the user terminal 30a that is the source of the access request (S105). The user terminal 30a displays an upload screen based on the received web page. On the upload screen, for example, desired data can be selected from data stored in the file system of the user terminal 30a.

  When the user selects data to be printed via the upload screen, the user terminal 30a sends an HTTP request including the data and the host name of the user terminal 30a to the response source of the Web page related to the upload screen. The message is transmitted to the receiving server 10a (S106).

  When the data and the host name are received by the data receiving unit 13 of the receiving server 10a, the user specifying unit 14 specifies the host name and transmits a user name acquisition request to the authentication server 50 (S107). ). In response to receiving the user name acquisition request, the request response unit 51 of the authentication server 50 searches the user information storage unit 52 for a user name corresponding to the host name specified in the acquisition request (S108).

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the user information storage unit. In FIG. 7, the user information storage unit 52 stores user information for each authorized user. The user information includes, for example, a user name, a password, and a host name. A plurality of host names may be registered for one user, such as for PCs and mobile terminals.

  In step S108, the request response unit 51 searches the user information storage unit 52 for a record including the host name specified in the user name acquisition request, and acquires the user name of the record. If the host name specified for the acquisition request is the host name of the user terminal 30a of the guest user, a record including the host name is not searched.

  Subsequently, the request response unit 51 returns a response including the search result to the reception server 10a (S109). That is, when the user name corresponding to the host name is acquired, the user name is returned. If the corresponding user name is not acquired, a response indicating that the corresponding user name is not acquired is returned.

  In response to the reception of the search result, the receiving server 10a executes print information generation processing on the uploaded data (S110). Subsequently, the response unit 18 returns a response page to the user terminal 30a that is the data upload source (S111). The response page is generated in the print information generation process.

  After returning the response page, the print information transmission unit 19 of the reception server 10a transmits the print information generated in the print information generation process and the print information including information associated with the print data to the storage server 60a. (S112). When receiving the print information, the print information receiving unit 61 of the storage server 60a stores (saves) the print information in the print information storage unit 62 (S113).

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the print information storage unit according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 8, the print information storage unit 62 stores print information for each print data. The print information includes a job name, a user mode, print data, a user name or a PIN code, and the like.

  The job name is identification information for each print data or each print job executed for each print data. The user mode is information indicating whether the user of the print request source (data upload source) is a regular user or a guest user. “U” indicates a regular user, and “G” indicates a guest user. The user name is the user name of the user when the data upload source user is a regular user. The PIN code is a PIN code generated for the user when the data uploading user is a guest user. The PIN code is generated in the print information generation process.

  Next, details of step S110 will be described. FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining an example of a processing procedure of print information generation processing in the first embodiment.

  In step S210, the print information generation unit 16 determines whether or not the data uploading user is a regular user. That is, if the user name is included in the response received in step S109 in FIG. 5, it is determined that the user is a regular user. If the user name is not included in the response, it is determined that the user is a guest user.

  When the user is a regular user (Yes in S210), the print information generation unit 16 generates print data of the uploaded data (S220). When the uploaded data is an archive file format such as a zip format including a plurality of files, the print information generation unit 16 decompresses the data and generates print data for each data extracted by decompression. Accordingly, a plurality of print data (print jobs) may be generated for one upload.

  Subsequently, the print information generation unit 16 generates print information for each print data (S230). That is, a job name is generated for each print data and included in the print information. “U” is set in the user mode of each print information. Further, the user name included in the response received in step S109 in FIG. 5 is set in each print information. The print information generated here is transmitted to the storage server 60 in step S112 of FIG.

  Subsequently, the response information generation unit 17 generates a response page (S240). The response page may include, for example, a user name included in the response received in step S109, a message indicating that the upload was successful, and the like. The response page is returned to the user terminal 30 that is the data upload source in step S111 of FIG. The authorized user who has browsed the response page can confirm the user name having the print authority for the uploaded data. However, regular users usually know their usernames. Therefore, the user name may not be included in the response page.

  On the other hand, if the data upload source user is a guest user (No in S210), the PIN code generation unit 15 generates a PIN code (S250). The PIN code may be generated by any method as long as it does not overlap between different users. However, the PIN code is preferably composed of characters that can be easily input via the operation panel 25 of the image forming apparatus 20 or a software keyboard displayed on the operation panel 25.

  Subsequently, the print information generation unit 16 generates print data of the uploaded data (S260). The processing content of step S260 may be the same as that of step S220. Subsequently, the print information generation unit 16 generates print information for each print data (S270). That is, a job name is generated for each print data and included in the print information. “G” is set in the user mode of each print information. Each print information is set with the PIN code generated in step S250. The print information generated here is transmitted to the storage server 60 in step S112 of FIG.

  Subsequently, the response information generation unit 17 generates a response page (S280). The response page may include, for example, the PIN code generated in step S250, a message indicating that the upload was successful, and the like. The response page is returned to the user terminal 30 that is the data upload source in step S111 of FIG. The user who browses the response page can know the PIN code that needs to be input to the image forming apparatus 20 when the uploaded data is printed.

  Thereafter, the user who has received the response page goes to the installation location of the image forming apparatus 20 and operates the image forming apparatus 20. Next, a processing procedure executed by the image forming apparatus 20 according to a user operation will be described.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining an example of a processing procedure executed by the image forming apparatus in the first embodiment.

  For example, the authentication control unit 221 of the image forming apparatus 20a displays a login screen on the operation panel 25 in response to calling a print function of print data stored in the storage server 60a (S301).

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a login screen. In FIG. 11, a login screen 510 has input areas such as a user name, a password, and a PIN code.

  For example, when the operator of the image forming apparatus 20a is a regular user, the login screen 510 receives the user name notified on the response page and the password for the user name. On the other hand, if the operator is a guest user, the PIN code notified on the response page is input to the login screen 510.

  In addition, even if it is a regular user, a PIN code may be input. For example, when a legitimate user uploads data from a user terminal 30 for private use, that is, a user terminal 30 whose host name is not stored in the user information storage unit 52, a response page returned to the user terminal 30 is displayed. Includes a PIN code. On the other hand, the authorized user may have uploaded data from the user terminal 30 whose host name is stored in the user information storage unit 52 separately. In this case, for the regular user, the print data associated with the PIN code and the print data associated with the user name are stored in the storage server 60a. For both print data, both the user name and password and the PIN code may be input at the same time in order to enable execution of print processing with a single login operation.

  When at least one of the user name, password, and PIN code is input to the login screen 510 and the OK button 511 is pressed, the authentication control unit 221 determines whether the user name and password are input on the login screen 510. Whether or not is determined (S302). When the user name and password are input (Yes in S302), the authentication control unit 221 executes an authentication process (S303). Specifically, the authentication control unit 221 transmits an authentication request specifying the input user name and password to the authentication server 50. The request response unit 51 of the authentication server 50 determines whether or not the combination of the user name and password specified in the authentication request is stored in the user information storage unit 52. If the set is stored in the user information storage unit 52, the authentication is successful. If the set is not stored in the user information storage unit 52, the authentication fails. The request response unit 51 returns information indicating whether authentication is correct or not to the authentication control unit 221 of the image forming apparatus 20a that is the authentication request source.

  When the authentication is successful (Yes in S304), the print information acquisition unit 222 adds the user name input on the login screen 510 to the designation information (S305). The designation information refers to information that is designated when a list of print information is acquired from the storage server 60a in the subsequent step S308. If the authentication fails (No in S304), step S305 is not executed.

  If the user name and password are not entered in the login screen 510 (No in S302), if authentication based on the user name and password fails (No in S304), or following step S305, the print information acquisition unit 222 Then, it is determined whether or not a PIN code is input on the login screen 510 (S306). When the PIN code has been input (Yes in S306), the print information acquisition unit 222 adds the PIN code to the designation information (S307). If the PIN code has not been input (No in S306), step S307 is not executed.

  Subsequently, the print information acquisition unit 222 specifies the specification information and acquires a list of print information from the storage server 60a (S308). More specifically, the print information acquisition unit 222 specifies designation information and transmits a print information list acquisition request to the storage server 60a. The address information of the storage server 60a that is the transmission destination of the acquisition request is set in advance in the image forming apparatus 20a, for example. That is, the address information of the storage server 60a belonging to the same area as the image forming apparatus 20a is set in the image forming apparatus 20a.

  In response to the acquisition request, the print information providing unit 63 of the storage server 60a acquires the print information including the designation information specified in the acquisition request from the print information storage unit 62 (FIG. 8). That is, when a user name and password are input on the login screen 510, the user mode is “U”, and print information including the user name is acquired. On the other hand, when a PIN code is input on the login screen 510, the user mode is “G”, and print information including the PIN is acquired.

  If both the user name and password and the PIN code are input on the login screen 510 and the authentication is successful, the user mode is “U”, the print information including the user name, and the user mode are “G” and print information including the PIN code is acquired. If both the user name and password and the PIN code are input on the login screen 510 and authentication fails, the user mode is “G”, and print information including the PIN code is acquired.

  The print information providing unit 63 returns a list of acquired print information to the image forming apparatus 20a. Note that the print data returned here does not need to include print data.

  Subsequently, the print information acquisition unit 222 of the image forming apparatus 20a displays a list of job names and the like included in the returned print information on the operation panel 25 (S309). The list is a candidate for printing. That is, the user can input a print execution instruction for the print information included in the list.

  When one or more job names are selected from the list, the print information acquisition unit 222 acquires the print data corresponding to the job name from the storage server 60a (S310). More specifically, the print information acquisition unit 222 transmits a print data acquisition request in which the job name is specified to the storage server 60a. In response to the acquisition request, the print information providing unit 63 of the storage server 60a returns print data corresponding to the job name specified in the acquisition request to the image forming apparatus 20a. Hereinafter, the print information related to the selected job name is referred to as “target print information”.

  If only print information for one print data is acquired based on the input user name or PIN code, the print information acquisition unit 222 may acquire the print data without performing the process of S309. Further, the print information providing unit 63 may return the print data acquired based on the user name and the PIN code instead of returning the list of print information to the image forming apparatus 20a.

  Subsequently, the print control unit 223 controls execution of a print job related to the print data (S311). As a result, a sheet on which the print data is printed is output.

  When the user mode of the target print information is “U”, that is, when the operator of the image forming apparatus 20a is a regular user, the print control unit 223, for example, in step S311, the user input at the time of login The print job may be executed within the range of authority (print authority) corresponding to the name. When the user mode of the target print information is “G”, that is, when the operator of the image forming apparatus 20a is a guest user, the print control unit 223, for example, the authority range set for the guest user The print job may be executed.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, each user accesses the address management server 40 which is a common access destination for each area, so that the receiving server 10 in the area where the user is located. Address information can be obtained. Specifically, when the user a belonging to the area A makes a business trip to the area B, if the user a accesses the address management server 40 in the same procedure as that in the area A, the receiving server Data can be uploaded to 10b. This is because, in area B, user a's user terminal 30 is assigned any IP address in the IP range of area B. Therefore, data desired to be output to the image forming apparatus 20 can be transmitted to an appropriate transmission destination with a simple operation.

  Further, according to the first embodiment, even a guest user whose account such as a user name and password is not registered in the authentication server 50 can be given printing authority. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the necessity for the guest user to request printing from a regular user. The guest user is also notified of the PIN code. Therefore, a pseudo and temporary account can be given for each guest user. Therefore, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the print information of other guest users can be easily operated between guest users.

  When the same guest user uploads data multiple times, a different PIN code is issued for each upload. In consideration of such a situation, a plurality of PIN codes may be input to the login screen 510. The print information acquisition unit 222 may acquire print information including any of the plurality of PIN codes from the storage server 60. By doing so, it is possible to release the guest user from the troublesome work of having to repeatedly log in and display a list of print information for each PIN code.

  Further, the image forming apparatus 20 may limit the print data related to the print information acquired based on the PIN code, such as setting an upper limit value for the number of prints or disabling color printing. Good. The PIN code may be provided with an expiration date. A PIN code that has expired may be invalidated. By doing so, unlimited use of the image forming apparatus 20 by the guest user can be prevented.

  Further, the present embodiment may be applied to data uploading to a device that outputs data by an output form other than printing. For example, the present embodiment may be applied to uploading data to be projected by a projector.

  Next, a second embodiment will be described. In the second embodiment, differences from the first embodiment will be described. Accordingly, points not particularly mentioned may be the same as those in the first embodiment.

  FIG. 12 is a sequence diagram for explaining the processing procedure of the print data storage processing in the second embodiment. In FIG. 12, the same steps as those in FIG. 5 are denoted by the same step numbers, and the description thereof is omitted.

  In the second embodiment, the upload screen has a user name and password input area. The regular user inputs his / her user name and password for the area. Therefore, for the regular user, in step S106a, the user name and password are transmitted to the receiving server 10a together with the data selected on the upload screen. On the other hand, the guest user does not input anything in the area. Therefore, for the guest user, in step S106a, the data selected on the upload screen is transmitted to the receiving server 10a.

  When the user name and password are received together with the data, the user specifying unit 14 of the receiving server 10 transmits an authentication request regarding the user name and password to the authentication server 50 (S107a). The request response unit 51 of the authentication server 50 executes an authentication process for the user name and password related to the authentication request (S108a). Specifically, if the combination of the user name and password is stored in the user information storage unit 52, the authentication is determined to be successful. If the combination of the user name and password is not stored in the user information storage unit 52, it is determined that the authentication has failed. Subsequently, the request response unit 51 returns information indicating the success or failure of the authentication to the user specifying unit 14 (S109a).

  When the authentication is successful, the user specifying unit 14 determines that the upload source user is a regular user, and when the authentication fails, the user specifying unit 14 determines that the user is a guest user. If the user name and password are not received in step S106a, the user specifying unit 14 determines that the uploading user is a guest user.

  As described above, the determination as to whether the upload source user is a regular user or a guest user may be made based on information other than the host name. In the second embodiment, whether or not the upload source user is a regular user is determined by authentication based on the user name and password. Therefore, even if the host name of the guest user's user terminal 30 happens to overlap with the host name of one of the regular user's user terminals 30, it is determined that the guest user is not a regular user. Can do.

  In addition, before and after the upload screen, a screen for inputting the user name and password may be displayed separately from the upload screen.

  Next, a third embodiment will be described. In the third embodiment, differences from the second embodiment will be described. Therefore, the points not particularly mentioned may be the same as in the second embodiment.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart for explaining an example of a processing procedure of print information generation processing in the third embodiment.

  In FIG. 13, step S255 is added. In step S255, the PIN code generation unit 15 requests the authentication server 50 to register the generated PIN code. The request response unit 51 of the authentication server 50 stores a record including the PIN code as a user name in the user information storage unit 52.

  FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a record in which a PIN code is stored as a user name in the user information storage unit.

  In FIG. 14, the end (last line) record is an example of a record in which a PIN code (“1234”) is stored as a user name. As shown in FIG. 14, the record may store the host name of the user terminal 30 to which the PIN code is issued.

  By storing the record including the PIN code as the user name in the user information storage unit 52, the user who has issued the PIN code can use the printing system 1 in the same operation as a regular user thereafter. Become.

  For example, when the guest user uploads data next time, the guest user inputs a PIN code in the user name input area on an upload screen or a screen displayed separately from the upload screen. At this time, the password may not be input. Therefore, the PIN code is received by the data receiving unit 13 in step S106a of FIG. 12, for example.

  Subsequently, steps S107a to S109a are executed for the PIN code. In step S108a, the request response unit 51 of the authentication server 50 determines that the authentication is successful if a record including the PIN code as the user name is stored in the user information storage unit 52, and uses the PIN code as the user. If the record including the name is not stored in the user information storage unit 52, it is determined that the authentication has failed. That is, when only the user name is specified in the authentication request, the request response unit 51 determines the success or failure of the authentication based on the presence or absence of a record including the user name. On the other hand, when the user name and password are specified in the authentication request, the request response unit 51 determines the success or failure of the authentication based on the presence or absence of a record including the user name and password. If the authentication is successful, steps S220 to S240 in FIG. 13 are executed. If the authentication fails, steps S250 to S280 in FIG. 13 are executed.

  In addition, when the guest user operates the image forming apparatus 20, a PIN code may be input to the user name input area of the login screen 510 in step S302 of FIG. The authentication control unit 221 of the image forming apparatus 20 may transmit an authentication request based only on the user name to the authentication server 50 when the user name is input and the password is not input on the login screen 510.

  Thus, according to the third embodiment, a user who has been issued a PIN code can use the PIN code as a user name. In other words, it is possible to prevent the guest user from being issued a PIN code each time data is uploaded. As a result, the guest user can cause the image forming apparatus 20 to execute printing using a single PIN code for the data uploaded in multiple times.

  For example, when it is desired to distinguish printing authority between a regular user and a guest user, the request response unit 51 of the authentication server 50 authenticates the authenticated user together with the success or failure of the authentication in response to the authentication request. Information indicating whether or not is a regular user may be included. That is, a user who succeeds in authentication based on the user name and password is a regular user, and a user who succeeds in authentication based only on the user name is a guest user. Note that in the authentication server 50, the guest user's PIN code may be registered in a storage unit that is different from the user information storage unit 52, thereby making it possible to distinguish between a regular user and a guest user.

  In addition, user information related to the guest user, that is, user information that does not include a password may be deleted from the user information storage unit 52 after a predetermined time has elapsed. By doing so, the account given to the guest user can be made temporary. In other words, if a PIN code to be used by a guest user is registered as user information indefinitely (if it is registered with the same expiration date as a regular user), the guest user's PIN code that has become unnecessary is stored in the user information forever. It will remain in the part 52. In that case, there is a concern that problems may occur in terms of security and storage capacity. In this case, for example, an expiration date that takes into account the average period of stay for guest users, such as one day or one week, is used. It is conceivable to delete the user information related to the guest user when the expiration date has passed.

  Next, a fourth embodiment will be described. In the fourth embodiment, differences from the third embodiment will be described. Therefore, the points not particularly mentioned may be the same as in the third embodiment.

  In the fourth embodiment, it is assumed that an IC card is lent to a guest user. Each IC card stores identification information (hereinafter referred to as “card ID”). Further, the card ID of the IC card is written on the front surface or the back surface of each IC card.

  In step S106a of FIG. 12, the guest user inputs the card ID of the IC card lent to himself / herself in the user name input area on the upload screen. Therefore, the data receiving unit 13 of the receiving server 10a receives the card ID together with the data to be uploaded.

  The user specifying unit 14 transmits an authentication request for the card ID to the authentication server 50 (S107a). The request response unit 51 of the authentication server 50 determines that the authentication is successful if a record including the card ID as a user name is stored in the user information storage unit 52 (S108a). On the other hand, when the record including the card ID as the user name is not stored in the user information storage unit 52, the request response unit 51 stores the record including the card ID as the user name in the user information storage unit 52. It is determined that the authentication is successful.

  Accordingly, in step S112, print information including the card ID as a user name is transmitted to the storage server 60a and stored in the print information storage unit 62.

  When the user operates the image forming apparatus 20a, the user sets the IC card in the card reader of the image forming apparatus 20a. The image forming apparatus 20 reads the card ID from the IC card via the card reader, and executes an authentication process using the card ID as a user name (S303 in FIG. 10). The subsequent steps may be the same as in the third embodiment.

  As described above, in the fourth embodiment, the guest user can use the card ID of the IC card lent to himself / herself instead of the user name. Even when the IC card is not lent, the guest user may input an arbitrary character string in the user name input area on the upload screen. By doing so, the guest user can use the character string as the user name.

  In each of the above embodiments, each of the receiving server 10, the storage server 60, the address management server 40, and the authentication server 50 may be realized by being distributed among a plurality of computers.

  Further, in each of the embodiments described above, the example in which the print data is generated in the reception server 10 has been described. May be executed by

  In each of the above embodiments, the receiving server 10 is an example of an information processing system. Alternatively, the receiving server 10 and the storage server 60 may be an example of an information processing system. Alternatively, the receiving server 10, the storage server 60, and the address management server 40 may be an example of an information processing system.

  The access request receiving unit 11 is an example of a first receiving unit. The screen reply unit 12 is an example of a first transmission unit. The data receiving unit 13 is an example of a second receiving unit. The print information storage unit 62 or the storage server 60 is an example of a first storage unit. The print information transmission unit 19 is an example of a storage processing unit. The user specifying unit 14 is an example of a specifying unit. The PIN code generation unit 15 is an example of a generation unit. The user name is an example of user identification information. The PIN code is an example of authority identification information. The print information is an example of output information. The user information storage unit 52 is an example of a second storage unit. The response unit 18 is an example of a second transmission unit. The user terminal 30 is an example of a terminal device.

  As mentioned above, although the Example of this invention was explained in full detail, this invention is not limited to such specific embodiment, In the range of the summary of this invention described in the claim, various deformation | transformation・ Change is possible. The address determination unit 41 is an example of a determination unit.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printing system 10 Reception server 11 Access request receiving part 12 Screen reply part 13 Data receiving part 14 User specific part 15 PIN code generation part 16 Print information generation part 17 Response information generation part 18 Response part 19 Print information transmission part 20 Image forming apparatus 21 Controller 22 Scanner 23 Printer 24 Modem 25 Operation Panel 26 Network Interface 27 SD Card Slot 30 User Terminal 40 Address Management Server 41 Address Determination Unit 42 Address Information Storage Unit 50 Authentication Server 51 Request Response Unit 52 User Information Storage Unit 60 Storage Server 61 Print information receiving unit 62 Print information storage unit 63 Print information providing unit 80 SD card 100 Drive device 101 Recording medium 102 Auxiliary storage device 103 Memory device 104 CPU
105 Interface device 211 CPU
212 RAM
213 ROM
214 HDD
215 NVRAM
B bus

JP 2011-087441 A

Claims (8)

An information processing system including one or more information processing devices,
A first receiving unit that receives a request transmitted from the terminal device with the address information acquired by the terminal device accessing a predetermined access destination via the network;
In response to the request, a first transmission unit that transmits a data transmission request to the terminal device;
A second receiving unit that receives data transmitted from the terminal device in response to the transmission request;
A storage processing unit that stores output information of data received by the second receiving unit in a first storage unit from which the device obtains output information;
An information processing system comprising: Address information obtained by accessing the predetermined access destination is specified based on address information assigned to the terminal device.
The information processing system according to claim 1. A specifying unit for specifying user identification information related to information transmitted from the terminal device, from among the user identification information stored in the second storage unit;
A generating unit that generates authority identification information indicating an output authority of data received by the second receiving unit when the user identifying information is not specified by the specifying unit;
A second transmitter that transmits the authority identification information generated by the generator to the terminal device;
The storage processing unit associates the user identification information specified by the specifying unit or the authority identification information generated by the generating unit with the output information of the data received by the second receiving unit, And store it in
The device acquires, from the first storage unit, output information associated with user identification information or authority identification information input to the device.
The information processing system according to claim 1 or 2. The generation unit stores the generated authority identification information as user identification information in the second storage unit.
The information processing system according to claim 3. An information processing system including one or more information processing devices,
In response to access from the terminal device via the network, a determination unit that determines address information corresponding to the location of the terminal device and returns the address information to the terminal device;
A first receiving unit for receiving a request transmitted from the terminal device with the address information as a destination;
In response to the request, a first transmission unit that transmits a data transmission request to the terminal device;
A second receiving unit that receives data transmitted from the terminal device in response to the transmission request;
A storage processing unit that stores output information of data received by the second receiving unit in a first storage unit from which the device obtains output information;
An information processing system comprising: An information processing system including one or more information processing devices
A first reception procedure for receiving a request transmitted from the terminal device with address information acquired by the terminal device accessing a predetermined access destination via a network;
In response to the request, a first transmission procedure for transmitting a data transmission request to the terminal device;
A second reception procedure for receiving data transmitted from the terminal device in response to the transmission request;
A storage procedure for storing output information of data received in the second reception procedure in a first storage unit from which the device obtains output information;
The information processing method characterized by performing. An information processing system including one or more information processing devices,
In response to access from the terminal device via the network, a determination procedure for determining address information corresponding to the location of the terminal device and returning the address information to the terminal device;
A first reception procedure for receiving a request transmitted from the terminal device with the address information as a destination;
In response to the request, a first transmission procedure for transmitting a data transmission request to the terminal device;
A second reception procedure for receiving data transmitted from the terminal device in response to the transmission request;
A storage procedure for storing output information of data received in the second reception procedure in a first storage unit from which the device obtains output information;
An information processing system characterized by executing On the computer,
A first reception procedure for receiving a request transmitted from the terminal device with address information acquired by the terminal device accessing a predetermined access destination via a network;
In response to the request, a first transmission procedure for transmitting a data transmission request to the terminal device;
A second reception procedure for receiving data transmitted from the terminal device in response to the transmission request;
A storage procedure for storing output information of data received in the second reception procedure in a first storage unit from which the device obtains output information;
A program that executes

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