JP2015219779A - Information processor, information processing system and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processor which makes an image formation device acquire from the information processor image information required to be authenticated with user authentication information stored in the information processor without giving the user authentication information of the information processor to the image formation device by a user.SOLUTION: An information processor 110 comprises: an image information holding part which holds image information; a first identification information acquisition part which acquires identification information identifying an image formation device 130 from a terminal 120; an authentication information generation part which generates authentication information; an image information management part which associates the identification information and authentication information with the image information; an authentication information transmission part which transmits the authentication information to the terminal 120; an authentication information acquisition part which acquires the authentication information from the image formation device 130; a second identification information acquisition part which acquires the identification information from the image formation device 130; and an image information transmission part which transmits the image information in a case where the identification information and authentication information acquired from the image formation device 130 match the identification information and authentication information associated with the image information.

Description

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

  In the following Patent Document 1, the output device generates a print ticket, transmits a print target data request including the print ticket to the document management system, and the client terminal acquires the URI of the print target data and the print ticket acquired from the output device. Is sent to the document management system, and when the document management system matches the print target data request and the print ticket included in the print request, the print specified by the URI of the print target data included in the print request A printing system for transmitting target data to an output device is disclosed.

JP 2011-138390 A

  An object of the present invention is to transfer image information that requires authentication by user authentication information stored in an information processing apparatus to the image forming apparatus without the user passing the user authentication information of the information processing apparatus to the image forming apparatus. Image information can be acquired from the information processing apparatus.

  The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, an image information holding unit that holds image information for forming an image, a first identification information acquisition unit that acquires identification information for identifying the image forming apparatus from a terminal, Authentication information generating means for generating authentication information for permitting acquisition of the image information, association means for associating the identification information and the authentication information with the image information, and authentication information transmission for transmitting the authentication information to the terminal Means, an authentication information acquisition means for acquiring the authentication information acquired from the terminal by the image forming apparatus from the image forming apparatus, and a second identification for acquiring the identification information of the image forming apparatus from the image forming apparatus. The identification information and the authentication information acquired from the information acquisition unit and the image forming apparatus match the identification information and the authentication information associated with the image information. If that, as a response to the request of the image information from the image forming apparatus, and an image information transmitting means for transmitting the image information, characterized in that.

  The information processing apparatus according to claim 2 is the information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising image information deletion means for deleting the image information when a predetermined time has elapsed. .

  The information processing system according to claim 3 includes an information processing apparatus, a terminal, and an image forming apparatus that can communicate with each other, and the information processing apparatus holds image information for forming an image. Holding means; first identification information acquisition means for acquiring identification information for identifying the image forming apparatus from the terminal; authentication information generation means for generating authentication information for permitting acquisition of the image information; An associating means for associating identification information and the authentication information with the image information; an authentication information transmitting means for transmitting the authentication information to the terminal; and the authentication information acquired by the image forming apparatus from the terminal from the image forming apparatus. Authentication information acquisition means to acquire, second identification information acquisition means to acquire the identification information of the image forming apparatus from the image forming apparatus, and from the image forming apparatus When the obtained identification information and the authentication information match the identification information and the authentication information associated with the image information, the image information is used as a response to the image information request from the image forming apparatus. Image information transmitting means for transmitting, wherein the terminal acquires the identification information and transmits it to the information processing apparatus, and acquires the authentication information from the information processing apparatus and transmits it to the image forming apparatus. Means for transmitting the identification information to the information processing apparatus, means for acquiring the authentication information from the terminal and transmitting the authentication information to the information processing apparatus, and the image information. Means for requesting and obtaining the information from the information processing apparatus.

  The information processing system according to claim 4 is the information processing system according to claim 3, wherein the image forming apparatus transmits the identification information based on a request from the information processing apparatus. .

  The information processing system according to claim 5 is the information processing system according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the terminal transmits the authentication information together with an authentication information transmission instruction to transmit the authentication information to the information processing apparatus. The image forming apparatus transmits the authentication information to the information processing apparatus based on the authentication information transmission instruction.

  The information processing system according to claim 6 is the information processing system according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the information processing device deletes the image information when a predetermined time has elapsed. An image information deleting unit is further provided.

  The program according to claim 7 is an image information holding unit that holds image information for forming an image, a first identification information acquisition unit that acquires identification information for identifying an image forming apparatus from a terminal, Authentication information generating means for generating authentication information for permitting acquisition, association means for associating the identification information and the authentication information with the image information, authentication information transmitting means for transmitting the authentication information to the terminal, and the image forming apparatus Authentication information acquisition means for acquiring the authentication information acquired from the terminal from the image forming apparatus, second identification information acquisition means for acquiring the identification information of the image forming apparatus from the image forming apparatus, and the image When the identification information and the authentication information acquired from the forming apparatus match the identification information and the authentication information associated with the image information Wherein in response to a request of the image information from the image forming apparatus, the image information transmitting means for transmitting the image information, causing a computer to function as a.

  According to the first, third, and seventh aspects of the present invention, the user authenticates the image forming apparatus with image information that requires authentication based on the user authentication information stored in the information processing apparatus. The image forming apparatus can acquire image information from the information processing apparatus without passing the information.

  According to the invention described in claim 4, the identification information is transmitted from the image forming apparatus based on a request from the information processing apparatus.

  According to the invention described in claim 5, the authentication information is transmitted from the image forming apparatus to the information processing apparatus based on an instruction to transmit the authentication information.

  According to the second and sixth aspects of the invention, image information can be deleted when a predetermined time has elapsed.

It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of the information processing system which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the function implement | achieved by information processing apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of an image information management table. It is a figure which shows an example of an image information request | requirement management table. It is a figure which shows an example of the flow of a process of information processing apparatus system.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In addition, about drawing, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same or equivalent element, and the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the outline of the hardware configuration of the information processing system according to the present embodiment. The information processing system 100 includes an information processing apparatus 110, a terminal 120, and an image forming apparatus 130. The information processing apparatus 110, the terminal 120, and the image forming apparatus 130 can communicate with each other.

  Here, the communication between the information processing apparatus 110 and the terminal 120 and the communication between the information processing apparatus 110 and the image forming apparatus 130 may be performed via the Internet, for example. The image forming apparatus 130 is arranged in a local area network installed in a company or the like, and communication from the information processing apparatus 110 to the image forming apparatus 130 is restricted by a firewall installed in the local area network. May be.

  Further, the communication between the terminal 120 and the image forming apparatus 130 may be performed by short-range wireless communication between devices such as infrared communication, Bluetooth (registered trademark), or Wi-Fi Direct (registered trademark). However, when the terminal 120 and the image forming apparatus 130 are arranged in the same local area network, it may be performed via a communication network in the local area network. Communication between the information processing apparatus 110, the terminal 120, and the image forming apparatus 130 may be encrypted using SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) technology.

  The information processing apparatus 110 is a server that provides a data management service, for example, and includes a control unit, a storage unit, and a communication unit (not shown). The control unit is, for example, a CPU or the like, and operates according to a program stored in the storage unit, and performs each process in the information processing apparatus 110. The storage unit is, for example, a ROM or a hard disk, and holds electronic data such as document data handled by the data management service, and a program executed by the control unit. The communication unit is, for example, a network interface, and transmits and receives information via the network in response to an instruction from the control unit.

  The terminal 120 is an information terminal such as a PC or a smartphone, for example, and includes a control unit, a storage unit, and a communication unit (not shown). The control unit is, for example, a CPU or the like, and operates according to a program stored in the storage unit, and performs each process in the terminal 120. The storage unit is, for example, a ROM or a hard disk, and holds a program executed by the control unit. The communication unit is, for example, a network interface, and transmits and receives information via the network in response to an instruction from the control unit. The terminal 120 may further include a communication unit that performs short-range communication between devices such as infrared communication, Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi Direct as a communication unit.

  The image forming apparatus 130 is, for example, a laser printer that forms an image on paper or the like as a recording medium, and includes a control unit, a storage unit, a communication unit, and a printing unit (not shown). The control unit is, for example, a CPU or the like, and operates according to a program stored in the storage unit, and performs each process in the image forming apparatus 130. The storage unit is, for example, a ROM or a hard disk, and holds a program executed by the control unit. The communication unit is, for example, a network interface, and transmits and receives information via the network in response to an instruction from the control unit. The image forming apparatus 130 may further include a communication unit that performs short-range communication between devices such as infrared communication, Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi Direct as a communication unit. For example, the printing unit forms an image on a recording medium such as paper by an electrophotographic method or the like. Here, the image forming apparatus 130 has a function of executing processing based on a command described in a script language or the like included in information in an HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) format, for example. This function is realized in the control unit of the image forming apparatus 130.

  The program processed by the control unit of the information processing apparatus 110, the terminal 120, and the image forming apparatus 130 is, for example, a computer-readable information storage medium such as an optical disk, a magnetic disk, a magnetic tape, a magneto-optical disk, or a flash memory. It may be provided via a communication means such as the Internet.

  The contents of each process executed by the information processing apparatus 110, the terminal 120, and the image forming apparatus 130 illustrated in FIG. 1 will be described later.

  Next, functions realized by the information processing apparatus 110 will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining functions realized by the information processing apparatus 110. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the information processing apparatus 110 functionally includes, for example, an image information generation instruction acquisition unit 201, an image information generation unit 202, an image information management unit 203, an image information holding unit 204, and first identification information acquisition. Unit 205, authentication information generation unit 206, authentication information transmission unit 207, image information deletion unit 208, authentication information acquisition unit 209, image information request management unit 210, second identification information acquisition unit 211, determination unit 212, and image information transmission Part 213.

  The image information generation instruction acquisition unit 201 acquires an image information generation instruction transmitted from the terminal 120. The image information is, for example, information generated by rasterizing document data or the like, or information generated as a page description language, and is information processed by the image forming apparatus 130 that executes printing. Here, the image information generation instruction is transmitted from the terminal 120 to the information processing apparatus 110 when, for example, the terminal 120 receives a print instruction for document data held by the information processing apparatus 110. The image information generation instruction includes the data ID for identifying the document data specified by the print instruction and the terminal destination information of the terminal 120 that has transmitted the image information generation instruction. Here, the terminal destination information is information indicating the location of the terminal 120 on the network, for example, the IP address of the terminal 120. Here, the document data is taken as an example, but the electronic data instructed to be printed by the image information generation instruction is not limited to this, and may be, for example, image data. Upon acquiring the image information generation instruction, the image information generation instruction acquisition unit 201 passes the data ID to the image information generation unit 202 and passes the terminal destination information to the image information management unit 203.

  The image information generation unit 202 generates image information. Specifically, the image information generation unit 202 acquires a data ID from the image information generation instruction acquisition unit 201, acquires document data corresponding to the data ID from the storage unit, and generates image information. Then, the image information generation unit 202 passes the image information ID for identifying the image information and date / time information indicating the date / time when the image information is generated to the image information management unit 203. In addition, the image information generation unit 202 passes the generated image information to the image information holding unit 204.

  When the image information management unit 203 acquires the terminal destination information from the image information generation instruction acquisition unit 201 and the image information ID and date / time information from the image information generation unit 202, the image information management unit 203 uses these together with the instruction ID for identifying the image information generation instruction. Register and associate with the management table. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the image information management table. As shown in FIG. 3, in the image information management table 301, an instruction ID, terminal destination information, image information ID, and date / time information are associated with each other. Other items shown in the image information management table 301 will be described later.

  The image information holding unit 204 acquires the image information generated by the image information generation unit 202 and stores it in the storage unit, for example. Then, the location information indicating the storage location of the image information is passed to the image information management unit 203. The image information management unit 203 adds the acquired location information to the image information management table 301 and associates it with the instruction ID, terminal destination information, image information ID, and date / time information.

  The first identification information acquisition unit 205 acquires identification information for identifying the image forming apparatus 130 from the terminal 120. Specifically, the first identification information acquisition unit 205 acquires the terminal destination information from the image information management table 301 and requests the identification information of the image forming apparatus 130 from the terminal 120 specified by the terminal destination information. Here, the identification information is information for identifying the individual image forming apparatus 130. When the first identification information acquisition unit 205 acquires the identification information from the terminal 120, it passes the acquired identification information to the image information management unit 203. The image information management unit 203 adds the acquired identification information to the image information management table 301 and associates it with the instruction ID, terminal destination information, image information ID, date / time information, and location information.

  Here, the identification information is not particularly limited as long as it identifies the individual image forming apparatus 130. For example, the identification information is included in an MIB (Management Information Base) held by the image forming apparatus 130 as its own management information. A serial number of the image forming apparatus 130, a Mac address of network hardware, or the like is preferable.

  Moreover, the following aspects can be considered as acquisition of the identification information by the terminal 120. For example, an HTML format identification information transmission instruction including an instruction to transmit identification information described in a script language is transmitted from the terminal 120 to the image forming apparatus 130 designated by the user, and the image forming apparatus 130 responds to the instruction. The identification information may be transmitted to the terminal 120.

  The authentication information generation unit 206 generates authentication information of image information. Specifically, when the authentication information generation unit 206 detects that a new image information ID is registered in the image information management table 301, the authentication information generation unit 206 generates authentication information. The authentication information is information for permitting acquisition of image information, and is, for example, a password. The authentication information generation unit 206 generates authentication information every time it detects that a new image information ID has been registered (so-called one-time password). The authentication information generation unit 206 passes the generated authentication information to the image information management unit 203. The image information management unit 203 adds the acquired authentication information to the image information management table 301 and associates it with the instruction ID, terminal destination information, image information ID, date / time information, location information, and identification information.

  The authentication information transmission unit 207 transmits the image information ID, the location information, and the authentication information to the terminal 120. Specifically, the authentication information transmission unit 207 acquires terminal destination information, image information ID, location information, and authentication information from the image information management table 301, and sends the image information ID to the terminal 120 specified by the terminal destination information. , Transmitting location information and authentication information.

  The image information deletion unit 208 deletes image information when a predetermined time has elapsed. Specifically, the image information deletion unit 208 acquires the image information ID and the date / time information from the image information management table 301, and when a predetermined time has elapsed from the time indicated in the date / time information, the image information ID The image information corresponding to is deleted.

  Here, the image information ID, the location information, and the authentication information transmitted from the authentication information transmitting unit 207 and acquired by the terminal 120 are transferred to the image forming apparatus 130 together with an image information request instruction. The image information request instruction is information including an instruction for requesting image information by transmitting an image information ID and authentication information to the location information, for example, an HTML format including the instruction described in the script language Information. The image information ID and the authentication information are acquired by the image forming apparatus 130 and then transmitted from the image forming apparatus 130 to the information processing apparatus 110 based on an image information request instruction.

  The authentication information acquisition unit 209 acquires the image information ID and authentication information acquired from the terminal 120 by the image forming apparatus 130 from the image forming apparatus 130. Specifically, the authentication information acquisition unit 209 acquires the image information ID and authentication information transmitted from the image forming apparatus 130 based on the image information request instruction. Further, the authentication information acquisition unit 209 acquires image forming apparatus destination information indicating the destination of the image forming apparatus 130 that requested the image information. The image forming apparatus destination information is information indicating the location of the image forming apparatus 130 on the network, and is, for example, the IP address of the image forming apparatus 130. Upon obtaining the image information ID, the authentication information, and the image forming apparatus destination information, the authentication information acquisition unit 209 passes these to the image information request management unit 210.

  Upon acquiring the image information ID, the authentication information, and the image forming apparatus destination information from the authentication information acquisition unit 209, the image information request management unit 210 registers these in the image information request management table together with a request ID for identifying the image information request. Associate. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the image information request management table. As shown in FIG. 4, in the image information request management table 401, a request ID, image forming apparatus destination information, image information ID, and authentication information are associated with each other. Other items in the image information request management table 401 will be described later.

  The second identification information acquisition unit 211 acquires identification information of the image forming apparatus 130 from the image forming apparatus 130. Specifically, the second identification information acquisition unit 211 acquires the image forming apparatus destination information from the image information request management table 401 and requests the identification information from the image forming apparatus 130 specified by the image forming apparatus destination information. The identification information is acquired by the second identification information acquisition unit 211 by, for example, transmitting an identification information transmission instruction in HTML format including a command for transmitting the identification information described in the script language to the image forming apparatus 130. 130 is acquired by transmitting identification information to the information processing apparatus 110 in response to the command. When the second identification information acquisition unit 211 acquires the identification information from the image forming apparatus 130, the second identification information acquisition unit 211 passes the acquired identification information to the image information request management unit 210. The image information request management unit 210 adds the acquired identification information to the image information request management table 401 and associates it with the request ID, image forming apparatus destination information, image information ID, and authentication information.

  The determination unit 212 determines whether the authentication information and identification information acquired from the image forming apparatus 130 match the authentication information and identification information associated with the image information. Specifically, the determination unit 212 uses the authentication information and identification information associated with the image information as the authentication information and identification information in the image information request management table 401 that is the authentication information and identification information acquired from the image forming apparatus 130. It is determined whether or not it matches the authentication information and identification information of the image information management table 301 that is information. More specifically, when the determination unit 212 acquires the image information ID, the authentication information, and the identification information from the image information request management table 401, the determination unit 212 refers to the image information management table 301 and associates them with the image information ID. Authentication information and identification information. Then, the determination unit 212 determines whether the authentication information and identification information acquired from the image information request management table 401 matches the authentication information and identification information acquired from the image information management table 301. In the example shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the authentication information and the identification information associated with the image information ID indicated by “abc” in the image information request management table 401 are the images indicated by “abc” in the image information management table 301. It matches the authentication information and identification information associated with the information ID. That is, for image information whose image information ID is indicated by “abc”, the authentication information and identification information acquired from the image forming apparatus 130 match the authentication information and identification information associated with the image information. When the authentication information and identification information acquired from the image forming apparatus 130 match the authentication information and identification information associated with the image information, the determination unit 212 passes the image information ID to the image information transmission unit 213.

  Here, the authentication information acquired from the image forming apparatus 130 is the authentication information transmitted from the image forming apparatus 130 that requested the image information, and is generated by the information processing apparatus 110 when the image information generation instruction is issued. Authentication information transmitted from the information processing apparatus 110 to the image forming apparatus 130 via the terminal 120. On the other hand, the authentication information associated with the image information is authentication information that is generated by the information processing apparatus 110 at the time of the image information generation instruction and then held in the information processing apparatus 110. The identification information acquired from the image forming apparatus 130 is identification information of the image forming apparatus 130 acquired directly from the image forming apparatus 130 that requested the image information. On the other hand, the identification information associated with the image information is the identification information of the image forming apparatus 130 designated by the user, acquired from the terminal 120 at the time of the image information generation instruction.

  When the authentication information and identification information acquired from the image forming apparatus 130 match the authentication information and identification information associated with the image information, the image forming apparatus 130 that requested the image information has the authority to acquire the image information. And the image forming apparatus 130 designated by the user when the image information generation instruction is given.

  The image information transmission unit 213 transmits image information to the image forming apparatus 130. Specifically, when the image information transmission unit 213 acquires the image information ID from the determination unit 212, the image information transmission unit 213 acquires the image information corresponding to the image information ID from the image information holding unit 204, and further stores the image information request management table 401. Referring to the image forming apparatus destination information associated with the image information ID. Then, the image information transmitting unit 213 transmits the image information to the image forming apparatus 130 specified by the image forming apparatus destination information.

  Next, an outline of the processing flow of the information processing system 100 will be described. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a processing flow of the information processing system 100. FIG. 5 shows a flow of processing from when an image information generation instruction is transmitted from the terminal 120 to when printing is executed in the image forming apparatus 130 and a completion notification is transmitted to the terminal 120. Note that the processing in the information processing apparatus 110 illustrated in FIG. 5 is realized by the control unit of the information processing apparatus 110 executing the functions illustrated in FIG. Similarly, the processing in the terminal 120 and the image forming apparatus 130 illustrated in FIG. 5 is realized by the respective control units of the terminal 120 and the image forming apparatus 130. Moreover, the code | symbol attached | subjected to each process demonstrated below respond | corresponds with the code | symbol attached | subjected to each process shown in FIG.

  First, an instruction to generate image information of document data held by the information processing apparatus 110 is transmitted from the terminal 120 to the information processing apparatus 110 (S501). Here, the generation instruction of the image information is a user who uses the information processing apparatus 110 from the terminal 120 by transmitting user authentication information (for example, login ID and password) for the information processing apparatus 110 to authenticate the user. Is transmitted due to, for example, pressing a print button while browsing the document data held in the information processing apparatus 110 by an application running on the terminal 120. When acquiring the image information generation instruction, the information processing apparatus 110 requests the terminal 120 for identification information of the image forming apparatus 130 as a response to the image information generation instruction (S502).

  When the identification information is requested from the information processing apparatus 110, the terminal 120 receives the designation of the image forming apparatus 130 from the user in a mode in which the terminal 120 selects from among a plurality of image forming apparatuses that can communicate with the terminal 120, for example. Identification information is requested from the designated image forming apparatus 130 (S503). The specification of the image forming apparatus 130 is not limited to this, and may be accepted when the image information generation instruction is transmitted.

  The image forming apparatus 130 requested for identification information from the terminal 120 transmits the identification information to the terminal 120 in response to the request (S504). Then, the terminal 120 transmits the identification information acquired from the image forming apparatus 130 to the information processing apparatus 110 as a response to the identification information request from the information processing apparatus 110 (S505).

  When acquiring the identification information from the terminal 120 (S506), the information processing apparatus 110 generates image information and authentication information (S507, S508). Then, the information processing apparatus 110 associates the image information ID for identifying the image information, the authentication information of the image information, and the identification information of the image forming apparatus 130 on the image information management table 301 (S509).

  Next, the information processing apparatus 110 transmits the authentication information and location information of the image information to the terminal 120 (S510), and the terminal 120 transmits the authentication information and location information to the image forming apparatus 130 (S511). Then, the image forming apparatus 130 that has acquired the authentication information and the location information transmits the authentication information based on the location information and requests image information (S512).

  When acquiring the authentication information from the image forming apparatus 130, the information processing apparatus 110 determines whether or not the acquired authentication information matches the authentication information associated with the image information (S513). When the acquired authentication information matches the authentication information associated with the image information (S513: Y), the information processing apparatus 110 requests identification information from the image forming apparatus 130 as a response to the image information request ( S514).

  The image forming apparatus 130 requested for the identification information transmits the identification information in response to the request (S515). When acquiring the identification information from the image forming apparatus 130, the information processing apparatus 110 determines whether the acquired identification information matches the identification information associated with the image information (S516). When the acquired identification information matches the identification information associated with the image information (S516: Y), the information processing apparatus 110 transmits the image information to the image forming apparatus 130 (S517).

  The image forming apparatus 130 executes printing based on the image information acquired from the information processing apparatus 110 (S518), and transmits a completion notification to the terminal 120 when printing is completed (S519). When a completion notification is acquired at the terminal 120 (S520), the process is terminated. If the acquired authentication information does not match the authentication information associated with the image information in the process shown in S513 (S513: N), and the acquired identification information in the process shown in S516 is included in the image information. If the information does not match the associated identification information (S516: N), an error notification may be transmitted from the information processing apparatus 110 to the terminal 120 (S521).

  According to the information processing apparatus 110 according to the present embodiment, the authentication information acquired from the image forming apparatus 130 that has requested image information matches the authentication information associated with the image information, and the image information has been requested. When the identification information acquired from the image forming apparatus 130 matches the identification information of the image forming apparatus 130 specified by the user at the time of the image information generation instruction, the image information is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 130. Accordingly, the image information can be transmitted to the image forming apparatus 130 that has the authority to acquire the image information and is designated by the user at the time of the image information generation instruction. Further, the image forming apparatus 130 can acquire image information held by the information processing apparatus 110 without passing the user authentication information (login ID and password) of the information processing apparatus 110 to the image forming apparatus 130.

  In addition, since the image information is not transmitted unless the authentication information matches, even if the location information of the image information is acquired by a third party, the third party acquires the image information unless the authentication information is further acquired. Can not do it. Therefore, leakage of image information can be prevented.

  Further, since the image information is not transmitted unless the identification information of the image forming apparatus 130 that requested the image information matches the identification information of the image forming apparatus 130 designated at the time of the image information generation instruction, even if the location information Even if both the authentication information and the authentication information are acquired by a third party, the image information cannot be acquired by a device other than the designated image forming apparatus 130. Therefore, leakage of image information can be prevented.

  Further, in the information processing system 100 according to the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus 130 having a communication function is generally provided, and a function of returning identification information of the image forming apparatus 130 in response to a request. Is used. Furthermore, a request for image information from the image forming apparatus 130 to the information processing apparatus 110 is performed in a general manner in which an image information ID for identifying image information and authentication information for permitting acquisition of the image information are transmitted. . Therefore, when constructing this system, it is not necessary to provide the image forming apparatus 130 with a new function, and the image forming apparatus 130 can be applied to this system regardless of the model.

  Further, since the image information is transmitted as a response to the request for image information sent from the image forming apparatus 130 to the information processing apparatus 110, communication from the information processing apparatus 110 to the image forming apparatus 130 is restricted by a firewall or the like. The image information can be transmitted from the information processing apparatus 110 to the image forming apparatus 130 even when the information processing apparatus 110 is present.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and is substantially the same configuration as the configuration shown in the above-described embodiment, a configuration that exhibits the same operational effects, or a configuration that can achieve the same purpose. May be replaced. For example, the functional configuration of the information processing apparatus 110 and the processing flow are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited thereto.

  For example, the information processing apparatus 110 may have a function of deleting the image information and information associated with the image information when transmission of the image information is completed. For example, the image forming apparatus 130 may have a function of deleting image information after printing is completed. Also, the time until the image information is deleted in the image information deletion unit 208 is, for example, when the image information generation unit 202 generates the image information and then transmits the image information from the image information transmission unit 213. Necessary processing can be completed once, but it may be set to a time when it cannot be completed twice. By doing so, re-acquisition of the image information can be prevented, and the possibility of leakage of image information can be reduced. Further, the identification information of the image forming apparatus 130 in the terminal 120 may be acquired, for example, by receiving a direct input from a user or by referring to a list of identification information.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Information processing system, 110 Information processing apparatus, 120 Terminal, 130 Image forming apparatus, 201 Image information generation instruction acquisition part, 202 Image information generation part, 203 Image information management part, 204 Image information holding part, 205 Acquisition of 1st identification information , 206 Authentication information generation unit, 207 Authentication information transmission unit, 208 Image information deletion unit, 209 Authentication information acquisition unit, 210 Image information request management unit, 211 Second identification information acquisition unit, 212 Determination unit, 213 Image information transmission unit 301 image information management table 401 image information request management table

Claims (7)

Image information holding means for holding image information for forming an image;
First identification information acquisition means for acquiring identification information for identifying the image forming apparatus from the terminal;
Authentication information generating means for generating authentication information for permitting acquisition of the image information;
Association means for associating the identification information and the authentication information with the image information;
Authentication information transmitting means for transmitting the authentication information to the terminal;
Authentication information acquisition means for acquiring the authentication information acquired from the terminal by the image forming apparatus from the image forming apparatus;
Second identification information acquisition means for acquiring the identification information of the image forming apparatus from the image forming apparatus;
As a response to the image information request from the image forming apparatus when the identification information and the authentication information acquired from the image forming apparatus match the identification information and the authentication information associated with the image information. And image information transmitting means for transmitting the image information.
An information processing apparatus characterized by that. An image information deleting means for deleting the image information when a predetermined time has elapsed;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1. Each includes an information processing apparatus, a terminal, and an image forming apparatus that can communicate with each other,
The information processing apparatus includes:
Image information holding means for holding image information for forming an image;
First identification information acquisition means for acquiring identification information for identifying the image forming apparatus from the terminal;
Authentication information generating means for generating authentication information for permitting acquisition of the image information;
Association means for associating the identification information and the authentication information with the image information;
Authentication information transmitting means for transmitting the authentication information to the terminal;
Authentication information acquisition means for acquiring the authentication information acquired from the terminal by the image forming apparatus from the image forming apparatus;
Second identification information acquisition means for acquiring the identification information of the image forming apparatus from the image forming apparatus;
As a response to the image information request from the image forming apparatus when the identification information and the authentication information acquired from the image forming apparatus match the identification information and the authentication information associated with the image information. Image information transmitting means for transmitting the image information,
The terminal
Means for acquiring the identification information and transmitting it to the information processing apparatus;
Means for obtaining the authentication information from the information processing apparatus and transmitting it to the image forming apparatus,
The image forming apparatus includes:
Means for transmitting the identification information to the information processing apparatus;
Means for acquiring the authentication information from the terminal and transmitting it to the information processing apparatus;
Means for requesting and acquiring the image information from the information processing apparatus,
An information processing system characterized by this. The image forming apparatus transmits the identification information based on a request from the information processing apparatus;
The information processing system according to claim 3. The terminal transmits the authentication information to the image forming apparatus together with an authentication information transmission instruction for transmitting the authentication information to the information processing apparatus,
The image forming apparatus transmits the authentication information to the information processing apparatus based on the authentication information transmission instruction;
The information processing system according to claim 3 or 4, characterized by the above. The information processing apparatus further includes image information deleting means for deleting the image information when a predetermined time has elapsed.
The information processing system according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein Image information holding means for holding image information for forming an image;
First identification information acquisition means for acquiring identification information for identifying the image forming apparatus from the terminal;
Authentication information generating means for generating authentication information for permitting acquisition of the image information;
Association means for associating the identification information and the authentication information with the image information;
Authentication information transmitting means for transmitting the authentication information to the terminal;
Authentication information acquisition means for acquiring the authentication information acquired from the terminal by the image forming apparatus from the image forming apparatus;
Second identification information acquisition means for acquiring the identification information of the image forming apparatus from the image forming apparatus; and
As a response to the image information request from the image forming apparatus when the identification information and the authentication information acquired from the image forming apparatus match the identification information and the authentication information associated with the image information. , Image information transmitting means for transmitting the image information,
As a program to make the computer function as.

Images