JP2015230507A - Image formation system, server device, and image formation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image formation apparatus capable of distributing printed matter of print data immediately and more securely to other users.SOLUTION: An image formation system 50 includes a terminal device 100, a server device 200, and an image formation apparatus 300. The terminal device 100 adds transmission destination information to print data and transmits the resulting data to the server device 200 according to user's operation. The server device 200 receives and stores the print data associatively with the transmission destination information. Once another user corresponding to the transmission destination information logs in on the image formation apparatus 300, the server device 200 sends a notification request to the image formation apparatus. On receiving the notification request, the image formation apparatus 300 notifies the other logging-in user that the print data are transmitted. The image formation apparatus 300 acquires and prints the print data stored in the server device 200 according to other-user's operation.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming system, a server apparatus, and an image forming apparatus, and in particular, an image forming system that transmits print data to an image forming apparatus via the server apparatus, and a server apparatus that configures the image forming system, and an image The present invention relates to a forming apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an image forming system including a terminal device such as a PC (Personal Computer) and an image forming device such as a printer or a multifunction peripheral (MFP) that can communicate with such a terminal device via a network. Is popular.

  In recent years, further, an image forming system has been provided that makes a print request to a network system and can print from an arbitrary image forming apparatus connected to the network. Specifically, when a print instruction is issued from a terminal device such as a PC, the print data is temporarily stored in the server device, and then a print request is made from any of a plurality of image forming apparatuses connected on the network. Thus, the image forming system can perform printing from any image forming apparatus. By using this system, the user can output print data from any image forming apparatus connected to the image forming system.

  In such an image forming system, a plurality of user folders are set in the server device, and print data transmitted from the terminal device is stored in the user folder. When designating print data from the image forming apparatus, only print data stored in its own folder can be designated by the user. The user cannot specify print data stored in another user's folder. This is the same for other users. That is, another user cannot specify the print data transmitted by another user and execute printing. For this reason, the conventional system has a problem that print data cannot be transmitted to other users and the printed matter of the print data cannot be distributed to other users.

  As a method of transmitting print data to other users, a method of transmitting print data to other users by attaching print data to an e-mail has been conventionally known. However, with this method, when a terminal device that receives an e-mail is not prepared, or when the terminal device is not nearby, there is a problem that other users cannot output print data immediately. It was.

  In order to deal with such a problem, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-133620 sends and receives a print job from a user to another user via a print server, and even the other user executes the print job on a desired printing apparatus. We propose a printing system that can do this. The printing system includes a terminal device, a print server, and a printing device. The terminal device, the print server, and the printing device are connected to each other via a network. In this print system, a user's print job is transferred from the terminal device to the print server as addressed to another user, and stored in a folder of another user in the print server. By specifying a print job addressed to the other user in the print server from the printing apparatus, the print job addressed to the other user is transferred from the print server to the printing apparatus and distributed. The other user operates the desired printing apparatus and designates the print job addressed to the other user, so that the distributed print job can be executed by the desired printing apparatus. Even when a terminal device such as a PC is not ready or the terminal device is not nearby, other users can immediately output print data. In the print system of Patent Document 1, when a print job is transmitted to another user, the print server creates an e-mail notifying that and transmits it to the other user. This allows other users to know that the print job has been sent to them.

JP 2010-224627 A

  The print system disclosed in Patent Document 1 notifies an e-mail that a print job has been transmitted to another user. Therefore, a terminal device for receiving electronic mail is required. Since e-mail can be received by a portable terminal such as a mobile phone, if the e-mail is received by the portable terminal, the PC is not ready or the PC is not nearby. Can also receive email. However, in recent years, it is often prohibited to bring mobile terminals into the workplace from the viewpoint of preventing information leakage. In this case, other users do not know that the print job has been sent to them.

  In Patent Document 1, a print job addressed to another user is stored in the folder of the other user. Therefore, if the user operates the printing apparatus to browse the data in his / her folder, other users can check whether a new print job has been transmitted. However, when browsing the data, it is necessary to receive the print job list data from the print server, and other users cannot immediately confirm that the print job is transmitted to themselves. Furthermore, when there are a plurality of print jobs in its own folder, it may be difficult to determine which print job is a newly transmitted print job. With the technique described in Patent Document 1, even if print data can be distributed (transmitted) to other users, other users may not be aware that the print data has been transmitted. Since printing of the distributed print data may not be executed, there is a problem that a printed matter of the print data cannot be reliably distributed to other users.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and one object of the present invention is to form an image that can immediately and more reliably distribute a printed matter of print data to other users. A system, and a server device and an image forming apparatus constituting the image forming system are provided.

  An image forming system according to a first aspect of the present invention is an image forming system including a terminal device, a server device, and an image forming device that are connected to each other via a network. In this image forming system, the terminal device receives an input of transmission destination information for specifying a transmission destination, and an input reception unit for receiving print data designated by the user to another user. And transmission means for adding the destination information and transmitting the print data to the server apparatus. The server device includes a receiving unit for receiving the print data transmitted from the terminal device, a storage unit for storing the received print data in association with the destination information added to the print data, It is determined whether another user corresponding to the destination information stored in the means is logged in to the image forming apparatus, and in response to the determination result being affirmative, the print addressed to the other user A notification request transmitting unit for transmitting a notification request to the image forming apparatus in order to notify the image forming apparatus that there is data; The image forming apparatus determines whether or not a notification request has been received from the server apparatus in response to an authentication unit for executing the user authentication process and another user logging in via the authentication unit, Depending on the result, a notification means for notifying other logged-in users that there is print data addressed to the other user, and a server in accordance with the operation of the other user after the notification by the notification means Data acquisition means for acquiring print data addressed to the other user from the apparatus, and image forming means for forming an image on a recording medium using the print data acquired by the data acquisition means.

  The terminal device accepts input of destination information specifying the destination, adds the destination information to the print data designated by the user, and transmits the print data to the server device. When the server apparatus receives the print data, the server apparatus stores the received print data in association with the transmission destination information added to the print data. The server apparatus determines whether another user corresponding to the transmission destination information is logged in to the image forming apparatus. When the other user logs in to the image forming apparatus, or when logged in, the server apparatus instructs the image forming apparatus to notify the image forming apparatus that there is print data addressed to the other user. Send a notification request. When another user logs in, the image forming apparatus determines whether a notification request is received from the server apparatus. When receiving the notification request, the image forming apparatus notifies the other logged-in user that there is print data addressed to the other user. If print data is transmitted to another user before the other user logs in to the image forming apparatus, the server device issues a notification request to the image forming apparatus at the timing when the other user logs in to the image forming apparatus. Send. The image forming apparatus can notify that there is print data addressed to another user in response to another user logging in. On the other hand, when print data is transmitted to another user while another user is logged in to the image forming apparatus, the server apparatus transmits a notification request to the image forming apparatus to which the other user is logged in. To do. The image forming apparatus can notify that there is print data addressed to another user while another user is operating the apparatus.

  In this way, other users can easily know whether or not print data is transmitted to themselves by simply logging in to the image forming apparatus connected to the server apparatus. When new print data is transmitted to another user, the image forming apparatus notifies that fact, so that the other user can check whether new print data is transmitted from the server apparatus. There is no need to receive list data. Since the other user can easily be notified that the print data has been transmitted to another user, it is possible to effectively prevent the possibility that the distributed print data will not be printed. Therefore, the printed matter of the print data can be distributed to other users more reliably. In the image forming system, the user can transmit print data to other users. Other users can acquire print data addressed to the other users from the server device by operating the image forming apparatus, and can execute printing using the acquired print data. Even when a terminal device such as a PC is not ready or the terminal device is not nearby, other users can immediately output print data. Therefore, the printed matter of the print data can be immediately distributed to other users.

  Preferably, the image forming apparatus further includes a display device, and the notification unit determines whether or not a notification request has been received from the server device in response to another user logging in via the authentication unit, and the determination In accordance with the result, display control means for causing the display device to pop up a notification screen indicating that there is print data addressed to the other user.

  More preferably, the image forming apparatus further determines whether or not the image formation by the image forming unit has been normally completed, and print data addressed to another user stored in the server apparatus according to the determination result. Includes print data deleting means for deleting.

  More preferably, the server device further measures a period during which the print data is stored in the storage unit, and deletes the print data in response to the stored period reaching a predetermined period. Includes data deletion means.

  More preferably, the input receiving unit includes a unit for receiving input of a plurality of pieces of destination information in order to transmit print data to a plurality of other users.

  More preferably, the image forming apparatus further includes a deleting unit that communicates with the server apparatus in accordance with the operation of the user who has transmitted the print data from the terminal apparatus, and deletes the print data stored in the server apparatus.

  More preferably, the image forming apparatus further communicates with the display device and the server device according to an operation of the user who has transmitted the print data from the terminal device, and is acquired by another user of the print data stored in the server device. Display control means for causing the display device to display the above status.

  More preferably, the server device further includes a mail address storage means for preliminarily storing another user's mail address corresponding to the destination information, and another user corresponding to the destination information stored in the storage means. Determining whether or not the user is logged in to the image forming apparatus and responding that the determination result is negative to create an email for notifying the other user that the print data has been transmitted. Mail sending means for reading the mail address of the other user stored in the mail creating means and the mail address storing means and sending the mail created by the mail creating means to the other user using the read mail address Means.

  A server apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention is a server apparatus connected to a terminal apparatus and an image forming apparatus via a network. In order to transmit the print data designated by the user to another user, the terminal device adds the transmission destination information for specifying the transmission destination and transmits the print data to the server device. The server device includes a receiving unit for receiving the print data transmitted from the terminal device, a storage unit for storing the received print data in association with the destination information added to the print data, It is determined whether another user corresponding to the destination information stored in the means is logged in to the image forming apparatus, and in response to the determination result being affirmative, the print addressed to the other user In order to notify the image forming apparatus that there is data, a notification request transmitting unit for transmitting a notification request to the image forming apparatus, and a storage in response to a request from the image forming apparatus that transmitted the notification request Data transmission means for transmitting the print data stored in the means to the image forming apparatus.

  An image forming apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention is an image forming apparatus connected to a server apparatus via a network. The server device stores the print data and destination information for specifying the destination of the print data in association with each other, and in response to the user corresponding to the destination information logging in to the image forming device, the server device In order to notify the image forming apparatus that there is print data addressed to the user, a notification request is transmitted to the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus determines whether or not a notification request has been received from the server apparatus in response to the authentication unit for executing the user authentication process and the fact that the user has logged in via the authentication unit. Accordingly, a notification means for notifying a logged-in user that there is print data addressed to the user, and print data addressed to the user from the server device in response to a user operation after notification by the notification means. Data acquisition means for acquiring image data, and image forming means for forming an image on a recording medium using print data acquired by the data acquisition means.

  As described above, according to the present invention, an image forming system capable of immediately and more reliably distributing a printed matter of print data to other users, a server device constituting the image forming system, and an image forming device Can be obtained.

1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the image forming system shown in FIG. It is a control block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of the terminal device of FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen of the distribution destination setting screen displayed on the display of a terminal device. It is a control block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of the server apparatus of FIG. FIG. 2 is a control block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus in FIG. 1. It is a flowchart which shows the control structure of the program performed with the terminal device of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the control structure of the program performed with the server apparatus of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the control structure of the program performed with the server apparatus of FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a control structure of a program executed by the image forming apparatus of FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a control structure of a program executed by the image forming apparatus of FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen of the notification screen pop-up displayed on the touchscreen display of an image forming apparatus. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a screen example of a screen that displays a print data list displayed on a touch panel display of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a screen example of a screen that displays a print data list displayed on a touch panel display of the image forming apparatus. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen of the notification screen displayed by pop-up on the touchscreen display of the image forming apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen which displays the list | wrist of the transmission data displayed on the touchscreen display of the image forming apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen which displays the list | wrist of the transmission data displayed on the touchscreen display of the image forming apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen which displays the list | wrist of the transmission data displayed on the touchscreen display of the image forming apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen of the home screen displayed on the touchscreen display of an image forming apparatus. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen of the "where pre" initial screen displayed on the touchscreen display of an image forming apparatus. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen of the screen which displays the print data list displayed on the touchscreen display of the image forming apparatus which concerns on 4th Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen of the screen which displays the print data list displayed on the touchscreen display of the image forming apparatus which concerns on 4th Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen of the screen which displays the print data list displayed on the touchscreen display of the image forming apparatus which concerns on 4th Embodiment.

  In the following embodiments, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their functions and names are also the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated.

(First embodiment)
[Overall system configuration]
Referring to FIG. 1, an image forming system 50 according to the present embodiment includes a terminal device 100 that outputs a print job, and a server device 200 that receives the print job from the terminal device 100 and stores the received print job. And an image forming apparatus 300 that acquires a print job stored in the server apparatus 200 and executes the acquired print job. The terminal device 100 is a client computer (personal computer PC). The image forming apparatus 300 is a multifunction peripheral (MFP) having a copy function, a printer function, and the like. The image forming apparatus 300 has a so-called laser (electrophotographic) printing function that uses laser light for exposure. However, other types of printing functions may be provided. The terminal device 100, the server device 200, and the image forming apparatus 300 are connected to each other via a network 60 so as to communicate with each other.

  Referring to FIG. 2, image forming system 50 according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of terminal devices 100 (terminal devices 100a and 100b) and a plurality of image forming devices 300 (image forming devices 300a, 300b, and 300c). Including. The terminal devices 100a and 100b and the image forming apparatuses 300a, 300b, and 300c are connected to the server device 200 via the network 60. In FIG. 2, the terminal device 100a and the image forming apparatus 300a are installed in the living room 400, the terminal device 100b and the image forming apparatus 300b are installed in the other living room 410, and the image forming apparatus 300c is connected to the meeting room. An example installed at 420 is shown. The number and arrangement of the terminal device 100, the server apparatus 200, and the image forming apparatus 300 illustrated in FIG. 2 are examples, and are not limited to the number and arrangement illustrated in FIG.

  The server device 200 is a computer that manages the terminal device 100 and the image forming apparatus 300. The image forming system 50 temporarily stores (stores) a print job (print data) transmitted from a terminal device 100 to another user by the user in the server device 200, and from the image forming device 300 to which another user has logged in. In response to the print request received by the server apparatus 200, the print data stored in the server apparatus 200 is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 300 for printing (so-called print function everywhere). A network print system. That is, in the image forming system 50, the user can distribute print data to other users, and the other users can print the distributed print data from a desired image forming apparatus 300. It is.

  In the following, in the drawings and the like, the server apparatus 200 may be simply referred to as a server and the image forming apparatus 300 may be referred to as an MFP. In addition, the above “print anywhere” is sometimes called “where pre”.

[Hardware configuration]
<Terminal device 100>
With reference to FIG. 3, the terminal device 100 configuring the image forming system 50 includes a bus 190, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 110 connected to the bus 190, and a ROM (Read-Only Memory) connected to the bus 190. ) 120, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 130 connected to the bus 190, a hard disk (HDD) 140 connected to the bus 190, and connected to the bus 190, an optical disc 182 can be mounted, and information on the optical disc 182 An input interface (hereinafter referred to as “I”) that provides an interface for connection between the optical disk drive 180 capable of writing and reading information from the optical disk 182 and the bus 190 and being connected to the bus 190. "Interface" is referred to as "I / F".) 150, a display I / F 160 that is connected to the bus 190 and provides an interface for connection with the display 162, wired or wireless (this embodiment) And a network I / F 170 that provides a connection to the network 60 by wire).

  The bus 190, the ROM 120, the RAM 130, the hard disk 140, the optical disk drive 180, the input I / F 150, the display I / F 160, and the network I / F 170 all operate in cooperation under the control of the CPU 110. Realize processing by the application. These applications include, for example, word processing document creation processing, spreadsheet calculation creation processing, printing processing for sending print data created by these creation processing to the image forming apparatus 300, and created print data to other users. A data distribution process or the like to be transmitted to the server device 200 as the data is executed.

  The terminal device 100 is installed with an application program such as a graphic drawing tool and a word processor, and a printer driver program (hereinafter simply referred to as “printer driver”) for realizing a print job of print data. . The terminal device 100 creates print data for outputting a document including characters and graphics in accordance with an instruction from a user who uses the application program, and converts the created print data into a printer description language by a printer driver. Thus, it can be transmitted to the image forming apparatus 300.

  The hard disk 140 stores the printer driver for causing the image forming apparatus 300 to execute a print job. By executing this printer driver, the terminal device 100 can realize an operation of causing the image forming apparatus 300 to print an image based on the content of the file designated by the user.

  Further, the terminal device 100 can transmit the created print data to the server device 200 as print data addressed to other users via a printer driver in response to an instruction from a user who operates the terminal device 100. When executing such processing, the terminal device 100 generates a print job by the printer driver in the same manner as normal printing processing. Prior to transmitting the generated print job to the server apparatus 200, the printer driver displays a distribution destination setting screen (printer driver property screen) for designating the distribution destination of the print job (print data) on the display 162.

  Referring to FIG. 4, a distribution destination setting screen 500 includes input fields 502 and 504 for inputting a user ID and password, which are information of a user who operates the terminal device 100 (transmission source information), and a transmission destination of a print job. A transmission destination information input field 506 for inputting transmission destination information (user ID) for identifying the user, a “cancel” key 508, and an “OK” key 510. In the transmission destination information input field 506, a plurality of user IDs for specifying transmission destinations (distribution destinations) can be input. That is, in the distribution destination setting screen 500, it is possible to specify a plurality of other users who distribute print data. Note that the input of a user ID for specifying a transmission destination (user ID of another user) is returned from the server device 200 in response to an inquiry from the terminal device 100 and is described in the terminal device 100, for example. The user information may be selected and input from a list of user information (including a list of user IDs).

  The user ID and password of the user who operates the terminal device 100 are input to the input fields 502 and 504, respectively, and the user ID of another user who is the transmission destination is input to the transmission destination information input field 506, and the “OK” key 510 Is operated, transmission destination information is added to the print job (print data), and the print job is transmitted to the server apparatus 200. Source information (source user ID, password, etc.) is also added to the print job.

  Referring again to FIG. 3, the computer program for causing terminal apparatus 100 to perform the above-described processing is stored in optical disk 182 inserted into optical disk drive 180 and further transferred to hard disk 140. Alternatively, the program may be transmitted to the terminal device 100 through the network 60 and described in the hard disk 140. The program is loaded into the RAM 130 at the time of execution. The program may be loaded into the RAM 130 directly from the optical disk 182 or via the network 60.

  These programs include a plurality of instructions that cause the terminal device 100 to perform predetermined processing. Some of the basic functions necessary for performing this operation are provided by an operating system (OS) or a third party program operating on the terminal device 100, or modules of various tool kits installed in the terminal device 100. The Therefore, this program does not necessarily include all functions necessary for realizing the system of this embodiment. This program includes only an instruction for executing a predetermined process as the terminal device 100 by calling an appropriate function or “tool” in a controlled manner so as to obtain a desired result. It only has to be. Since the general operation of the computer that is the entity of the terminal device 100 is well known, it will not be repeated here.

<Server apparatus 200>
Referring to FIG. 5, server device 200 that communicates with terminal device 100 is a computer having a configuration similar to that of terminal device 100 described above. As the component parts of such a server apparatus, parts having higher reliability than those of so-called personal computer components are used.

  The server device 200 includes a bus 290, a CPU 210 connected to the bus 290, a ROM 220 connected to the bus 290, a RAM 230 connected to the bus 290, a hard disk (HDD) 240 connected to the bus 290, and a bus Between the mouse 252 and the keyboard 254, connected to the bus 290, and the optical disk drive 280 that can be mounted on the optical disk 282, can write information to the optical disk 282, and can read information from the optical disk 282. An input I / F 250 for providing an interface for connection, a display I / F 260 for providing an interface for connection with the display 262 connected to the bus 290, wired or wireless (in this embodiment) Network) And a network I / F270 which provides connectivity to 60.

  The hard disk 240 stores a print data storage unit (not shown) that stores a print job (print data) transmitted from the terminal apparatus 100 and user information of a user who is logged in to the image forming apparatus 300 under management. And a logged-in user storage unit (not shown) that stores the information in association with the identification information of the logged-in image forming apparatus 300. In the print data storage unit, a plurality of folders are set for each user of the image forming system 50. In each folder, the name, user ID, password, mail address, and the like of the corresponding user are registered.

  The bus 290, the ROM 220, the RAM 230, the hard disk 240, the optical disk drive 280, the input I / F 250, the display I / F 260, and the network I / F 270 all operate in cooperation under the control of the CPU 210. As such a server device, the server device 200 realizes processing by various applications. For example, when an application receives a print job addressed to another user from the terminal device 100, the application stores the print job from the terminal device 100 in a corresponding other user's folder, and the other user logs in the image. In response to a print request from the forming apparatus 300, a server apparatus in the image forming system that transmits a print job stored in the hard disk 240 to the image forming apparatus 300 is realized. In another user's folder, the print data is stored in association with the transmission destination information added to the print data.

  The server apparatus 200 also logs in the image forming apparatus 300 by another user corresponding to the transmission destination information based on the transmission destination information included in the received print job and the user information stored in the login user storage unit. It is determined whether or not. When another user who is a transmission destination logs in to the image forming apparatus 300, the server apparatus 200 transmits a notification request to the image forming apparatus 300, and the print job is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 300. To be notified.

  A computer program for causing server device 200 to operate as a server device in the image forming system according to the present embodiment is stored in optical disk 282 inserted into optical disk drive 280 and further transferred to hard disk 240. Alternatively, the program may be transmitted to the server device 200 through the network 60 and stored in the hard disk 240. The program is loaded into the RAM 230 when executed. The program may be loaded directly into the RAM 230 from the optical disk 282 or via the network 60.

  This program includes a plurality of instructions that cause server apparatus 200 to operate as a server apparatus in the image forming system according to the present embodiment. Some of the basic functions necessary to perform this operation are provided by an operating system (OS) or a third party program that runs on the server apparatus 200, or modules of various tool kits installed on the server apparatus 200. The Therefore, this program does not necessarily include all functions necessary for realizing the system of this embodiment. This program includes only an instruction for executing a predetermined process as the server apparatus 200 by calling an appropriate function or “tool” in a controlled manner so as to obtain a desired result. It only has to be. Since the general operation of the computer that is the entity of the server device 200 is well known, it will not be described again here.

<Image forming apparatus 300>
Referring to FIG. 6, an image forming apparatus 300 constituting image forming system 50 includes a bus 392, a CPU 310 connected to bus 392, a ROM 320 connected to bus 392, and a RAM 330 connected to bus 392. The hard disk drive (HDD) 340 connected to the bus 392 and the input I / F 350 and the display I / F 360 for providing an interface related to the connection with the bus 392 and the touch panel display 380 are connected to the bus 392. And includes a network I / F 370 that provides a connection to the network 60 by wired or wireless (wired in the present embodiment), a touch panel display 380, and an authentication unit 390 that executes user authentication processing. Touch panel display 380 is provided on an operation panel (not shown) for operating image forming apparatus 300. The touch panel display 380 provides the user with various information such as information regarding the state of the image forming apparatus 300 and the state of various processes, and also provides an interactive operation interface to the user.

  The bus 392, the ROM 320, the RAM 330, the hard disk 340, the input I / F 350, the display I / F 360, the network I / F 370, the touch panel display 380 and the authentication unit 390 all operate in cooperation under the control of the CPU 310, and the image The forming apparatus 300 realizes print processing, FAX transmission / reception processing, scanner processing, copy processing, and the like. These processes are executed by the CPU 310 controlling each component constituting the image forming apparatus 300 (not shown in FIG. 6).

  The image forming apparatus 300 includes, for example, a document reading unit, an image forming unit, a paper feeding unit, and the like. In the image forming apparatus 300, the CPU 310 receives print data received from the server apparatus 200, print data received from the terminal apparatus 100 without going through the server apparatus 200, or print data of a document read by the document reading unit. Various image processing is performed, and the print data is output to the image forming unit.

  The image forming unit prints a document, an image, or the like indicated by the print data on a recording sheet. For example, the photosensitive drum, the charging device, the laser scanning unit, the developing device, the transfer device, the cleaning device, the fixing device, And a static eliminator. For example, the image forming unit is provided with a conveyance path, and the recording paper fed from the paper feeding unit is conveyed along the conveyance path. The paper feeding unit pulls out the recording paper stored in the paper cassette or the recording paper placed on the manual feed tray one by one, and sends the recording paper to the conveyance path of the image forming unit.

  While the recording paper is being transported along the transport path of the image forming unit, the recording paper passes between the photosensitive drum and the transfer device, and further passes through the fixing device, and printing on the recording paper is performed. . The photosensitive drum rotates in one direction, and its surface is cleaned by a cleaning device and a static eliminator and then uniformly charged by a charging device. The laser scan unit modulates the laser beam based on the print data to be printed, and repeatedly scans the surface of the photoconductor drum in the main scanning direction with this laser beam to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoconductor drum. To do. The developing device supplies toner to the surface of the photosensitive drum to develop the electrostatic latent image, and forms a toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum.

  The transfer device transfers the toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum to a recording sheet passing between the transfer device and the photosensitive drum. The fixing device includes a heating roller for heating the recording paper and a pressure roller for pressing the recording paper. The recording paper is heated by the heating roller and is pressed by the pressure roller, whereby the toner image transferred onto the recording paper is fixed on the recording paper. The recording paper discharged (printed) from the fixing device is discharged to a paper discharge tray.

  For example, when the image forming apparatus 300 is activated, the authentication unit 390 that authenticates the user displays a login screen (not shown) on the touch panel display 380. The login process for the user is executed by inputting the user ID and password on the login screen. The hard disk 340 also includes a user information storage unit (not shown) that stores user information. The user information storage unit stores a user ID and a password. The stored user ID and password are associated with each other. When the user performs the login operation, the authentication unit 390 determines whether to authenticate the user based on data in the user information storage unit.

  Since the image forming apparatus 300 is connected to the server apparatus 200, the print data stored in the folder of the server apparatus 200 can be browsed and selected on the touch panel display 380 after login. The image forming apparatus 300 can acquire print data selected on the touch panel display 380 from the server apparatus 200 and execute print processing of the print data.

  Note that these processes are also executed by the CPU 310 controlling each component constituting the image forming apparatus 300 (not shown in FIG. 6).

Software configuration
<Terminal device 100>
With reference to FIG. 7, a control structure of a computer program executed by the terminal device 100 in order to distribute print data (print job) to other users in the image forming system 50 according to the present embodiment will be described. .

  This program starts in response to a user operation for printing the print data. This program is executed on the distribution destination setting screen 500 (see FIG. 4) after step S1000 for accepting designation of the transmission destination (input of the user ID) by the user and after step S1000, and whether or not the designation of the transmission destination is completed. In step S1010 for branching the control flow according to the determination result, and in step S1010, when it is determined that the designation of the transmission destination has been completed, information on the designated transmission destination (transmission destination) Information) is added and the print data is transmitted to the server apparatus 200, and this program is terminated. In step S1010, it is determined whether or not the “OK” key 510 of the distribution destination setting screen 500 has been operated. When the operation of the “OK” key 510 is detected, the CPU 110 determines that the designation of the transmission destination has been completed. If it is determined in step S1010 that the transmission destination has not been specified, control returns to step S1000.

<Server apparatus 200>
8 and 9, in image forming system 50 according to the present embodiment, print data (print job) transmitted to another user is received and stored, and the stored print data is formed as an image. A control structure of a computer program executed by the server apparatus 200 in order to transmit to the image forming apparatus 300 in response to a request from the apparatus 300 will be described.

  This program is started in response to receiving print data from the terminal device 100. Referring to FIG. 8, this program is executed after step S2000 for receiving print data transmitted from terminal apparatus 100 and transmission destination information added to the print data, and after step S2000. And step S2010 for storing in the user folder indicated by the destination information in association with the added destination information. When the transmission source information is also added to the print data transmitted from the terminal device 100, the transmission source information is received together with the print data and the transmission destination information in step S2000. When the transmission source information is received in step S2000, in step S2010, the print data, the transmission destination information, and the transmission source information are associated with each other and stored in the user folder indicated by the transmission destination information.

  This program is further executed after step S2010 and based on the user information stored in the login user storage unit, the user corresponding to the stored transmission destination information (hereinafter may be referred to as “transmission destination user”). However, it is determined whether or not the user is logged in to the image forming apparatus 300 under management, and the control flow is branched according to the determination result. In steps S2020 and S2020, it is determined that the destination user is not logged in. Step S2030 is executed to determine whether there is a user to whom a notification mail notifying that print data has been transmitted has not been transmitted, and to branch the control flow according to the determination result; This is executed when it is determined in step S2030 that there is a user who has not transmitted the notification mail. Todeta creates a notification mail for notifying that it is transmitted, the notification mail created, and a step S2040 of transmitting via mail address registered in addressed to the user is not sending the notification mail. If there are a plurality of destination users, it is determined in step S2020 whether or not each destination user is logged in. When the process of step S2040 ends, control returns to step S2020. If it is determined in step S2030 that there is no user who has not transmitted the notification mail, the control returns to step S2020.

  This program is further executed in step S2020 when it is determined that the destination user is logged in, and in step S2050, the image forming apparatus 300 to which the destination user is logged in requests a pop-up display. Steps S2060 and S2060 are executed after step S2050, and it is determined whether there is a print data list transmission request from the image forming apparatus 300 that has requested the pop-up display, and the control flow is branched according to the determination result. In step S2070 for transmitting the print data list to the image forming apparatus 300, and in step S2060, it is determined that there is no request for transmission of the print data list. Run if It is, determines whether the destination user is logged out, and a step S2080 for branching control flow depending on the result of determination. In step S2050, in order to notify the image forming apparatus 300 that the print job is transmitted to another user who is the transmission destination, the server apparatus 200 notifies the image forming apparatus 300 to which the transmission destination user is logged in. A pop-up display request is sent to the server. If it is determined in step S2080 that the destination user is logged out, the control returns to step S2020. If it is determined that the user is not logged out, the control returns to step S2060.

  Referring to FIG. 9, this program is further executed after step S2070 (see FIG. 8) to determine whether there is a print data transmission request from image forming apparatus 300 that has transmitted the print data list. Step S2090 that branches the flow of control according to the result, and step S2100 that is executed when it is determined in step S2090 that there is a print data transmission request, and the requested print data is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 300. Step S2110, which is executed after Step S2100, determines whether or not printing of the transmitted print data has been normally completed in the destination image forming apparatus 300, and branches the control flow according to the determination result. If it is determined in step S2110 that printing has been completed normally, Step S2120 for deleting the print data determined to have been normally printed from the folder of the destination user and after step S2120, and other print data remains in the folder of the destination user. And step S2130 for branching the flow of control according to the determination result. If it is determined in step S2090 that there is no print data transmission request, control returns to step S2080 shown in FIG. If it is determined in step S2110 that printing has not been completed normally, control returns to step S2090. If it is determined in step S2130 that other print data remains in the destination user folder, the control returns to step S2090. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S2130 that no other print data remains in the destination user folder, the program ends.

<Image forming apparatus 300>
With reference to FIGS. 10 and 11, in image forming system 50 according to the present embodiment, in order to acquire print data stored in server apparatus 200 and execute printing using the acquired print data, A control structure of a computer program executed by the image forming apparatus 300 will be described.

  This program starts in response to the login screen being displayed on the touch panel display 380. Referring to FIG. 10, this program is executed after step S3000 for executing login processing for a user, step S3000 for executing login processing to server device 200, and after step S3010 for executing login processing. It is determined whether or not there is a request for pop-up display from the device 200, and waits until there is a request for pop-up display. In step S3020, the processing is executed when it is determined that there is a request for pop-up display from the server device 200. In order to notify the logged-in user that the print job is being transmitted, a notification screen is pop-up displayed on the touch panel display 380, and after step S3030 and step S3030, the print data list is displayed. In step S3040 for branching the control flow in accordance with the determination result, and in step S3040, if it is determined that there is no print data list display request instruction. Executed in step S3050 for determining whether or not the user has logged out, and branching the flow of control according to the determination result, and executed if it is determined in step S3050 that the user has logged out and logged out. This is notified to the server apparatus 200, and includes step S3060 for returning the control to step S3000. If it is determined in step S3050 that the user has not logged out, control returns to step S3040.

  This program is further executed when it is determined in step S3040 that there is an instruction to request display of the print data list, and after step S3070 for requesting the server apparatus 200 to transmit the print data list, and after step S3070. The print data list that is executed and receives the print data list transmitted from the server apparatus 200 in response to the print data list transmission request, and displays the received print data list on the touch panel display 380, and is executed after step S3080. It is determined whether or not a print instruction has been issued for the print data displayed in the data list, and it is determined in step S3090 that branches the flow of control according to the determination result, and in step S3090 that a print instruction has been issued. It is executed if, and a step S3100 for requesting transmission of print data is print instruction to the server device 200. If it is determined in step S3090 that a print instruction has not been given, control returns to step S3050.

  Referring to FIG. 11, this program is further executed after step S3100 (see FIG. 10), receives print data transmitted from server apparatus 200 in response to a print data transmission request, and receives the received print data. In step S3110, which is executed after step S3110 and executed after step S3110, it is determined whether printing has been normally completed, and the flow of control is branched according to the determination result. This is executed when it is determined that the printing has been normally completed, and is executed after step S3130 for notifying the server device 200 that the printing of the received print data has been normally completed, and after step S3130, and logging in. Whether there is other print data for the user, ie printed No other print data determines whether still present, and a step S3140 for branching control flow depending on the result of determination. If it is determined in step S3120 that printing of the print data has not been completed normally, or if it is determined in step S3140 that there is still other unprinted print data, the control is as shown in FIG. It returns to step S3090 which is shown. If it is determined in step S3140 that there is no other print data that has not been printed, this program ends. In step S3120, it is determined whether printing of the print data has been completed without displaying an error message. The error messages include, for example, a paper jam message, a paper out (paper replenishment) message, a toner out (toner replenishment) message, and the like.

[Operation]
The image forming system 50 according to the present embodiment operates as follows. In the following description, only the part related to the present invention in the operation of the image forming system 50 will be described. Other operations are the same as those of the conventional image forming system.

  With reference to FIG. 2, a case where user A distributes print data from the terminal device 100 a in the living room 400 to other users B and C will be described below.

  When distributing print data to other users B and C, the user A operates the terminal device 100a and designates a print data file to be transmitted. User A activates the printer driver in the same manner as when executing normal printing processing. When the properties of the printer driver are operated, a distribution destination setting screen 500 shown in FIG. 4 is displayed on the display 162. In the distribution destination setting screen 500, the user A inputs his / her user ID and password as transmission source information in the input fields 502 and 504, respectively, and the user IDs of other users B and C as transmission destination information, respectively. The information is input to the transmission destination information input field 506 (step S1000 shown in FIG. 7). When “OK” key 510 is operated by user A (YES in step S1010), terminal apparatus 100 (printer driver) adds destination information and source information to the designated print data, and print data Is sent to the server apparatus 200 as a print job (step S1020).

  When the server apparatus 200 receives the print job (print data) transmitted from the terminal apparatus 100a (step S2000 shown in FIG. 8), the server apparatus 200 stores the received print job in the hard disk 240. Specifically, the server device 200 specifies a folder of another user who is a transmission destination based on the transmission destination information added to the print data, and associates the print data with the transmission destination information in the specified folder. (Step S2010). More specifically, the server apparatus 200 stores the print data and the user B user ID in the user B folder in association with each other, and the print data and the user C user ID are stored in the user C folder. Store in association with each other. In order to reduce the used capacity of the hard disk 240 in the server device 200, print data may be stored in a shared folder or the like so that the main body of the print data is shared.

  The server device 200 always acquires user information of the currently logged-in user from all the connected image forming devices 300 and stores the user information in association with the image forming device 300 in the login user storage unit. When the server apparatus 200 stores the print job transmitted from the terminal apparatus 100, the server apparatus 200 is a transmission destination user based on the transmission destination information added to the print data and the user information stored in the login user storage unit. It is determined whether a certain user B or user C is logged in to the image forming apparatus 300.

  When neither user B nor user C is logged in to image forming apparatus 300 (NO in step S2020), server apparatus 200 determines whether there is a user who has not transmitted the notification mail. When there is a user who has not transmitted the notification mail, the server apparatus 200 creates a notification mail notifying that the print data has been transmitted, and transmits the created notification mail to the mail address registered in the folder. (Step S2040). For example, when the notification mail is not transmitted to either the user B or the user C, the server device 200 transmits the created notification mail to the user B and the user C. The server device 200 holds information indicating whether or not a notification mail has been transmitted for each user and each print data. When neither the user B nor the user C has logged in to the image forming apparatus 300 even though the notification mail is transmitted, the server apparatus 200 does not have any user who has not transmitted the notification mail (NO in step S2030). ) And wait until the user logs in.

  It is assumed that the other user C has a meeting in the conference room 420 and has not noticed that a notification mail has been transmitted. For example, it is assumed that the user C logs in to the image forming apparatus 300c installed in the conference room 420 in order to copy materials after the conference is over (step S3000 shown in FIG. 10). The image forming apparatus 300c displays the home screen on the touch panel display 380 and transmits login information of the user C to the server apparatus 200 (step S3010). When the server apparatus 200 detects that the user C is logged in to the image forming apparatus 300c (YES in step S2020 shown in FIG. 8), the server apparatus 200 transmits a pop-up display request to the image forming apparatus 300c to which the user C is logged in. (Step S2050). When image forming apparatus 300c receives the pop-up display request from server apparatus 200 (YES in step S3020), touch panel display 380 displays a notification screen indicating that print data is transmitted to user C, that is, there is received data. Pop up.

  Referring to FIG. 12, notification screen 600 includes an area 602 for displaying a notification message “There is received data. Do you want to confirm?”, “Yes” key 604, and “No” key 606. When “Yes” key 604 is operated by user C, image forming apparatus 300c determines that a print data list display request is instructed (YES in step S3040 shown in FIG. 10), and server apparatus 200 is instructed. A transmission of a print data list (print data list of user C) is requested (step S3070). Upon receiving the print data list transmission request from image forming apparatus 300c (YES in step S2060 shown in FIG. 8), server apparatus 200 transmits the requested print data list to image forming apparatus 300c (step S2070). When the image forming apparatus 300c receives the print data list transmitted from the server apparatus 200, the image forming apparatus 300c displays the received print data list on the touch panel display 380 (step S3080 shown in FIG. 10).

  Referring to FIG. 13, screen 610 including a print data list is displayed on touch panel display 380 of image forming apparatus 300c. The screen 610 includes an area 612 that displays a list of received print data, and a check box 614 that is checked when selecting print data. When the check box 614 is checked, a screen 620 further including a “print” key 622 is displayed as shown in FIG. When “print” key 622 is operated by user C, image forming apparatus 300c determines that a print instruction has been issued (YES in step S3090 shown in FIG. 10), and transmits the selected print data to server apparatus 200. It requests to do (Step S3100). Upon receiving the print data transmission request (YES in step S2090 shown in FIG. 9), server apparatus 200 transmits the requested print data to image forming apparatus 300c (step S2100).

  When the image forming apparatus 300c receives the print data transmitted from the server apparatus 200, the image forming apparatus 300c executes a printing process for the received print data (step S3110 shown in FIG. 11). The image forming apparatus 300c determines whether or not the printing of the print data has been normally completed. If the printing has been normally completed (YES in step S3120), the image forming apparatus 300c notifies the server apparatus 200 of the completion of the printing of the print data (step S3120). S3130). Upon receiving the print completion notification from the image forming apparatus 300c, the server apparatus 200 determines that the print data has been printed normally (YES in step S2110 shown in FIG. 9), and deletes the print data (step S2120). When the print data is stored for all users, the server device 200 deletes the print data when all the users have finished printing the print data. In this case, it is preferable to hold management information indicating whether or not printing of print data is completed for each user, and update this management information in accordance with the completion of printing of print data by each user.

  On the other hand, in the image forming apparatus 300c, when printing of the print data is not normally completed (NO in step S3120), the image forming apparatus 300c stands by until a print instruction is issued. If the server apparatus 200 does not receive a print completion notification from the image forming apparatus 300c, the server apparatus 200 determines that the print data has not been printed normally (NO in step S2110 shown in FIG. 9), and there is a print data transmission request again. Wait until.

  When printing of print data is normally completed in the image forming apparatus 300c and the print data is deleted in the server apparatus 200, the server apparatus 200 transmits an updated print data list to the image forming apparatus 300c. The server apparatus 200 determines whether or not other print data of the user C still exists. If other print data still exists (YES in step S2130), the server apparatus 200 waits until a print data transmission request is received. . When there is a print data transmission request, the server apparatus 200 operates in the same manner as described above.

  When the “No” key 606 is operated by the user C on the notification screen 600 shown in FIG. 12, the notification screen 600 is closed and the home screen is displayed. When user C logs out of image forming apparatus 300c (YES in step S3050 shown in FIG. 10), image forming apparatus 300c notifies server apparatus 200 that user C has logged out (step S3060). When user C logs out (YES in step S2080 shown in FIG. 8), server device 200 stands by until user C logs in again.

  If user C is already logged in to image forming apparatus 300c when user A transmits print data (print job) to user C (YES in step S2020 shown in FIG. 8), server apparatus 200. Immediately sends a pop-up display request to the image forming apparatus 300c to which the user C is logged in (step S2050). In this case, the server apparatus 200 does not transmit a notification mail to the user C. When the image forming apparatus 300c receives the pop-up display request from the server apparatus 200, the image forming apparatus 300c displays a notification screen 600 shown in FIG. 12 on the touch panel display 380 to notify the user C that the print data is being transmitted.

  Referring to FIG. 2 again, it is assumed that another user B receives the notification mail at the terminal device 100b in the other room 410 and recognizes that the print data is transmitted to himself / herself. By logging in to a desired image forming apparatus (for example, the image forming apparatus 300b), the user B can print the print data transmitted from the logged-in image forming apparatus 300b to himself / herself as in the case of the user C.

[Action / Effect]
As is clear from the above description, the following effects can be obtained by using the image forming system 50 according to the present embodiment.

  The terminal device 100 accepts input of destination information for specifying the destination, adds the destination information to the print data designated by the user, and transmits the print data to the server device 200. When the server apparatus 200 receives the print data, the server apparatus 200 stores the received print data in association with the transmission destination information added to the print data. The server apparatus 200 determines whether another user corresponding to the transmission destination information is logged in to the image forming apparatus 300. When the other user logs in to the image forming apparatus 300, or when logged in, the server apparatus 200 causes the image forming apparatus 300 to notify the image forming apparatus 300 that there is print data addressed to the other user. A pop-up display request is transmitted to 300. When another user logs in, the image forming apparatus 300 determines whether a pop-up display request has been received from the server apparatus 200. When the pop-up display request is received, the image forming apparatus 300 displays a notification screen 600 and notifies the logged-in user (other user who is the transmission destination) that there is print data addressed to another user.

  If print data is transmitted to another user before another user logs in to the image forming apparatus 300, the server apparatus 200 causes the image forming apparatus 300 to log in when the other user logs into the image forming apparatus 300. Send a popup display request to. The image forming apparatus 300 can notify that there is print data addressed to another user in response to another user logging in. On the other hand, when print data is transmitted to another user while another user is logged in to the image forming apparatus 300, the server apparatus 200 pops up on the image forming apparatus 300 to which the other user is logged in. Send a display request. The image forming apparatus 300 can notify that there is print data addressed to another user while another user is operating the apparatus.

  As described above, other users can easily know whether or not print data is transmitted to the user only by logging in to the image forming apparatus 300 connected to the server apparatus 200. When new print data is transmitted to another user, the image forming apparatus 300 notifies that fact. Other users do not need to receive list data from the server apparatus 200 in order to confirm whether new print data has been transmitted. Since the other user can easily be notified that the print data has been transmitted to another user, it is possible to effectively prevent the possibility that the distributed print data will not be printed. Therefore, the printed matter of the print data can be distributed to other users more reliably.

  In the image forming system 50, the user can also send print data to other users. By operating the image forming apparatus 300, another user can acquire print data addressed to the other user from the server apparatus 200, and can execute printing using the acquired print data. Even when a terminal device such as a PC is not ready or the terminal device is not nearby, other users can immediately output print data. Therefore, the printed matter of the print data can be immediately distributed to other users.

(Second Embodiment)
The image forming system according to the first embodiment is that the image forming system according to the first embodiment includes a server device that automatically deletes a stored print job (print data) after a predetermined period of time. Different from 50. In other respects, the image forming systems have the same configuration.

  The server device according to the present embodiment has a table (not shown) that manages the identification information of the print job stored in the hard disk and the date and time when the print job is stored in association with each other. When the server device receives a print job addressed to another user from the terminal device, the server device stores the received print job in the hard disk and updates this table. When a print job addressed to another user is deleted from the server device, the print job identification information and date / time information are also deleted from the table. The server device refers to this table and compares the date and time when the print job is stored with the current date and time to calculate an elapsed period from when the print job is stored. When the calculated elapsed period reaches a predetermined period, the server apparatus deletes the print job that has reached the predetermined period from the hard disk.

  For example, when another user at the transmission destination considers that printing of print data is unnecessary and does not execute printing of the print data, the print data remains in the server device without being deleted. By deleting the print data in response to the print data storage period reaching a predetermined period, it is possible to effectively reduce the hard disk usage capacity in the server apparatus. The predetermined period is preferably configured to be changeable by a user setting operation.

(Third embodiment)
The image forming system according to the present embodiment is related to the first embodiment in that the transmission source user can confirm the print status (whether or not printing is performed) of print data transmitted to another user. Different from the image forming system 50. In other respects, the image forming systems have the same configuration.

  When print data transmitted to another user is not printed, the print data remains in the server device without being deleted. The user who transmitted the print data (transmission source user) can check whether the print data transmitted to other users remains in the server device by operating the image forming apparatus.

  When the transmission source user logs in to the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus transmits login information to the server apparatus. The server apparatus determines whether or not a print job (hereinafter also referred to as “transmission data”) transmitted by the user who has logged in to the image forming apparatus to another user remains. If transmission data remains, the server device transmits a pop-up display request to the image forming apparatus to notify that transmission data remains. When the image forming apparatus receives the pop-up display request from the server apparatus, the image forming apparatus pops up a notification screen on the touch panel display (operation panel) to indicate that the transmission data remains, and the transmission source user (logged-in user) Notify

  Referring to FIG. 15, notification screen 700 includes an area 702 for displaying a notification message “There is transmission data. Do you want to confirm?”, “Yes” key 704, and “No” key 706. When the user operates the “Yes” key 704, the image forming apparatus displays a screen 710 including a list of transmission data on the touch panel display. Referring to FIG. 16, screen 710 includes an area 712 that displays a list of transmission data (print data) that remains without being printed, and a check box 714 that is checked when transmission data is selected.

  Referring to FIG. 17, when one of the check boxes 714 is checked and one of the transmission data is selected, a screen 720 further including a key for instructing processing on the selected transmission data is displayed. Is done. Keys on the screen 720 are a “re-notification” key 722 for re-notifying other users, a “preview” key 724 for displaying a preview of the selected transmission data, and details of the selected transmission data. A “detailed information” key 726 for displaying information and a “delete” key 728 for deleting the selected transmission data are included.

  Referring to FIG. 18, when a plurality of check boxes 714 are checked and a plurality of transmission data are selected, a screen further includes a key for instructing processing on the selected plurality of transmission data. 730 is displayed. The keys of the screen 730 are a “batch re-notification” key 732 for performing re-notification to other users at once, and a “batch deletion” key for deleting a plurality of selected transmission data at once. 734.

  On the other hand, when the user operates the “No” key 706 on the notification screen 700 shown in FIG. 15, the image forming apparatus closes the notification screen 700 and displays the home screen. Referring to FIG. 19, for example, the home screen has a “copy” key 740 for shifting to the copy mode, an “E-mail” key 742 for shifting to the E-mail mode, and a mode for shifting to the document filing mode. "Document filing" key 744 and "anywhere pre" key 746 for transitioning to the print mode anywhere. When the “where pre” key 746 is operated by the user, a “where pre” initial screen 750 shown in FIG. 20 is displayed. Referring to FIG. 20, “where pre” initial screen 750 confirms “transmission data” key 752 for displaying a screen for confirming transmission data and print data (reception data) transmitted to the user himself / herself. A “reception data” key 754 for displaying a screen to be displayed is included.

  When the “transmission data” key 752 is operated by the user, a screen similar to the screen 710 shown in FIG. 16 is displayed. On the other hand, when the “reception data” key 754 is operated by the user, a list of print data (print data list) transmitted to the user is displayed.

(Fourth embodiment)
The image forming system according to the present embodiment is different from the image forming system 50 according to the first embodiment in that print data received by another user who has received print data can be arbitrarily deleted. In other respects, the image forming systems have the same configuration.

  When the user logs in to the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus displays a home screen (see FIG. 19) on the touch panel display (operation panel). When the “where pre” key 746 is operated by the user, a “where pre” initial screen 750 shown in FIG. 20 is displayed. When the “reception data” key 754 is operated by the user, the image forming apparatus displays a screen 800 displaying a list of print data (reception data) transmitted to the user on the touch panel display.

  Referring to FIG. 21, screen 800 includes an area 802 for displaying a list of print data (received data) transmitted to the user, and a check box 804 that is checked when selecting received data. Referring to FIG. 22, when one of the check boxes 804 is checked and one of the received data is selected, a screen 810 further including a key for instructing processing on the selected received data is displayed. Is done. The keys of the screen 810 are a “print” key 812 for executing printing processing of the selected received data, a “preview” key 814 for displaying a preview of the selected received data, and details of the selected received data A “detailed information” key 816 for displaying information and a “delete” key 818 for deleting selected received data are included.

  Referring to FIG. 23, when a plurality of check boxes 804 are checked and a plurality of received data are selected, a screen further includes a key for instructing processing on the selected plurality of received data. 820 is displayed. The keys of the screen 820 are a “batch print” key 822 for executing print processing for a plurality of selected received data at once, and a “batch print” key 822 for deleting a plurality of selected received data at once. A “delete all” key 824 is included.

  As described above, another user who has received the print data can arbitrarily delete the received print data by operating the image forming apparatus. Even when the printing process is performed, the print data is not deleted. Therefore, the print data can be left as needed.

(Modification)
In the above embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to a multifunction peripheral (MFP), which is an example of an image forming apparatus, has been described, but the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment. The image forming apparatus may be an apparatus other than the multifunction machine. For example, an image forming apparatus such as a copier or a printer may be used.

  In the above embodiment, an example in which print data (print job) is stored in the hard disk of the server device has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment. The storage device storing the print data may be a storage device other than the hard disk.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example in which a notification screen is popped up on the touch panel display of the image forming apparatus to notify that print data addressed to another user is transmitted has been described. It is not limited to the embodiment. The method for notifying that print data addressed to another user is being transmitted may be a method other than the method for popping up the notification screen. For example, it may be notified by voice or the like that print data addressed to another user is being transmitted.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example in which a user ID and a password are entered on the login screen of the image forming apparatus has been described, but the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment. For example, it may be configured to log in by causing a card reader to read user information of an IC card.

  In the above embodiment, an example of an image forming system including a plurality of terminal devices and a plurality of image forming apparatuses has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment. There may be at least one terminal device and image forming apparatus that constitute the image forming system. When the image forming system includes a plurality of image forming apparatuses, the other user who is the transmission destination of the print data logs in the desired image forming apparatus among the plurality of image forming apparatuses, and the transmitted print data Can be printed.

  In the above embodiment, the transmission of the print job from the terminal device to the server device may be performed via the image forming apparatus from the viewpoint of ensuring security. In this case, the print job transmitted from the terminal device is subjected to predetermined image processing by the image forming device, and then transmitted to the server device as data corresponding to the image forming device. For example, when the image forming apparatus does not support color printing, it is processed into monochrome print data.

  Referring to FIG. 2, for example, a print job output from the terminal device 100a to another user can be transmitted to the server device 200 via the image forming device 300a. The server apparatus 200 stores print data after image processing is performed by the image forming apparatus 300a. When another user operates a desired image forming apparatus, print data that has undergone image processing can be acquired from the server apparatus 200 to execute print processing. Since image processing has already been performed, the burden of performing image processing during printing is reduced.

  The embodiment disclosed herein is merely an example, and the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above. The scope of the present invention is indicated by each claim of the claims after taking into account the description of the detailed description of the invention, and all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the wording described therein are included. Including.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 50 Image forming system 60 Network 100, 100a-100b Terminal device 140, 240, 340 Hard disk 162 Display 200 Server apparatus 300, 300a-300c Image forming apparatus 380 Touch panel display 390 Authentication part 500 Distribution destination setting screen 502, 504 Input field 506 Transmission Destination information entry field 600, 700 Notification screen

Claims (10)

An image forming system including a terminal device, a server device, and an image forming device connected to each other via a network,
The terminal device
Input receiving means for receiving input of destination information for specifying a destination in order to transmit print data designated by the user to another user;
Transmission means for adding the transmission destination information received by the input reception means and transmitting the print data to the server device,
The server device
Receiving means for receiving the print data transmitted from the terminal device;
Storage means for storing the received print data in association with destination information added to the print data;
It is determined whether or not the other user corresponding to the transmission destination information stored in the storage unit is logged in to the image forming apparatus, and in response to the determination result being affirmative, the other user A notification request transmission unit for transmitting a notification request to the image forming apparatus in order to notify the image forming apparatus that there is print data addressed to the user,
The image forming apparatus includes:
An authentication means for executing user authentication processing;
In response to the login of the other user via the authentication unit, it is determined whether the notification request is received from the server device, and print data addressed to the other user is determined according to the determination result. Notification means for notifying the other users who are logged in,
A data acquisition unit for acquiring print data addressed to the other user from the server device in response to an operation of the other user after the notification by the notification unit;
And an image forming unit for forming an image on a recording medium using the print data acquired by the data acquiring unit. The image forming apparatus further includes a display device,
The notification means determines whether or not the notification request has been received from the server device in response to the other user logging in via the authentication means, and determines the other The image forming system according to claim 1, further comprising display control means for causing a pop-up display on the display device to indicate that there is print data addressed to the user.   The image forming apparatus further determines whether or not the image formation by the image forming unit has been normally completed, and print data addressed to the other user stored in the server apparatus according to the determination result The image forming system according to claim 1, further comprising print data deleting means for deleting the print data.   The server device further measures a period during which the print data is stored in the storage unit, and deletes the print data in response to the stored period reaching a predetermined period. The image forming system according to claim 1, further comprising a deleting unit.   5. The image according to claim 1, wherein the input receiving unit includes a unit for receiving an input of a plurality of pieces of destination information in order to transmit the print data to a plurality of other users. Forming system.   The image forming apparatus further includes a deleting unit that communicates with the server apparatus according to an operation of the user who has transmitted the print data from the terminal apparatus, and deletes the print data stored in the server apparatus. The image forming system according to claim 1, further comprising: The image forming apparatus further includes:
A display device;
The terminal device communicates with the server device in accordance with the operation of the user who has transmitted the print data, and displays the status of acquisition of the print data stored in the server device by the other user on the display device The image forming system according to claim 1, further comprising display control means for causing The server device further includes:
Mail address storage means for storing in advance the mail address of the other user corresponding to the destination information;
It is determined whether or not the other user corresponding to the transmission destination information stored in the storage unit is logged in to the image forming apparatus, and in response to the determination result being negative, the other user An email creation means for creating an email notifying the user that print data has been sent,
A mail transmission means for reading the mail address of the other user stored in the mail address storage means, and using the read mail address to send the mail created by the mail creation means to the other user; The image forming system according to claim 1, comprising: A server device connected to each of a terminal device and an image forming apparatus via a network,
In order to transmit the print data designated by the user to other users, the terminal device adds transmission destination information specifying a transmission destination and transmits the print data to the server device,
The server device
Receiving means for receiving the print data transmitted from the terminal device;
Storage means for storing the received print data in association with destination information added to the print data;
It is determined whether or not the other user corresponding to the transmission destination information stored in the storage unit is logged in to the image forming apparatus, and in response to the determination result being affirmative, the other user Notification request transmitting means for transmitting a notification request to the image forming apparatus in order to notify the image forming apparatus that there is print data addressed to the user;
And a data transmission unit for transmitting the print data stored in the storage unit to the image forming apparatus in response to a request from the image forming apparatus that has transmitted the notification request. An image forming apparatus connected to a server device via a network,
The server apparatus stores print data and transmission destination information for specifying a transmission destination of the print data in association with each other, and responds to a user corresponding to the transmission destination information logging into the image forming apparatus. In order to notify the image forming apparatus that there is print data addressed to the user, a notification request is transmitted to the image forming apparatus,
The image forming apparatus includes:
An authentication means for executing user authentication processing;
In response to the user logging in via the authentication means, it is determined whether the notification request is received from the server device, and there is print data addressed to the user according to the determination result. A notification means for notifying the logged-in user;
A data acquisition unit for acquiring print data addressed to the user from the server device in accordance with the operation of the user after the notification by the notification unit;
An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit configured to form an image on a recording medium using the print data acquired by the data acquiring unit.

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