JP2016103168A - Image forming system and server device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it unnecessary to transmit authentication information necessary for print to all of a plurality of image forming devices when an image indicated by data indicating the image transmitted by a mobile terminal device via radio communication is printed using any of the plurality of image forming devices.SOLUTION: When an image indicated by data indicating the image transmitted by a mobile terminal device 5 via radio communication is printed using any of a plurality of image forming devices 1A-1I, a server device 7 transmits authentication information necessary for print to an image forming device 1 closest to the mobile terminal device 5 among the plurality of image forming devices 1A-1I.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for printing an image indicated by data transmitted from a mobile terminal device by wireless communication.

  Security printing is a technique for preventing printed material from being seen by others. According to the security printing, when transmitting data indicating an image to the image forming apparatus, the terminal transmits authentication information (for example, a password and a job number) associated with the data to the image forming apparatus, and forms the image. The apparatus accumulates the transmitted data, and executes printing if the authentication information input to the image forming apparatus by the user matches the authentication information associated with the data.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses the following security printing. A spool server for spooling print jobs is installed on the network. When the spool server accepts the print job, it spools it with a job number for identifying the job, and returns the job number to the print request source. When the printer receives a job number input by the user, the printer inquires of the spool server whether there is a job. The spool server that is spooling the corresponding print job transfers the job to the printer in response to the inquiry.

JP 2002-132464 A (summary)

  According to the above technique, the server performs authentication for secure printing. If a large number of image forming apparatuses require authentication for secure printing from the server at the same time, it takes time for the authentication and printing cannot be performed quickly.

  If the server sends authentication information to the image forming apparatus and executes authentication for security printing on the image forming apparatus, a number of image forming apparatuses do not require authentication for security printing from the server at the same time. Can print.

  Since it is useless that the server transmits the authentication information to all the image forming apparatuses, it is preferable to transmit the authentication information to an image forming apparatus that may execute printing. However, when the terminal is a mobile terminal device, it becomes a problem to which image forming apparatus the authentication information is transmitted.

  The present invention is necessary for printing when data indicating an image transmitted from a mobile terminal device by wireless communication is used to print an image indicated by the data using any of a plurality of image forming apparatuses. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming system and a server device that do not need to transmit authentication information to all of a plurality of image forming apparatuses.

  An image forming system according to an aspect of the present invention that achieves the above object is an image forming system comprising a plurality of image forming apparatuses and a server device connected to the plurality of image forming apparatuses via a network. The server device includes a first position information storage unit that stores in advance position information of each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses, data indicating an image transmitted from the mobile terminal device by wireless communication, and the mobile device A first receiving unit that receives position information of the terminal device; a first data storage unit that stores the data received by the first receiving unit; and the portable terminal device that is received by the first receiving unit. The second position information storage unit that stores the position information, the position information stored in the first position information storage unit, and the position information stored in the second position information storage unit And a selection unit that selects the image forming apparatus closest to the portable terminal device from the plurality of image forming apparatuses, and an image selected by the portable terminal device and the selection unit for predetermined authentication information. A first transmission unit that transmits the data stored in the first data storage unit to a predetermined image forming device among the plurality of image forming devices. When the authentication information and the data are transmitted from the server device, the plurality of image forming apparatuses receive a second receiving unit that receives the authentication information and the data, and the second receiving unit receives the authentication information and the data. An authentication information storage unit for storing the authentication information, a second data storage unit for storing the data received by the second reception unit, a reception unit for receiving the authentication information input by a user, It is determined whether or not the authentication information stored in the authentication information storage unit and the authentication information received by the receiving unit match, and when the authentication information matches, the image indicated by the data A print permission unit that permits printing; a print unit that executes a print job; and a print job control unit that controls the print unit to execute a print job. In the image forming apparatus permitted by the permission unit, the print job control unit causes the printing unit to execute a print job of an image indicated by the data stored in the second data storage unit.

  According to the image forming system according to the first aspect of the present invention, the data indicating the image transmitted from the mobile terminal device by wireless communication is used by using any of the plurality of image forming devices. When printing the displayed image, the server device transmits authentication information necessary for printing to the image forming device closest to the mobile terminal device among the plurality of image forming devices. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the need to send authentication information necessary for printing to all of the plurality of image forming apparatuses. In addition, according to the image forming system according to the first aspect of the present invention, the authentication information is transmitted to the image forming apparatus closest to the mobile terminal apparatus, so printing is performed with the image forming apparatus closest to the mobile terminal apparatus. Can do. The data here is called print data or image data, and indicates an image to be printed.

  In the above configuration, the plurality of image forming apparatuses further include a second transmission unit, and in the image forming apparatus permitted to print by the print permission unit, the second transmission unit transmits a notification requesting the data. The first transmission unit is stored in the first data storage unit when the server device receives the notification that the first reception unit requests the data. The data is transmitted to the image forming apparatus that is permitted to be printed by the print permission unit.

  Even if the server apparatus transmits data indicating an image to the image forming apparatus, if the image forming apparatus does not print, the operation of transmitting the data to the image forming apparatus is wasted. According to this configuration, the server apparatus can transmit data only to an image forming apparatus that includes a print permission unit that has permitted printing, among a plurality of image forming apparatuses.

  In the above configuration, the selection unit selects N (N: integer greater than or equal to 2) image forming apparatuses from the order closest to the mobile terminal device, and the first transmission unit selects the authentication information The image is transmitted to the N image forming apparatuses selected by the selection unit.

  According to this configuration, when the image forming apparatus closest to the portable terminal device cannot be used immediately (for example, another user is using the image forming apparatus. There is no sheet in the paper feed cassette of the image forming apparatus. ), Printing can be performed using any one of the second to Nth closest image forming apparatuses to the portable terminal device.

  In the above-described configuration, the plurality of image forming apparatuses further include an erasing unit that erases the authentication information stored in the authentication information storage unit, and in the image forming apparatus that the printing permission unit permits printing, the data When the print job of the image shown in FIG. 2 is completed, the second transmission unit transmits a print completion notification to the server device, and in the server device, the first reception unit notifies the print completion notification. When received, the first transmission unit transfers the print completion notification to an image forming apparatus other than the image forming apparatus permitted to print by the print permission unit among the N image forming apparatuses, In the image forming apparatus other than the image forming apparatus permitted to print by the print permission unit, when the second receiving unit receives the notification of the completion of printing, the erasing unit stores the authentication information in the authentication information storage unit. It is the erase authentication information is.

  The server device transmits authentication information to all of the selected N image forming devices. For this reason, among the N image forming apparatuses, the authentication information is stored in the authentication information storage unit also in image forming apparatuses other than the image forming apparatus permitted to print by the print permission unit. If the printing is completed by the image forming apparatus permitted by the print permission unit, the authentication information is not necessary. According to this configuration, the authentication information stored in the authentication information storage unit can be erased in an image forming apparatus other than the image forming apparatus permitted to print by the print permission unit.

  In the server device, the first transmission unit is stored in the first data storage unit when transmitting the authentication information to the image forming apparatus selected by the portable terminal device and the selection unit. Data is transmitted to the image forming apparatus selected by the selection unit, and in the image forming apparatus selected by the selection unit, the second data storage unit stores the data transmitted from the server device.

  According to this configuration, when transmitting authentication information to the image forming apparatus selected by the selection unit, the server apparatus also transmits data indicating an image. Therefore, when the print permission unit permits printing, it is not necessary for the image forming apparatus to request data from the server device, so printing can be performed immediately.

  In the above configuration, the selection unit selects N (N: integer greater than or equal to 2) image forming apparatuses in the order closest to the mobile terminal device, and the first transmission unit includes the authentication information and the data Is transmitted to the N image forming apparatuses selected by the selection unit.

  According to this configuration, when the image forming apparatus closest to the mobile terminal device cannot be used immediately, printing can be performed using any one of the second to Nth image forming apparatuses.

  In the above configuration, the plurality of image forming apparatuses erase the authentication information stored in the second transmission unit, the authentication information storage unit, and the data stored in the second data storage unit. And an erasing unit, and when the print job of the image indicated by the data is completed in the image forming apparatus permitted to print by the print permission unit, the second transmission unit sends a notification of the completion of printing. And when the first receiving unit receives the print completion notification in the server device, the first transmitting unit includes the print permission unit among the N image forming devices. In the image forming apparatus other than the image forming apparatus for which the print permission unit permits printing, the second receiving unit transmits the print completion notification to an image forming apparatus other than the image forming apparatus permitted to print. When receiving the notification of the serial print completion, the erasing unit erases the data stored in the authentication information and the second data storage unit is stored in the authentication information storage unit.

  The server device transmits authentication information and data to all of the selected N image forming devices. For this reason, among the N image forming apparatuses, the authentication information is stored in the authentication information storage unit and the second data storage unit also in an image forming apparatus other than the image forming apparatus that the printing permission unit permits printing. Data is stored in If the printing is completed by the image forming apparatus permitted by the print permission unit, the authentication information and data are not required. According to this configuration, the authentication information stored in the authentication information storage unit and the data stored in the second data storage unit are erased in an image forming apparatus other than the image forming apparatus that the printing permission unit permits printing. can do.

  In the above-described configuration, the plurality of image forming apparatuses include: an authentication unit that performs user authentication; and the authentication unit that performs the user authentication among the plurality of image forming apparatuses when the user authentication is performed by the authentication unit. And a use permission unit that permits use of the image forming apparatus, wherein the print job control unit requests user authentication in the authentication unit in the image forming apparatus that the print permission unit permits printing. Rather, the print unit is caused to execute a print job for the image indicated by the data.

  According to this configuration, even if the user of the portable terminal device is not authenticated by the authentication unit of the image forming apparatus that the print permission unit permits printing (even if the use of the image forming apparatus is not permitted). The image indicated by the data transmitted from the server device can be printed.

  A server apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention is a server apparatus that can be connected to a plurality of image forming apparatuses via a network, and stores the position information of each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses in advance. A position information storage unit; a first reception unit that receives data indicating an image and position information of the portable terminal device transmitted from the portable terminal device by wireless communication; and the first reception unit receives the data A first data storage unit for storing data, a second location information storage unit for storing location information of the mobile terminal device received by the first reception unit, and a storage in the first location information storage unit The image forming apparatus that is closest to the portable terminal device is selected from the plurality of image forming apparatuses using the position information that is stored and the position information that is stored in the second position information storage unit Selection And the predetermined authentication information are transmitted to the image forming apparatus selected by the portable terminal device and the selection unit, and the data stored in the first data storage unit is transmitted to the plurality of image forming units. A first transmission unit that transmits the image to a predetermined image forming apparatus.

  The server device according to the second aspect of the present invention is a server device applicable to the image forming system according to the first aspect of the present invention.

  According to the present invention, when data indicating an image transmitted from a mobile terminal device by wireless communication is used to print an image indicated by the data using one of a plurality of image forming apparatuses. It is possible to eliminate the need to send the authentication information necessary for the transmission to all of the plurality of image forming apparatuses.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming system according to an exemplary embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the portable terminal device which concerns on this embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the server apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment. It is the first half of the flowchart explaining operation | movement of the image forming system which concerns on this embodiment. It is the latter half of the flowchart. 10 is the first half of a flowchart for explaining a modification of the operation of the image forming system according to the present embodiment. It is the latter half of the flowchart.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Although the print data is described as an example of data indicating an image, the present invention is not limited to this, and data called image data may be used. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image forming system 3 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image forming system 3 includes an image forming apparatus 1, a mobile terminal device 5, a server device 7, and an access point 9.

  The image forming apparatus 1 is connected to a wired LAN 607. FIG. 1 shows a plurality of image forming apparatuses 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F, 1G, 1H, and 1I connected to the LAN 607. When it is not necessary to distinguish between these, the image forming apparatus 1 is described. Although the number of image forming apparatuses 1 will be described as an example, the number of image forming apparatuses 1 may be plural, and is not limited to nine.

  The mobile terminal device 5 is a portable device such as a smartphone, a tablet terminal, or a notebook computer. FIG. 1 shows one mobile terminal device 5. A plurality of portable terminal devices 5 may be provided.

  Server device 7 and access point 9 are connected to LAN 607.

  The wireless communication between the access point 9 and the mobile terminal device 5 is, for example, a wireless LAN. The access point 9 connects the mobile terminal device 5 and the LAN 607 to each other. The print data transmitted from the mobile terminal device 5 by wireless communication is received by the server device 7 via the access point 9 and stored in the server device 7.

  The configuration of the mobile terminal device 5 will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration. The mobile terminal device 5 includes a communication unit 51, a control unit 53, and an operation display unit 55.

  The communication unit 51 is a communication interface that performs wireless communication.

  The control unit 53 includes a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. The control unit 53 executes control for operating the mobile terminal device 5. The control unit 53 includes a storage unit 57 as a functional block.

  The storage unit 57 stores print data indicating an image. The print data may be data indicating an image that can be printed by the image forming apparatus 1. The format of the print data is, for example, JPEG or PDF.

  The control unit 53 controls the communication unit 51 to execute communication. This communication includes communication between the mobile terminal device 5 and the server device 7, and communication between the mobile terminal device 5 and a GPS (Global Positioning System) satellite.

  The operation display unit 55 is a touch panel type user interface including a display unit such as a liquid crystal display panel. Various operations for operating the mobile terminal device 5 are performed on the operation display unit 55.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the server device 7 according to the present embodiment. The server device 7 includes a communication unit 71 and a control unit 73.

  The communication unit 71 is connected to the LAN 607. The communication unit 71 is a communication interface circuit for executing communication between the server device 7 and the image forming apparatus 1 and between the server device 7 and the portable terminal device 5. The communication unit 71 includes a first reception unit 75 and a first transmission unit 77 as functional blocks.

  The control unit 73 includes a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. The control unit 73 executes control for operating the server device 7. The control unit 73 includes a first position information storage unit 79, a first data storage unit 81, a second position information storage unit 83, a selection unit 85, a mobile print processing unit 87, and an authentication unit 89 as functional blocks. .

  The first position information storage unit 79 stores the position information of each of the image forming apparatuses 1A to 1I in advance. The position information is information indicating the latitude, longitude, and altitude of the place where each of the image forming apparatuses 1A to 1I is installed. The position information can be acquired using, for example, a GPS satellite.

  The first data storage unit 81 stores the print data received by the first receiving unit 75. The print data is transmitted from the mobile terminal device 5 by wireless communication.

  The second position information storage unit 83 stores the position information of the mobile terminal device 5 received by the first receiving unit 75. The position information of the mobile terminal device 5 is transmitted together with the print data from the mobile terminal device 5 by wireless communication.

  The selection unit 85 is stored in the second position information storage unit 83 and the position information stored in the first position information storage unit 79 (that is, the position information of each of the image forming apparatuses 1A to 1I). Using the position information (that is, the position information of the mobile terminal device 5), N image forming apparatuses 1 (N: an integer of 2 or more) from the order closest to the mobile terminal apparatus 5 are connected to a plurality of image forming apparatuses. Select from 1A to 1I. Note that the image forming apparatus 1 closest to the mobile terminal device 5 may be selected from the plurality of image forming apparatuses 1A to 1I.

  The mobile print processing unit 87 performs various processes related to mobile printing. For example, when the selection unit 85 selects N image forming apparatuses 1, the mobile print processing unit 87 sends predetermined authentication information to the first transmission unit 77, the mobile terminal device 5 and the selected N. It controls to transmit to the image forming apparatus 1 of the stand. The predetermined authentication information is information that the user must input to the image forming apparatus 1 when performing mobile printing. In the present embodiment, a password is taken as an example of the predetermined authentication information.

  In addition, the mobile print processing unit 87 controls the first transmission unit 77 to transmit the print data stored in the first data storage unit 81 to the predetermined image forming apparatus 1 at a predetermined timing. To do.

  The authentication unit 89 performs user authentication for mobile printing. If the authentication unit 89 authenticates the user, the image forming system 3 continues the process for mobile printing.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment. The image forming apparatus 1 will be described by taking a digital multifunction machine having functions of a copy, a printer, a scanner, and a facsimile as an example. The image forming apparatus 1 may be an apparatus having a function of printing an image, and is not limited to a digital multifunction peripheral. For example, the printer may be the image forming apparatus 1. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a printing unit 100, a document reading unit 200, a document feeding unit 300, an operation unit 400, a control unit 500, and a communication unit 600.

  When a single document is placed on the document placement unit provided in the document feed unit 300, the document feed unit 300 sends the document to the document reading unit 200, and a plurality of documents are placed on the document placement unit. When an original is placed, a plurality of originals are continuously sent to the original reading unit 200.

  The document reading unit 200 reads a document placed on a document table or a document fed from the document feeding unit 300 and outputs image data of the document.

  The printing unit 100 executes a print job. A print job refers to an image indicated by data indicating data (for example, print data transmitted from the mobile terminal device 5, image data output from the document reading unit 200, image data received by facsimile). This is a job for generating a printed matter.

  The operation unit 400 includes an operation key unit 401 and a display unit 403. The display unit 403 has a touch panel function, and displays a screen including soft keys. The user operates the soft key while viewing the screen to make settings necessary for executing functions such as copying.

  The operation key unit 401 is provided with operation keys including hard keys. The operation key is, for example, a function switching key for switching between a start key, a numeric keypad, a reset key, a copy, a printer, a scanner, and a facsimile.

  The control unit 500 includes a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. The CPU executes control necessary for operating the image forming apparatus 1 on the above-described components (for example, the printing unit 100) of the image forming apparatus 1. The ROM stores software necessary for controlling the operation of the image forming apparatus 1. The RAM is used for temporary storage of data generated during execution of software, storage of application software, and the like.

  The control unit 500 includes, as functional blocks, an authentication information storage unit 501, a second data storage unit 503, a reception unit 505, a print permission unit 507, a print job control unit 509, a deletion unit 511, an authentication unit 513, and a use permission unit 515. Is provided. Details of these blocks will be described later.

  The communication unit 600 includes a facsimile communication unit 601 and a network I / F unit 603. The facsimile communication unit 601 includes an NCU (Network Control Unit) that controls connection of a telephone line with a destination facsimile and a modulation / demodulation circuit that modulates / demodulates a signal for facsimile communication. The facsimile communication unit 601 is connected to the telephone line 605.

  A network I / F unit 603 is connected to the LAN 607. The network I / F unit 603 is a communication interface circuit for executing communication between the image forming apparatus 1 and the server apparatus 7.

  The network I / F unit 603 includes a second receiving unit 609 and a second transmitting unit 611 as functional blocks.

  When the authentication information and the print data are transmitted from the server device 7, the second reception unit 609 receives the authentication information and the print data.

  The second transmission unit 611 transmits a notification requesting print data and a notification of completion of printing.

  The authentication information storage unit 501 stores the authentication information received by the second receiving unit 609.

  The second data storage unit 503 stores the print data received by the second receiving unit 609.

  The accepting unit 505 accepts authentication information input to the image forming apparatus 1 when the user operates the operation unit 400.

  The print permission unit 507 determines whether or not the authentication information stored in the authentication information storage unit 501 matches the authentication information received by the reception unit 505. Allows printing of the displayed image.

  A print job control unit 509 controls the printing unit 100 to execute a print job.

  The erasure unit 511 erases the authentication information stored in the authentication information storage unit 501. Further, the erasing unit 511 erases the print data stored in the second data storage unit 503.

  The authentication unit 513 performs user authentication of the image forming apparatus 1 including the authentication unit 513. When the user authentication is performed by the authentication unit 513, the use permission unit 515 permits the use of the image forming apparatus 1 including the authentication unit 513 that has performed user authentication among the plurality of image forming apparatuses 1A to 1I. Accordingly, the user can use the image forming apparatus 1 including the authentication unit 513 that has performed user authentication. For example, when the authentication unit 513 of the image forming apparatus 1A authenticates the user of the image forming apparatus 1A, the use permission unit 515 of the image forming apparatus 1A permits the user to use the image forming apparatus 1A. User authentication includes password authentication and fingerprint authentication.

  The operation of the image forming system 3 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 are flowcharts for explaining the operation.

  With reference to FIGS. 2 and 5, the user operates the operation display unit 55 of the mobile terminal device 5, and the image to be printed from the images indicated by the print data stored in the storage unit 57. Is selected to instruct the start of printing (step S1).

  The control unit 53 controls the communication unit 51 to acquire position information of the mobile terminal device 5 by communicating with a GPS satellite (step S2).

  The control unit 53 provides the communication unit 51 with print data instructed to start printing in step S1, position information acquired in step S2, and user information (user information) of mobile printing stored in the storage unit 57. ID etc.) is transmitted to the server device 7 (step S3).

  Referring to FIGS. 3 and 5, in server device 7, first receiving unit 75 receives the print data transmitted in step S3, the position information of portable terminal device 5, and the user information (step). T1).

  The mobile print processing unit 87 stores the print data received in step T1 in the first data storage unit 81, and uses the position information of the mobile terminal device 5 received in step T1 as the second position information. It memorize | stores in the memory | storage part 83 (step T2).

  The authentication unit 89 cannot perform mobile print user authentication (No in step T3), that is, the user ID registered in advance in the authentication unit 89 and the user included in the user information received in step T1. When it is determined that the ID does not match, the process proceeds to step T4.

  The mobile print processing unit 87 controls the first transmission unit 77 to transmit a notification that mobile printing is not permitted to the mobile terminal device 5 (step T4).

  2 and 5, when the communication unit 51 receives the notification transmitted in step T4 (Yes in step S4) in the mobile terminal device 5, the control unit 53 displays the operation display unit 55 on the operation display unit 55. A notification that mobile printing is not permitted is displayed (step S5).

  Referring to FIGS. 3 and 5, authentication unit 89 receives the user ID for mobile printing (Yes in step T3), that is, the user ID registered in advance in authentication unit 89 and received in step T1. When it is determined that the user ID included in the user information matches, the process proceeds to step T5.

  The mobile print processing unit 87 generates predetermined authentication information (step T5). The authentication information is a mobile print ID assigned to the print data stored in the first data storage unit 81 in step T2 and a password associated with the mobile print ID. The mobile print ID specifies the print data stored in the first data storage unit 81 in step T2. For example, numbers 001, 002, 003,... Are assigned to the print data in the order in which the print data is stored in the first data storage unit 81. The password is requested to be input when printing the image indicated by the print data specified by the mobile print ID. Note that the authentication information may be referred to as print permission information.

  The selection unit 85 stores the position information (that is, the position information of each of the image forming apparatuses 1A to 1I) stored in advance in the first position information storage unit 79, and the second position information storage unit 83 in step T2. Using the stored position information (that is, the position information of the mobile terminal device 5), the N image forming apparatuses 1 are connected to the plurality of image forming apparatuses 1A to 1I in the order closest to the mobile terminal device 5. Selection is made from among them (step T6).

  Here, N will be described as an example. Referring to FIG. 1, it is assumed that selection unit 85 has selected image forming apparatuses 1E, 1F, 1G.

  Referring to FIGS. 3 and 5, the mobile print processing unit 87 selects the authentication information (mobile print ID and password) generated in step T5 and the first transmission unit 77 selected in step T6. Control is performed to cause the portable terminal device 5 to transmit information (for example, IDs of those image forming apparatuses) for specifying the image forming apparatuses 1E, 1F, and 1G, respectively (step T7).

  2 and 5, in the mobile terminal device 5, when the communication unit 51 does not receive the notification transmitted in step T4 (No in step S4), the communication unit 51 is transmitted in step T7. The received authentication information and information for specifying the image forming apparatuses 1E, 1F, and 1G are received (step S6).

  The control unit 53 causes the operation display unit 55 to display the authentication information received in step S6 and information for specifying the image forming apparatuses 1E, 1F, and 1G (step S7). Based on these, the user causes the image forming apparatus 1 to execute mobile printing, as will be described later.

  Referring to FIGS. 3 and 5, the mobile print processing unit 87 sends the print request and the authentication information (mobile print ID and password) generated in step T5 to the first transmission unit 77 in step T6. The image forming apparatuses 1E, 1F, and 1G (FIG. 1) selected in step S8 are controlled to transmit (step T8).

  Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, in each of image forming apparatuses 1E, 1F, and 1G (FIG. 1) selected in step T6, second receiving unit 609 receives the print request transmitted in step T8 and Authentication information is received (step U1).

  In each of image forming apparatuses 1E, 1F, and 1G (FIG. 1), control unit 500 stores authentication information received in step U1 in authentication information storage unit 501 (step U2).

  It is assumed that the user of the mobile terminal device 5 causes the image forming apparatus 1F to execute mobile printing, for example, among the image forming apparatuses 1E, 1F, and 1G (FIG. 1) selected in step T6.

  4 and 6, the user of the mobile terminal device 5 authenticates the authentication information (mobile print ID) displayed on the operation display unit 55 (FIG. 2) of the mobile terminal device 5 in step S7 (FIG. 5). , Password) is input to the image forming apparatus 1F by operating the operation unit 400 of the image forming apparatus 1F (step U3). The authentication information input in step U3 is received by the receiving unit 505 of the image forming apparatus 1F.

  In the image forming apparatus 1F, the print permission unit 507 determines whether the authentication information stored in the authentication information storage unit 501 in step U2 matches the authentication information received by the reception unit 505 in step U3. (Step U4).

  When the print permission unit 507 determines that the authentication information does not match (No in step U4), the process returns to step U3.

  When the print permission unit 507 determines that the authentication information matches (Yes in step U4), the print permission unit 507 permits printing. Note that the print data to be permitted has not yet been transmitted from the server device 7 to the image forming apparatus 1F.

  In the image forming apparatus 1F, the authentication unit 513 omits user authentication of the image forming apparatus 1F (step U5). That is, in the image forming apparatus 1F, when the authentication unit 513 authenticates the user of the image forming apparatus 1F, the use permission unit 513 permits the use of the image forming apparatus 1F. However, as described above, when it is determined that the authentication information matches (Yes in Step U4), regardless of whether the user of the mobile terminal device 5 is permitted to use the image forming device 1F, the image Mobile printing can be executed by the forming apparatus 1F.

  In the image forming apparatus 1F, the control unit 500 controls the second transmission unit 611 to transmit a notification requesting print data to the server device 7 (step U6).

  Referring to FIGS. 3 and 6, in server device 7, first receiving unit 75 receives a notification requesting print data transmitted in step U6 (step T9). The mobile print processing unit 87 sends the print data stored in the first data storage unit 81 to the first transmission unit 77 in the image forming apparatus 1F (the image forming apparatus that the print permission unit 507 has permitted to print). 1) is transmitted (step T10).

  4 and 6, in image forming apparatus 1F, second receiving unit 609 receives the print data transmitted in step T10 (step U7).

  In the image forming apparatus 1F, the control unit 500 stores the print data received in step U7 in the second data storage unit 503 (step U8).

  In the image forming apparatus 1F, the printing unit 100 executes a print job for the image indicated by the print data stored in the second data storage unit 503 in step U8 (step U9). That is, among the plurality of image forming apparatuses 1A to 1I, in the image forming apparatus 1F that is permitted to be printed by the print permission unit 507, the print job control unit 509 is print data stored in the second data storage unit 503. The printing unit 100 is caused to execute a print job for the displayed image.

  As described above, in the image forming apparatus 1F (the image forming apparatus 1 permitted to be printed by the print permission unit 507), the print job control unit 509 performs printing without requesting user authentication in the authentication unit 513 (step U5). The printing unit 100 is caused to execute a print job for the image indicated by the data.

  In the image forming apparatus 1F, when the print job in step U9 is completed, the control unit 500 controls the second transmission unit 611 to transmit a print completion notification to the server device 7 (step U10).

  Referring to FIGS. 3 and 6, in server device 7, first receiving unit 75 receives the print completion notification transmitted in step U10 (step T11).

  In the server device 7, the mobile print processing unit 87 controls the first transmission unit 77 to transfer a print completion notification to the image forming apparatuses 1E and 1G (step T12). That is, the first transmission unit 77 notifies the image forming apparatus 1 other than the image forming apparatus that the print permission unit 507 has permitted printing out of the N image forming apparatuses 1 selected in step T6 to notify the completion of printing. Forward.

  In the image forming apparatuses 1E and 1G, when the second receiving unit 609 receives the print completion notification transferred in step T12, the erasing unit 511 is stored in the authentication information storage unit 501 in step U2. Delete authentication information. This is because printing is completed in the image forming apparatus 1F, and authentication information is unnecessary. That is, among the image forming apparatuses 1 selected by the selection unit 85, in the image forming apparatus 1 other than the image forming apparatus permitted to print by the print permission unit 507, when the second receiving unit 609 receives a print completion notification. The erasing unit 511 erases the authentication information stored in the authentication information storage unit 501.

  Note that also in the image forming apparatus 1F (the image forming apparatus 1 that the printing permission unit 507 has permitted printing), the erasing unit 511 erases the authentication information stored in the authentication information storage unit 501.

  The main effects of this embodiment will be described. For print data transmitted from the mobile terminal device 5 by wireless communication (step S3), when printing an image indicated by the print data using any one of the plurality of image forming devices 1A to 1I, the server device 7 transmits authentication information necessary for printing to the three image forming apparatuses 1F, 1G, and 1E from the order closest to the mobile terminal device 5 among the plurality of image forming apparatuses 1A to 1I (step T6, step T6). T8). Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to eliminate the need to transmit authentication information necessary for printing to all of the plurality of image forming apparatuses 1A to 1I. Further, according to the present embodiment, the authentication information is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 1F closest to the mobile terminal device 5, so that printing can be performed by the image forming apparatus 1F closest to the mobile terminal device 5.

  Even if the server apparatus 7 transmits print data to the image forming apparatus 1, if printing is not performed by the image forming apparatus 1, the operation of transmitting the print data to the image forming apparatus 1 is wasted. According to the present embodiment, the server apparatus 7 can transmit print data only to the image forming apparatus 1F including the print permission unit 507 permitted to print among the plurality of image forming apparatuses 1A to 1H (steps). T10).

  In the present embodiment, authentication information necessary for printing is transmitted to the three image forming apparatuses 1F, 1G, and 1E in the order closest to the mobile terminal device 5 (steps T6 and T8). Therefore, when the image forming apparatus 1F closest to the portable terminal device 5 cannot be used immediately (for example, the image forming apparatus 1F is used by another user. There is no sheet in the paper feed cassette of the image forming apparatus 1F). Printing can be performed using any of the second to third closest image forming apparatuses (image forming apparatuses 1G and 1E) to the portable terminal device 5.

  In the present embodiment, the server device 7 transmits authentication information to all the three selected image forming apparatuses 1E, 1F, and 1G (step T8). For this reason, among the three image forming apparatuses 1E, 1F, and 1G, the authentication information is stored in the authentication information storage unit 501 in the image forming apparatuses 1E and 1G other than the image forming apparatus 1F that the print permission unit 507 has permitted to print. It is remembered. If printing is completed in the image forming apparatus 1F that the printing permission unit 507 has permitted printing, the authentication information is not necessary. According to the present embodiment, the authentication information stored in the authentication information storage unit 501 can be erased in the image forming apparatuses 1E and 1G other than the image forming apparatus 1F permitted by the print permission unit 507.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, even if the user of the portable terminal device 5 is not authenticated by the authentication unit 513 of the image forming apparatus 1F that the print permission unit 507 has permitted printing (use of the image forming apparatus 1F). Even if it is not permitted, the image indicated by the print data transmitted from the server device 7 can be printed (step U5).

  Next, a modified example of the operation of the image forming system 3 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 are flowcharts for explaining a modification thereof. In the modification, when the server apparatus 7 transmits the authentication information to the selected image forming apparatus 1, the server apparatus 7 also transmits the print data.

  Since the process of step S1-step S7 of FIG. 7 is the same as the process of FIG.5 S1-step S7, description is abbreviate | omitted. 7 is the same as the process from step T1 to step T7 in FIG. 5, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

  3 and FIG. 7, after step T7, the mobile print processing unit 87 sends a print request to the first transmission unit 77, the authentication information (mobile print ID and password) generated in step T5, and Then, control is performed to transmit the print data stored in step T2 to the three image forming apparatuses 1E, 1F, and 1G (FIG. 1) selected in step T6 (step T21). That is, in the server device 7, the first transmission unit 77 is stored in the first data storage unit 81 when the authentication information is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 1 selected by the mobile terminal device 5 and the selection unit 85. The print data being transmitted is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 1 selected by the selection unit 85.

  4 and 7, in each of the image forming apparatuses 1E, 1F, and 1G (FIG. 1) selected in step T6, the second receiving unit 609 transmits the print request transmitted in step T21, Authentication information and print data are received (step U21).

  In each of image forming apparatuses 1E, 1F, and 1G (FIG. 1), control unit 500 stores authentication information received in step U21 in authentication information storage unit 501 and print data in a second data storage. The data is stored in the unit 503 (step U22).

  After step U22, the processing from step U3 to step U5 in FIG. 8 is the same as the processing from step U3 to step U5 in FIG.

  Referring to FIGS. 4 and 8, after step U5, in image forming apparatus 1F, printing unit 100 performs a print job for the image indicated by the print data stored in second data storage unit 503 in step U22. Execute (Step U9). That is, among the plurality of image forming apparatuses 1 </ b> A to 1 </ b> I, the image forming apparatus 1 </ b> F permitted to print by the print permission unit 507 performs a print job for the image indicated by the print data stored in the second data storage unit 503. The printing unit 100 is caused to execute.

  As described above, the image forming apparatus 1F (the image forming apparatus 1 permitted to be printed by the print permission unit 507) prints the image indicated by the print data without requesting user authentication in the authentication unit 513 (step U5). Causes the printing unit 100 to execute the job.

  After step U9, the process at step U10 and the process at steps T11 to T12 in FIG. 8 are the same as the process at step U10 and the processes at step T11 to step T12 in FIG.

  In the image forming apparatuses 1E and 1G, when the second receiving unit 609 receives the print completion notification transferred in step T12 of FIG. 8, the erasing unit 511 stores the authentication information storage unit 501 in step U22. The authentication information and the print data stored in the second data storage unit 503 are deleted. This is because printing is completed in the image forming apparatus 1F, and authentication information and print data are unnecessary. That is, among the image forming apparatuses 1 selected by the selection unit 85, in the image forming apparatus 1 other than the image forming apparatus permitted to print by the print permission unit 507, when the second receiving unit 609 receives a print completion notification. The erasing unit 511 erases the authentication information stored in the authentication information storage unit 501 and the print data stored in the second data storage unit 503.

  Note that also in the image forming apparatus 1 </ b> F (the image forming apparatus 1 that the printing permission unit 507 has permitted printing), the erasing unit 511 stores the authentication information stored in the authentication information storage unit 501 and the second data storage unit 503. Erase the stored print data.

  The main effects of the modification will be described. According to the modification, when the server device 7 transmits the authentication information to the image forming apparatuses 1E, 1F, and 1G selected by the selection unit 85, the server device 7 also transmits the print data (step T21). Accordingly, in the image forming apparatus 1F, when the print permission unit 507 permits printing, it is not necessary for the image forming apparatus 1F to request print data from the server apparatus 7, and printing can be performed immediately.

  The server apparatus 7 transmits the authentication information and the print data to all the selected three image forming apparatuses 1E, 1F, and 1G (step T21). For this reason, among the three image forming apparatuses 1E, 1F, and 1G, the authentication information is stored in the authentication information storage unit 501 in the image forming apparatuses 1E and 1G other than the image forming apparatus 1F that the print permission unit 507 has permitted to print. The print data is stored in the second data storage unit 503. If printing is completed in the image forming apparatus 1F that the printing permission unit 507 has permitted printing, the authentication information and the print data are unnecessary. According to the present embodiment, the authentication information stored in the authentication information storage unit 501 and the second data storage unit 503 in the image forming apparatuses 1E and 1G other than the image forming apparatus 1F permitted by the print permission unit 507. The print data stored in can be erased.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,1A-1I Image forming apparatus 3 Image forming system 5 Portable terminal device 7 Server apparatus

Claims (9)

An image forming system comprising a plurality of image forming apparatuses and a server device connected to the plurality of image forming apparatuses via a network,
The server device is
A first position information storage unit that stores in advance position information of each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses;
A first receiving unit that receives data indicating an image and position information of the mobile terminal device transmitted from the mobile terminal device by wireless communication;
A first data storage unit for storing the data received by the first reception unit;
A second location information storage unit that stores location information of the mobile terminal device received by the first reception unit;
Using the position information stored in the first position information storage unit and the position information stored in the second position information storage unit, an image forming apparatus closest to the portable terminal device is A selection unit for selecting from among the plurality of image forming apparatuses;
The predetermined authentication information is transmitted to the image forming apparatus selected by the portable terminal device and the selection unit, and the data stored in the first data storage unit is transmitted among the plurality of image forming devices. A first transmission unit that transmits to a predetermined image forming apparatus,
The plurality of image forming apparatuses include:
A second receiving unit that receives the authentication information and the data when the authentication information and the data are transmitted from the server device;
An authentication information storage unit for storing the authentication information received by the second receiving unit;
A second data storage unit for storing the data received by the second reception unit;
A reception unit that receives the authentication information input by the user;
It is determined whether or not the authentication information stored in the authentication information storage unit matches the authentication information received by the receiving unit, and the image indicated by the data when the authentication information matches A print permission section that permits printing,
A printing section for executing a print job;
A print job control unit that controls the print unit to execute a print job,
Among the plurality of image forming apparatuses, in the image forming apparatus permitted to print by the print permission unit, the print job control unit prints an image indicated by the data stored in the second data storage unit. An image forming system that causes the printing unit to execute a job. The plurality of image forming apparatuses further include a second transmission unit,
In the image forming apparatus permitted to print by the print permission unit, the second transmission unit transmits a notification requesting the data to the server device,
In the server device, when the first reception unit receives a notification requesting the data, the first transmission unit transmits the data stored in the first data storage unit to the print permission. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the image is transmitted to an image forming apparatus permitted to print. The selection unit selects N image forming apparatuses (N: an integer of 2 or more) from the order closest to the mobile terminal device,
The image forming system according to claim 2, wherein the first transmission unit transmits the authentication information to the N image forming apparatuses selected by the selection unit. The plurality of image forming apparatuses further include an erasing unit that erases the authentication information stored in the authentication information storage unit,
In the image forming apparatus permitted to print by the print permission unit, when the print job of the image indicated by the data is completed, the second transmission unit transmits a print completion notification to the server device,
In the server device, when the first receiving unit receives the notification of the completion of printing, the first transmitting unit is an image that the print permission unit of the N image forming devices permits printing. The print completion notification is transferred to an image forming apparatus other than the forming apparatus,
In an image forming apparatus other than the image forming apparatus permitted to print by the print permission unit, when the second receiving unit receives the notification of the completion of printing, the erasing unit is stored in the authentication information storage unit. The image forming system according to claim 3, wherein the authentication information is erased. In the server device, the first transmission unit is stored in the first data storage unit when transmitting the authentication information to the image forming apparatus selected by the portable terminal device and the selection unit. Transmitting the data to the image forming apparatus selected by the selection unit;
2. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein in the image forming apparatus selected by the selection unit, the second data storage unit stores the data transmitted from the server device. The selection unit selects N image forming apparatuses (N: an integer of 2 or more) from the order closest to the mobile terminal device,
The image forming system according to claim 5, wherein the first transmission unit transmits the authentication information and the data to the N image forming apparatuses selected by the selection unit. The plurality of image forming apparatuses include:
A second transmission unit;
An erasure unit that erases the authentication information stored in the authentication information storage unit and the data stored in the second data storage unit;
In the image forming apparatus permitted to print by the print permission unit, when the print job of the image indicated by the data is completed, the second transmission unit transmits a print completion notification to the server device,
In the server device, when the first receiving unit receives the notification of the completion of printing, the first transmitting unit is an image that the print permission unit of the N image forming devices permits printing. The print completion notification is transferred to an image forming apparatus other than the forming apparatus,
In an image forming apparatus other than the image forming apparatus permitted to print by the print permission unit, when the second receiving unit receives the notification of the completion of printing, the erasing unit is stored in the authentication information storage unit. The image forming system according to claim 6, wherein the authentication information and the data stored in the second data storage unit are deleted. The plurality of image forming apparatuses include:
An authentication unit for user authentication;
When the user authentication is performed by the authentication unit, a use permission unit that permits use of the image forming apparatus including the authentication unit that performs the user authentication among the plurality of image forming apparatuses,
In the image forming apparatus permitted to print by the print permission unit, the print job control unit causes the print unit to execute a print job of the image indicated by the data without requesting user authentication in the authentication unit. The image forming system according to claim 1. A server device that can be connected to a plurality of image forming apparatuses via a network,
A first position information storage unit that stores in advance position information of each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses;
A first receiving unit that receives data indicating an image and position information of the mobile terminal device transmitted from the mobile terminal device by wireless communication;
A first data storage unit for storing the data received by the first reception unit;
A second location information storage unit that stores location information of the mobile terminal device received by the first reception unit;
Using the position information stored in the first position information storage unit and the position information stored in the second position information storage unit, an image forming apparatus closest to the portable terminal device is A selection unit for selecting from among the plurality of image forming apparatuses;
The predetermined authentication information is transmitted to the image forming apparatus selected by the portable terminal device and the selection unit, and the data stored in the first data storage unit is transmitted among the plurality of image forming devices. A first transmission unit that transmits the image to a predetermined image forming apparatus.

Images