JP2017021478A - Image forming apparatus, portable information terminal, image forming system including those, and control method of image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming system that improves operability of transmission of a print job and change of various settings.SOLUTION: An image forming system comprises an MFP 101 that can bi-directionally transmit information and a mobile device. The MFP includes a receiving part 311 that receives a print job transmitted from the mobile device, a notification control part 322 that creates notification information for guiding the start-up of an application that controls printing processing in the mobile device on the basis of the transmitted print job, and a transmission part 313 that notifies the mobile device of the created notification information. The mobile device controls the print processing including the start of printing by the MFP controlled by the application started on the basis of the notification from the MFP and change of settings on the print processing.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming system, and more particularly to a technique for changing various settings related to a print job input from a portable information terminal to an image forming apparatus on the portable information terminal after input.

When a user transmits a print job from a PC (personal computer) to an image forming apparatus, various settings such as paper size and page layout are made in advance through a printer driver installed in the PC, and then the image forming apparatus Instruct the print execution.
On the other hand, in a mobile device such as a portable information terminal, an OS (Operating System) provides a standard printing function that is not specialized for an image forming apparatus. However, in many cases, the printing function provided as a standard by the OS targets only a partial range of settings among various settings that can be accepted by the image forming apparatus.

  Also, recent mobile device OSs have a communication function called push notification. When the user operates a UI (user interface) associated with the push notification, an associated application program (hereinafter referred to as an application) is activated. For example, a method called a URL scheme can be used to start the application. In the URL scheme, an associated application can be activated from mail software that displays HTML mail including the URL scheme.

  For example, in the apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is possible to set secure print when a confidentiality attribute is added to data acquired from a database, thereby leaking confidential information without deteriorating printing efficiency. It can be prevented.

JP 2008-142961 A

  However, when the user transmits a print job to the image forming apparatus using the OS standard printing mechanism of the mobile device, various settings related to print processing may be continuously changed on the mobile device. In that case, it is necessary to separately select and start an application for changing the setting via the menu screen. Therefore, the subject that a user's operativity is impaired remains.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to provide an image forming system capable of improving operability related to changes in various settings of print processing. In addition, an image forming apparatus and a portable information terminal are provided.

  The image forming system of the present invention is an image forming system including an image forming apparatus configured to be capable of bidirectionally transmitting information and a portable information terminal, and the image forming apparatus is transmitted from the portable information terminal. Receiving means for receiving a print job, generating means for generating notification information for guiding activation of an application for controlling the print processing in the portable information terminal based on the received print job, and the generated Notification means for notifying the portable information terminal of the notification information, and the portable information terminal starts printing by the image forming apparatus and prints by an application activated based on a notification from the image forming apparatus It is characterized by controlling printing processing including change of setting related to processing.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the operability associated with changing various settings of print processing performed in the device on the print job input side.

1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system configuration of an image forming system according to a first embodiment. 2 is a block diagram for explaining an example of a hardware configuration of an MFP. FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining an example of a functional configuration of the MFP. The figure which shows an example of UI which receives user authentication information. The figure which shows an example of the management table (table) which a user authentication part manages. The figure which shows an example of the management table (table) which a job submitter information management part manages. The figure which shows an example of the management table (table) which a mobile device management part manages. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the overall flow of processing from reception of a print job to execution of printing. The figure which shows the example of a display of the print job kept. The figure which shows the example of a display of each item of print setting. The flowchart which shows the detail of the process (pre-notification process) of step S607. (A), (b), (c) is a flowchart for demonstrating an example of the necessity determination of the notification which MFP which concerns on 2nd Embodiment performs. The figure which shows an example of the management table (table | surface) for managing the role allocated for every user. The figure which shows an example of the management table (table | surface) which set the availability of various printing functions for every roll. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a processing procedure when a print job is held when the MFP determines that notification to the mobile device is necessary. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a processing procedure when an MFP does not notify a mobile device.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims, and all combinations of features described in the embodiments are not necessarily essential to the solution means of the invention.
Further, description will be given by taking as an example the case where the present invention is applied to an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral) which is an example of an image forming apparatus and a mobile device which is an example of a portable information terminal.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system configuration of an image forming system according to the present embodiment.
The image forming system 10 includes an MFP 101 having various functions such as a printer, a fax machine, and a scan, and a mobile device 102 such as a smartphone.
Further, the MFP 101 and the mobile device 102 included in the image forming system 10 are connected so as to be able to transmit information in both directions via a LAN (Local Area Network) 100 or a WI / Fi router 103 electrically connected to the LAN 100. The Note that the MFP 101 is an apparatus used by a plurality of users. The mobile device 102 includes a control unit that controls each functional configuration of the mobile device 102 and a receiving unit that receives transmission data from the MFP 101. In addition, the mobile device 102 can submit a print job such as an image or a document to the MFP 101 using a print function installed in the OS.

[Hardware Configuration of MFP 101]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining an example of the hardware configuration of the MFP 101.
The MFP 101 includes a control unit 200, an operation unit 209, a printer unit 210, and a scanner unit 211.
The control unit 200 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 201 and controls the overall operation of the MFP 101. The CPU 201 reads a control program stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory) 202 and performs various controls such as reading and transmission. A RAM (Random Access Memory) 203 is used as a temporary storage area such as a main memory and a work area of the CPU 201.

  The HDD 204 is a storage device such as a hard disk drive, and stores image data, various programs, and the like. The operation unit 209 receives various operations such as a print instruction from the user. In addition, the operation unit 209 includes a display (display screen) that displays a UI for receiving an operation. The operation unit I / F 205 mediates exchange of information between the operation unit 209 and the control unit 200. The printer unit 210 receives image data to be printed from the control unit 200 via the printer I / F 206 and forms an image on a recording medium (for example, paper). The printer I / F 206 mediates exchange of information between the printer unit 210 and the control unit 200.

The scanner unit 211 reads an image on a document and generates image data. The scanner I / F 207 mediates exchange of information between the scanner unit 211 and the control unit 200. Note that the image data acquired by the scanner unit 211 is input to the control unit 200 via the scanner I / F 207.
A network I / F 208 mediates transmission / reception of information of the control unit 200 (MFP 101) via the LAN 100. The control unit 200 (MFP 101) receives the print job transmitted from the mobile device 102 via the network I / F 208.

[Function Configuration of MFP 101]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining an example of the functional configuration of the MFP 101.
The MFP 101 includes a network control unit 301 and a print job control unit 302. It should be noted that the processing by each functional configuration of the MFP 101 can be configured such that the processing is executed by the CPU 201 reading and executing a predetermined program.

The network control unit 301 controls data exchange with an external device such as the mobile device 102 via the network I / F 208. The network control unit 301 includes a reception unit 311, a data analysis unit 312, and a transmission unit 313.
The receiving unit 311 performs reception processing of various data. The data analysis unit 312 performs an analysis process for each protocol of received data. In addition, when the received data is a print job, the data analysis unit 312 transmits the data to the print job control unit 302. The transmission unit 313 performs various data transmission processing.

The print job control unit 302 controls the execution of the received print job. The print job control unit 302 includes a job analysis unit 321, a notification control unit 322, and a job management unit 323.
The job analysis unit 321 analyzes attribute information included in the print job. The notification control unit 322 generates notification information to be transmitted to the mobile device 102 when the print job is received. The notification information includes various information regarding the MFP 101, the user, and the like so that a print job submitted via the mobile device 102 can be confirmed. Details will be described later.

  The job management unit 323 is set in advance as to whether or not to temporarily hold the start of execution of a print job, and performs reservation management such as whether the received print job is immediately executed or temporarily held. . For example, if the print job is set to be retained, the job management unit 323 journalizes the print job for each user, and then causes the HDD 204 to temporarily retain the journalized print job. The job management unit 323 also controls a screen for instructing change of various settings of the print job as shown in FIG.

  The Web processing unit 303 receives a request from the network control unit 301 and processes an HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) request. When a request comes in the state where user authentication is not performed, the Web processing unit 303 displays a UI for performing authentication on the display screen via the user authentication unit 304. When authentication is performed and the session is valid, the Web processing unit 303 displays, for example, a UI as shown in FIG. 7 on the display screen so as to correspond to the designated URL.

  A user authentication unit 304 manages whether or not the MFP 101 can be used, restrictions on usage contents, and the like for each user. The user authentication unit 304 also displays a UI for inputting user authentication information on the display screen. The device state management unit 305 manages the state of the own device (each state such as normal / error / failure). In response to an instruction from the print job control unit 302, the printing unit 306 performs processing related to printing via the printer I / F 206.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a UI that receives user authentication information.
For example, when an access request is made to the MFP 101 via a Web browser activated on the mobile device 102, authentication information such as a user name input field 411 and a password input field 412 as shown in the Web browser screen 400 shown in FIG. The input field is displayed. The user performs authentication processing by selecting the login button 414 after entering the authentication information. When canceling the authentication process, the cancel button 413 is selected.
The user information can be configured to be managed by the user authentication unit 304 or can be configured to be managed by an external DB (database) connected via a network.

  The job submitter information management unit 307 manages information for identifying a print job submitter, that is, a sender, among the users managed by the user authentication unit 304. The mobile device management unit 308 manages information about mobile devices owned by the users managed by the user authentication unit 304. Here, the management tables (tables) for the user authentication unit 304, the job submitter information management unit 307, and the mobile device management unit 308 will be described.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a management table (table) managed by the user authentication unit 304. The uid information in the management table is a user identifier for each user to be managed. Mail is job submitter information added to a print job submitted from a commercial cloud print, for example. The MAC address (Media Access Control address) is the MAC address of the mobile device 102.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a management table (table) managed by the job submitter information management unit 307. The job submitter information management unit 307 manages a print job submitter information acquisition method for each printing method using a management table as shown in FIG. The storage location in the management table indicates whether the data handled as job submitter information exists in the network protocol level data or is included in the print job for each printing method. In the former case, job submitter information is acquired via the data analysis unit 312. The type indicates which information included in the management table shown in FIG. 5 is used as job submitter information.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a management table (table) managed by the mobile device management unit 308. In the management table managed by the mobile device management unit 308, MAC addresses, mail addresses, push notification tokens, and the like are managed. The mail address in the management table represents a destination when notifying an HTML mail including a URL scheme. The push notification token represents information for specifying a mobile device that is a push notification target. Based on these pieces of information, the job submitter, that is, the owner (manager) of the mobile device 102 is specified.

[Processing flow until print execution]
FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the overall flow of processing from reception of a print job to execution of printing. Hereinafter, an example of a processing flow until printing is actually performed when a print job is input using the OS standard printing function of the mobile device 102 will be described.

  The mobile device 102 inputs a print job to the MFP 101 using the OS print function upon receiving an operation from the user (S601). The MFP 101 receives the print job (S604). The MFP 101 performs pre-notification processing described later (S607), and then notifies the mobile device 102 of notification information (S610).

  The mobile device 102 receives the notification information (S613), and displays that the notification has been received on the display screen (S616). The mobile device 102 activates the job control application according to the user's UI operation based on the notification information (S619). The job control application is a program having a function of performing setting change / printing instruction of a print job retained in the MFP 101.

Here, a print job held in the MFP 101 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a reserved print job, and FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a display example of each item of print settings.
FIG. 9 is a display example of a print job of the owner of the mobile device 102. On this job list screen, print jobs held in the MFP 101 are displayed on the display screen as lists 701 to 703. Also, buttons 704 to 706 displayed corresponding to the lists 701 to 703 are buttons for transitioning to a screen for performing detailed setting of each print job. When any one of the buttons 704 to 706 is selected, a transition is made to a screen for performing print settings as shown in FIG. On the print setting screen, the user can change various settings. Note that a print button 707 shown in FIG. 9 is a button for instructing execution of printing.

Returning to the description of FIG. 8, the mobile device 102 transitions to the job list screen after accepting a print job setting change on the print setting screen (S <b> 622).
When the print button 707 is selected, the mobile device 102 notifies the MFP 101 of a print instruction (S625). The MFP 101 starts printing upon receipt of the print instruction (S628). Hereinafter, details of the process related to the notification between the devices will be described.

[Procedure for processing notifications to mobile devices]
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing details of the process in step S607 (pre-notification process).
The MFP 101 specifies the transmission method via the data analysis unit 312 (S901). The MFP 101 refers to the item “storage location” in the management table described with reference to FIG. 6 and identifies target data (for example, a print job) in which job submitter information is stored (S904). The MFP 101 determines whether job submitter information is included in the print job (S904). If it is determined that it is included (S904: Yes), job submitter information is acquired from the print job (S907). If not (S904: No), job submitter information is acquired via the data analysis unit 312 (S910).

  The MFP 101 refers to the management table shown in FIG. 5 based on the acquired job submitter information, and acquires user uid information. The MFP 101 acquires a notification destination corresponding to the acquired uid information with reference to the management table shown in FIG. 7 (S913). The MFP 101 generates notification information via the notification control unit 322 (S916).

  As described above, in the image forming system according to the present embodiment, the user of the mobile device 102 is guided to start an application for changing various settings related to print processing based on the notification information. Thereby, the operativity can be improved. In addition, since the print job list is displayed, it is possible to easily execute a print job suspended in the MFP 101, change various settings, and the like.

[Second Embodiment]
In the present embodiment, an example will be described in which the MFP 101 is configured to determine whether or not notification to the mobile device 102 is necessary according to the content of a print job, the operating status of the mobile device, the user authority, and the like. . In addition, the same thing as the functional structure demonstrated in 1st Embodiment attaches | subjects the same code | symbol, and abbreviate | omits the description.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart for explaining an example of determination of necessity of notification performed by the MFP 101.
FIG. 12A shows a processing procedure in which the MFP 101 determines whether notification is necessary, in a stage after the processing in step S604 (job reception) shown in FIG. 8 and before the processing in step S607 (pre-notification processing). To be implemented.
The MFP 101 determines whether printing is possible from the device state management unit 305 via the notification control unit 322 (S1201). For example, when the printer is out of order and printing is not possible (S1201: Yes), the MFP 101 determines that notification is necessary for the mobile device 102, and sets a notification required flag indicating that notification is necessary. Then, the process for notification is continued (S1207).

If not (S1201: No), the MFP 101 is executing a large number of print jobs that require a certain time or more until the end of print processing via the job management unit 323, or the print job is suspended. It is determined whether or not the current state is set (S1204).
For example, if it is determined that a large number of print jobs are being executed (S1204: Yes), the MFP 101 determines that notification to the mobile device 102 is necessary, sets a notification required flag (S1207), and To continue processing. Otherwise (S1204: No), the notification process is terminated. In this way, it is determined whether to generate notification information according to the operating status of the MFP 101.

FIG. 12B is a processing procedure in which the MFP 101 determines whether notification is necessary according to the printing method of the print job. The processing after step S901 (transmission method identification) shown in FIG. 9 and processing in step S904 are performed. Implemented in the previous stage.
The MFP 101 confirms whether or not the notification required flag is already set (S1213). If already set (S1213: Yes), the process for notification is continued.
Otherwise (S1213: No), the MFP 101 refers to the management table shown in FIG. 6 via the data analysis unit 312, and determines whether the printing method is a driver print job (S1216). . If the print method is a driver print job (S1216: Yes), the MFP 101 determines that various settings necessary for printing have already been performed, and ends the notification process. Otherwise (S1216: No), the MFP 101 determines that notification to the mobile device 102 is necessary, sets a notification required flag (S1209), and continues the processing for notification.

FIG. 12C is a processing procedure in which the MFP 101 determines whether notification is necessary according to the attribute of the print job. The processing after step S913 (notification destination information acquisition) shown in FIG. 9 and after step S916 is performed. (Notification information generation) Implemented in the previous stage.
The MFP 101 confirms whether the notification required flag has already been set (S1223). If it is already set (S1223: Yes), the process for notification is continued.
If not (S1223: No), the MFP 101 determines whether the user who submitted the print job has the authority to execute printing (S1226). Hereinafter, the authority to execute printing will be described.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a management table (table) for managing roles assigned to each job submitter as a user. Note that the role is a group for setting a range in which the use is permitted for each job submitter in various printing forms (printing functions) of the MFP 101. For example, the role is set to a job type such as manager or part. Is done. Each role is associated with uid information, and this management table is managed by the user authentication unit 304.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a management table (table) in which availability of various printing functions is set for each roll.
For example, a user in the “manager” role is permitted to perform color printing, single-sided printing, and 1 in 1 layout printing. Also, a user in the “regular employee” role is allowed to print with a reduced layout of 2 in 1 or more, but is not allowed to print with 1 in 1. A user in the “part” roll is permitted to perform monochrome printing, duplex printing, and printing with a reduced layout of 2 in 1 or more, but not color printing or single-sided printing.

  Returning to the description of FIG. 12C, the MFP 101 determines, based on the attribute information set in the print job, whether or not the user who has input the print job has the authority to execute printing. If the job submitter and the management table are compared, for example, if the print job of the user “sakai” (role is part) shown in FIG. 14 and color printing is set, the print execution authority is granted. No, that is, it is determined that the printing form deviates from the authority.

  If the MFP 101 determines that the user does not have the authority to execute printing (S1226: No), the MFP 101 determines that notification is required for the mobile device 102, sets a notification required flag (S1229), and performs processing for notification. Continue. Otherwise (S1226: No), the notification process is terminated.

  As described above, in the image forming system according to the present embodiment, the necessity of notification to the mobile device 102 is determined according to the content of the print job, the state of the mobile device, the authority of the user, and the like. As a result, the total number of notifications is reduced while performing necessary notifications, so that the operability of the user can be improved.

Further, when it is determined that notification to the mobile device 102 is necessary, the MFP 101 can be configured so that the job management unit 323 performs print job hold processing.
FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of a processing procedure when a print job is held when the MFP 101 determines that notification to the mobile device 102 is necessary. This process is performed after the process (notification information generation) in step S916 shown in FIG. 9 and before the process (notification) in step S610 shown in FIG.

The MFP 101 confirms whether the notification required flag has already been set (S1503). If the notification required flag is set (S1503: Yes), the MFP 101 determines whether the setting of the job management unit 323 is a hold mode for holding a print job (S1506). If it is the hold mode (S1506: Yes), the process proceeds to step S610. If not (S1506: No), the setting of the job management unit 323 is changed to the hold mode (S1509), and the process proceeds to step S610.
By controlling so that the print job is temporarily held in this manner, various settings relating to printing can be changed in the mobile device 102.

Further, the MFP 101 can be configured not to notify the mobile device 102 when a predetermined condition is satisfied.
FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of a processing procedure when the MFP 101 does not notify the mobile device 102. The processing procedure after step S916 (notification information generation) illustrated in FIG. 9 and after that is illustrated in FIG. This is performed at a stage before the process (notification) in step S610.

The MFP 101 confirms whether the notification required flag has already been set (S1603). When the notification required flag is set (S1603: Yes), the MFP 101 determines whether the elapsed time from the latest notification exceeds a predetermined time, that is, whether the predetermined condition is satisfied (S1606). When the predetermined time is exceeded (S1606: Yes), the process proceeds to step S610.
Thereby, the user can eliminate the troublesomeness caused by repeatedly receiving notifications.

  The embodiment described above is for explaining the present invention more specifically, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to these examples.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Image forming system, 100 ... LAN, 101 ... MFP, 102 ... Mobile device, 103 ... WI / Fi router, 200 ... Control part, 201 ... CPU, 202 ... ROM, 203 ... RAM, 204 ... HDD, 205 ... operation unit I / F, 206 ... printer I / F, 207 ... scanner I / F, 208 ... network I / F, 209... Operation unit, 210... Printer unit, 211.

Claims (12)

An image forming system including an image forming apparatus configured to be capable of bidirectionally transmitting information and a portable information terminal,
The image forming apparatus includes:
Receiving means for receiving a print job transmitted from the portable information terminal;
Generating means for generating notification information for guiding activation of an application for controlling the print processing in the portable information terminal based on the received print job;
Notification means for notifying the generated notification information to the portable information terminal,
The portable information terminal
An application activated based on a notification from the image forming apparatus controls printing processing including start of printing by the image forming apparatus and change of settings related to printing processing.
Image forming system. The image forming apparatus includes a management unit that manages whether to temporarily hold the start of execution of the received print job;
The generation unit generates the notification information for the held print job.
The image forming system according to claim 1. The image forming apparatus includes a specifying unit that specifies a sender of the print job as a job submitter based on the transmission method of the received print job;
The notifying unit notifies the notification information to a job submitter specified by the specifying unit.
The image forming system according to claim 1. The specifying means specifies a sender of the print job as a job submitter based on the received print job,
The image forming system according to claim 3. The generation unit determines whether to generate the notification information according to an operation status of the image forming apparatus.
The image forming system according to claim 1. The generation unit determines whether to generate the notification information based on a transmission method of the received print job.
The image forming system according to claim 3. The image forming apparatus has a management table that records a print form permitted for each job submitter,
The generation unit compares the specified job submitter with the management table, and generates the notification information when the received print job is in a print form that deviates from the authority of the job submitter. Characterized by the
The image forming system according to claim 3. The image forming apparatus, when the generation unit generates the notification information, performs a process to suspend printing execution of the received print job,
The image forming system according to claim 5. The notifying means notifies the notification information when an elapsed time from the latest notification exceeds a predetermined time,
The image forming system according to claim 1. An image forming apparatus configured to be capable of bidirectionally transmitting information to a portable information terminal,
Receiving means for receiving a print job transmitted from the portable information terminal;
Generating means for generating notification information for guiding activation of an application for controlling the print processing in the portable information terminal based on the received print job;
Notifying means for notifying the generated notification information to the portable information terminal,
Image forming apparatus. A method of controlling an image forming apparatus configured to be capable of bidirectionally transmitting information to a portable information terminal,
Receiving a print job transmitted from the portable information terminal;
Generating notification information for guiding activation of an application for controlling the print processing in the portable information terminal based on the received print job;
A step of notifying the generated notification information to the portable information terminal,
A method for controlling an image forming apparatus. A portable information terminal configured to be capable of bidirectionally transmitting information to an image forming apparatus,
Receiving means for receiving notification information generated by the image forming apparatus on the basis of a print job transmitted from the portable information terminal and for guiding activation of an application for controlling the print processing in the portable information terminal;
Control means for controlling a printing process including a start of printing by the image forming apparatus and a change of a setting relating to the printing process by an application activated based on a notification from the image forming apparatus,
Mobile information terminal.