JP2017076321A - Image processing system and shared-folder management program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing system configured to reduce the risk of information leakage, and a shared-folder management program.SOLUTION: An image processing system includes: a computer which executes a shared-folder management program for managing a shared folder that stores job data for an image-processing job; and an MFP which executes the job on the basis of the job data. The MFP includes job data acquisition means of acquiring job data from a shared folder. The shared-folder management program causes the computer to function as a shared-folder management service for managing the shared folder. The shared-folder management service allows a folder to be shared only during the stary-up of the shared-folder management program, to generate a shared folder (S42).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing system including an image processing apparatus that executes a job based on job data for a job for processing an image.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image processing system is known that includes a mobile terminal device that stores job data and an image processing device that executes a job based on job data stored in the mobile terminal device (see, for example, Patent Document 1). .) In the image processing system described in Patent Literature 1, when the mobile terminal device and the image processing device are connected by a short-range wireless communication method, that is, the mobile terminal device and the image processing device are close to each other. When the job data is present, job data is transmitted from the portable terminal device to the image processing device, and then the job is immediately executed by the image processing device based on the job data.

  Here, there is a technique (hereinafter referred to as “reference technique 1”) in which a job is immediately executed by an image processing apparatus based on job data after job data is transmitted from a computer to the image processing apparatus. In the reference technique 1, job data is transmitted from the computer to the image processing apparatus even when the computer and the image processing apparatus are located far from each other. Therefore, when the job data is print data, printing is performed. When a printed material is printed by the image processing device based on the data, the printed material on the image processing device may not be acquired from the image processing device by the computer user for a long time. Therefore, in the reference technique 1, when the job data is print data, there is a risk that information is leaked from the printed matter on the image processing apparatus. However, in the image processing system described in Patent Document 1, when the mobile terminal device and the image processing device are connected by the short-range wireless communication method, that is, the mobile terminal device and the image processing device are close to each other. Since the job data is transmitted from the portable terminal device to the image processing device when it comes to the position, when the job data is print data, the printed material is printed by the image processing device based on the print data. Then, the possibility that the printed material on the image processing apparatus is not acquired from the image processing apparatus for a long time by the user of the portable terminal device can be reduced as compared with the reference technique 1. That is, in the image processing system described in Patent Document 1, when job data is print data, the risk of information leaking from printed matter on the image processing apparatus is reduced as compared with Reference Technique 1. Can do.

  Conventionally, there is a technique (hereinafter referred to as “reference technique 2”) in which job data is transmitted from a computer to an image processing apparatus with a temporary storage designation. In Reference Technology 2, the image processing apparatus stores job data transmitted with a temporary storage designation from a computer in the RAM (Random Access Memory) of the image processing apparatus itself, and responds to an instruction from an input device of the image processing apparatus itself. The job is executed based on the job data on the RAM. In the reference technique 2, the job based on the job data on the RAM of the image processing apparatus is not executed until an instruction to execute the job based on the job data on the RAM of the image processing apparatus is issued from the input device of the image processing apparatus. Therefore, when the job data is print data, the risk of information leaking from the printed matter printed by the image processing apparatus based on the print data can be reduced as compared with the reference technique 1. However, in the reference technique 2, job data is stored in the RAM of the image processing apparatus until the job execution instruction based on the job data on the RAM of the image processing apparatus is received from the input device of the image processing apparatus. There is a risk of information leaking from job data on the RAM of the image processing apparatus. Further, in the reference technique 2, the capacity for spooling job data is necessary for the RAM of the image processing apparatus, so that the cost for realizing it is high. However, in the image processing system described in Patent Document 1, job data is transmitted from the mobile terminal device to the image processing device when the mobile terminal device and the image processing device are connected by the short-range wireless communication method. After that, the job is immediately executed by the image processing apparatus based on the job data, so that the job data does not need to be spooled on the RAM of the image processing apparatus, the risk of information leaking, and the cost for realizing it Can be reduced as compared with the reference technique 2.

  Conventionally, there is a technique (hereinafter referred to as “reference technique 3”) in which job data is transmitted from a computer to an image processing apparatus with a non-volatile memory storage designation. In the reference technique 3, the image processing apparatus stores the job data transmitted from the computer with the non-volatile memory storage designation in the non-volatile memory of the image processing apparatus itself, and in response to an instruction from the input device of the image processing apparatus itself, Execute jobs based on job data in memory. In the reference technique 3, the job based on the job data on the non-volatile memory of the image processing apparatus is instructed until an instruction to execute the job based on the job data on the non-volatile memory of the image processing apparatus is received from the input device of the image processing apparatus. Since this is not executed, when job data is print data, the risk of information leaking from a printed material printed by the image processing apparatus based on the print data can be reduced as compared with the reference technique 1. However, in Reference Technique 3, job data is stored in the nonvolatile memory of the image processing apparatus until an instruction to execute the job based on the job data on the nonvolatile memory of the image processing apparatus is received from the input device of the image processing apparatus. Therefore, there is a risk of information leaking from the job data on the nonvolatile memory of the image processing apparatus. Further, in the reference technique 3, after a job is executed based on the job data on the non-volatile memory of the image processing apparatus, the job data is actually deleted from the non-volatile memory of the image processing apparatus in the file system. Since the job data still remains on the non-volatile memory of the image processing apparatus, there is a risk of information leaking from the actual job data on the non-volatile memory of the image processing apparatus even after execution of the job. In order to completely delete the actual job data on the nonvolatile memory of the image processing apparatus, expensive software is required. Further, in the reference technique 3, the capacity for spooling job data is required for the nonvolatile memory of the image processing apparatus, so that the cost for realizing it is high. However, in the image processing system described in Patent Document 1, job data is transmitted from the mobile terminal device to the image processing device when the mobile terminal device and the image processing device are connected by the short-range wireless communication method. After that, the job is immediately executed by the image processing device based on the job data. Therefore, it is not necessary to spool the job data on the non-volatile memory of the image processing device. The cost can be reduced as compared with the reference technique 3.

JP 2009-151686A

  However, the image processing system described in Patent Document 1 has a problem that information may be leaked from job data stored in the mobile terminal device.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an image processing system and a shared folder management program that can reduce the risk of information leaking.

  An image processing system according to the present invention includes a computer that executes a shared folder management program for managing a shared folder that stores job data for a job that processes an image, and an image process that executes a job based on the job data. The image processing apparatus includes job data acquisition means for acquiring the job data from the shared folder, and the shared folder management program functions the computer as a shared folder management means for managing the shared folder. The shared folder management means generates the shared folder by setting the folder to a shared state only while the shared folder management program is running.

  With this configuration, the image processing system of the present invention stores a folder for storing job data for an image processing job in a shared folder because the computer is in a shared state only while the shared folder management program is running. The risk of information leaking from job data can be reduced.

  In the image processing system of the present invention, the image processing apparatus includes an input device for inputting an instruction, a display device for displaying information, and shared folder information requesting means for requesting the computer for shared folder information indicating the shared folder. And shared folder information display means for displaying the shared folder information transmitted by the computer on the display device, wherein the job data acquisition means is indicated by the shared folder information displayed on the display device. The job data is acquired from a shared folder selected according to an instruction input to the input device among the shared folders, and the shared folder management program stores the shared folder generated by the shared folder management unit. Before showing Shared folder information management means for managing shared folder information, and shared folder information transmission for transmitting the shared folder information managed by the shared folder information management means to the image processing apparatus that has requested the shared folder information. The computer may function as a means.

  With this configuration, the image processing system of the present invention acquires job data from the shared folder selected according to the instruction input to the input device of the image processing apparatus to the image processing apparatus. A job based on the job data stored in the folder can be executed by the image processing apparatus.

  In the image processing system of the present invention, the image processing apparatus includes search message distribution means for distributing a search message for searching the computer over a network, and the shared folder management program has transmitted the search message. The image processing apparatus causes the computer to function as a response message return unit that returns a response message for responding to the search message, and the shared folder information request unit is configured to transmit the response message to the computer that has transmitted the response message. Folder information may be requested.

  With this configuration, the image processing system according to the present invention stores the job data by the search message distributed from the image processing apparatus to the network and the response message transmitted by the computer in response to the search message. Since the image processing apparatus identifies the computer including the folder, it is not necessary to previously set information on the computer including the shared folder storing the job data in the image processing apparatus, and this can be easily realized.

  In the image processing system of the present invention, the search message distribution unit distributes the search message including user identification information input from the input device, and the response message return unit includes the specific identification information. The response message may be returned to the image processing apparatus that has transmitted the included search message.

  With this configuration, in the image processing system of the present invention, since the computer returns a response message to the image processing apparatus that has transmitted the search message including the identification information of the specific user, the image processing system is associated with the specific user. Only computers with shared folders can be identified by the image processing apparatus. Therefore, the image processing system of the present invention can reduce the risk of information leaking from the job data stored in the shared folder of the computer.

  In the image processing system of the present invention, the shared folder information transmission unit transmits access information for accessing the shared folder management unit to the image processing apparatus to which the shared folder information is transmitted, and acquires the job data The means transmits the access information transmitted from the computer to the computer when acquiring the job data from the shared folder, and the shared folder management means is transmitted from the image processing apparatus. Access from the image processing apparatus may be permitted based on the access information.

  With this configuration, the image processing system of the present invention can access the shared folder only by the image processing apparatus that transmits the access information transmitted from the computer to the computer. The risk of information leaking from the data can be reduced.

  In the image processing system of the present invention, when the shared folder management unit generates the shared folder, the shared folder information may be included in the shared folder information.

  With this configuration, the shared folder information of the computer in which the shared folder management program is running is automatically included in the shared folder information in the image processing system of the present invention. It is not necessary to set in advance in the apparatus, and can be easily realized.

  A shared folder management program of the present invention is a shared folder management program for managing a shared folder that stores job data for a job for processing an image, and a computer is used as a shared folder management means for managing the shared folder. The shared folder management means generates the shared folder by setting the folder to a shared state only while the shared folder management program is running.

  With this configuration, the computer executing the shared folder management program of the present invention stores the folder storing the job data for the image processing job in the shared state only while the shared folder management program is running. It is possible to reduce the risk of information leaking from the job data.

  The image processing system and shared folder management program of the present invention can reduce the risk of information leaking.

1 is a block diagram of an image processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the MFP shown in FIG. 1. It is a block diagram of the computer shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the shared folder information shown in FIG. It is a flowchart of operation | movement of the computer shown in FIG. 3 in the case of producing | generating a shared folder. It is a flowchart of operation | movement of the computer shown in FIG. 3 when canceling a shared folder. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the operation of the computer shown in FIG. 3 when the execution of the shared folder management program is terminated. FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram of an operation of the image processing system shown in FIG. 1 when a job is executed by an MFP. It is a figure which shows an example of the shared folder information displayed on the display part shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the list of the job data displayed on the display part shown in FIG.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  First, the configuration of the image processing system 10 according to the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image processing system 10 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image processing system 10 includes a plurality of MFPs including an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral) 20 serving as an image processing apparatus, and a plurality of computers including a computer 30 such as a PC (Personal Computer). . The MFP and the computer are communicably connected to each other via a network 11 such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or the Internet.

  As a communication method between the MFP and the computer, various methods such as a Web service and REST (Representational State Transfer) can be adopted.

  The configuration of each of a large number of MFPs included in the image processing system 10 is the same as that of the MFP 20. Therefore, in the following, the MFP 20 will be described on behalf of a large number of MFPs included in the image processing system 10.

  The configuration of each of a large number of computers included in the image processing system 10 is the same as the configuration of the computer 30. Therefore, in the following, the computer 30 will be described on behalf of a large number of computers included in the image processing system 10.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the MFP 20.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the MFP 20 is a display device such as an operation unit 21 that is an input device such as buttons for inputting various operations by the user and an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) that displays various information. A display unit 22, a scanner 23 that is a reading device that reads an image from a document, a printer 24 that is a printing device that executes printing on a recording medium such as paper, an external facsimile apparatus (not shown), a public telephone line, and the like A fax communication unit 25 that is a fax device that performs fax communication via a communication line, a network communication unit 26 that is a network communication device that communicates with an external device via the network 11 (see FIG. 1), and various data. Memorized semiconductor memory, HDD (Hard Dis Drive) and a storage unit 27 is a nonvolatile storage device such as, and a control unit 28 which controls the entire MFP 20.

  The operation unit 21 may include an input device that forms a touch panel together with the display unit 22.

  The storage unit 27 stores an image processing program 27a executed by the MFP 20. The image processing program 27a may be installed in the MFP 20 at the manufacturing stage of the MFP 20, or may be additionally installed in the MFP 20 from an external storage medium such as an SD card or a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory. 11 may be additionally installed in the MFP 20 from above.

  The control unit 28 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores programs and various data in advance, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) used as a work area of the CPU. ing. The CPU is configured to execute a program stored in the ROM or the storage unit 27.

  The control unit 28 executes the image processing program 27a stored in the storage unit 27, thereby distributing a search message for searching for a computer over the network 11 to respond to the search message. Shared folder information requesting means 28b for requesting shared folder information indicating a shared folder for storing job data for a job for processing an image to the computer that has transmitted the response message, and the shared folder information transmitted by the computer. The shared folder information display means 28c to be displayed on the display unit 22 and the job data from the shared folder selected according to the instruction input to the operation unit 21 among the shared folders indicated by the shared folder information displayed on the display unit 22 The Job data acquisition means 28d for Tokusuru, and functions as a job execution means 28e for executing the job based on the job data acquired by the job data obtaining means 28d.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the computer 30.

  As illustrated in FIG. 3, the computer 30 includes an operation unit 31 that is an input device such as a mouse and a keyboard to which various operations are input, a display unit 32 that is a display device such as an LCD that displays various types of information, A network communication unit 33 that is a network communication device that communicates with an external device via the network 11 (see FIG. 1), and a storage unit that is a non-volatile storage device such as an HDD that stores programs and various data. 34 and a control unit 35 that controls the entire computer 30.

  The storage unit 34 stores a shared folder management program 34a as an application program for managing the shared folder. The shared folder management program 34a may be installed in the computer 30 at the manufacturing stage of the computer 30, or may be additionally installed in the computer 30 from an external storage medium such as a CD (Compact Disk) or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk). Alternatively, it may be additionally installed on the computer 30 from the network 11.

  The storage unit 34 can store shared folder information 34b.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the shared folder information 34b.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the shared folder information 34b includes a correspondence between a folder name indicating the name of the shared folder and a user ID as user identification information associated with the shared folder. For example, in FIG. 4, the shared folder with the folder name “F01” is associated with the user with the user ID “U01”.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the storage unit 34 can store a folder 34c for storing job data.

  The control unit 35 includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM that stores programs and various data in advance, and a RAM that is used as a work area for the CPU. The CPU executes a program stored in the ROM or the storage unit 34.

  The control unit 35 functions as a shared folder information management service 35a for managing the shared folder information 34b by executing the shared folder management program 34a stored in the storage unit 34.

  The shared folder information management service 35a is a shared folder management service 35b serving as a shared folder management means for managing shared folders, and a shared folder information management for managing shared folder information 34b indicating shared folders generated by the shared folder management service 35b. Shared folder information management system 35c as a means, search service 35d as a response message reply means for returning a response message to the MFP that has sent the search message, and shared folder information management to the MFP that has requested the shared folder information 34b. A shared folder information service 35e serving as shared folder information transmitting means for transmitting the shared folder information 34b managed by the system 35c.

  Next, the operation of the image processing system 10 will be described.

  First, the operation of the computer 30 when generating a shared folder will be described.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the operation of the computer 30 when generating a shared folder.

  When the user creates a shared folder on the computer 30, the user activates the shared folder information management service 35a. The shared folder management service 35b of the computer 30 repeatedly executes the operation shown in FIG. 5 while the shared folder management program 34a is activated.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the shared folder management service 35b determines whether or not the folder 34c to be shared is designated via the operation unit 31 (S41).

  When the shared folder management service 35b determines in S41 that the folder 34c to be shared is not designated via the operation unit 31, the operation illustrated in FIG.

  When the shared folder management service 35b determines in S41 that the folder 34c to be shared is designated via the operation unit 31, the shared folder management service 35b sets the folder 34c designated via the operation unit 31 to the shared state and generates a shared folder ( S42).

  Next, the shared folder management service 35b includes the shared folder generated in S42 in the shared folder information 34b (S43), and ends the operation shown in FIG.

  Note that the shared folder management service 35b operates the operation unit 31 for both the folder 34c before being made a shared folder by the operation shown in FIG. 5 and the folder 34c after being made a shared folder by the operation shown in FIG. It is possible to store job data designated via the.

  Further, the folder 34c becomes a shared folder only during a period in which the folder 34c is in a shared state by the shared folder management service 35b. Therefore, for example, when the shared folder management program 34a is terminated, the shared state cannot be made shared by the shared folder management service 35b, so that the folder 34c is released from the shared state.

  Next, the operation of the computer 30 when releasing the shared folder will be described.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the operation of the computer 30 when releasing the shared folder.

  The shared folder management service 35b of the computer 30 repeatedly executes the operation shown in FIG. 6 while the shared folder management program 34a is activated.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the shared folder management service 35b determines whether or not the folder 34c to be released from the shared state has been designated via the operation unit 31 (S51).

  If the shared folder management service 35b determines in S51 that the folder 34c to be released from the shared state is not designated via the operation unit 31, the operation illustrated in FIG.

  When the shared folder management service 35b determines in S51 that the folder 34c to be released from the shared state is designated via the operation unit 31, the shared folder management service 35b releases the shared state of the folder 34c designated via the operation unit 31 (S52).

  Next, the shared folder management service 35b deletes the folder 34c released from the shared state in S52 from the shared folder information 34b (S53), and ends the operation shown in FIG.

  Next, the operation of the computer 30 when the execution of the shared folder management program 34a is terminated will be described.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the operation of the computer 30 when the execution of the shared folder management program 34a is terminated.

  When the shared folder management service 35b of the computer 30 ends the execution of the shared folder management program 34a, the shared folder management service 35b executes the operation shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the shared folder management service 35b determines whether or not there is a shared folder 34c based on the shared folder information 34b (S61).

  If the shared folder management service 35b determines in S61 that the shared folder 34c does not exist, the operation shown in FIG. 7 is terminated.

  If the shared folder management service 35b determines in S61 that the shared folder 34c exists, the shared folder 34c cancels the shared state of the shared folder 34c (S62).

  Next, the shared folder management service 35b deletes the folder 34c released from the shared state in S62 from the shared folder information 34b (S63), and ends the operation shown in FIG.

  Next, the operation of the image processing system 10 when a job is executed by the MFP 20 will be described.

  FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram of the operation of the image processing system 10 when a job is executed by the MFP 20.

  A user who has authority to operate the computer 30 inputs an operation for causing the computer 30 to activate the shared folder information management service 35 a to the operation unit 31 of the computer 30. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, the control unit 35 of the computer 30 executes the shared folder management program 34a in response to an input to the operation unit 31 by the user to activate the shared folder information management service 35a (S71).

  Next, the user moves from the place where the computer 30 is installed to the place where the MFP 20 is installed, and uses the operation unit 21 of the MFP 20 to obtain the user ID as the user identification information and the user password. Login to the MFP 20 is attempted. Therefore, the control unit 28 of the MFP 20 permits login based on the combination of the user ID and password input via the operation unit 21 (S72).

  Next, the user inputs to the operation unit 21 of the MFP 20 an operation of pressing a data acquisition destination selection button (not shown) displayed on the display unit 22 of the MFP 20 after login. Therefore, the search message distribution unit 28a of the MFP 20 distributes a search message for searching for the computer 30 to the network 11 via the network communication unit 26 (S73). For example, the search message delivery means 28a transmits a Probe message as a search message for searching the computer 30 using WS-Discovery (Web Services Dynamic Discovery). That is, the search message delivery means 28a uses the UDP (User Datagram Protocol) multicast to search the computer 30 on which the shared folder information management service 35a is activated, and uses the computer 30 on which the shared folder information management service 35a is activated. A Probe message for searching for is transmitted. The search message delivery unit 28a may transmit the search message including the user ID input via the operation unit 21 at the time of login in S72.

  When the search service 35d of the computer 30 receives the search message distributed in S73 via the network communication unit 33, if the search service 35d itself matches the content of the search message, a response message is sent to the MFP 20 that has transmitted the search message. A reply is made through the network communication unit 33 (S74). For example, when the search message distributed in S73 is a WS-Discovery Probe message, the search service 35d returns a WS-Discovery ProbeMatch message as a response message. As a result, the MFP 20 can recognize the location of the computer 30. The search service 35d may return a response message to the MFP 20 only when the MFP 20 has transmitted a search message including a specific user ID. Here, the specific user ID is a user ID associated with the shared folder indicated in the shared folder information 34b.

  When the shared folder information request unit 28b of the MFP 20 receives the response message returned in S74 via the network communication unit 26, the shared folder information request unit 28b requests the shared folder information via the network communication unit 26 from the computer 30 that has transmitted the response message. (S75). The shared folder information requesting unit 28ba may transmit the user ID input via the operation unit 21 at the time of login in S72 in the request in S75.

  When the shared folder information service 35e of the computer 30 receives the shared folder information request in S75 via the network communication unit 33, the shared folder information 34b managed by the shared folder information management system 35c is obtained in S75. Is transmitted via the network communication unit 33 to the MFP 20 that has requested (S76). Here, the shared folder information service 35e transmits access information for accessing the shared folder management service 35b to the MFP 20. The shared folder information service 35e may transmit only the shared folder information 34b indicating the shared folder associated with the user ID included in the request in S75 to the MFP 20.

  When the shared folder information display unit 28c of the MFP 20 receives the shared folder information transmitted in S76 via the network communication unit 26, the shared folder information is displayed on the display unit 22 (S77). Here, when the shared folder information display unit 28c receives a plurality of pieces of shared folder information, the shared folder information display unit 28c causes the display unit 22 to display all the received pieces of shared folder information. For example, when shared folder information is transmitted from the shared folder information service of a plurality of computers, the shared folder information display unit 28c displays all the shared folder information transmitted from each of the shared folder information services of the plurality of computers. This is displayed on the unit 22.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of shared folder information displayed on the display unit 22.

  The screen shown in FIG. 9 includes a folder name area 91 indicating the name of the shared folder, a button 92 for requesting a list of job data stored in the shared folder selected in the folder name area 91, and FIG. And a button 93 for receiving an instruction to end the operation shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the user selects an arbitrary shared folder from among the shared folders indicated by the shared folder information displayed on the display unit 22 in S77 by using the operation unit 21, and requests a list of job data. Can be directed. When the job data acquisition unit 28d of the MFP 20 selects a shared folder in response to an instruction input to the operation unit 21 and is instructed to request a list of job data, the job data acquisition unit 28d stores a list of job data stored in the shared folder. To the shared folder management service that manages this shared folder. For example, when the shared folder selected according to the instruction input to the operation unit 21 is managed by the shared folder management service 35b of the computer 30, the job data acquisition unit 28d stores the job stored in the shared folder. A list of data is requested to the shared folder management service 35b (S78). Here, the job data acquisition unit 28d transmits the access information transmitted from the shared folder information service 35e in S76 to the shared folder management service 35b in order to access the shared folder management service 35b. Accordingly, the shared folder management service 35b permits access from the MFP 20 based on the access information transmitted from the MFP 20.

  When a list of job data stored in the shared folder managed by the computer 30 is requested in S78, the shared folder management service 35b of the computer 30 transmits this list to the MFP 20 (S79).

  When the job data acquisition unit 28d of the MFP 20 receives the list transmitted in S79 via the network communication unit 26, the job data acquisition unit 28d displays the list on the display unit 22 (S80).

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a list of job data displayed on the display unit 22.

  The screen shown in FIG. 10 includes a job data name area 95 indicating the name of job data stored in the shared folder, and a request for executing a job based on the job data selected in the job data name area 95. A button 96 and a button 93 for receiving an instruction to end the operation shown in FIG. 8 are included.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the user can instruct execution of a job by selecting arbitrary job data from the job data included in the list displayed on the display unit 22 in S80 using the operation unit 21. . When the job data acquisition unit 28d of the MFP 20 selects job data according to an instruction input to the operation unit 21 and is instructed to execute the job, the job data acquisition unit 28d stores the job data in the shared folder that stores the job data. Request to the shared folder management service that manages For example, when job data selected in accordance with an instruction input to the operation unit 21 is stored in a shared folder managed by the shared folder management service 35b of the computer 30, the job data acquisition unit 28d The data is requested to the shared folder management service 35b (S81). Here, the job data acquisition unit 28d transmits the access information transmitted from the shared folder information service 35e in S76 to the shared folder management service 35b in order to access the shared folder management service 35b. Accordingly, the shared folder management service 35b permits access from the MFP 20 based on the access information transmitted from the MFP 20.

  When the job data stored in the shared folder managed by the computer 30 is requested in S81, the shared folder management service 35b of the computer 30 transmits the job data to the MFP 20 (S82).

  When the job data acquisition unit 28d of the MFP 20 receives the job data transmitted in S82 via the network communication unit 26, the job execution unit 28e of the MFP 20 executes a job based on the job data (S83). For example, when the job data transmitted in S82 is print data, the job execution unit 28e executes a print job by the printer 24 based on the print data.

  As described above, the image processing system 10 makes the computer 30 share the folder 34c storing the job data for the image processing job only when the shared folder management program 34a is running (S42). It is possible to reduce the risk of information leaking from the job data stored in the shared folder.

  Since the image processing system 10 acquires job data from the shared folder selected according to the instruction input to the operation unit 21 of the MFP 20 to the MFP 20 (S75 to S82), the image processing system 10 stores the job data in the shared folder selected by the user. It is possible to cause the MFP 20 to execute a job based on the current job data.

  The image processing system 10 uses a search message distributed from the MFP 20 to the network 11 and a computer 30 including a shared folder storing job data by a response message transmitted by the computer 30 in response to the search message. Since the MFP 20 specifies (S73 and S74), the information of the computer 30 having the shared folder storing the job data need not be set in the MFP 20 in advance, and can be easily realized.

  In the image processing system 10, since the computer 30 returns a response message to the MFP 20 that has transmitted the search message including the user ID of the specific user, the computer includes a shared folder associated with the specific user. Can be identified by the MFP 20. Therefore, the image processing system 10 can reduce the risk of information leaking from job data stored in the shared folder of the computer 30.

  In the image processing system 10, since only the MFP 20 that transmits the access information transmitted from the computer 30 to the computer 30 can access the shared folder, information is leaked from the job data stored in the shared folder of the computer 30. The risk of doing so can be reduced.

  In the image processing system 10, since the shared folder of the computer 30 in which the shared folder management program 34a is activated is automatically included in the shared folder information (S43), information on the shared folder storing the job data is stored in the MFP 20 in advance. This can be easily realized.

  The image processing apparatus of the present invention is an MFP in the present embodiment, but may be an image processing apparatus other than the MFP, such as a dedicated printer.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image processing system 11 Network 20 MFP (image processing apparatus)
21 Operation unit (input device)
22 Display unit (display device)
28a Search message delivery means 28b Shared folder information request means 28c Shared folder information display means 28d Job data acquisition means 30 Computer 34a Shared folder management program 34b Shared folder information 34c Folder 35b Shared folder management service (shared folder management means)
35c Shared folder information management system (shared folder information management means)
35d search service (response message reply means)
35e Shared folder information service (shared folder information transmission means)

Claims (7)

A computer that executes a shared folder management program for managing a shared folder that stores job data for a job that processes images;
An image processing apparatus that executes a job based on the job data,
The image processing apparatus includes job data acquisition means for acquiring the job data from the shared folder,
The shared folder management program causes the computer to function as shared folder management means for managing the shared folder,
The image processing system, wherein the shared folder management unit generates the shared folder while setting the folder in a shared state only while the shared folder management program is running. The image processing apparatus includes:
An input device where instructions are entered;
A display device for displaying information;
Shared folder information requesting means for requesting the computer for shared folder information indicating the shared folder;
A shared folder information display means for displaying the shared folder information transmitted by the computer on the display device;
The job data acquisition unit acquires the job data from a shared folder selected according to an instruction input to the input device among the shared folders indicated by the shared folder information displayed on the display device. ,
The shared folder management program is
Shared folder information management means for managing the shared folder information indicating the shared folder generated by the shared folder management means, and
The computer is caused to function as a shared folder information transmission unit that transmits the shared folder information managed by the shared folder information management unit to the image processing apparatus that has requested the shared folder information. 2. The image processing system according to 1. The image processing apparatus includes search message distribution means for distributing a search message for searching the computer over a network,
The shared folder management program causes the computer to function as a response message return means for returning a response message for responding to the search message to the image processing apparatus that has transmitted the search message,
The image processing system according to claim 2, wherein the shared folder information request unit requests the shared folder information from the computer that has transmitted the response message. The search message distribution means distributes the search message including user identification information input from the input device,
The image processing system according to claim 3, wherein the response message reply unit returns the response message to the image processing apparatus that has transmitted the search message including the specific identification information. The shared folder information transmitting means transmits access information for accessing the shared folder management means to the image processing apparatus to which the shared folder information is transmitted,
The job data acquisition means transmits the access information transmitted from the computer to the computer when acquiring the job data from the shared folder,
5. The shared folder management unit permits access from the image processing apparatus based on the access information transmitted from the image processing apparatus. The image processing system described.   6. The image processing system according to claim 2, wherein, when the shared folder is generated, the shared folder management unit includes the generated shared folder in the shared folder information. . A shared folder management program for managing a shared folder that stores job data for a job that processes images,
Let the computer function as a shared folder management means for managing the shared folder,
The shared folder management program is characterized in that the shared folder management means generates the shared folder by setting a folder in a shared state only while the shared folder management program is running.

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