JP2017135602A - Image forming system and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suitably give a privilege that allows use of an image reader to only one portable terminal device used as a user interface.SOLUTION: (a) When an image forming apparatus 1 and a portable terminal device 3 are connected in a network communication device 31, a privilege management part 42 gives the portable terminal device 3 a first level privilege that does not allow use of an image reader 35. (b) If a portable terminal device 3 given a second level privilege that allows use of the image reader 35 is not present when the portable terminal device 3 is detected by a near distance communication device 32, the privilege management part gives a second level privilege to the portable terminal device 3 given the first level privilege. (a) When the first level privilege is given, a controller 41 displays a first operation screen that does not allow use of the image reader 35, on the portable terminal device 3. (b) When the second level privilege is given, the controller displays a second operation screen that allows use of the image reader 35, on the portable terminal device 3.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming system and an image forming apparatus.

  In some systems, a remote operation device functions as an operation unit of a digital copying machine, and a user can use the digital copying machine using the remote operation device (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2004-363969 A

  When a user uses a portable terminal device as a user interface of an image forming apparatus such as a multifunction peripheral, the user directly uses the image forming apparatus for printing (that is, printing of character images, photo images, etc. based on document data) Since it can be executed without operation, even if a plurality of users operate the mobile terminal device and send a print command to the image forming apparatus in parallel, printing is performed in order. There is no problem.

  On the other hand, for copying and image scanning, it is difficult for a plurality of users to use the image forming apparatus at the same time because the user needs to directly operate the image reading apparatus. Therefore, when a plurality of users operate the mobile terminal device and send a copy or image scan command to the image forming apparatus, one user executes the copy or image scan using the image forming apparatus. Although it is possible, other users cannot perform copying or image scanning using the image forming apparatus even though they are operating the portable terminal device.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and in the case where the mobile terminal device is used as the user interface of each user, the image is displayed only on one mobile terminal device (that is, one user). An object of the present invention is to obtain an image forming system and an image forming apparatus that appropriately grant authority to use a reading apparatus.

  An image forming system according to the present invention includes a mobile terminal device and an image forming device that communicates with the mobile terminal device and is used as a user interface. The image forming apparatus includes an image reading apparatus that reads an image of a placed document, a network communication apparatus, a short-range communication apparatus, and (a) the image forming apparatus and the mobile terminal apparatus in the network communication apparatus. When connected, the portable terminal device is given a first level authority that cannot use the image reading device, and (b) the image reading device is detected when the portable terminal device is detected by the short-range communication device. If there is no mobile terminal device to which the second level authority that can use the device is granted, an authority management unit that grants the second level authority to the mobile terminal device to which the first level authority is granted; (A) When the first level authority is granted by the authority management unit, an authority grant notification indicating that the first level authority is granted is transmitted to the portable terminal device, and the image reading device And (b) an authority notification indicating that the second level authority is granted when the authority management unit grants the second level authority. Is transmitted to the mobile terminal device to display an operation screen on which the image reading device can be used on the mobile terminal device, and (c) receives a command based on an operation on the first operation screen or the second operation screen. Then, when the process corresponding to the received command is permitted based on the authority given to the portable terminal device that has transmitted the command, a controller that executes the process corresponding to the command is provided.

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention is an image forming apparatus that communicates with a mobile terminal device and is used as a user interface, an image reading device that reads an image of a placed document, a network communication device, and a short-range communication device (A) When the image forming apparatus and the portable terminal device are connected by the network communication device, a first level authority that cannot use the image reading device is granted to the portable terminal device, and (b) ) If the mobile terminal device is detected by the short-range communication device, and there is no mobile terminal device to which the second level authority that can use the image reading device does not exist, the first level authority is granted. An authority management unit that grants the second level authority to the granted mobile terminal device; and (a) when the first level authority is granted by the authority management unit; An authority grant notification indicating that the bell authority has been granted is transmitted to the portable terminal device, and a first operation screen in which the image reading device cannot be used is displayed on the portable terminal device, and (b) the authority management unit When the second level authority is granted by the second operation screen, the authority reading notification indicating that the second level authority is granted is transmitted to the portable terminal device, and the image reading apparatus can be used. Is displayed on the portable terminal device, and (c) when a command based on an operation on the first operation screen or the second operation screen is received, the process corresponding to the received command transmits the command. And a controller that executes a process corresponding to the command when permitted based on the authority given to the apparatus.

  According to the present invention, when the mobile terminal device is used as the user interface of each user, only one mobile terminal device (that is, one user) is properly authorized to use the image reading device. An image forming system and an image forming apparatus to be applied are obtained.

  These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 in FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the short-range communication device 32 and the processor 33 of the image forming apparatus 1 illustrated in FIG. FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram for explaining the operation of each device in the system shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a first operation screen displayed on the mobile terminal device 3 in FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a second operation screen displayed on the mobile terminal device 3 in FIG.

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

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the system shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 is connected to the network 2, and the mobile terminal device 3 can be connected to the network 2. In addition, the portable terminal device 3 is carried by each user, and when there are a plurality of users, there are a plurality of portable terminal devices 3.

  The image forming apparatus 1 is an apparatus such as a facsimile machine or a multifunction machine, and uses the mobile terminal device 3 as a user interface. The image forming apparatus 1 does not include an operation panel as a user interface, and uses the mobile terminal device 3 as a user interface.

  When the user wants to perform copying or image scanning, the user needs to set the document on the image forming apparatus 1 and moves toward the image forming apparatus 1. At that time, since the mobile terminal device 3 is carried by the user, the mobile terminal device 3 also moves toward the image forming apparatus 1 together with the user.

  The mobile terminal device 3 is a device such as a smartphone or a tablet personal computer, and has a network communication function that can be connected to the network 2, a short-range wireless communication function such as Bluetooth (trademark), a user interface function of the image forming apparatus 1, and the like. Is provided.

  The portable terminal device 3 includes a display device, an input device, and a driver that controls the display device and the input device and communicates with the image forming device 1. The image forming device 1 includes the display device, the input device, and the driver. Realize the user interface function.

  The user interface function includes display of an operation screen, reception of a user operation, and transmission of a command based on the user operation. As the command, an execution command for executing processing such as printing and scanning, a setting command for setting processing, and the like are used.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 in FIG.

  The image forming apparatus 1 includes a network communication device 31, a short-range communication device 32, a processor 33, a printing device 34, an image reading device 35, a facsimile device 36, and the like.

  The network communication device 31 is a network interface or the like, and is a device that performs data communication with the mobile terminal device 3 via the network 2.

  The short-range communication device 32 is a device that detects the mobile terminal device 3 existing within a predetermined distance and performs wireless communication with the detected mobile terminal device 3. As the short-range communication device 32, for example, a Bluetooth (trademark) communication device is used.

  The processor 33 is a computer having, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a RAM (Random Access Memory), and a program stored in a ROM or a storage device (not shown) is stored in the RAM. When loaded and executed by the CPU, it operates as various processing units.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the short-range communication device 32 and the processor 33 of the image forming apparatus 1 illustrated in FIG. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the processor 33 (CPU 33a, etc.) is arranged on the main board 101, and the short-range communication device 32 is arranged on another NFC board 102 as one IC (Integrated Circuit) chip. . Connectors 112 and 121 are provided on the main board 101 and the NFC board 102, respectively. Then, the CPU 33a and the short-range communication device 32 are connected by an I2C interface using the real-time clock circuit 111, and the signal SIG is transmitted and received in synchronization with the clock CLK generated by the real-time clock circuit 111.

  The printing device 34 prints an image based on document data received from the mobile terminal device 3 or the like. The image reading device 35 optically reads a document image from a document placed on a platen glass or the like, and generates image data of the document image. The facsimile device 36 generates and transmits a facsimile signal such as an image based on document data received from the portable terminal device 3 or the like, and receives a facsimile signal from the outside and generates an image from the facsimile signal.

  The processor 33 operates as the controller 41 and the authority management unit 42.

  The controller 41 controls internal devices such as the printing device 34, the image reading device 35, and the facsimile device 36, and executes various processes.

  Further, the controller 41 (a) when the authority management unit 42 grants the first level authority to the mobile terminal device 2, the controller 41 gives an authority grant notification indicating that the first level authority has been granted. When the first operation screen that cannot use the image reading device 35 is displayed on the mobile terminal device 3, and (b) the second level authority is given to the mobile terminal device 3 by the authority management unit 42. , An authority grant notification indicating that the second level authority has been granted is transmitted to the mobile terminal device 3, and a second operation screen that can use the image reading device 35 is displayed on the mobile terminal device 3. ) When a command based on an operation on the first operation screen or the second operation screen is received, processing corresponding to the received command is permitted based on the authority given to the mobile terminal device 3 that transmitted the command. When, it executes a process corresponding to the command. If the process corresponding to the received command is not permitted based on the authority granted to the mobile terminal device 3 that transmitted the command, the process corresponding to the command is not executed.

  The authority management unit 42 gives (a) a first-level authority that cannot use the image reading device 35 to the mobile terminal device 3 when the image forming apparatus 1 and the mobile terminal device 3 are connected by the network communication device 31. (B) When the mobile terminal device 3 is detected by the short-range communication device 32, if there is no mobile terminal device to which the second level authority that can use the image reading device 35 exists, The second level authority is granted to the portable terminal device 3 to which the first level authority is granted. That is, the second level authority is exclusively granted to one mobile terminal device 3.

  Note that the printing device 34 can be used for both the first level authority and the second level authority. With the first level authority, a print job can be executed, but a copy job and a scan job cannot be executed. On the other hand, the second level authority can execute a print job, a copy job, and a scan job.

  Further, the authority management unit 42 grants the second level authority to the portable terminal device 3, and then when the non-use period of the predetermined time or more for the image reading device 35 is detected, the second level of the portable terminal device 3 is detected. The authority is discarded and the first level authority is given to the mobile terminal device 3. As a result, when the user of the portable terminal device 3 to which the second level authority is granted has left the image forming apparatus 1, it is possible to separately give the user the second level authority after the non-use period has elapsed. Become.

  Further, in this embodiment, the authority management unit 42 (a) generates a new password (here, a password different from a previously issued password) when granting the second level authority, and uses the password. (B) Invalidate the password when revoking the second level authority. Then, the controller 41 (a) transmits the generated password to the mobile terminal device 3 that grants the second level authority, and (b1) uses the image reading device 35 when a valid password is received together with the command. (B2) When a valid password is not received together with the command, the processing using the image reading device 35 is rejected. As a result, it becomes impossible to execute processing using the image reading device 35 using the mobile terminal device 3 to which the second level authority has been previously granted, and operations based on the second level authority simultaneously by a plurality of users. Is not done.

  Next, the operation of each device in the system shown in FIG. 1 will be described. FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram for explaining the operation of each device in the system shown in FIG.

  When the user wants to use the image forming apparatus 1, the user operates the mobile terminal apparatus 3 to connect the mobile terminal apparatus 3 to the image forming apparatus 1 via the network 2. At this time, in the image forming apparatus 1, the network communication device 31 establishes a connection with the mobile terminal device 3 (step S1).

  The controller 41 identifies the mobile terminal device 3 to which the connection has been established by the network communication device 31 based on, for example, a network identifier (such as an IP address) received from the mobile terminal device 3, and the authority management unit 42 has been identified. The first level authority is given to the mobile terminal device 3 (step S2).

  Then, the controller 41 transmits an authority grant notification indicating that the first level authority has been granted to the mobile terminal device 3 using the network communication device 31 (step S3), and displays the first operation screen. It is displayed on the portable terminal device 3 (step S4). At this time, when the portable terminal device 3 receives the authority grant notification of the first level authority, it displays the first operation screen.

  This first operation screen is an operation screen in which the image reading device 35 cannot be used. That is, on the first operation screen, the user cannot output a copy or image scan setting command or an execution command.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a first operation screen displayed on the mobile terminal device 3 in FIG. The mobile terminal device 3 illustrated in FIG. 5 includes a display device and an input device. A liquid crystal display 301 is provided as a display device, and a touch panel 302 and hard keys 303 are provided as input devices. For example, the first operation screen shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the liquid crystal display 301. In the first operation screen, only the print tab 311 that can set printing and execute printing is displayed, and the tab that can set and execute copying and image scanning is not displayed. Therefore, the user cannot set and execute copy or image scan.

  When the user wants to execute the printing of the document on the image forming apparatus 1, the user performs a user operation on the print tab 311 of the first operation screen. The mobile terminal device 3 transmits a print setting or print execution command to the image forming device 1 in accordance with a user operation on the first operation screen. In the image forming apparatus 1, the controller 41 receives the command using the network communication device 31 (step S5), and executes processing (print setting, print execution, etc.) corresponding to the received command (step S6). ).

  Further, when the user wants to execute copying or image scanning with the image forming apparatus 1, the user moves toward the image forming apparatus 1 and holds the portable terminal device 3 over the image forming apparatus 1. Thereby, the portable terminal device 3 is detected by the short-range communication device 32 (step S7).

  The controller 41 specifies the portable terminal device 3 detected by the short-range communication device 32, and the authority management unit 42 specifies the second-level authority when none of the portable terminal devices 3 is currently granted. The second level authority is given to the mobile terminal device 3 that has been made (step S8). Note that the authority management unit 42 does not grant the second level authority to the specified mobile terminal device 3 when the second level authority is currently granted to any of the mobile terminal devices 3. Moreover, even if the mobile terminal device 3 is no longer detected by the short-range communication device 32 after the second level authority is granted, the authority management unit 42 does not immediately discard the second level authority.

  And the controller 41 transmits the authority grant notification which shows that the 2nd level authority was provided to the portable terminal device 3 using the network communication apparatus 31 or the near field communication apparatus 32 (step S9). Then, the second operation screen is displayed on the mobile terminal device 3 (step S10). At this time, when the mobile terminal device 3 receives the authority grant notification of the second level authority, it displays the second operation screen.

  The second operation screen is an operation screen in which the image reading device 35 can be used. That is, on the second operation screen, the user can output a print setting command and an execution command, as well as a copy and image scan setting command and an execution command.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a second operation screen displayed on the mobile terminal device 3 in FIG. For example, the second operation screen shown in FIG. 6 is displayed on the liquid crystal display 301. In the second operation screen, in addition to the print tab 311, a copy tab 312 capable of setting copy and executing copy, and a scan tab 313 capable of setting image scan and executing image scan are displayed. Therefore, the user can set and execute copy or image scan on the copy tab 312 or the scan tab 313.

  Then, the user selects any one of the print tab 311, the copy tab 312, and the scan tab 313 on the second operation screen, and performs a user operation on the selected tab. The mobile terminal device 3 transmits a command related to any of printing, copying, and image scanning to the image forming apparatus 1 in accordance with a user operation on the second operation screen. In the image forming apparatus 1, the controller 41 receives the command using the network communication device 31 or the short-range communication device 32 (step S11), and processes corresponding to the received command (job setting, job execution, etc.) Is executed (step S12).

  Further, in the image forming apparatus 1, after the second level authority is granted, the controller 41 uses the non-use period of the image reading apparatus 35 (that is, from the timing of the second level authority grant or the image reading apparatus 35 is used last). When the controller 41 detects a non-use period of the image reading device 35 for a predetermined time or longer (step S13), the authority management unit 42 The second level authority is discarded from the portable terminal device 3, and the first level authority is given to the portable terminal device 3 (step S14).

  Then, the controller 41 transmits an authority discard notification indicating that the second level authority has been discarded to the mobile terminal device 3 using the network communication device 31 or the short-range communication device 32 (step S15). Then, the display of the second operation screen is terminated on the mobile terminal device 3, and the first operation screen is displayed (step S16).

  Thus, even if the second level authority is discarded, the first operation screen is displayed when the connection between the image forming apparatus 1 and the portable terminal device 3 is established.

  Thereafter, when the connection between the image forming apparatus 1 and the portable terminal device 3 is disconnected (step S17), in the image forming apparatus 1, the authority management unit 42 has the authority granted to the portable terminal apparatus 3 at that time. The (first level authority or second level authority) is discarded (step S18), and the mobile terminal device 3 ends the display of the operation screen (first operation screen or second operation screen).

  As described above, according to the embodiment, in the image forming apparatus 1, the authority management unit 42 (a) when the image forming apparatus 1 and the mobile terminal device 3 are connected by the network communication device 31. The first level authority that cannot use the image reading device 35 is given to the portable terminal device 3, and (b) when the portable terminal device 3 is detected by the short-range communication device 32, the image reading device 35 can be used. If the mobile terminal device 3 to which the two-level authority is granted does not exist, the second level authority is granted to the mobile terminal device 3 to which the first level authority is granted. When the first level authority is granted by the authority management unit 42 (a), the controller 41 transmits an authority grant notification indicating that the first level authority has been granted to the mobile terminal device 3, and the image reading device 35, the first operation screen that cannot be used is displayed on the mobile terminal device 3, and (b) when the second level authority is granted by the authority management unit 42, the right grant indicating that the second level right is granted A notification is transmitted to the mobile terminal device 3 to display a second operation screen on which the image reading device 35 can be used on the mobile terminal device 3, and (c) a command based on an operation on the first operation screen or the second operation screen. Upon reception, if the process corresponding to the received command is permitted based on the authority granted to the mobile terminal device 3 that transmitted the command, the process corresponding to the command is executed.

  Thereby, when the mobile terminal device 3 is used as a user interface of each user, only one mobile terminal device 3 (that is, one user) has an authority to use the image reading device 35 appropriately. Is granted.

  Various changes and modifications to the above-described embodiment will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject matter and without diminishing its intended advantages. That is, such changes and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the claims.

  For example, in the above embodiment, when the mobile terminal device 3 is detected by the short-range communication device 32, if the second level authority has already been granted, the controller 41 notifies the mobile terminal device 3 accordingly. May be displayed on the mobile terminal device 3 to that effect (that is, that another user is currently using the image reading device 35).

  The present invention can be applied to, for example, an image forming apparatus including an image reading apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 3 Portable terminal device 31 Network communication apparatus 32 Short-range communication apparatus 34 Printing apparatus 35 Image reading apparatus 41 Controller 42 Authority management part

Claims (5)

A mobile terminal device;
An image forming apparatus that communicates with the mobile terminal device and is used as a user interface;
The image forming apparatus includes:
An image reading device for reading an image of a placed document;
A network communication device;
A near field communication device;
(A) when the image forming apparatus and the mobile terminal device are connected by the network communication device, the mobile terminal device is given a first level authority that cannot use the image reading device; When the portable terminal device is detected by the short-range communication device, if there is no portable terminal device to which the second level authority that can use the image reading device does not exist, the first level authority is granted. An authority management unit for granting the second level authority to the portable terminal device;
(A) When the first level authority is granted by the authority management unit, an authority grant notification indicating that the first level authority is granted is transmitted to the portable terminal device, and the image reading device is An operation screen that cannot be used is displayed on the portable terminal device. (B) When the second level authority is granted by the authority management unit, an authority grant notification indicating that the second level authority is granted is displayed. An operation screen that can be transmitted to the mobile terminal device to display the image reading device is displayed on the mobile terminal device, and (c) a command based on an operation on the first operation screen or the second operation screen is received. If the process corresponding to the received command is permitted based on the authority granted to the mobile terminal device that transmitted the command, the process corresponding to the command is executed. That and a controller,
An image forming system. In an image forming apparatus that communicates with a mobile terminal device and is used as a user interface,
An image reading device for reading an image of a placed document;
A network communication device;
A near field communication device;
(A) when the image forming apparatus and the mobile terminal device are connected by the network communication device, the mobile terminal device is given a first level authority that cannot use the image reading device; When the portable terminal device is detected by the short-range communication device, if there is no portable terminal device to which the second level authority that can use the image reading device does not exist, the first level authority is granted. An authority management unit for granting the second level authority to the portable terminal device;
(A) When the first level authority is granted by the authority management unit, an authority grant notification indicating that the first level authority is granted is transmitted to the portable terminal device, and the image reading device is An unusable first operation screen is displayed on the mobile terminal device, and (b) when the second level authority is granted by the authority management unit, the authorization indicating that the second level authority is granted A notification is transmitted to the portable terminal device, and a second operation screen that can use the image reading device is displayed on the portable terminal device. (C) Based on an operation on the first operation screen or the second operation screen When a command is received, if the process corresponding to the received command is permitted based on the authority granted to the mobile terminal device that transmitted the command, the process corresponding to the command And the controller to run,
An image forming apparatus comprising:   The authority management unit discards the second level authority when a non-use period of a predetermined time or more is detected for the image reading apparatus after giving the second level authority to the portable terminal device. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2. The authority management unit (a) generates a new password when granting the second level authority and validates the password, and (b) invalidates the password when discarding the second level authority. ,
The controller (a) transmits the password to the portable terminal device that grants the second level authority, and (b1) uses the image reading device when the valid password is received together with the command. (B2) rejecting the processing using the image reading device when the valid password is not received with the command;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein: Further comprising a printing device,
Both the first level authority and the second level authority can use the printing apparatus,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus.

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