JP2018191155A - Image log storage system, image log storage method, image formation apparatus, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image log storage system capable of storing an image log of an image formation apparatus having no function for generating the image log.SOLUTION: An image log storage system for storing an image log in which job logs of jobs having been executed by one or more image formation apparatuses are associated with image data visually representing images handled in the jobs includes: an image formation apparatus that executes a job and transmits job information including a job log of the executed job and job data having been used for executing the job; a first server apparatus that from the job data included in the job information, generates image data visually representing an image having been handled in the job; and a second server apparatus that generates an image log by associating the job log with the image data and stores the image log.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an image log storage system, an image log storage method, an image forming apparatus, and a program.

  As a system for managing log information of image data output from an image forming apparatus, there is a system capable of tracking a leakage path when information leakage occurs. In such a system, for the purpose of ensuring security related to image data, the flow of data at a location where an electronically managed document is converted and output as paper is recorded.

  Conventionally, in a log information management system for managing log information in an image forming apparatus, there has been known a technique for efficiently finding necessary information from a vast amount of stored information when an injustice such as information leakage occurs ( For example, see Patent Document 1).

  Conventionally, there has been an image log storage system that stores an image log of a job executed in one or more image forming apparatuses. However, the conventional image log storage system has a problem that the image forming apparatus needs a function of generating an image log, and the image log of the image forming apparatus without the function cannot be stored. Further, the conventional image log storage system has a problem that the image forming apparatus that has executed the job has to perform a heavy load process of converting job data into image data.

  An object of an embodiment of the present invention is to provide an image log storage system capable of storing an image log of an image forming apparatus having no function of generating an image log.

  In order to achieve the above object, claim 1 of the present application corresponds to a job log of a job executed in one or more image forming apparatuses and an image data visually representing an image handled in the job. An image log storage system for storing an attached image log, wherein the job is executed, and a job log of the executed job and job information including job data used for execution of the job are transmitted. An apparatus, a first server that creates image data that visually represents an image handled in the job from the job data included in the job information, and the job log and the image data are associated with each other And a second server device that generates the image log and stores the image log.

  According to the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to provide an image log storage system capable of storing an image log of an image forming apparatus having no function of generating an image log.

It is a block diagram of an example of the image log preservation | save system which concerns on this embodiment. It is a hardware block diagram of an example of the computer which concerns on this embodiment. FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of an example of an MFP according to the present embodiment. It is a processing block diagram of an example of an image forming apparatus before installing a program according to the present embodiment. It is a process block diagram of an example of an image forming device after loading a program concerning this embodiment. It is a processing block diagram of an example of a receiving server device concerning this embodiment. It is a processing block diagram of an example of the aggregation server device concerning this embodiment. It is the sequence diagram of an example which showed the process sequence of the image log preservation | save system which concerns on this embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing of the image forming apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment. It is a block diagram of an example of print data information. FIG. 6 is an image diagram of an example of a print job transfer from a secure print print data storage unit to an image log print data storage unit. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing performed by the image forming apparatus after a print job has been moved to an image log print data storage unit. It is an image figure of an example which shows the process of the receiving server apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is an image figure of an example which shows the process of the aggregation server apparatus which concerns on this embodiment.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. In this embodiment, printing is described as an example of a job executed in the image forming apparatus. In this embodiment, an example of a mechanism (hereinafter referred to as secure printing) in which print data is temporarily stored in the image forming apparatus, and printing is performed at the timing when the user who stored the print data logs in to the image forming apparatus. Will be described.
[First Embodiment]
<System configuration>
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an example of an image log storage system according to the present embodiment. The image log storage system 1 in FIG. 1 includes one or more image forming apparatuses 10, an authentication server apparatus 12, one or more user terminals 14, and a first job log collection server apparatus connected via a network 30 such as the Internet. 16, a second job log collection server device 18, a load distribution device 20, one or more reception server devices 22, an aggregation server device 24, and a log analysis server device 26. The image log storage system 1 in FIG. 1 may be realized on-premises or may be realized using a so-called cloud. The image log storage system 1 in FIG. 1 is an example of a printing system that implements secure printing.

  The user terminal 14 is an information processing apparatus such as a smartphone, a mobile phone, or a PC operated by the user, and transmits print data to the image forming apparatus 10 according to an instruction from the user. The user terminal 14 transmits print data to the image forming apparatus 10 together with user information that is user identification information such as a user ID and a password.

  The image forming apparatus 10 is a printer having a printing function, a copier, a multifunction peripheral, a laser printer, or the like. The image forming apparatus 10 stores the print data received from the user terminal 14 in association with the user information. The image forming apparatus 10 prints the print data stored in association with the user information of the logged-in user.

  The image forming apparatus 10 creates a job log for the executed printing and sends it to the first job log collection server device 16 or the second job log collection server device 18. The image forming apparatus 10 transmits the job log to the first job log collection server apparatus 16 when the state (mode) for storing the image log is selected. The image forming apparatus 10 transmits a job log to the second job log collection server apparatus 18 when a mode in which no image log is stored is selected. The job log is information for recording bibliographic information related to a print job when the print job is executed. Information such as the number of copies printed, whether color printing or black-and-white printing, single-sided printing or double-sided printing, print execution date, user of print job, user who executed print job, etc. Or information other than these information may be included. The job log includes unique identification information described later. For example, as the unique identification information, information that can be extracted from the print data may be used, or information that can be extracted from the print data and device information may be used in combination.

  In addition, the image forming apparatus 10 creates job information including print data that has been printed and device information of the own apparatus, and transmits the job information to the reception server apparatus 22 via the load distribution apparatus 20. The load distribution device 20 distributes job information from the image forming apparatus 10 to the reception server device 22 so that the processing load on the reception server device 22 is distributed.

  The authentication server device 12 authenticates a user who operates the image forming apparatus 10. The first job log collection server device 16 collects job logs transmitted from the image forming apparatus 10 and transmits them to the aggregation server device 24 at predetermined intervals. The second job log collection server device 18 collects job logs transmitted from the image forming apparatus 10.

  The reception server device 22 converts the print data included in the job information from the image forming device 10 into PDF data and JPEG data, which are examples of image data. Further, the receiving server device 22 performs OCR processing on the converted JPEG data to create text data. The receiving server device 22 transmits the PDF data converted from the print data, the created text data, and the device information included in the job information as processed data.

  The aggregation server device 24 performs a matching process between the job log transmitted from the first job log collection server device 16 and the processed data transmitted from the receiving server device 22, and associates the job log and the processed data with the image log. Is generated. The aggregation server device 24 transmits the generated image log to the log analysis server device 26. The log analysis server device 26 analyzes the received image log. The log analysis server device 26 can also analyze the job log received from the second job log collection server device 18. Note that the image log storage system 1 in FIG. 1 is an example, and may have other configurations.

<Hardware configuration>
The authentication server device 12, user terminal 14, first job log collection server device 16, second job log collection server device 18, load distribution device 20, one or more reception server devices 22, and aggregation server device 24 in FIG. 1. The log analysis server device 26 is realized by a computer having a hardware configuration shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of an example of a computer according to the present embodiment.

  A computer 500 illustrated in FIG. 2 includes an input device 501, a display device 502, an external I / F 503, a RAM 504, a ROM 505, a CPU 506, a communication I / F 507, an HDD 508, and the like. . Note that the input device 501 and the display device 502 may be connected and used when necessary.

  The input device 501 includes a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel, and the like, and is used by a user to input each operation signal. The display device 502 includes a display and the like, and displays a processing result by the computer 500.

  The communication I / F 507 is an interface that connects the computer 500 to the network 30. Thereby, the computer 500 can perform data communication via the communication I / F 507.

  The HDD 508 is an example of a nonvolatile storage device that stores programs and data. The stored programs and data include an OS, which is basic software for controlling the entire computer 500, and application software (hereinafter simply referred to as an application) that provides various functions on the OS. The computer 500 may use a drive device (for example, a solid state drive: SSD) that uses a flash memory as a storage medium instead of the HDD 508.

  The external I / F 503 is an interface with an external device. The external device includes a recording medium 503a. Accordingly, the computer 500 can read and / or write the recording medium 503a via the external I / F 503. Examples of the recording medium 503a include a flexible disk, a CD, a DVD, an SD memory card, and a USB memory.

  The ROM 505 is an example of a nonvolatile semiconductor memory (storage device) that can retain programs and data even when the power is turned off. The ROM 505 stores programs and data such as BIOS, OS settings, and network settings that are executed when the computer 500 is started up. The RAM 504 is an example of a volatile semiconductor memory (storage device) that temporarily stores programs and data.

  The CPU 506 is an arithmetic device that realizes control and functions of the entire computer 500 by reading a program and data from a storage device such as the ROM 505 and the HDD 508 onto the RAM 504 and executing processing.

  Authentication server device 12, user terminal 14, first job log collection server device 16, second job log collection server device 18, load distribution device 20, one or more receiving server devices 22, aggregation server according to the present embodiment The device 24 and the log analysis server device 26 can realize various processes as described later by the hardware configuration of the computer 500 described above.

  An MFP (multifunction printer), which is an example of the image forming apparatus 10 in FIG. 1, is realized by a computer having a hardware configuration shown in FIG. 3, for example. FIG. 3 is a hardware configuration diagram of an example of an MFP according to the present embodiment.

  3 includes a controller 601, an operation panel 602, an external I / F 603, a communication I / F 604, a printer 605, a scanner 606, and the like. The controller 601 includes a CPU 611, a RAM 612, a ROM 613, an NVRAM 614, an HDD 615, and the like. The ROM 613 stores various programs and data. The RAM 612 temporarily stores programs and data. The NVRAM 614 stores setting information, for example. The HDD 615 stores various programs and data.

  The CPU 611 implements control and functions of the entire MFP 600 by reading programs, data, setting information, and the like from the ROM 613, the NVRAM 614, the HDD 615, and the like onto the RAM 612 and executing the processing.

  The operation panel 602 includes an input unit that receives input from the user and a display unit that performs display. An external I / F 603 is an interface with an external device. The external device includes a recording medium 603a. Accordingly, the MFP 600 can read and / or write the recording medium 603a via the external I / F 603. Examples of the recording medium 603a include an IC card, a flexible disk, a CD, a DVD, an SD memory card, and a USB memory.

  A communication I / F 604 is an interface for connecting the MFP 600 to the network 30. Accordingly, the MFP 600 can perform data communication via the communication I / F 604. A printer 605 is a printing device for printing print data on a transported object. For example, the object to be conveyed is not limited to paper such as paper, coated paper, cardboard, OHP, plastic film, prepreg, and copper foil. The scanner 606 is a reading device for reading image data (electronic data) from a document and generating an image file (electronic file).

  The image forming apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1 has the above-described hardware configuration, and can implement various processes as will be described later.

<Software configuration>
<Image forming apparatus>
The image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment is realized by a processing block as illustrated in FIG. 4B, for example. FIG. 4A is a processing block diagram of an example of the image forming apparatus before the program according to the present embodiment is installed. FIG. 4B is a processing block diagram of an example of the image forming apparatus after the program according to the present embodiment is installed. Note that the processing blocks in FIGS. 4A and 4B omit configurations unnecessary for the description of the present embodiment.

  The image forming apparatus 10A before installing the program according to the present embodiment includes a print execution unit 55, a job log creation unit 56, and a job log transmission unit 57, as shown in FIG. 4A. The image forming apparatus 10 after installing the program according to the present embodiment executes the program, thereby executing the print data reception unit 51, the operation reception unit 52, the authentication unit 53, the secure print processing unit 54, the print execution unit 55, Job log creation unit 56, job log transmission unit 57, print data acquisition unit 58, device information acquisition unit 59, job information creation unit 60, job information transmission unit 61, secure print data storage unit 71, image log print data A storage unit 72 and a device information storage unit 73 are realized.

  The print data reception unit 51 receives print data together with user information from the user terminal 14 that the user has requested to print, and stores the print data in the secure print data storage unit 71 in association with the user information.

  The operation reception unit 52 receives a login request using user information, which is user identification information such as a user ID and a password, from the user. The authentication unit 53 performs user authentication using user information. The secure print processing unit 54 requests the print execution unit 55 to print the print data of the user who has been successfully authenticated. The print execution unit 55 prints the requested print data. The secure print processing unit 54 moves the print data that has been printed from the secure print data storage unit 71 to the image log print data storage unit 72.

  The job log creation unit 56 creates a job log for the executed printing. The job log transmission unit 57 transmits the created job log to the first job log collection server device 16 or the second job log collection server device 18. The job log collection server apparatus to which the job log is transmitted is set according to whether or not the mode for saving the image log is selected. Here, the image forming apparatus 10 in the mode for storing the image log is in the first job log collection server apparatus 16, and the image forming apparatus 10 in the mode in which the image log is not stored is in the second job log collection server. It is assumed that it is transmitted to the device 18. The print data acquisition unit 58 acquires print data from the image log print data storage unit 72. The device information acquisition unit 59 acquires device information such as the host name and IP address of the own device from the device information storage unit 73. The job information creation unit 60 creates job information including the print data acquired by the print data acquisition unit 58 and the device information of the own device acquired by the device information acquisition unit 59. The job information transmission unit 61 transmits the job information created by the job information creation unit 60 to the reception server device 22 via the load distribution device 20.

  The secure print data storage unit 71 stores secure print data received from the user terminal 14. The secure print print data storage unit 71 also stores print data information described later. The image log print data storage unit 72 stores print data moved from the secure print print data storage unit 71 as described later. The device information storage unit 73 stores device information such as the host name and IP address of the own device.

<Receiving server device>
The receiving server device 22 according to the present embodiment is realized by a processing block as shown in FIG. 5, for example. FIG. 5 is a processing block diagram of an example of the receiving server device according to the present embodiment. Note that the processing block of FIG. 5 omits components unnecessary for the description of the present embodiment. The reception server device 22 implements a job information reception unit 81, a job information processing unit 82, and a processing data transmission unit 83 by executing a program.

  The job information receiving unit 81 receives job information transmitted from the image forming apparatus 10 via the load distribution apparatus 20. The job information processing unit 82 converts print data included in job information from the image forming apparatus 10 into PDF data and JPEG data. The job information processing unit 82 performs OCR processing on the converted JPEG data to create text data.

  Further, the job information processing unit 82 extracts unique identification information from the job information. For example, information such as the date and time of printing that can be extracted from the job information may be used as the unique identification information, or information such as the date and time of printing and the device information of the image forming apparatus 10 that has executed printing may be used. You may use in combination. Unique identification information can be improved in uniqueness by combining information that can be extracted from job information.

  The processed data transmission unit 83 transmits PDF data converted from print data, created text data, device information included in job information, and unique identification information as processed data.

<Aggregation server device>
The aggregation server device 24 according to the present embodiment is realized by a processing block as shown in FIG. 6, for example. FIG. 6 is a processing block diagram of an example of the aggregation server device according to the present embodiment. Note that the processing block diagram of FIG. 6 omits components unnecessary for the description of the present embodiment. The aggregation server device 24 executes the program to realize a job log receiving unit 91, a processed data receiving unit 92, an image log generating unit 93, an image log transmitting unit 94, a processed data storage unit 98, and an image log storage unit 99. .

  The job log receiving unit 91 receives a job log from the first job log collection server device 16. The processed data receiving unit 92 receives the processed data from the receiving server device 22 and stores the processed data in the processed data storage unit 98. The image log generation unit 93 performs matching processing between the job log transmitted from the first job log collection server device 16 and the processing data stored in the processing data storage unit 98. The matching process is performed based on the unique identification information described above.

  The image log generation unit 93 generates an image log by associating the job log created from the same print job with the processed data by matching processing based on the unique identification information, and stores the image log in the image log storage unit 99. The image log transmission unit 94 transmits the image log stored in the image log storage unit 99 to the log analysis server device 26.

<Details of processing>
Hereinafter, details of processing of the image log storage system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

<Processing overview of image log storage system>
FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of a processing procedure of the image log storage system according to the present embodiment. In step S <b> 10, the user issues a print instruction specifying the image forming apparatus 10 to be printed to the user terminal 14. The designated printer driver of the image forming apparatus 10 converts the print target data into print data in a description format that can be printed by the image forming apparatus 10, and creates a print job including the print data and user information.

  In step S <b> 11, the user terminal 14 transmits the created print job to the image forming apparatus 10 designated by the user as the image forming apparatus 10 that is desired to execute printing. In step S <b> 12, the image forming apparatus 10 stores the print job received from the user terminal 14 in the secure print data storage unit 71. As described above, in the secure print, the print job transmitted from the user terminal 14 to the image forming apparatus 10 is stored in the secure print data storage unit 71.

  In step S13, the user who has issued a print instruction from the user terminal 14 inputs user information to, for example, the operation panel 602 of the image forming apparatus 10 that is desired to execute printing, and requests login. Note that the user information may be input using an IC card or the like that can directly or indirectly read the user information.

  In step S <b> 14, the image forming apparatus 10 performs user authentication in cooperation with the authentication server apparatus 12. If the user authentication is successful, the image forming apparatus 10 proceeds to step S15, and prints a print job associated with the user who has succeeded in user authentication. In step S16, the image forming apparatus 10 creates a job log for the executed printing.

  In step S 17, the image forming apparatus 10 transmits the created job log to the first job log collection server apparatus 16. The sequence diagram of FIG. 7 is an example in which a mode for saving an image log is selected. Note that the image forming apparatus 10 in which the mode for saving the image log is not selected transmits the created job log to the second job log collection server apparatus 18.

  In step S18, the image forming apparatus 10 creates job information for the executed printing as described below. In step S 19, the image forming apparatus 10 transmits the created job information to the receiving server apparatus 22 via the load distribution apparatus 20. In FIG. 7, the load balancer 20 is omitted.

  In step S20, the receiving server device 22 creates processing data as described later from the received job information. In step S <b> 21, the reception server device 22 transmits the created processed data to the aggregation server device 24. In step S22, the aggregation server device 24 stores the received processing data. In step S23, the aggregation server device 24 receives a job log from the first job log collection server device 16.

  In step S24, the aggregation server device 24 performs a matching process between the processing data stored in step S22 and the job log received in step S23. The aggregation server device 24 generates an image log by associating the job log created from the same print job with the processed data by the matching process based on the unique identification information. In step S25, the aggregation server device 24 stores the generated image log.

  When receiving the image log request from the log analysis server device 26, the aggregation server device 24 transmits the image log stored in step S 25 to the log analysis server device 26. The sequence diagram shown in FIG. 7 shows an example in which the image log is transmitted to the log analysis server device 26 as a response to the image log request from the log analysis server device 26. The aggregation server device 24 may voluntarily transmit the image log to the log analysis server device 26 such as time. In addition, the sequence diagram illustrated in FIG. 7 illustrates an example in which the job log is received after the aggregation server device 24 receives the processed data, but the order is not limited to this order.

<Processing of image forming apparatus>
In the image forming apparatus 10 that has succeeded in user authentication, processing as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 8 is executed. FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an example showing processing of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  When the user authentication is successful in step S31, the process proceeds to step S32, and the secure print processing unit 54 refers to, for example, the print data information in FIG. 9, and selects the print job of the user who has succeeded in the user authentication. FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of an example of print data information. The print data information includes data ID, user name, file name, color information, number of copies, and print data storage destination file path as items. The secure print processing unit 54 reads the selected print job from the secure print print data storage unit 71. Then, the secure print processing unit 54 requests the print execution unit 55 to print the read print job.

  In step S33, the print execution unit 55 prints the print job requested from the secure print processing unit 54. In step S 34, the secure print processing unit 54 moves the print job requested to be printed to the print execution unit 55 in step S 33 from the secure print data storage unit 71 to the image log print data storage unit 72.

  In step S35, the job log creation unit 56 creates a job log for the print executed in step S33. The job log includes unique identification information used for matching processing in the aggregation server device 24. If the unique identification information can be created from the job log, the unique identification information may be created by the aggregation server device 24 instead of being created by the image forming apparatus 10.

  In step S57, the job log transmission unit 57 selects the first job log collection server device 16 or the second job log collection server device 18 as a job log transmission destination. The job log transmission unit 57 selects the first job log collection server device 16 as the transmission destination of the job log when the mode for saving the image log is selected. When the mode in which the image log is not stored is selected, the job log transmission unit 57 selects the second job log collection server device 18 as a job log transmission destination. In step S37, the job log transmission unit 57 transmits the job log to the selected transmission destination.

  In the process of the flowchart of FIG. 8, the print job is moved from the secure print data storage unit 71 to the image log print data storage unit 72 as shown in FIG. FIG. 10 is an image diagram of an example of a print job transfer from the secure print data storage unit to the image log print data storage unit.

  FIG. 10A shows a state in which the print job received from the user terminal is stored in the secure print data storage unit 71. By rewriting the directory path of the print job that has been printed, the print job stored in the secure print data storage unit 71 is printed as an image log as shown in FIGS. 10B and 10C. It is moved to the data storage unit 72. FIG. 10D shows a state in which the print job is deleted from the image log print data storage unit 72 after the job information to be transmitted to the reception server device 22 is created.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the print job received from the user terminal 14 is accumulated in the secure print data storage unit 71 until printing is executed. When printing is executed, the print job is moved from the secure print data storage unit 71 to the image log print data storage unit 72.

  As a result, a program that performs processing related to secure printing, such as a secure print application, refers to the print data storage unit 71 for secure printing, so that it appears that the print job has been deleted after printing. In addition, since a program that performs processing related to image log storage such as an image log application refers to the image log print data storage unit 72, a print job can be referred to after printing. The print job stored in the image log print data storage unit 72 is automatically deleted after creating job information to be transmitted to the reception server device 22.

  For the print job moved from the secure print data storage unit 71 to the image log print data storage unit 72, the image forming apparatus 10 transmits job information as shown in FIG. Execute the process. FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing performed by the image forming apparatus after the print job has been moved to the image log print data storage unit.

  If it is determined in step S41 that the print job is stored in the image log print data storage unit 72, the process proceeds to step S42, and the print data acquisition unit 58 reads the print job from the image log print data storage unit 72. The device information acquisition unit 59 acquires device information such as the host name and IP address of the own device from the device information storage unit 73.

  In step S43, the job information creation unit 60 creates job information including the print data acquired by the print data acquisition unit 58 and the device information of the own device acquired by the device information acquisition unit 59 in step S42. In step S44, the job information transmission unit 61 transmits the created job information to the reception server device 22 via the load distribution device 20. Then, the job information creation unit 60 deletes the print job for which the job information has been created from the image log print data storage unit 72.

<Processing of the receiving server device>
In the receiving server device 22 that has received the job information, for example, processing for creating processed data as shown in FIG. 12 is executed. FIG. 12 is an image diagram of an example showing processing of the receiving server device according to the present embodiment.

  The job information receiving unit 81 of the receiving server apparatus 22 receives the job information 101 transmitted from the image forming apparatus 10 via the load distribution apparatus 20. The job information processing unit 82 converts the RAW data 102 that is an example of print data included in the job information 101 from the image forming apparatus 10 into an image, and creates a PDF file 105 that is an example of PDF data.

  Further, the job information processing unit 82 creates a JPEG file that is an example of JPEG data obtained by converting the RAW data 102 into an image, and performs OCR processing on the JPEG file to extract an OCR text 106 that is an example of text data. Further, the job information processing unit 82 extracts the association key 107 which is an example of unique identification information from the RAW data 102 included in the job information 101.

  The processed data transmission unit 83 transmits the PDF file 105, the OCR text 106, the device information 103 included in the job information 101, and the association key 107 to the aggregation server device 24 as processed data.

  In the image log storage system 1 according to the present embodiment, image conversion of print data having a large processing load among processes for storing an image log is executed by the receiving server device 22 other than the image forming apparatus 10 that performs the print processing. For this reason, in the image log storage system 1 according to the present embodiment, load distribution by the plurality of receiving server devices 22 is facilitated.

<< Processing of aggregation server device >>
In the aggregation server device 24 that has received the processed data and the job log, for example, a process for generating an image log as shown in FIG. 13 is executed. FIG. 13 is an image diagram of an example showing processing of the aggregation server device according to the present embodiment.

  The processed data receiving unit 92 of the aggregation server device 24 receives the processed data 111 from the receiving server device 22 and stores the processed data 111 in the processed data storage unit 98. The job log receiving unit 91 receives the job log 112 from the first job log collection server device 16. The job log receiving unit 91 may receive the job log 112 from the first job log collection server device 16 collectively for a predetermined time by night batch or the like.

  The image log generation unit 93 matches the association key of the job log 112 transmitted from the first job log collection server device 16 with the association key of the processing data 111 stored in the processing data storage unit 98, and performs matching processing. Do. The image log generation unit 93 generates the image log 113 by associating the processing data created from the same print job by the matching process with the job log, and stores the image log 113 in the image log storage unit 99. Thereafter, for example, if there is an image log request from the log analysis server device 26, the image log transmission unit 94 transmits the image log stored in the image log storage unit 99 to the log analysis server device 26.

(Summary)
As described above, the image log storage system 1 according to the present embodiment can store the image log of the image forming apparatus 10 having no function of generating an image log. In the image log storage system 1 according to the present embodiment, after printing a print job, when viewed from a program such as an application that controls printing, the print job is displayed in the background as if the print job was deleted. Can leave. Further, the program related to the generation of the image log can proceed with the process of generating the image log by referring to the print job remaining in the background.

  The present invention is not limited to the specifically disclosed embodiments, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the claims. For example, when the present invention is applied to the image forming apparatus 10 having a function of transmitting a job log, the image log can be stored without being replaced with an image forming apparatus having a function of transmitting an image log. The receiving server device 22 is an example of a first server device described in the claims. The aggregation server device 24 is an example of a second server device.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image log storage system 10 Image forming apparatus 12 Authentication server apparatus 14 User terminal 16 1st job log collection server apparatus 18 2nd job log collection server apparatus 20 Load distribution apparatus 22 Receiving server apparatus 24 Aggregation server apparatus 26 Log analysis server Device 30 Network 51 Print data receiving unit 52 Operation receiving unit 53 Authentication unit 54 Secure print processing unit 55 Print execution unit 56 Job log creation unit 57 Job log transmission unit 58 Print data acquisition unit 59 Device information acquisition unit 60 Job information creation unit 61 Job information transmission unit 71 Secure print print data storage unit 72 Image log print data storage unit 73 Device information storage unit 81 Job information reception unit 82 Job information processing unit 83 Processing data transmission unit 91 Job log reception unit 92 Processing data reception unit 93 images Generation unit 94 image log transmission unit 98 processing data storage unit 99 image log storage unit 101 job information 102 RAW data 103 device information 104 image data 105 PDF file 106 OCR text 107 associated key 111 processing data 112 job log 113 image log 500 computer 501 Input device 502 Display device 503 External I / F
503a Recording medium 504 RAM
505 ROM
506 CPU
507 Communication I / F
508 HDD
600 MFP
601 Controller 602 Operation panel 603 External I / F
603a Recording medium 604 Communication I / F
605 Printer 606 Scanner 611 CPU
612 RAM
613 ROM
614 NVRAM
615 HDD
B bus

JP 2008-129873 A

Claims (10)

An image log storage system that stores an image log in which a job log of a job executed in one or more image forming apparatuses and image data that visually represents an image handled in the job are associated with each other. And
An image forming apparatus that executes the job, transmits a job log of the executed job, and job information including job data used to execute the job;
A first server device that creates image data that visually represents an image handled in the job from the job data included in the job information;
A second server device that associates the job log with the image data, generates the image log, and stores the image log;
An image log storage system. The image forming apparatus creates the job log so as to include identification information that can be extracted from the job data used for execution of the job,
The first server device associates identification information that can be extracted from the job data included in the job information with the image data,
2. The image log storage system according to claim 1, wherein the second server device generates the image log by associating the job log having the same identification information with the image data. The image forming apparatus creates the job information so as to include device information of the own machine,
The first server device associates the device information included in the job information with the image data,
The image log storage system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second server device generates the image log by associating the job log, the image data, and the device information. The image forming apparatus has a function of switching between a state in which the image log is stored and a state in which the image log is not stored based on a request from a user, and the transmission destination of the job log when the image log is stored And the transmission destination of the job log when the image log is not saved,
The third server device, which is the transmission destination of the job log when the image log is stored, transmits the job log to the second server device. The image log storage system according to claim 1. An image of an image log storage system that stores an image log in which a job log of a job executed in one or more image forming apparatuses and image data visually representing an image handled in the job are associated with each other A log storage method,
The image forming apparatus executes the job, and transmits a job log of the executed job and job information including job data used for executing the job;
A creation step in which the first server device that has received the job information creates image data that visually represents an image handled in the job from the job data included in the job information;
A second server device that has received the job log and the image data, generates an image log by associating the job log and the image data, and stores the image log;
An image log storage method comprising: An image forming apparatus that executes a job,
First job data storage means for storing job data used for execution of the job received from the user terminal;
Second job data storage means for storing the job data moved from the first job data storage means;
Job execution means for acquiring the job data from the first job data storage means corresponding to the authenticated user and executing the job;
Job log creation means for creating a job log of the executed job;
Job log transmission means for transmitting the job log;
The job data transfer request corresponding to the authenticated user is received from the job execution unit, and the job data having received the transfer request is transferred from the first job data storage unit to the second job data storage unit. Job data storage processing means for causing
Job information creation means for obtaining the job data used for execution of the job from the second job data storage means and creating job information including the job data;
Job information transmitting means for transmitting the job information;
An image forming apparatus. The job data storage processing unit deletes the job data used for creating the job information from the second job data storage unit after the job information is created by the job information creation unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the job information creating unit creates the job information so as to further include device information of the own apparatus. The job information transmission unit has a function of switching between a state of storing an image log and a state of not storing based on a request from a user, and the transmission destination of the job log when the image log is stored The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the job log transmission destination when the image log is not stored is different from the transmission destination of the job log. An image forming device that executes jobs
First job data storage means for storing job data used to execute the job received from the user terminal;
Second job data storage means for storing the job data moved from the first job data storage means;
Job execution means for acquiring the job data from the first job data storage means corresponding to the authenticated user and executing the job;
Job log creation means for creating a job log of the executed job;
Job log transmission means for transmitting the job log;
The job data transfer request corresponding to the authenticated user is received from the job execution unit, and the job data having received the transfer request is transferred from the first job data storage unit to the second job data storage unit. Job data storage processing means,
Job information creation means for obtaining the job data used for execution of the job from the second job data storage means and creating job information including the job data;
Job information transmitting means for transmitting the job information;
Program to function as.

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