JP2019016020A - Server device, information processing system and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a server device, an information processing system and a program which can improve job throughput stored in a server device at a remote place.SOLUTION: A server device comprises: an authentication unit for authenticating log-in of an object user; a first acquisition unit which downloads and acquires the job of the object user, from a first server device indicated by accumulation destination information which indicates an access destination of the first server device which is another server device in which the job of the object user is accumulated, when the object user is specified by the authentication unit; and a first transmission unit which transmits the job requested from an image processing device to the image processing device, of the jobs of the object user acquired by the first acquisition unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to a server device, an information processing system, and a program.

  There is known a system that realizes pull printing in which print data is accumulated from a client device to a plurality of server devices, and the print data is downloaded from the server device and printed at a necessary timing in the image forming apparatus.

  As a system for realizing such pull printing, in order to print print data in a remote server device, a management server includes a user and a server device in which the user's print data (job) is stored. There has been proposed a system that manages associated information and performs control so as to acquire print data from a remote server device during printing on an image forming apparatus (see Patent Document 1).

  However, in the system described in Patent Document 1, when printing print data stored in a remote server device, it takes time to download the print data from the remote server device, and print performance decreases. There is a problem.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and provides a server device, an information processing system, and a program capable of improving the processing performance of a job stored in a remote server device. Objective.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the present invention includes an authentication unit that authenticates a target user's login, and stores the target user's job when the target user is specified by the authentication unit. A first acquisition unit that downloads and acquires the job of the target user from the first server device indicated by the storage destination information indicating the access destination of the first server device that is the other server device that is being used; A first transmission unit configured to transmit, to the image processing device, a job requested by the image processing device among the jobs of the target user acquired by the acquisition unit;

  According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the processing performance of jobs stored in a remote server device.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of the information processing system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the processing server and the management server according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the client according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional block configuration of the information processing system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of job accumulation processing of the information processing system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of the storage destination information table of the management server. FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of a prior download process, a job list acquisition process, and a job acquisition / print process of the information processing system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a job list table of the processing server. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a job list screen of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional block configuration of an information processing system according to the second embodiment. FIG. 12 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of a prior download process, a job list acquisition process, and a job acquisition / print process of the information processing system according to the second embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a remote job management table of the processing server according to the second embodiment. FIG. 14 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of job deletion processing when a job deletion request is issued to the original server in the information processing system according to the second embodiment. FIG. 15 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of job deletion processing when a job deletion request is issued to the copy server in the information processing system according to the second embodiment. FIG. 16 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of a prior download process, a job list acquisition process, and a job acquisition / print process of the information processing system according to the third embodiment. FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example of a remote job management table of the processing server according to the third embodiment. FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an example of a download continuation confirmation screen of the image forming apparatus according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 19 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of job deletion processing after logout in the information processing system according to the fifth embodiment. FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an example of a copy deletion confirmation screen of the image forming apparatus according to the fifth embodiment. FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional block configuration of an information processing system according to the sixth embodiment. FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating an example of a server management table of the processing server according to the sixth embodiment. FIG. 23 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of a prior download process, a job list acquisition process, and a job acquisition / print process of the information processing system according to the seventh embodiment. FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating an example of a server management table of the processing server according to the seventh embodiment. FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional block configuration of an information processing system according to the eighth embodiment. FIG. 26 is a diagram showing an example of the advance download setting screen of the processing server according to the eighth embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of a server device, an information processing system, and a program according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. Further, the present invention is not limited by the following embodiments, and constituent elements in the following embodiments can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art, substantially the same, and so-called equivalent ranges. Is included. Furthermore, various omissions, substitutions, changes, and combinations of the components can be made without departing from the spirit of the following embodiments.

[First Embodiment]
(Overall configuration of information processing system)
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of the information processing system according to the first embodiment. The overall configuration of the information processing system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the information processing system 1 according to the present embodiment is included in a system included in an area A (for example, Japan) and an area B (for example, the United States) that is remote from the area A. The system and the data center C are included, and can communicate with each other via the network 2. The system in area A includes a client 10_1, an image forming apparatus 20_1, and a processing server 30_1, and can communicate with each other via the network 2a. The system in area B includes a client 10_2, an image forming apparatus 20_2, and a processing server 30_2, and can communicate with each other via a network 2b. The data center C includes a management server 40 (management device).

  The configuration form of the network formed in the information processing system 1 shown in FIG. 1 is an example, and the present invention is not limited to this. For example, each device included in the area A performs data communication via the network 2a. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and each device is connected to the network 2, and data communication is performed via the network 2. It is good also as what performs.

  The information processing system 1 includes an area A system and an area B system. However, the information processing system 1 is not limited to the areas A and B, and may include other area systems. Good.

  In FIG. 1, each area includes one client and one image forming apparatus (for example, in the case of area A, the client 10_1 and the image forming apparatus 20_1), but the present invention is not limited to this. Instead, a plurality of clients and / or image forming apparatuses may be included in each area. Further, when any client is shown or generically referred to as the client 10_1 in the area A, the client 10_2 in the area B, the other clients in the respective areas, and the clients in the other areas, simply “client 10”. Shall be called. In addition, when an arbitrary image forming apparatus is shown with respect to the image forming apparatus 20_1 in the area A, the image forming apparatus 20_2 in the area B, the other image forming apparatuses in the respective areas, and the image forming apparatuses in the other areas, or When collectively referred to, it is simply referred to as “image forming apparatus 20”. In addition, the processing server 30_1 in the area A, the processing server 30_2 in the area B, and the processing servers in other areas are simply referred to as the “processing server 30” when an arbitrary processing server is indicated or generically referred to.

  Further, the management server 40 of the data center C is arranged independently of the processing server 30. For example, it is assumed that one of the plurality of processing servers 30 has the function of the management server 40. Also good.

  The client 10 generates print data converted from PDL (Page Description Language) from document data created by the user, and transmits the print data to the processing server 30 to store information such as a PC (Personal Computer). It is a processing device.

  The image forming apparatus 20 (an example of an image processing apparatus) receives a job (print data and print setting information associated with the user) (print job) (print job) selected by the user from the processing server 30 and prints the job. An apparatus that performs print processing on data. The image forming apparatus 20 associates in advance with which processing server 30 the job is received. The image forming apparatus 20 is, for example, a multifunction peripheral (MFP) having at least two functions among a copy function, a printer function, a scanner function, and a fax function.

  The processing server 30 sends a job associated with the logged-in user (hereinafter may be referred to as “target user”) from the processing server 30 (first server device) in another area (for example, a remote area). A server device such as a workstation that is downloaded in advance before printing and transmits a job selected by the user to the image forming device 20 when printing is performed in the image forming device 20. Note that the target user is more accurately a user who has been authenticated by the authentication process of the processing server 30 performed during the login process.

  The management server 40 is a job for the processing server 30 to acquire a job associated with the target user in advance from the processing server 30 in another area (hereinafter, simply referred to as “target user job”). Is a server device such as a workstation that manages information on access destinations of processing servers 30 in other areas that are storage destinations (hereinafter also referred to as “storage destination information”).

  The networks 2, 2 a, and 2 b are networks such as a LAN (Local Area Network), a WAN (Wide Area Network), a dedicated line, or the Internet, for example. Each of the networks 2, 2a, and 2b performs data communication using a communication protocol such as TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) / IP (Internet Protocol).

(Hardware configuration of processing server and management server)
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the processing server and the management server according to the first embodiment. The hardware configuration of the processing server 30 and the management server 40 of the information processing system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Here, the hardware configuration of the processing server 30 will be described as an example.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the processing server 30 according to the present embodiment includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 501, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 502, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 503, an auxiliary storage device 504, A communication I / F 505, an input / output I / F 506, an input device 507, a display device 508, and a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) drive 509 are provided.

  The CPU 501 is an arithmetic device that controls the operation of the entire processing server 30. The ROM 502 is a non-volatile storage device that stores firmware for the processing server 30 and BIOS (Basic Input / Output System). The RAM 503 is a volatile storage device used as a work area for the CPU 501.

  The auxiliary storage device 504 is a non-volatile storage device that stores various data such as jobs including print data received from the client 10, jobs downloaded from other processing servers 30, and list information for managing these jobs. is there. The auxiliary storage device 504 is, for example, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or an SSD (Solid State Drive). The auxiliary storage device 504 is provided in the processing server 30, but is not limited thereto, and may be a storage device installed outside the processing server 30, or the processing server, for example. A storage device included in another server device capable of data communication with 30 may be used.

  The communication I / F 505 is an interface for communicating data using the networks 2, 2 a and 2 b. The communication I / F 505 is, for example, a NIC (Network Interface Card) corresponding to TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) / IP (Internet Protocol).

  The input / output I / F 506 is an interface for connecting various devices (for example, the input device 507 and the display device 508) and the bus 511.

  The input device 507 is an input device such as a mouse or a keyboard for performing operations such as inputting characters and numbers, selecting various instructions, and moving a cursor.

  The display device 508 is a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), a plasma display, or an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) display that displays various information such as a cursor, a menu, a window, characters, or an image.

  The DVD drive 509 is a device that controls reading and writing of data with respect to a DVD-RW (Digital Versatile Disc Rewriteable) 510 as an example of a removable storage medium. Other examples of the removable storage medium described above include, for example, a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), a CD-R (Compact Disc-Recordable), a DVD-R (Digital Versatile Disc Recordable), or a Blu-ray disc. Such a computer-readable recording medium may be used.

  The CPU 501, ROM 502, RAM 503, auxiliary storage device 504, communication I / F 505, input / output I / F 506, and DVD drive 509 are connected to each other via a bus 511 such as an address bus and a data bus.

  Note that the hardware configuration of the processing server 30 shown in FIG. 2 is an example, and it is not necessary to include all the component devices, and other component devices may be included. For example, the input device 507 such as a mouse and a keyboard and the display device 508 may not be provided unless an administrator or the like directly inputs an operation to the processing server 30.

  Further, the hardware configuration of the management server 40 also conforms to the hardware configuration of the processing server 30 shown in FIG. Needless to say, the processing server 30 and the management server 40 do not have to have the same hardware configuration.

(Hardware configuration of image forming apparatus)
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. A hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 20 of the information processing system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the image forming apparatus 20 includes, for example, a main body 21 that realizes various image forming functions such as a copy function, a scanner function, a fax function, and a printer function, and an operation unit 22 that receives user operations. . Here, accepting the user's operation is a concept including accepting information (including a signal indicating a coordinate value of the screen) input according to the user's operation.

  The main body 21 and the operation unit 22 are connected via a dedicated connection line 25 so that they can communicate with each other. The connection line 25 may be, for example, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) standard, but is not limited to this, and may be of any standard regardless of whether it is wired or wireless. The main body 21 performs an operation according to the operation received by the operation unit 22.

<Hardware configuration of main unit>
As illustrated in FIG. 3, the main body 21 includes a CPU 601, a ROM 602, a RAM 603, a storage 604, a communication I / F 605, a connection I / F 606, an engine unit 607, and a bus 608.

  The CPU 601 comprehensively controls the operation of the main body 21. The CPU 601 controls the overall operation of the main body 21 by executing a program stored in the ROM 602 or the storage 604 using the RAM 603 as a work area (working area). For example, the CPU 601 controls the operation of the engine unit 607 to realize various functions such as the above-described copy function, scanner function, fax function, and printer function.

  The ROM 602 is a non-volatile memory that stores, for example, a BIOS that is executed when the main body 21 is activated, and various settings. A RAM 603 is a volatile memory used as a work area for the CPU 601. The storage 604 is, for example, a non-volatile storage device that stores an OS (Operating System), application programs, various data, and the like. The storage 604 is configured with, for example, an HDD or an SSD.

  The communication I / F 605 is a network interface for connecting the main body 21 to the network 2a (2b) and communicating with an external device connected to the network 2a (2b). The connection I / F 606 is an interface for communicating with the operation unit 22 via the connection line 25.

  The engine unit 607 is hardware that performs processing other than general-purpose information processing and communication for realizing functions such as a copy function, a scanner function, a fax function, and a printer function. The engine unit 607 includes, for example, a scanner unit that scans and reads an image of a document, a plotter unit that performs printing on a sheet material such as paper, and a fax unit that performs fax communication. The engine unit 607 may include a specific option such as a finisher that sorts printed sheet materials or an ADF (Auto Document Feeder) that automatically feeds a document.

  A bus 608 is a transmission path that connects the above-described components to each other and transmits an address signal, a data signal, various control signals, and the like.

<Hardware configuration of operation unit>
As shown in FIG. 3, the operation unit 22 includes a CPU 651, a ROM 652, a RAM 653, a flash memory 654, a communication I / F 655, an operation panel 656, a connection I / F 657, an external connection I / F 658, A bus 659.

  The CPU 651 comprehensively controls the operation of the operation unit 22. The CPU 651 controls the operation of the entire operation unit 22 by executing a program stored in the ROM 652 or the flash memory 654 or the like using the RAM 653 as a work area (working area). For example, the CPU 651 realizes various functions such as displaying information (image) according to the input received from the user on the operation panel 656.

  The ROM 652 is a non-volatile memory that stores, for example, a BIOS that is executed when the operation unit 22 is activated, and various settings. The RAM 653 is a volatile memory used as a work area for the CPU 651. The flash memory 654 is a non-volatile storage device that stores, for example, an OS, application programs, and various data.

  The communication I / F 655 is a network interface for connecting the operation unit 22 to the network 2a (2b) and performing communication with an external device connected to the network 2a (2b).

  The operation panel 656 accepts various inputs according to user operations and displays various information (for example, information according to the accepted operations, information indicating the operation status of the image forming apparatus 20, and setting information). The device has an input function and a display function. The operation panel 656 is configured by, for example, a liquid crystal display device (LCD: Liquid Crystal Display) equipped with a touch panel function. Note that the operation panel 656 is not limited to the liquid crystal display device, and may be configured by, for example, an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) display device equipped with a touch panel function. The operation panel 656 can include an operation unit such as a hardware key or a display unit such as a lamp in addition to or instead of the touch panel function.

  The connection I / F 657 is an interface for communicating with the main body 21 via the connection line 25. The external connection I / F 658 is an interface such as a USB for connecting an external device.

  The bus 659 is a transmission path that connects the above-described components to each other and transmits an address signal, a data signal, various control signals, and the like.

  Note that the hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 20 illustrated in FIG. 3 is an example, and it is not necessary to include all the component devices, and other component devices may be included. For example, when it has a function of detecting that the user has approached the image forming apparatus 20 and returning from the energy saving mode to the normal mode, the main body 21 is provided with a human sensor or the like that detects the user. It is good.

(Hardware configuration of client)
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the client according to the first embodiment. A hardware configuration of the client 10 of the information processing system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the client 10 according to the present embodiment includes a CPU 701, a ROM 702, a RAM 703, an auxiliary storage device 704, a communication I / F 705, an input / output I / F 706, an input device 707, and a display. An apparatus 708.

  The CPU 701 is an arithmetic device that controls the operation of the entire client 10. The ROM 702 is a non-volatile storage device that stores firmware for the client 10 and programs such as BIOS. A RAM 703 is a volatile storage device used as a work area for the CPU 701.

  The auxiliary storage device 704 is a nonvolatile storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or an SSD (Solid State Drive) that stores various data such as an OS, application programs, and original data to be printed. The auxiliary storage device 704 is provided in the client 10, but is not limited thereto, and may be a storage device installed outside the client 10, or the client 10 and the data A storage device included in a communicable server device may be used.

  The communication I / F 705 is an interface such as a NIC (Network Interface Card) for communicating data via the network 2a (2b) or the like. The communication I / F 705 performs data communication using a communication protocol such as TCP / IP, for example.

  The input / output I / F 706 is an interface for connecting various devices (for example, the input device 707 and the display device 708) and the bus 709.

  The input device 707 is an input device such as a mouse or a keyboard for inputting characters and numbers, selecting various instructions, and moving a cursor.

  The display device 708 is a display device such as an LCD, a plasma display, or an organic EL display that displays various information such as a cursor, a menu, a window, characters, or an image.

  The above-described CPU 701, ROM 702, RAM 703, auxiliary storage device 704, communication I / F 705 and input / output I / F 706 are communicably connected to each other via a bus 709 such as an address bus and a data bus.

  Note that the hardware configuration of the client 10 illustrated in FIG. 4 is an example, and it is not necessary to include all the component devices, and may include other component devices.

(Function block configuration of information processing system)
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional block configuration of the information processing system according to the first embodiment. The configuration of functional blocks of the information processing system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  As illustrated in FIG. 5, the client 10 includes a communication unit 101, a setting unit 102, a generation unit 103, a storage unit 104, an operation unit 105, a display control unit 106, and a display unit 107.

  The communication unit 101 is a functional unit that performs data communication with the image forming apparatus 20 and the processing server 30 via the network 2a (2b). The communication unit 101 is realized by, for example, the communication I / F 705 illustrated in FIG. 4 and a program executed by the CPU 701.

  The setting unit 102 is a functional unit that performs print settings for the print data generated by the generation unit 103. The print setting information set by the setting unit 102 is stored in the storage unit 104. The setting unit 102 is realized by, for example, a program executed by the CPU 701 illustrated in FIG.

  The generation unit 103 is a functional unit that converts document data created by an application or the like into PDL and generates print data. The generation unit 103 is realized by, for example, a program (printer driver or the like) executed by the CPU 701 illustrated in FIG.

  The storage unit 104 is a functional unit that stores document data, print data, print setting information set by the setting unit 102, and the like. The storage unit 104 is realized by the auxiliary storage device 704 or the RAM 703 shown in FIG.

  The operation unit 105 is a functional unit that allows a user to input operations such as input of characters and numbers, selection of various instructions, and movement of a cursor. The operation unit 105 is realized by the input device 707 illustrated in FIG.

  The display control unit 106 is a functional unit that controls the display operation of the display unit 107. The display control unit 106 is realized by, for example, a program executed by the CPU 701 illustrated in FIG.

  The display unit 107 is a functional unit that displays various information such as a cursor, a menu, a window, a character, or an image under the control of the display control unit 106. The display unit 107 is realized by the display device 708 shown in FIG.

  Note that each functional unit of the client 10 illustrated in FIG. 5 conceptually illustrates a function, and is not limited to such a configuration. For example, a plurality of functional units illustrated as independent functional units in the client 10 illustrated in FIG. 5 may be configured as one functional unit. On the other hand, in the client 10 shown in FIG. 5, the function of one function unit may be divided into a plurality of functions and configured as a plurality of function units.

  Further, FIG. 5 shows the main functional units that the client 10 has, and the functions that the client 10 has are not limited to these.

  As illustrated in FIG. 5, the image forming apparatus 20 includes a communication unit 201, an authentication request unit 202, a job list acquisition unit 203, a job acquisition unit 204, a printing unit 205, a storage unit 206, and an operation unit 207. A display control unit 208, and a display unit 209.

  The communication unit 201 is a functional unit that performs data communication with the client 10 and the processing server 30 via the network 2a (2b). The communication unit 201 is realized by, for example, the communication I / F 605 and the communication I / F 655 illustrated in FIG. 3 and programs executed by the CPU 601 and the CPU 651, respectively.

  The authentication request unit 202 is a functional unit that makes an authentication request to the processing server 30 based on user information input when a user logs in or the like. The authentication request unit 202 is realized by, for example, a program executed by the CPU 651 shown in FIG. Note that the authentication request by the authentication request unit 202 may be another authentication request based on wireless authentication using an IC card or biometric authentication.

  The job list acquisition unit 203 is a functional unit that acquires information on the job list of the target user from the processing server 30. The job list acquisition unit 203 acquires a job list based on a protocol such as HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) or HTTP. The job list acquisition unit 203 is realized, for example, by a program executed by the CPU 651 shown in FIG.

  The job acquisition unit 204 is a functional unit that acquires the job of the selected target user from the processing server 30 when executing print processing by the operation of the target user. For example, the job acquisition unit 204 acquires a job based on a protocol such as HTTPS or HTTP. The job acquisition unit 204 is realized, for example, by a program executed by the CPU 651 shown in FIG.

  The printing unit 205 is a functional unit that generates drawing data from a job (such as print data and print setting information) acquired by the job acquisition unit 204 and performs a printing operation. The printing unit 205 is realized by, for example, the engine unit 607 illustrated in FIG. 3 and programs executed by the CPU 601 and the CPU 651.

  The storage unit 206 is a functional unit that stores a list of jobs acquired by the job list acquisition unit 203 or a job acquired by the job acquisition unit 204. The storage unit 206 is realized by the RAM 603 and the storage 604, the RAM 653, and the flash memory 654 shown in FIG.

  The operation unit 207 is a functional unit that allows a user to input characters, numbers, and the like and to perform operation inputs such as selection of various instructions. The operation unit 207 is realized by an input function of the operation panel 656 shown in FIG.

  The display control unit 208 is a functional unit that controls the display operation of the display unit 209. The display control unit 208 is realized, for example, by a program executed by the CPU 651 shown in FIG.

  The display unit 209 is a functional unit that displays various data on the screen in accordance with control by the display control unit 208. The display unit 209 is realized by the display function (liquid crystal display device or the like) of the operation panel 656 shown in FIG.

  Note that each functional unit of the image forming apparatus 20 shown in FIG. 5 conceptually shows functions, and is not limited to such a configuration. For example, a plurality of functional units illustrated as independent functional units in the image forming apparatus 20 illustrated in FIG. 5 may be configured as one functional unit. On the other hand, in the image forming apparatus 20 shown in FIG. 5, the functions of one function unit may be divided into a plurality of functions and configured as a plurality of function units.

  Further, FIG. 5 shows main functional units of the image forming apparatus 20, and the functions of the image forming apparatus 20 are not limited to these.

  As illustrated in FIG. 5, the processing server 30 includes a first communication unit 301, a second communication unit 302, an authentication unit 303, a first job acquisition unit 304 (third acquisition unit), and a job list acquisition unit 305. (Second acquisition unit), job list creation unit 306, first job list response unit 307, second job acquisition unit 308 (first acquisition unit), and first job response unit 309 (second transmission unit). A second job list response unit 310, a second job response unit 311 (first transmission unit), a storage destination notification unit 312 (notification unit), a storage destination acquisition unit 313, and a storage unit 314 (storage unit). An operation unit 315, a display control unit 316, and a display unit 317.

  The first communication unit 301 is a functional unit that performs data communication with the client 10 and the image forming apparatus 20 via the network 2a (2b). The first communication unit 301 is realized by, for example, the communication I / F 505 illustrated in FIG. 2 and a program executed by the CPU 501.

  The second communication unit 302 is a functional unit that performs data communication with the management server 40 and other processing servers 30 via the network 2. The second communication unit 302 is realized by, for example, the communication I / F 505 illustrated in FIG.

  The authentication unit 303 is a functional unit that executes an authentication process for a user who intends to log in in accordance with the authentication request received from the authentication request unit 202 of the image forming apparatus 20. Note that the authentication process for the user is not limited to be executed by the authentication unit 303 of the processing server 30, and may be executed by the management server 40 or executed by an external authentication server, for example. Good. The authentication unit 303 is realized by, for example, a program executed by the CPU 501 illustrated in FIG.

  The first job acquisition unit 304 is a functional unit that acquires user information and a job (print data, print setting information, and the like) of the user information from the client 10. The first job acquisition unit 304 is realized by, for example, a program executed by the CPU 501 illustrated in FIG.

  The job list acquisition unit 305 is a functional unit that requests and acquires the job list of the target user from another processing server 30. For example, the job list acquisition unit 305 acquires a job list based on a protocol such as HTTPS or HTTP. The job list acquisition unit 305 is realized by, for example, a program executed by the CPU 501 illustrated in FIG.

  The job list creation unit 306 integrates the target user job list of the processing server 30 itself and the target user job list acquired by the job list acquisition unit 305 to create a job list table to be described later. It is. The job list creation unit 306 is realized, for example, by a program executed by the CPU 501 shown in FIG.

  When the first job list response unit 307 receives a request for a job list of the target user from another processing server 30, the first job list response unit 307 acquires the job list of the target user from the storage unit 314 and stores the job list in the other processing server. 30 is a functional unit that responds to 30. The first job list response unit 307 is realized, for example, by a program executed by the CPU 501 shown in FIG.

  The second job acquisition unit 308 is a functional unit that requests and acquires the job of the target user from another processing server 30 using the job list of the target user acquired by the job list acquisition unit 305. For example, the second job acquisition unit 308 acquires a job based on a protocol such as HTTPS or HTTP. The second job acquisition unit 308 is realized by, for example, a program executed by the CPU 501 illustrated in FIG.

  When the first job response unit 309 receives a request for the job of the target user from another processing server 30, the first job response unit 309 acquires the job of the target user from the storage unit 314 and responds the job to the other processing server 30. Part. The first job response unit 309 is realized by, for example, a program executed by the CPU 501 illustrated in FIG.

  When the second job list response unit 310 receives a request for the job list of the target user from the image forming apparatus 20, the second job list response unit 310 acquires the job list of the target user from the storage unit 314 and stores the job list in the image forming apparatus 20. It is a functional unit that responds. The second job list response unit 310 is realized by, for example, a program executed by the CPU 501 shown in FIG.

  When the second job response unit 311 receives a request for a job selected by the target user from among the target user jobs from the image forming apparatus 20, the second job response unit 311 acquires the selected job from the storage unit 314 and forms an image. It is a functional unit that responds to the device 20. The second job response unit 311 is realized, for example, by a program executed by the CPU 501 shown in FIG.

  When the target user's job received from the client 10 is first stored (stored) in the storage unit 314 as the target user's job, the storage destination notifying unit 312 and the user information of the target user and the processing server 30 This is a functional unit that notifies the management server 40 of server information indicating an access destination (such as the host name and IP address of the processing server 30). The accumulation destination notification unit 312 is realized by, for example, a program executed by the CPU 501 illustrated in FIG.

  The accumulation destination acquisition unit 313 is a functional unit that requests and acquires information (accumulation destination information) of another processing server 30 (accumulation destination) in which the job of the target user is accumulated from the management server 40. The accumulation destination acquisition unit 313 acquires the accumulation destination information based on a protocol such as HTTPS or HTTP, for example. The accumulation destination acquisition unit 313 is realized by, for example, a program executed by the CPU 501 illustrated in FIG.

  The storage unit 314 is a functional unit that stores various data such as a job including print data received from the client 10, a job downloaded from another processing server 30, and list information for managing these jobs. The storage unit 314 is realized by the auxiliary storage device 504 and the RAM 503 shown in FIG.

  The operation unit 315 is a functional unit that allows a user to input operations such as inputting characters and numbers, selecting various instructions, and moving a cursor. The operation unit 315 is realized by the input device 507 illustrated in FIG.

  The display control unit 316 is a functional unit that controls the display operation of the display unit 317. The display control unit 316 is realized by, for example, a program executed by the CPU 501 illustrated in FIG.

  The display unit 317 is a functional unit that displays various types of information such as a cursor, menu, window, character, or image under the control of the display control unit 316. The display unit 317 is realized by the display device 508 illustrated in FIG.

  Note that each functional unit of the processing server 30 illustrated in FIG. 5 conceptually illustrates a function, and is not limited to such a configuration. For example, a plurality of functional units illustrated as independent functional units in the processing server 30 illustrated in FIG. 5 may be configured as one functional unit. On the other hand, in the processing server 30 shown in FIG. 5, the function of one functional unit may be divided into a plurality of functional units.

  Further, in FIG. 5, main functional units included in the processing server 30 are illustrated, and the functions included in the processing server 30 are not limited to these.

  As illustrated in FIG. 5, the management server 40 includes a communication unit 401, a storage destination management unit 402, a storage destination response unit 403, and a storage unit 404.

  The communication unit 401 is a functional unit that performs data communication with the processing server 30 via the network 2. The communication unit 401 is realized by, for example, the communication I / F 505 illustrated in FIG.

  The accumulation destination management unit 402 is a functional unit that registers (stores) the user information notified from the processing server 30 and the server information indicating the access destination of the processing server 30 in the storage unit 404. The storage destination management unit 402 is realized, for example, by a program executed by the CPU 501 shown in FIG.

  When receiving a request for storage destination information indicating the storage destination of the target user's job from the processing server 30, the storage destination response unit 403 acquires the storage destination information from the storage unit 404 and responds to the processing server 30. Part. The storage destination response unit 403 is realized, for example, by a program executed by the CPU 501 shown in FIG.

  The storage unit 404 is a functional unit that stores (registers) user information and server information acquired by the storage destination management unit 402 in association with each other. The storage unit 404 is realized by the auxiliary storage device 504 and the RAM 503 shown in FIG.

  Note that each functional unit of the management server 40 illustrated in FIG. 5 conceptually illustrates a function, and is not limited to such a configuration. For example, a plurality of functional units illustrated as independent functional units in the management server 40 illustrated in FIG. 5 may be configured as one functional unit. On the other hand, in the management server 40 shown in FIG. 5, the function of one function unit may be divided into a plurality of functions and configured as a plurality of function units.

  Further, FIG. 5 shows main functional units of the management server 40, and the functions of the management server 40 are not limited to these.

(Job accumulation processing)
FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of job accumulation processing of the information processing system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of the storage destination information table of the management server. The job accumulation process of the information processing system 1 will be described in the present embodiment with reference to FIGS.

<Step S101>
The user 50 inputs a job submission operation for causing the processing server 30 to store a job (print data, print setting information, etc.) desired to be printed on the operation unit 105 of the client 10.

<Step S102>
When the operation unit 105 receives an input of a job submission operation, the operation unit 105 sends the job submission operation information to the communication unit 101.

<Step S103>
Upon receiving the job submission operation information, the communication unit 101 sends a job acquisition request for requesting the job of the user 50 to the storage unit 104.

<Steps S104 and S105>
When the storage unit 104 receives the job acquisition request, the storage unit 104 reads out the job of the user 50 and sends it to the communication unit 101.

<Step S106>
The communication unit 101 transmits the job acquired from the storage unit 104 and the user information of the user 50 to the processing server 30.

<Step S107>
When the first job acquisition unit 304 of the processing server 30 acquires (receives) user information and a job of the user information from the client 10 via the first communication unit 301, the first job acquisition unit 304 authenticates the user 50. Is sent to the authentication unit 303.

<Steps S108 and S109>
The authentication unit 303 performs authentication processing based on the received user information. Specifically, the authentication unit 303 refers to a user information table stored in the storage unit 314, for example, and executes an authentication process based on whether or not the received user information exists. The authentication unit 303 sends the result of the authentication process (in this case, authentication is OK) to the first job acquisition unit 304.

<Steps S110 and S111>
The first job acquisition unit 304 sends an accumulated job confirmation request to the storage unit 314 for confirming whether or not the job of the user 50 is accumulated in the storage unit 314. Then, the first job acquisition unit 304 obtains a confirmation result indicating whether or not the job of the user 50 is accumulated in the storage unit 314.

<Step S112>
The first job acquisition unit 304 sends the job and user information of the user 50 to the storage unit 314 together with an accumulation request for requesting accumulation of the job acquired from the client 10.

<Steps S113 and S114>
Upon receipt of the accumulation request, job, and user information, the storage unit 314 accumulates (stores) the job in association with the user information, and sends a completion notification to the first job acquisition unit 304. Here, when the confirmation result in step S111 indicates that the job of the user 50 is not accumulated in the storage unit 314, the following steps S115 to S121 are executed.

<Step S115>
When the confirmation result in step S111 indicates that the job of the user 50 is not accumulated in the storage unit 314, the first job acquisition unit 304, along with a notification request for requesting that notification, the user information of the user 50, The server information indicating the access destination of the processing server 30 is sent to the storage destination notification unit 312.

<Step S116>
The storage location notification unit 312 notifies (transmits) the received user information and server information to the management server 40 via the second communication unit 302.

  In steps S115 and S116 described above, the first job acquisition unit 304 stores the notification request, the user information, and the server information when the confirmation result indicates that the job of the user 50 is not stored in the storage unit 314. The information is sent to the destination notification unit 312 and the storage destination notification unit 312 transmits user information and server information to the management server 40. However, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, in steps S110 and S111, the first job acquisition unit 304 sends the notification request, the user information, and the server information to the storage destination notification unit without confirming whether or not the job of the user 50 is stored in the storage unit 314. It may be sent to 312.

<Step S117>
When the storage destination management unit 402 of the management server 40 receives user information and server information from the processing server 30 via the communication unit 401, the user information and the server information together with a registration request for requesting registration of the server information. Is sent to the storage unit 404.

<Steps S118 and S119>
Upon receiving the registration request, user information, and server information, the storage unit 404 registers (stores) the server information in association with the user information, and sends a registration completion message to the accumulation destination management unit 402. For example, the storage unit 404 may store the server information in association with the user information like a storage location information table 1001 as shown in FIG. In the storage destination information table 1001 shown in FIG. 7, “user name” is registered as user information, and “server name”, “host name”, and “IP address” are registered as server information. (Record information including user information and server information) is registered so as to be uniquely identifiable by “ID”. For example, the storage destination information with ID “2” has a server name “Osaka_Server”, a host name “osaka.server.example.com”, an IP address “12.20.30.xx”, and a user name “ user_a ".

  Although the storage destination information table 1001 shown in FIG. 7 is information in a table format, the present invention is not limited to this, and any format can be used as long as the values of the fields of the table can be managed in association with each other. It may be the information.

  Further, the storage destination information table 1001 does not have to include all the fields illustrated in FIG. 7, and may have any necessary and sufficient information as the storage destination information. For example, if the processing server 30 can access a DNS (Domain Name System) server that performs name resolution from “host name” to “IP address”, the storage destination information table 1001 includes “IP address”. There is no need to let it.

<Step S120>
The accumulation destination management unit 402 transmits the received registration completion message to the processing server 30 via the communication unit 401.

<Step S121>
When receiving the registration completion notification via the second communication unit 302, the storage destination notification unit 312 sends the registration completion notification to the first job acquisition unit 304.

<Step S122>
The first job acquisition unit 304 receives the completion of accumulation in step S114, or the confirmation result in step S111 indicates that the job of the user 50 is not accumulated in the storage unit 314. When the registration completion notice is received in S121, the storage completion notice is sent to the communication unit 101. If the confirmation result in step S111 indicates that the job of the user 50 is not accumulated in the storage unit 314, the first job acquisition unit 304 determines that the registration completion in step S121 is received in step S114. The received completion of storage may be sent to the communication unit 101.

<Step S123>
When the communication unit 101 receives the completion notification, the communication unit 101 sends a display command to the display control unit 106 to instruct the display of the job storage completion to the processing server 30.

<Steps S124 and S125>
Upon receiving the display command, the display control unit 106 displays on the display unit 107 that the job storage in the processing server 30 has been completed. The user 50 grasps that his / her job is accumulated in the processing server 30 by confirming the display on the display unit 107.

  The job accumulation process of the information processing system 1 is executed by the flow of steps S101 to S125 as described above. Note that the processing order of steps S101 to S125 shown in FIG. 6 is an example, and is not limited to this order. If the effect of the overall processing is the same, part of the processing may be mixed. Alternatively, some processes may be processed in parallel. For example, as described above, the processing in step S122 is executed before receiving the registration completion notification in step S121 when the confirmation result in step S111 indicates that the job of the user 50 is not accumulated in the storage unit 314. It is good also as what is done.

(Advance download processing, job list acquisition processing and job acquisition / print processing)
FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of a prior download process, a job list acquisition process, and a job acquisition / print process of the information processing system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a job list table of the processing server. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a job list screen of the image forming apparatus. The preceding download process, job list acquisition process, and job acquisition / print process of the information processing system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 8, the processes in steps S201 to S231 correspond to the advance download process, steps S232 to S241 correspond to the job list acquisition process, and steps S242 to S254 correspond to the job acquisition / print process.

<Step S201>
The user 50 inputs a login operation for logging into the processing server 30 to the operation unit 207 of the image forming apparatus 20. Hereinafter, the processing server 30 where the user 50 logs in and downloads the job of the user 50 (preceding download processing) may be referred to as a “target processing server”.

<Step S202>
When the operation unit 207 receives an input of a login operation, the operation unit 207 sends the operation information for the login to the authentication request unit 202.

<Step S203>
Upon receiving the login operation information, the authentication request unit 202 transmits the user information of the user 50 to the target processing server via the communication unit 201 together with the authentication request for requesting the user 50 authentication.

<Step S204>
Upon receiving an authentication request and user information from the image forming apparatus 20 via the first communication unit 301, the authentication unit 303 of the target processing server starts an authentication process for the user information.

<Step S205>
The authentication unit 303 sends the user information to the accumulation destination acquisition unit 313 when the user information to be logged in is specified by the authentication process. That is, even if the login process (authentication process) by the authentication unit 303 is not completed, the user who is the target of the preceding download process when the login target is identified as the user 50 indicated by the user information. Information may be sent to the storage destination acquisition unit 313. For example, the above-described authentication process includes a plurality of authentication processes (for example, password authentication by operation on the operation unit 207, wireless authentication by an IC card carried by the user 50, or face authentication based on facial feature information of the user 50) In the case where the user information is authenticated by any one of the plurality of authentication processes, the user information is sent to the storage location acquisition unit 313. It may be a thing. Therefore, for example, when authentication processing is performed by wireless authentication and face authentication, an operation on the operation unit 207 is not necessarily required.

<Step S206>
When the storage destination acquisition unit 313 receives the user information to be subjected to the preceding download process, the storage destination information indicating the processing server 30 in which the job corresponding to the user information is stored among the processing servers 30 existing at each base. The user information is transmitted to the management server 40 via the second communication unit 302 together with the storage destination request for requesting.

<Step S207>
When the storage destination response unit 403 receives the storage destination request and the user information from the processing server 30 via the communication unit 401, the storage destination response unit 403 sends the storage destination request to the storage unit 404.

<Steps S208 and S209>
Upon receiving the storage destination request, the storage unit 404 reads the storage destination information requested by the storage destination request and sends the storage destination information to the storage destination response unit 403.

<Step S210>
Upon receiving the storage destination information, the storage destination response unit 403 transmits (responds) the storage destination information to the target processing server via the communication unit 401.

<Step S211>
When the authentication processing in step S204 ends, the authentication processing unit 303 of the target processing server sends the authentication result (authentication OK in the example of FIG. 8) to the image forming apparatus 20 (authentication requesting unit 202) via the first communication unit 301. ). It should be noted that the authentication process started in step S204 cannot be specified at which subsequent step, and therefore, it is illustrated as being ended in step S211 for convenience, and after the process in step S210 is completed. It does not prescribe the order in which the authentication process ends.

<Step S212>
The storage destination acquisition unit 313 of the target processing server sends the storage destination information corresponding to the user information of the user 50 received (acquired) from the management server 40 to the job list acquisition unit 305 together with the user information.

  The processes in steps S213 to S231 below are repeatedly executed by the number of storage destination information acquired by the storage destination acquisition unit 313 (that is, the number of processing servers 30 in which jobs corresponding to user information are stored).

<Step S213>
When the job list acquisition unit 305 receives the storage destination information and the user information from the storage destination acquisition unit 313, the job list acquisition unit 305 sends the user information to the second communication unit 302 together with a job list request that requests a list of jobs corresponding to the user information. The information is transmitted to the processing server 30 at another base such as a remote location (hereinafter, may be referred to as “remote processing server 30”) using the storage location information.

<Step S214>
When receiving the job list request and the user information from the target processing server via the second communication unit 302, the first job list response unit 307 of the remote processing server 30 sends the job list request to the storage unit 314.

<Steps S215 and S216>
When the storage unit 314 of the remote processing server 30 receives the job list request, the storage unit 314 reads a job list corresponding to the user information requested by the job list request and sends the job list to the first job list response unit 307.

<Step S217>
When receiving the job list, the first job list response unit 307 of the remote processing server 30 transmits the job list to the target processing server via the second communication unit 302.

<Step S218>
When the job list acquisition unit 305 of the target processing server receives (acquires) the job list from the remote processing server 30 via the second communication unit 302, the job list acquisition unit 305 receives the user information corresponding to the job list together with the job list. To the job list creation unit 306.

<Step S219>
The job list creation unit 306 creates a job list that integrates the received job list from the remote processing server 30 and the job list of the job accumulated in its own storage unit 314 in the job accumulation process shown in FIG. To do.

  Here, FIG. 9 shows a job list table 1101 as a job list integrated and created by the job list creation unit 306. In the job list table 1101 shown in FIG. 9, “ID” for uniquely identifying a record, “name” of document data, “number of pages” of document data, “size (KB)” of print data, and storage destination processing server 30, “file path” indicating the storage destination, “server name” that is the name of the storage destination processing server 30, and “user name” are stored in association with each other.

  In the job list table 1101 shown in FIG. 9, the job list with IDs “1” to “5” is stored in the target processing server (that is, the processing server 30 storing the job list table 1101). This is a list of jobs. For example, a job with ID “2” has a document data name “Quote.xlsx”, a page number “4”, a size (KB) “12”, and print data in the storage unit 314 of the target processing server. The storage destination (file path) is “C: ¥ ProgramData ¥ path ¥ 0000002.prn”, and the user name is “userB”. Further, since the job is stored in the target processing server, no data is included in the server name, but it may be included.

  On the other hand, in the job list table 1101 shown in FIG. 9, the job lists with IDs “6” and “7” are job lists of jobs stored in the remote processing server 30 with the server name “Server1”. is there. For example, for a job with ID “7”, the name of the document data is “technical content.pdf”, the number of pages is “30”, the size (KB) is “1520”, and it is stored in the storage unit 314 of the remote processing server 30. The print data storage destination (file path) is “C: ¥ ProgramData ¥ path ¥ 002.prn”, and the user name is “userB”.

  Also, in the job list table 1101 shown in FIG. 9, the job lists with IDs “8” and “9” are job lists of jobs stored in the remote processing server 30 with the server name “Server2”. is there. For example, a job with an ID of “8” has a document data name “minutes.docx”, a page number “5”, a size (KB) “10”, and is stored in the storage unit 314 of the remote processing server 30. The print data storage destination (file path) is “C: ¥ ProgramData ¥ path ¥ 001.prn”, and the user name is “userB”.

  That is, the job list table 1101 shown in FIG. 9 is acquired by the job list acquisition unit 305 from the remote processing server 30 that has one or more job lists corresponding to the user whose user name is “userB”. Thus, the job list stored in the target processing server and the job list acquired by the job list acquisition unit 305 are integrated into a job list. A job list (a list of jobs having IDs “1” to “5”) originally stored in the target processing server is a list including jobs of various users, and is a job list acquired from the remote processing server 30. The list of jobs with IDs “6” to “9” is a job list acquired by designating a specific user (here, “userB”), and thus is a job list of jobs of the specific user. .

  Note that the job list table 1101 shown in FIG. 9 is information in a table format, but the present invention is not limited to this, and any format can be used as long as the values of the fields of the table can be managed in association with each other. It may be information.

  Further, the job list table 1101 does not have to include all the fields illustrated in FIG. 9, and may have any information necessary and sufficient as information for specifying a job. For example, if “number of pages” and “size (KB)” are not required as information for specifying a job, it is not necessary to include them in the job list table 1101.

<Step S220>
The job list creation unit 306 sends the created (integrated) job list to the storage unit 314.

<Steps S221 and S222>
The storage unit 314 stores the received job list and sends a message indicating completion of storage to the job list creation unit 306.

<Step S223>
The job list creation unit 306 sends the created (integrated) job list and the user information of the user 50 to the second job acquisition unit 308 together with a completion notification indicating that the job list has been integrated.

  The processes in steps S224 to S231 below are repeatedly executed by the number of jobs of the user 50 included in the job list corresponding to the remote processing server 30 in the job list created by the job list creation unit 306.

<Step S224>
The second job acquisition unit 308 includes information (for example, “file path” in the job list table 1101) that identifies the job of the user 50 in the remote processing server 30 using the received job list, and the job The user information of the user 50 is transmitted to the remote processing server 30 via the second communication unit 302. Here, when transmitting to the remote processing server 30, the second job acquisition unit 308 may transmit using the storage destination information acquired in step S210.

<Step S225>
When the first job response unit 309 of the remote processing server 30 receives a job request and user information from the target processing server via the second communication unit 302, the first job response unit 309 sends the job request to the storage unit 314.

<Steps S226 and S227>
When receiving the job request, the storage unit 314 of the remote processing server 30 reads the job of the user 50 requested by the job request and sends the job to the first job response unit 309.

<Step S228>
When receiving the job of the user 50, the first job response unit 309 of the remote processing server 30 transmits (responds) the job to the target processing server via the second communication unit 302.

<Step S229>
When receiving (acquiring) the job of the user 50 from the remote processing server 30 via the second communication unit 302, the second job acquisition unit 308 of the target processing server sends the job to the storage unit 314.

<Steps S230 and S231>
The storage unit 314 stores the received job of the user 50 and sends a message indicating completion of storage to the second job acquisition unit 308.

  The preceding download process is executed by the processes in steps S201 to S231 described above, and the process proceeds from the following step S232 to the job list acquisition process.

<Step S232>
The user 50 inputs a job list acquisition operation for acquiring a job list from the target processing server to the operation unit 207 of the image forming apparatus 20.

<Step S233>
When the operation unit 207 receives an input of a job list acquisition operation, the operation unit 207 sends operation information for acquiring the job list to the job list acquisition unit 203.

<Step S234>
Upon receiving the job list acquisition operation information, the job list acquisition unit 203 transmits user information of the user 50 to the target processing server via the communication unit 201 together with a job list request for requesting a job list.

<Step S235>
When the second job list response unit 310 of the target processing server receives the job list request and user information from the image forming apparatus 20 via the first communication unit 301, the second job list response unit 310 sends the job list request to the storage unit 314.

<Steps S236 and S237>
Upon receiving the job list request, the storage unit 314 reads the job list of the user 50 requested by the job list request and sends the job list to the second job list response unit 310. Specifically, if the storage unit 314 stores the job list table 1101 shown in FIG. 9 and the user name of the user 50 is “userB”, the storage unit 314 displays the job list table 1101. The job list extracted from the job list with the user name “userB” is sent to the second job list response unit 310 as the job list of the user 50.

<Step S238>
The second job list response unit 310 of the target processing server transmits (responds) the received job list of the user 50 to the image forming apparatus 20 via the first communication unit 301.

<Step S239>
When the job list acquisition unit 203 of the image forming apparatus 20 receives (acquires) the job list of the user 50 from the target processing server via the communication unit 201, the job list acquisition unit 203 displays a job list display command for displaying the job list. The data is sent to the control unit 208.

<Steps S240 and S241>
Upon receiving the job list display command, the display control unit 208 causes the display unit 209 to display the job list of the user 50. The user 50 can check the list of his / her jobs originally stored in the one or more processing servers 30 and stored in the target processing server by the prior download processing by the display on the display unit 209. Here, as an example of the job list displayed on the display unit 209, a job list screen 2001 is shown in FIG. A job list screen 2001 shown in FIG. 10 shows a list of three jobs as jobs of a target user (a user who has logged into the target processing server). For example, the upper job in the job list displayed on the job list screen 2001 is downloaded from the remote processing server 30 whose original data name is “ABCCompany.doc” and whose server name is “Server1”. It is shown that this is a job.

  Note that the job list screen 2001 shown in FIG. 10 shows an example of a job list display method, and the present invention is not limited to this. For example, with respect to the job list displayed on the display unit 209, a job that has already been copied to the target processing server may be displayed above the list. The job list to be displayed on the display unit 209 may be a list of jobs that have already been copied to the target processing server. In this case, a job that has not been copied is displayed by pressing another button. You may make it make it. In addition, regarding the job list displayed on the display unit 209, jobs that have not been copied to the target processing server may be displayed grayed out. In addition, regarding the job list to be displayed on the display unit 209, an icon indicating that copying is in progress may be displayed for a job that has not been copied to the target processing server.

  The job list acquisition process is executed by the processes in steps S232 to S241 described above, and the process proceeds from the following step S242 to job acquisition / printing process.

<Step S242>
The user 50 inputs a print operation for performing print processing of his job to the operation unit 207 of the image forming apparatus 20. Specifically, for example, the user 50 selects a job desired to be printed from the displayed list of jobs on the job list screen 2001 shown in FIG. 10 and presses a “print” button. Input for printing operation.

<Step S243>
When the operation unit 207 receives an input of a print operation, the operation unit 207 sends the print operation information to the job acquisition unit 204.

<Step S244>
Upon receiving the printing operation information, the job acquisition unit 204 transmits the user information of the user 50 together with the job request for requesting the job indicated by the operation information to the target processing server via the communication unit 201.

<Step S245>
When the second job response unit 311 of the target processing server receives a job request and user information from the image forming apparatus 20 via the first communication unit 301, the second job response unit 311 sends the job request to the storage unit 314.

<Steps S246 and S247>
Upon receiving the job request, the storage unit 314 reads the job of the user 50 requested by the job request and sends the job to the second job response unit 311.

<Step S248>
The second job response unit 311 transmits (responds) the received job of the user 50 to the image forming apparatus 20 via the first communication unit 301.

<Step S249>
When the job acquisition unit 204 of the image forming apparatus 20 receives (acquires) a job from the target processing server via the communication unit 201, the job acquisition unit 204 sends a print request for requesting printing of the job to the printing unit 205 together with the job. .

<Steps S250 and S251>
Upon receiving a print request and a job, the printing unit 205 generates drawing data from the job and executes print processing. After the printing process is completed, the printing unit 205 sends a print completion message to the job acquisition unit 204.

<Step S252>
When the job acquisition unit 204 receives the print completion message, the job acquisition unit 204 sends a completion display request for displaying the print completion message to the display control unit 208.

<Steps S253 and S254>
Upon receiving the completion display request, the display control unit 208 causes the display unit 209 to display that the printing process has been completed. The user 50 confirms that the printing process has been completed based on the display on the display unit 209.

  The job acquisition / printing process is executed by the processes in steps S242 to S254 described above.

  Note that the order of the processes in steps S201 to S254 shown in FIG. 8 is an example, and is not limited to this order. Alternatively, some processes may be processed in parallel. For example, step S211 does not necessarily define the order in which the authentication process ends after the process of step S210 ends.

  As described above, in the information processing system 1 according to the present embodiment, when the user 50 who wants to pull-print his job logs in to the processing server 30 (target processing server) that manages the job, the target processing server However, it is assumed that the job list and the job are downloaded and acquired from the remote processing server 30 in which the job of the user 50 is stored prior to the actual printing operation. As a result, when the user 50 actually performs a print operation for a desired job, it is not necessary to download the job from the remote processing server 30 in which the job is stored, and from the target processing server. The job can be acquired. Therefore, as compared with the case of downloading a job from the remote processing server 30 at the time of printing operation, the time for acquiring the job and performing the printing process can be shortened, and the printing performance can be improved.

[Second Embodiment]
An information processing system according to the second embodiment will be described focusing on differences from the information processing system 1 according to the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, the operation of performing the printing process using the job of the user 50 downloaded to the target processing server by the prior download process has been described. In the present embodiment, an operation for deleting a job downloaded to a target processing server by a prior download process and a job stored in a remote processing server will be described. The overall configuration of the information processing system according to the present embodiment and the hardware configurations of the client, the image forming apparatus, the processing server, and the management server are the same as those described in the first embodiment.

(Function block configuration of information processing system)
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional block configuration of an information processing system according to the second embodiment. A configuration of functional blocks of the information processing system 1a according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The functional block configuration of the client 10 of the information processing system 1a is the same as the configuration described in the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the image forming apparatus 20a (an example of an image processing apparatus) includes a communication unit 201, an authentication request unit 202, a job list acquisition unit 203, a job acquisition unit 204, a printing unit 205, and a storage. A display unit 206, an operation unit 207, a display control unit 208, a display unit 209, and a job deletion request unit 210.

  The job deletion request unit 210 is a functional unit that issues a job deletion request for requesting deletion of the job selected by an operation input to the operation unit 207 to the processing server 30a. The job deletion request unit 210 is realized by, for example, a program executed by the CPU 651 shown in FIG.

  The other functional units of the image forming apparatus 20a are the same as the functional units of the image forming apparatus 20 described in the first embodiment.

  In addition, each function unit of the image forming apparatus 20a illustrated in FIG. 11 conceptually illustrates a function, and is not limited to such a configuration. For example, a plurality of functional units illustrated as independent functional units in the image forming apparatus 20a illustrated in FIG. 11 may be configured as one functional unit. On the other hand, in the image forming apparatus 20a shown in FIG. 11, the functions of one function unit may be divided into a plurality of functions and configured as a plurality of function units.

  Further, FIG. 11 shows the main functional units of the image forming apparatus 20a, and the functions of the image forming apparatus 20a are not limited to these.

  As illustrated in FIG. 11, the processing server 30a includes a first communication unit 301, a second communication unit 302, an authentication unit 303, a first job acquisition unit 304 (third acquisition unit), and a job list acquisition unit 305. (Second acquisition unit), job list creation unit 306, first job list response unit 307, second job acquisition unit 308 (first acquisition unit), and first job response unit 309 (second transmission unit). A second job list response unit 310, a second job response unit 311 (first transmission unit), a storage destination notification unit 312 (notification unit), a storage destination acquisition unit 313, and a storage unit 314 (storage unit). An operation unit 315, a display control unit 316, a display unit 317, and a job deletion unit 318 (first deletion unit).

  The second job acquisition unit 308 is a functional unit that requests and acquires the job of the target user from another processing server 30 a using the job list of the target user acquired by the job list acquisition unit 305. Also, the second job acquisition unit 308 registers remote job information (first remote job information) in the storage unit 314 for managing a job acquired from another processing server 30a as a copied job (copy job). Let The second job acquisition unit 308 is realized by, for example, a program executed by the CPU 501 illustrated in FIG.

  When the first job response unit 309 receives a request for the target user's job from another processing server 30a (an example of the second server device), the first job response unit 309 acquires the target user's job from the storage unit 314, It is a functional part which responds to the processing server 30a. Also, the first job response unit 309 registers remote job information (second remote job information) in the storage unit 314 for registering a job responding to the other processing server 30a as a copied job (original job). Let The first job response unit 309 is realized by, for example, a program executed by the CPU 501 illustrated in FIG.

  The storage unit 314 includes a job including print data received from the client 10, a job downloaded from another processing server 30a, list information for managing these jobs, and whether the stored job is a copy job or an original job. Is a functional unit that stores various data such as remote job information for managing the job. The storage unit 314 is realized by the auxiliary storage device 504 and the RAM 503 shown in FIG.

  When the job deletion unit 318 receives the job deletion request from the job deletion request unit 210 of the image forming apparatus 20a, the remote processing server 30a requests the job deletion request based on the remote job information stored in the storage unit 314. This function unit outputs a job deletion request for a job that has a job to be processed. In addition, when the job indicated by the job deletion request from the job deletion request unit 210 of the image forming apparatus 20a is accumulated in the storage unit 314 of itself (target processing server), the job deletion unit 318 deletes the job. . The job deletion unit 318 is realized by, for example, a program executed by the CPU 501 illustrated in FIG.

  The other functional units of the processing server 30a are the same as the functional units of the processing server 30 described in the first embodiment.

  Moreover, each function part of the processing server 30a shown in FIG. 11 shows the function conceptually, and is not limited to such a configuration. For example, a plurality of functional units illustrated as independent functional units in the processing server 30a illustrated in FIG. 11 may be configured as one functional unit. On the other hand, in the processing server 30a shown in FIG. 11, the function of one functional unit may be divided into a plurality of functional units.

  Moreover, in FIG. 11, the main function parts which the processing server 30a has are shown, and the function which the processing server 30a has is not limited to these.

  As illustrated in FIG. 11, the management server 40 a includes a communication unit 401, a storage destination management unit 402, a storage destination response unit 403, a storage unit 404, and a storage destination deletion unit 405.

  When the original job is deleted from the processing server 30a that has stored the original job, the storage destination deleting unit 405 follows the storage destination deletion request from the job deleting unit 318 of the processing server 30a and the user of the original job This is a functional unit that deletes the storage destination information relating to the storage unit 404 from the storage unit 404. The storage destination deleting unit 405 is realized by, for example, a program executed by the CPU 501 shown in FIG.

  Other functional units of the management server 40a are the same as the functional units of the management server 40 described in the first embodiment.

  Moreover, each function part of the management server 40a shown in FIG. 11 has shown the function notionally, and is not limited to such a structure. For example, a plurality of functional units illustrated as independent functional units in the management server 40a illustrated in FIG. 11 may be configured as one functional unit. On the other hand, in the management server 40a shown in FIG. 11, the function of one function unit may be divided into a plurality of functions and configured as a plurality of function units.

  Moreover, in FIG. 11, the main function parts which management server 40a has are shown, and the function which management server 40a has is not limited to these.

(Advance download processing, job list acquisition processing and job acquisition / print processing)
FIG. 12 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of a prior download process, a job list acquisition process, and a job acquisition / print process of the information processing system according to the second embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a remote job management table of the processing server according to the second embodiment. The preceding download process, job list acquisition process, and job acquisition / print process of the information processing system 1a according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The job list acquisition process (steps S232 to S241) and the job acquisition / print process (steps S242 to S254) of the information processing system 1a are the same as the contents of the process described in the first embodiment.

<Steps S201 to S223>
The processes of steps S201 to S223 are the same as the processes of steps S201 to S223 shown in FIG. 8 of the first embodiment, respectively.

<Step S224>
The second job acquisition unit 308 includes information (for example, “file path” in the job list table 1101) for identifying the job of the user 50 in the remote processing server 30a using the received job list, and the job The user information of the user 50 is transmitted to the remote processing server 30a via the second communication unit 302. Here, when transmitting to the remote processing server 30a, the second job acquisition unit 308 may transmit using the storage destination information acquired in step S210.

<Step S225>
When receiving a job request and user information from the target processing server via the second communication unit 302, the first job response unit 309 of the remote processing server 30a sends the job request to the storage unit 314.

<Steps S226 and S227>
When the storage unit 314 of the remote processing server 30a receives the job request, the storage unit 314 reads the job of the user 50 requested by the job request and sends the job to the first job response unit 309.

<Step S227a>
The first job response unit 309 of the remote processing server 30a determines that the job received from the storage unit 314 is a job transmitted to the target processing server, that is, a job to be copied to the target processing server. Since it is an original job 30a, a remote job registration request for requesting registration of remote job information indicating that is sent to the storage unit 314.

<Steps S227b and S227c>
Upon receiving the remote job registration request, the storage unit 314 of the remote processing server 30a registers (stores) the remote job information requested by the remote job registration request, and notifies the first job response unit 309 that the registration is complete. send. Specifically, for example, the storage unit 314 registers the remote job information in the remote job management table 1201 shown in FIG. In the remote job management table 1201 shown in FIG. 13, “ID” uniquely identifying a record corresponds to “ID” of a job list (for example, job list table 1101 shown in FIG. 9) stored in the storage unit 314. “Local job ID”, if it is an original job, the storage location of the job in the copy destination processing server 30a, and if it is a copy job, “Job URL” indicating the storage location of the job itself, and the original An “original flag” indicating whether it is a job or a copy job is stored in association with each other.

  In the example of steps S226 and S227 described above, the job accumulated in the storage unit 314 of the remote processing server 30a is an original job transmitted (copied) to the target processing server. Therefore, in the remote job management table 1201 of the storage unit 314, “ID” on the job list table 1101 corresponding to the original job is registered as “local job ID”, and the target processing server (in which the original job is stored ( The storage destination on the storage unit 314) is registered in the “job URL”, and “true” indicating the original job is registered in the “original flag”.

<Step S228>
When the first job response unit 309 of the remote processing server 30a receives the notification that the registration of the remote job information has been completed, the first job response unit 309 transmits the job received in step S227 to the target processing server via the second communication unit 302 ( respond.

<Step S229>
When the second job acquisition unit 308 of the target processing server receives (acquires) the job of the user 50 from the remote processing server 30 a via the second communication unit 302, the second job acquisition unit 308 sends the job to the storage unit 314.

<Steps S230 and S231>
The storage unit 314 stores the received job of the user 50 and sends a message indicating completion of storage to the second job acquisition unit 308.

<Step S231a>
The second job acquisition unit 308 of the target processing server determines that the job stored in the storage unit 314 is a job received from the remote processing server 30a, that is, a job copied from the remote processing server 30a. Since it is a copy job of the processing server, a remote job registration request for requesting registration of remote job information indicating that is sent to the storage unit 314.

<Steps S231b and S231c>
When receiving the remote job registration request, the storage unit 314 of the target processing server registers (stores) the remote job information requested by the remote job registration request, and sends a registration completion message to the second job acquisition unit 308.

  In the example of steps S230 and S231 described above, the job accumulated in the storage unit 314 of the remote processing server 30a is a copy job received (copied) by the target processing server. Accordingly, in the remote job management table 1201 of the storage unit 314, “ID” on the job list table 1101 corresponding to the copy job is registered as “local job ID”, and the target processing server (storage) storing the copy job is stored. 314) is registered in the “job URL”, and “false” indicating a copy job is registered in the “original flag”.

  The preceding download process is executed by the processes in steps S201 to S231c.

(Job deletion processing when a job deletion request is sent to the original server)
FIG. 14 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of job deletion processing when a job deletion request is issued to the original server in the information processing system according to the second embodiment. With reference to FIG. 14, a job deletion process when a job deletion request is made to the original server in the information processing system 1a according to the present embodiment will be described. In FIG. 14, it is assumed that the target processing server is a processing server 30 a that accumulates jobs to be deleted as original jobs (hereinafter, may be referred to as “original server”), and is a remote processing server. Assume that 30a is a processing server 30a (hereinafter also referred to as "copy server") that has copied (downloaded) the job from the original server.

<Step S301>
The user 50 inputs a job deletion operation for deleting a job of a specific user 50 to the operation unit 207 of the image forming apparatus 20a. Specifically, the user 50 selects, for example, a job to be deleted from the displayed job list on the job list screen 2001 shown in FIG. 10, and presses a “delete” button to select a job. This is input for the delete operation. Here, it is assumed that the selected job to be deleted is an original job accumulated in the target processing server.

<Step S302>
When the operation unit 207 receives an input of a job deletion operation, the operation unit 207 sends the job deletion operation information to the job deletion request unit 210.

<Step S303>
Upon receiving the job deletion operation information, the job deletion request unit 210 transmits a job deletion request for deleting the job indicated by the operation information to the processing server 30a (target processing server) via the communication unit 201. .

<Step S304>
When the job deletion unit 318 of the target processing server receives a job deletion request from the image forming apparatus 20 a via the first communication unit 301, remote job information that requests remote job information corresponding to the job indicated by the job deletion request. The request is sent to the storage unit 314.

<Steps S305 and S306>
When the storage unit 314 receives the remote job information request, the storage unit 314 reads the remote job information of the job indicated by the remote job information request and sends the remote job information to the job deletion unit 318.

  The following steps S307 to S311 are executed when there is remote job information corresponding to the job indicated by the job deletion request. Here, it is assumed that there is remote job information. Further, since the target processing server is the original server as described above, the remote job information read out in step S305 has an original flag "" to indicate that it has been copied to the remote processing server 30a that is a copy server. "true".

<Step S307>
The job deletion unit 318 of the target processing server sends the job deletion request received in step S303 based on the storage destination information already acquired via the second communication unit 302 to the remote processing server 30a (copy server). ).

<Step S308>
When receiving the job deletion request from the target processing server via the second communication unit 302, the job deletion unit 318 of the remote processing server 30a sends the job deletion request to the storage unit 314.

<Steps S309 and S310>
When receiving the job deletion request, the storage unit 314 of the remote processing server 30a deletes the job of the user 50 indicated by the job deletion request. In addition, the storage unit 314 deletes the job information from the job list created by the job list creation unit 306 of the remote processing server 30a. Further, the storage unit 314 deletes the remote job information corresponding to the job (copy job), and sends a deletion completion message to the job deletion unit 318. Further, the remote job information to be deleted here has the original flag “false” to indicate that the remote processing server 30a is a copy server, so that it has been copied from the target processing server which is the original server. Yes.

<Step S311>
Upon receiving the deletion completion message, the job deletion unit 318 transmits the deletion completion message to the target processing server via the second communication unit 302.

<Step S312>
When the job deletion unit 318 of the target processing server receives a deletion completion message from the remote processing server 30a via the second communication unit 302, a job deletion request for requesting deletion of the same job as the job in step S303 Is sent to its own storage unit 314.

<Steps S313 and S314>
When receiving the job deletion request, the storage unit 314 of the target processing server deletes the job of the user 50 indicated by the job deletion request. In addition, the storage unit 314 deletes the job information from the job list created by the job list creation unit 306 of the target processing server. Further, the storage unit 314 deletes the remote job information corresponding to the job (original job), and sends a deletion completion message to the job deletion unit 318. Also, the remote job information deleted here has an original flag of “true” to indicate that it has been copied to the remote processing server 30a, which is a copy server, since the target processing server is the original server. .

<Steps S315 and S316>
When the job deletion unit 318 of the target processing server receives the deletion completion message, the job deletion unit 318 stores a job confirmation request for checking whether or not the job of the target user (here, the user 50) is accumulated in the storage unit 314. Send to part 314. Then, the job deletion unit 318 obtains a confirmation result indicating whether or not the job of the target user is accumulated in the storage unit 314. Here, when the confirmation result in step S316 indicates that the job of the target user is not accumulated in the storage unit 314, the following steps S317 to S321 are executed.

<Step S317>
The job deletion unit 318 of the target processing server that is the original server sends the user information of the user 50 to the management server via the second communication unit 302 together with the storage destination deletion request for requesting deletion of the storage destination information about the user 50. To 40a.

<Step S318>
When the storage destination deletion unit 405 of the management server 40 a receives the storage destination deletion request and user information from the target processing server via the communication unit 401, the storage destination deletion unit 405 sends the storage destination deletion request to the storage unit 404.

<Steps S319 and S320>
Upon receiving the storage destination deletion request, the storage unit 404 of the management server 40a deletes the storage destination information about the user 50 in accordance with the storage destination deletion request, and sends a deletion completion message to the storage destination deletion unit 405.

<Step S321>
When receiving the deletion completion notice, the storage destination deletion unit 405 transmits the deletion completion notice to the target processing server via the communication unit 401.

<Step S322>
When the job deletion unit 318 of the target processing server receives the deletion completion message from the management server 40a via the second communication unit 302, the job deletion unit 318 notifies the deletion completion message via the first communication unit 301 to the image forming apparatus. To 20a.

<Step S323>
When the job deletion request unit 210 of the image forming apparatus 20a receives a deletion completion message from the target processing server via the communication unit 201, in step S301, the job deletion request unit 210 selects the job selected as the deletion target job from among the jobs of the user 50. A deletion completion display request for requesting a display indicating that the deletion has been completed is sent to the display control unit 208.

<Steps S324 and S325>
Upon receiving the deletion completion display request, the display control unit 208 displays on the display unit 209 that the deletion of the job selected as the job to be deleted has been completed. By confirming the display on the display unit 209, the user 50 grasps that a job desired to be deleted is deleted from his own jobs.

  By the flow of steps S301 to S325 as described above, the job deletion process is executed when a job deletion request is made to the original server in the information processing system 1a. Note that the processing order of steps S301 to S325 shown in FIG. 14 is an example, and is not limited to this order. If the effect of the overall processing is the same, part of the processing may be changed. Alternatively, some processes may be processed in parallel. For example, a series of steps (steps S312 to S314) for deleting a job (original job) on the target processing server (steps S312 to S314) is a series of steps (steps S307 to S311) for deleting a job (copy job) on the remote processing server 30a. ) May be executed before.

(Job deletion processing when a job deletion request is sent to the copy server)
FIG. 15 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of job deletion processing when a job deletion request is issued to the copy server in the information processing system according to the second embodiment. With reference to FIG. 15, a job deletion process when a job deletion request is made to the copy server in the information processing system 1a according to the present embodiment will be described. In FIG. 15, it is assumed that the target processing server is the processing server 30a (copy server) that stores the job to be deleted as a copy job, and the processing server 30a at the remote location a shown in FIG. It is assumed that the processing server 30a (original server) has copied the job to the copy server, and that the processing server 30a at the remote location b is a copy server in the same manner as the target processing server.

<Step S401>
The user 50 inputs a job deletion operation for deleting a job of a specific user 50 to the operation unit 207 of the image forming apparatus 20a. Specifically, the user 50 selects, for example, a job to be deleted from the displayed job list on the job list screen 2001 shown in FIG. 10, and presses a “delete” button to select a job. This is input for the delete operation. Here, it is assumed that the selected deletion target job is a copy job stored in the target processing server.

<Step S402>
When the operation unit 207 receives an input of a job deletion operation, the operation unit 207 sends the job deletion operation information to the job deletion request unit 210.

<Step S403>
Upon receiving the job deletion operation information, the job deletion request unit 210 transmits a job deletion request for deleting the job indicated by the operation information to the processing server 30a (target processing server) via the communication unit 201. .

<Step S404>
When the job deletion unit 318 of the target processing server receives a job deletion request from the image forming apparatus 20 a via the first communication unit 301, remote job information that requests remote job information corresponding to the job indicated by the job deletion request. The request is sent to the storage unit 314.

<Steps S405 and S406>
When the storage unit 314 receives the remote job information request, the storage unit 314 reads the remote job information of the job indicated by the remote job information request and sends the remote job information to the job deletion unit 318.

  The following steps S407 through S426 are executed when there is remote job information corresponding to the job indicated by the job deletion request. Here, it is assumed that there is remote job information. Further, the remote job information read out in step S405 has an original flag indicating that it has been copied from the processing server 30a in the remote location a, which is the original server, since the target processing server is a copy server as described above. Is “false”.

<Step S407>
The job deletion unit 318 of the target processing server, based on the storage destination information already acquired,
The job deletion request received in step S403 is transmitted to the processing server 30a (original server) at the remote location a via the second communication unit 302.

<Step S408>
When receiving the job deletion request from the target processing server via the second communication unit 302, the job deletion unit 318 of the processing server 30a at the remote location a requests remote job information corresponding to the job indicated by the job deletion request. A remote job information request is sent to the storage unit 314.

<Steps S409 and S410>
When the storage unit 314 receives the remote job information request, the storage unit 314 reads the remote job information of the job indicated by the remote job information request and sends the remote job information to the job deletion unit 318.

  The following steps S411 to S415 are executed when there is remote job information corresponding to the job indicated by the job deletion request and there is remote job information corresponding to a copy server other than the target processing server. Here, it is assumed that there is remote job information corresponding to a copy server other than the target processing server, and that the copy server other than the target processing server is the processing server 30a in the remote location b. At this time, the remote job information read in step S409 indicates that the processing server 30a at the remote location a is the original server as described above, and has been copied to the processing server 30a at the remote location b, which is a copy server. Thus, the original flag is “true”.

<Step S411>
The job deletion unit 318 of the processing server 30a at the remote location a processes the job deletion request received at step S407 based on the storage destination information already acquired via the second communication unit 302. It transmits to the server 30a (copy server).

<Step S412>
When receiving the job deletion request from the processing server 30a at the remote location a via the second communication unit 302, the job deletion unit 318 of the processing server 30a at the remote location b sends the job deletion request to the storage unit 314.

<Steps S413 and S414>
When receiving the job deletion request, the storage unit 314 of the processing server 30a at the remote location b deletes the job of the user 50 indicated by the job deletion request. Further, the storage unit 314 deletes the job information from the job list created by the job list creation unit 306 of the processing server 30a at the remote location b. Further, the storage unit 314 deletes the remote job information corresponding to the job (copy job), and sends a deletion completion message to the job deletion unit 318. Further, the remote job information to be deleted here has an original flag "" to indicate that it has been copied from the processing server 30a at the remote location a, which is the original server, since the processing server 30a at the remote location b is a copy server. false ".

<Step S415>
When the job deletion unit 318 receives the deletion completion message, the job deletion unit 318 transmits the deletion completion message to the processing server 30a at the remote location a via the second communication unit 302.

<Step S416>
When the job deletion unit 318 of the processing server 30a at the remote location a receives the deletion completion message from the processing server 30a at the remote location b via the second communication unit 302, the job deletion unit 318 deletes the same job as the job at step S407. The requested job deletion request is sent to its own storage unit 314.

<Steps S417 and S418>
When receiving the job deletion request, the storage unit 314 of the processing server 30a at the remote location a deletes the job of the user 50 indicated by the job deletion request. Further, the storage unit 314 deletes the job information from the job list created by the job list creation unit 306 of the processing server 30a at the remote location a. Further, the storage unit 314 deletes the remote job information corresponding to the job (original job), and sends a deletion completion message to the job deletion unit 318. Further, the remote job information deleted here is the original so as to indicate that the remote server “a” processing server 30a is the original server, so that it has been copied to the target processing server that is a copy server and the remote processing server 30a. The flag is “true”.

<Steps S419 and S420>
When the job deletion unit 318 of the processing server 30a in the remote location a receives the deletion completion message, the job deletion unit 318 confirms whether or not the job of the target user (here, the user 50) is accumulated in the storage unit 314. A confirmation request is sent to the storage unit 314. Then, the job deletion unit 318 obtains a confirmation result indicating whether or not the job of the target user is accumulated in the storage unit 314. Here, when the confirmation result in step S420 indicates that the job of the target user is not accumulated in the storage unit 314, the following steps S421 to S425 are executed.

<Step S421>
The job deletion unit 318 of the processing server 30a in the remote location a which is the original server sends the user information of the user 50 via the second communication unit 302 together with the storage destination deletion request for requesting deletion of the storage destination information about the user 50. To the management server 40a.

<Step S422>
When the storage destination deletion unit 405 of the management server 40a receives the storage destination deletion request and user information from the processing server 30a at the remote location a via the communication unit 401, the storage destination deletion unit 405 sends the storage destination deletion request to the storage unit 404.

<Steps S423 and S424>
Upon receiving the storage destination deletion request, the storage unit 404 of the management server 40a deletes the storage destination information about the user 50 in accordance with the storage destination deletion request, and sends a deletion completion message to the storage destination deletion unit 405.

<Step S425>
When the storage destination deleting unit 405 receives the deletion completion message, the storage destination deleting unit 405 transmits the deletion completion message to the remote processing server 30a via the communication unit 401.

<Step S426>
When the job deletion unit 318 of the processing server 30a in the remote location a receives the deletion completion message from the management server 40a via the second communication unit 302, the job deletion unit 318 notifies the deletion completion message via the second communication unit 302. To the target processing server.

<Step S427>
When the job deletion unit 318 of the target processing server receives the deletion completion message from the processing server 30a at the remote location a via the second communication unit 302, the job deletion requesting the deletion of the same job as the job of step S403 The request is sent to its own storage unit 314.

<Steps S428 and S429>
When receiving the job deletion request, the storage unit 314 of the target processing server deletes the job of the user 50 indicated by the job deletion request. In addition, the storage unit 314 deletes the job information from the job list created by the job list creation unit 306 of the target processing server. Further, the storage unit 314 deletes the remote job information corresponding to the job (copy job), and sends a deletion completion message to the job deletion unit 318. Further, the remote job information to be deleted here has the original flag “false” to indicate that it has been copied from the processing server 30a in the remote location a, which is the original server, since the target processing server is a copy server. ing.

<Step S430>
Upon receiving the deletion completion message from the storage unit 314, the job deletion unit 318 of the target processing server transmits the deletion completion message to the image forming apparatus 20a via the first communication unit 301.

<Step S431>
When the job deletion request unit 210 of the image forming apparatus 20a receives a deletion completion message from the target processing server via the communication unit 201, in step S401, the job deletion request unit 210 selects the job selected as the job to be deleted among the jobs of the user 50. A deletion completion display request for requesting a display indicating that the deletion has been completed is sent to the display control unit 208.

<Steps S432 and S433>
Upon receiving the deletion completion display request, the display control unit 208 displays on the display unit 209 that the deletion of the job selected as the job to be deleted has been completed. By confirming the display on the display unit 209, the user 50 grasps that a job desired to be deleted is deleted from his own jobs.

  By the flow of steps S401 to S433 as described above, job deletion processing is executed when a job deletion request is made to the copy server in the information processing system 1a. Note that the order of the processes in steps S401 to S433 shown in FIG. 15 is an example, and is not limited to the order. If the effect of the entire process is the same, a part of the process may be changed. Alternatively, some processes may be processed in parallel. For example, a series of steps (steps S416 to S418) for deleting a job (original job) on the processing server 30a at the remote location a is a series of steps for deleting a job (copy job) on the processing server 30a at the remote location b. It may be executed before (Steps S411 to S415).

  As described above, in the information processing system 1a according to the present embodiment, the same effect as that of the information processing system 1 according to the first embodiment can be obtained, and a job that has been deleted as an unnecessary job is originally provided. The same job is deleted not only in the stored processing server 30a (original server) but also in the processing server 30a (copy server) copied (downloaded) from the original server. As a result, since it is possible to delete without leaving an unnecessary job, it is not necessary to issue a deletion command by a deletion operation or the like to each processing server 30a (original server, copy server), and each processing server 30a (original server, copy server). The utilization efficiency of resources such as the storage unit 314 of the server) can be improved.

[Third Embodiment]
An information processing system according to the third embodiment will be described focusing on differences from the information processing system 1 according to the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, the operation of performing the printing process using the job of the user 50 downloaded to the target processing server by the prior download process has been described. However, the job list acquisition process and the job acquisition / print process may be executed during the prior download process. In the present exemplary embodiment, when copying (downloading) by a target processing server is not completed for a job to be printed in job acquisition / print processing, the image forming apparatus 20 directly receives the job from the remote processing server 30. The operation of downloading the will be described. The overall configuration of the information processing system according to the present embodiment and the hardware configurations of the client, the image forming apparatus, the processing server, and the management server are the same as those described in the first embodiment.

(Function block configuration of information processing system)
The functional block configuration of the information processing system according to the present embodiment is the same as that of the information processing system 1 according to the first embodiment. However, the functions of some of the functional units are different, so the differences will be mainly described. To do.

  The second job acquisition unit 308 of the processing server 30 is a functional unit that requests and acquires the job of the target user from another processing server 30 using the job list of the target user acquired by the job list acquisition unit 305. . In addition, the second job acquisition unit 308 causes the storage unit 314 to register remote job information for managing a job acquired from another processing server 30 as a copied job (copy job). In addition, the second job acquisition unit 308 transmits the job request for requesting the job from the other processing server 30 to the above-described remote status as the job status information from the job status until the job acquisition is completed. Reflect in job information. The second job acquisition unit 308 is realized by, for example, a program executed by the CPU 501 illustrated in FIG.

  When the first job response unit 309 of the processing server 30 receives a request for the job of the target user from another processing server 30, the first job response unit 309 acquires the job of the target user from the storage unit 314, and acquires the job from the other processing server 30. Is a functional unit that responds to Further, the first job response unit 309 causes the storage unit 314 to register remote job information for registering a job responding to the other processing server 30 as a copied job (original job). The first job response unit 309 is realized by, for example, a program executed by the CPU 501 illustrated in FIG.

  The storage unit 314 of the processing server 30 stores jobs including print data received from the client 10, jobs downloaded from other processing servers 30, list information for managing these jobs, and stored jobs as copy jobs It is a functional unit that stores various data such as remote job information for managing the original job. The storage unit 314 is realized by the auxiliary storage device 504 and the RAM 503 shown in FIG.

  The job acquisition unit 204 of the image forming apparatus 20 is a functional unit that acquires the job of the selected target user from the processing server 30 when executing print processing by the operation of the target user. However, before acquiring the job of the selected target user, the job acquisition unit 204 indicates from the processing server 30 whether or not the job has been copied from the other processing server 30 by the processing server 30. Get information. If the acquired job status information indicates that the job has not been copied, the job acquisition unit 204 acquires the job directly from the other processing server 30 instead of the processing server 30. The job acquisition unit 204 is realized, for example, by a program executed by the CPU 651 shown in FIG.

  When the second job response unit 311 of the processing server 30 receives a request for a job selected by the target user from among the target user jobs from the image forming apparatus 20, the second job response unit 311 acquires the selected job from the storage unit 314. The functional unit responds to the image forming apparatus 20. However, the second job response unit 311 responds to the job status request for requesting job status information from the image forming apparatus 20 (job acquisition unit 204) before responding to the image forming apparatus 20 with the requested job. Returns job status information.

(Advance download processing, job list acquisition processing and job acquisition / print processing)
FIG. 16 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of a prior download process, a job list acquisition process, and a job acquisition / print process of the information processing system according to the third embodiment. FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example of a remote job management table of the processing server according to the third embodiment. With reference to FIGS. 16 and 17, a description will be given of the advance download processing, job list acquisition processing, and job acquisition / print processing of the information processing system according to the present embodiment. The preceding download process and job list acquisition process of the information processing system according to the present embodiment are basically the same as the processes described in the second embodiment, but the preceding download process is partially different. explain. Further, as described above, the job list acquisition process and the job acquisition / print process may be executed during the preceding download process.

  First, the difference between the advance download process and the process described in the second embodiment will be described. In FIG. 12, when the second job acquisition unit 308 of the target processing server acquires a job from a remote processing server (processing server 30 in this embodiment) and stores it in the storage unit 314, steps S231a to S231c are performed. (For example, processing for registering remote job information indicating that a job has been copied from the remote processing server 30 in the remote job management table 1201 as shown in FIG. 13, for example) is executed. In this embodiment, when the second job acquisition unit 308 of the target processing server transmits a job request to the remote processing server 30 in step S224 of FIG. 12, remote job information corresponding to the job related to the job request is sent. Is registered in the remote job management table 1202 as shown in FIG.

  In the remote job management table 1202 illustrated in FIG. 17, “ID” uniquely identifying a record corresponds to “ID” of a job list (for example, the job list table 1101 illustrated in FIG. 9) stored in the storage unit 314. In the case of “local job ID” and original job, the job storage destination in the copy destination processing server 30, and in the case of copy job, “job URL” indicating the job storage destination of itself, in the original job An “original flag” indicating whether there is a copy job or a copy job and a “job state” indicating whether the copy job is being copied or copied are stored in association with each other. In the remote job management table 1202 in which the remote job information is registered, the “job status” information corresponds to the above-described job status information.

  When the remote job information is registered in the remote job management table 1202 in step S224, the job status is registered as “copying”.

  In this embodiment, in step S231a of FIG. 12, the second job acquisition unit 308 of the target processing server registers the job status information indicating that the job has been copied from the remote processing server 30. The request is sent to the storage unit 314. In steps S231b and S231c, when the storage unit 314 of the target processing server receives the remote job registration request, the job status information indicating that the job has been copied according to the request for the remote job registration request, It is reflected in the job information, and a message indicating the completion of the reflection is sent to the second job acquisition unit 308.

  Next, the job acquisition / printing process will be described with reference to FIG.

<Step S242a>
The user 50 inputs a print operation for performing print processing of his job to the operation unit 207 of the image forming apparatus 20. Specifically, for example, the user 50 selects a job desired to be printed from the displayed list of jobs on the job list screen 2001 shown in FIG. 10 and presses a “print” button. Input for printing operation.

<Step S243a>
When the operation unit 207 receives an input of a print operation, the operation unit 207 sends the print operation information to the job acquisition unit 204.

<Step S244a>
Upon receiving the printing operation information, the job acquisition unit 204 receives the job status request indicating the job status information indicating whether or not the job indicated by the operation information has been downloaded on the target processing server, and the user 50 user Information is transmitted to the target processing server via the communication unit 201.

<Step S245a>
When the second job response unit 311 of the target processing server receives a job status request and user information from the image forming apparatus 20 via the first communication unit 301, the second job response unit 311 sends the job status request to the storage unit 314.

<Steps S246a and S247a>
Upon receiving the job status request, the storage unit 314 reads the job status information of the job of the user 50 requested by the job status request, and sends the job status information to the second job response unit 311.

<Step S248a>
The second job response unit 311 sends the first communication unit 301 the job status information of the received job of the user 50 together with the storage destination information of the remote processing server 30 that is the original server that originally stored the job. To the image forming apparatus 20.

  When the job status information transmitted by the second job response unit 311 indicates “copied”, the following steps S249a to S253a are executed. On the other hand, when the job status information indicates that it is not “copied” (for example, “copying”), the following steps S254a to S258a are executed.

<Steps S249a to S253a>
The processes of steps S249a to S253a are the same as the processes of steps S244 to S248 shown in FIG. 8 of the first embodiment, respectively.

<Step S254a>
When the job status information received via the communication unit 201 indicates that the job status information is not “copied” (for example, “copying”), the job acquisition unit 204 of the image forming apparatus 20 indicates the job indicated by the operation information in step S243a. The user information of the user 50 is transmitted to the remote processing server 30 via the communication unit 201 together with the job request that directly requests the remote processing server 30. Note that, for example, when the job status information is “copying”, the job acquisition unit 204 may wait for a predetermined time until the copying is completed. In this case, if the job status information becomes “copied” before the predetermined time elapses, the above-described steps S249a to S253a are executed, and the job status information remains “copied” after the predetermined time elapses. In some cases, a job request to be directly requested may be transmitted to the remote processing server 30.

<Step S255a>
When receiving a job request and user information from the image forming apparatus 20 via the first communication unit 301, the second job response unit 311 of the remote processing server 30 sends the job request to the storage unit 314.

<Steps S256a and S257a>
Upon receiving the job request, the storage unit 314 reads the job of the user 50 requested by the job request and sends the job to the second job response unit 311.

<Step S258a>
The second job response unit 311 transmits (responds) the received job of the user 50 to the image forming apparatus 20 via the first communication unit 301.

<Step S259a>
When the job acquisition unit 204 of the image forming apparatus 20 receives (acquires) a job from the remote processing server 30 via the communication unit 201, the job acquisition unit 204 sends a print request for requesting printing of the job together with the job to the printing unit. Send to 205.

<Steps S260a and S261a>
Upon receiving a print request and a job, the printing unit 205 generates drawing data from the job and executes print processing. After the printing process is completed, the printing unit 205 sends a print completion message to the job acquisition unit 204.

<Step S262a>
When the job acquisition unit 204 receives the print completion message, the job acquisition unit 204 sends a completion display request for displaying the print completion message to the display control unit 208.

<Steps S263a and S264a>
Upon receiving the completion display request, the display control unit 208 causes the display unit 209 to display that the printing process has been completed. The user 50 confirms that the printing process has been completed based on the display on the display unit 209.

  The job acquisition / printing process is executed by the processes in steps S242a to S264a.

  Note that the order of processing in each step shown in FIG. 16 is an example, and is not limited to this order. If the effect of the overall processing is the same, part of the processing may be performed. Alternatively, some processes may be processed in parallel.

  As described above, in the first embodiment, the printing process is performed using the job of the user 50 downloaded to the target processing server by the preceding download process. However, the job list acquisition process and the job acquisition / print process may be executed during the prior download process. In this case, when executing job acquisition / print processing, there is a case where the job to be printed has not yet been copied by the target processing server, and it is necessary to wait until the copying is completed. Therefore, in the present embodiment, when copying (downloading) by the target processing server has not been completed for a job to be printed in the job acquisition / print processing, the image forming apparatus 20 directly from the remote processing server 30 directly. Since the job is downloaded, the waiting time during the printing process can be shortened, and the efficiency of pull printing can be realized. It goes without saying that the same effects as those of the information processing system 1 according to the first embodiment can be obtained.

[Fourth Embodiment]
An information processing system according to the fourth embodiment will be described focusing on differences from the information processing system 1 according to the first embodiment. In the present embodiment, an operation for enabling selection of whether or not to continue the preceding download process when the target user logs out during the preceding download process will be described. The overall configuration of the information processing system according to the present embodiment, the hardware configuration of the client, the image forming apparatus, the processing server, and the management server, and the configuration of the functional blocks of the information processing system have been described in the first embodiment. The configuration is the same.

  FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an example of a download continuation confirmation screen of the image forming apparatus according to the fourth embodiment. With reference to FIG. 18, an operation for enabling selection of whether or not to continue the preceding download process when the target user logs out during the preceding download process will be described.

  When the user 50 performs a logout operation on the operation unit 207 during the prior download process, the display control unit 208 of the image forming apparatus 20 according to the present embodiment continues the download as illustrated in FIG. The display unit 209 displays a download continuation confirmation screen 2101 for confirming whether or not it is.

  When the user 50 presses the “Yes” button on the download continuation confirmation screen 2101 via the operation unit 207, the processing server 30 (target processing server) continues the preceding download process.

  On the other hand, when the user 50 presses the “No” button on the download continuation confirmation screen 2101 via the operation unit 207, the processing server 30 (target processing server) interrupts the preceding download processing. Specifically, the timing at which the user 50 logs out and presses the “No” button on the download continuation confirmation screen 2101 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “interruption timing”) is the processing server 30 in step S206 in FIG. When the storage destination acquisition unit 313 transmits the storage destination request to the management server 40 and before acquiring the storage destination information, the acquisition of the storage destination information is interrupted. Thereafter, the job list acquisition unit 305 does not acquire the job list, and the second job acquisition unit 308 does not acquire the target user's job.

  Further, when the interruption timing is during execution of the processing of steps S213 to S231 in FIG. 8, the job list acquisition unit 305 of the processing server 30 interrupts the acquisition of the job list, and the second job acquisition unit 308 Suspend user job acquisition. If there is a job list already acquired by the job list acquisition unit 305, the job list may be deleted from the storage unit 314 by the job list acquisition unit 305. If there is a job that has already been acquired by the second job acquisition unit 308, the job may be deleted from the storage unit 314 by the second job acquisition unit 308. Further, the storage destination information acquired by the storage destination acquisition unit 313 of the processing server 30 in step S210 in FIG. 8 may be discarded (deleted) by the storage destination acquisition unit 313.

  Note that the subject that deletes the storage destination information, the job list, and the job may be, for example, a functional unit such as the job deletion unit 318 illustrated in FIG. 11 of the second embodiment.

  Further, the storage unit 314 may store setting information in which whether or not to continue the advance download process at the time of logout is stored in advance. In this case, whether or not the advance download process is continued may be determined according to the setting information.

  As described above, in the information processing system according to the present embodiment, when the target user logs out during the preceding download process, the target user is allowed to select whether or not to continue the preceding download process. In the case where it is determined, the preceding download process is continued. If it is selected to continue the pre-download process, when the target user logs in next time and tries to print his job again, there is no need to download the job from the remote processing server 30 again. Processing can be shortened. On the other hand, when it is selected not to continue the prior download process, the utilization efficiency of resources such as the storage unit 314 of the target processing server can be improved.

[Fifth Embodiment]
An information processing system according to the fifth embodiment will be described focusing on differences from the information processing system 1a according to the second embodiment. In the first embodiment, the operation of performing the printing process using the job of the user 50 downloaded to the target processing server by the prior download process has been described. In the present embodiment, an operation for enabling selection of whether or not to delete data such as a job downloaded by the preceding download process when the target user logs out will be described. The overall configuration of the information processing system according to the present embodiment and the hardware configurations of the client, the image forming apparatus, the processing server, and the management server are the same as those described in the first embodiment. The configuration of the functional blocks of the information processing system according to this embodiment is the same as that of the information processing system 1a according to the second embodiment.

(Job deletion process after logout)
FIG. 19 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of job deletion processing after logout in the information processing system according to the fifth embodiment. FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an example of a copy deletion confirmation screen of the image forming apparatus according to the fifth embodiment. The job deletion process after logout of the information processing system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 19 and 20.

<Step S501>
The user 50 inputs a logout operation for logging out from the processing server 30a (target processing server) to the operation unit 207 of the image forming apparatus 20a.

<Step S502>
When the operation unit 207 receives an input of the logout operation, the operation unit 207 sends the logout operation information to the authentication request unit 202.

<Step S503>
Upon receiving the logout operation information, the authentication request unit 202 issues a deletion confirmation screen display request for displaying a screen for confirming whether to delete data such as a job downloaded in the processing server 30a after the logout. This is sent to the display control unit 208.

<Steps S504 and S505>
Upon receiving the deletion confirmation screen display request, the display control unit 208 causes the display unit 209 to display a screen for confirming whether to delete data such as a job. The user 50 can select whether or not to delete data such as a job downloaded in the processing server 30a from the screen displayed on the display unit 209.

  Here, FIG. 20 shows a copy deletion confirmation screen 2201 as an example of a screen for confirming whether or not to delete data such as a job. When the user 50 presses the “No” button on the copy deletion confirmation screen 2201 via the operation unit 207, the job or the like is not deleted, and logout processing is performed by the authentication request unit 202 and the authentication unit 303 of the target processing server. Done. Here, a case where the user 50 presses the “Yes” button on the copy deletion confirmation screen 2201 via the operation unit 207 will be described.

<Step S506>
The user 50 inputs a deletion selection operation for deleting a job downloaded to the target processing server at the time of logout to the operation unit 207 of the image forming apparatus 20a. For example, in the example of the copy deletion confirmation screen 2201 illustrated in FIG. 20, this corresponds to an operation in which the user 50 presses a “Yes” button on the copy deletion confirmation screen 2201 via the operation unit 207.

<Step S507>
When the operation unit 207 receives an input of a deletion selection operation, the operation unit 207 sends operation information for the deletion selection to the job deletion request unit 210.

<Step S508>
When the job deletion request unit 210 receives the operation information for selection of deletion, the communication unit 201 issues a download stop request for requesting stop of the job download of the target user (here, the user 50) from the remote processing server 30a. To the target processing server.

<Steps S509 and S510>
When receiving the download stop request from the image forming apparatus 20a via the first communication unit 301, the second job acquisition unit 308 of the target processing server stops the download of the target user's job from the remote processing server 30a. The information indicating that the stop has been completed is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 20a via the first communication unit 301.

<Step S511>
When the job deletion request unit 210 of the image forming apparatus 20a receives the completion notification from the target processing server via the communication unit 201, the job deletion request unit 210 deletes the job (copy job) copied (downloaded) from the remote processing server 30a. A copy job deletion request for requesting is sent to the target processing server via the communication unit 201.

<Step S512>
When the job deletion unit 318 (second deletion unit) of the target processing server receives a copy job deletion request from the image forming apparatus 20 a via the first communication unit 301, the job deletion unit 318 sends the copy job deletion request to the storage unit 314.

<Steps S513 and S514>
Upon receiving the copy job deletion request, the storage unit 314 deletes the copy job of the user 50 according to the copy job deletion request. In addition, the storage unit 314 deletes the copy job information from the job list created by the job list creation unit 306 of the target processing server. Further, the storage unit 314 deletes the remote job information corresponding to the copy job, and sends a deletion completion message to the job deletion unit 318. Further, the remote job information to be deleted here has the original flag “false” to indicate that it has been copied from the remote processing server 30a, which is the original server, since the target processing server is a copy server. Yes. As described above, the job deleted from the storage unit 314 is only the copy job copied from the remote processing server 30a, and the job of the user 50 registered from the client 10 or the like corresponding to the target processing server. Is not deleted.

<Step S515>
When the storage unit 314 receives the copy job, the job list corresponding to the copy job, and the remote job information corresponding to the copy job in the storage unit 314, the job deletion unit 318 receives the completion of the deletion in the remote processing server 30a. A remote job information deletion request for requesting deletion of remote job information corresponding to the copy job is transmitted to the remote processing server 30 a via the second communication unit 302.

<Step S516>
Upon receiving the remote job information deletion request from the target processing server via the second communication unit 302, the job deletion unit 318 of the remote processing server 30a sends the remote job information deletion request to the storage unit 314.

<Steps S517 and S518>
When the storage unit 314 receives the remote job information deletion request, the storage unit 314 indicates the remote job information corresponding to the copy job of the target processing server (original job for the remote processing server 30a) as indicated by the remote job information deletion request. It deletes and sends a deletion completion message to the job deletion unit 318. The remote job information to be deleted here has an original flag of “true” to indicate that the remote processing server 30a is the original server, so that it is copied to the target processing server which is a copy server. .

<Step S519>
Upon receiving the deletion completion message, the job deletion unit 318 transmits the deletion completion message to the target processing server via the second communication unit 302.

<Step S520>
When the job deletion unit 318 of the target processing server receives the deletion completion message from the remote processing server 30a via the second communication unit 302, the copy job deletion is completed as a response to the copy job deletion request in step S511. To the image forming apparatus 20a via the first communication unit 301.

<Step S521>
When the job deletion request unit 210 of the image forming apparatus 20 a receives a copy job deletion completion message from the target processing server via the communication unit 201, the job deletion request unit 210 sends the copy job deletion completion message to the authentication request unit 202.

<Step S522>
Upon receiving the copy job deletion completion message, the authentication request unit 202 transmits the user information of the target user to the target processing server via the communication unit 201 together with a logout request for requesting logout of the target user.

<Steps S523 and S524>
When the authentication unit 303 of the target processing server receives the logout request and the user information from the image forming apparatus 20a via the first communication unit 301, the target processing server performs the logout process for the target user indicated by the user information, and the logout is completed. Is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 20a via the first communication unit 301.

<Step S525>
When the authentication request unit 202 of the image forming apparatus 20a receives a logout completion message from the target processing server via the communication unit 201, the authentication request unit 202 displays a logout completion display request for requesting a display indicating that the target user has logged out. The data is sent to the control unit 208.

<Steps S526 and S527>
Upon receiving the logout completion display request, the display control unit 208 displays on the display unit 209 that the logout of the target user has been completed. The user 50 recognizes that the user has logged out by checking the display on the display unit 209. The display control unit 208 may display on the display unit 209 that the copy job of the target user has been deleted together with the fact that the user has logged out.

  The job deletion process after logout is executed in the information processing system according to the present embodiment by the flow of steps S501 to S527 as described above. Note that the processing order of steps S501 to S527 shown in FIG. 19 is an example, and is not limited to this order. If the effect of the overall processing is the same, part of the processing may be mixed. Alternatively, some processes may be processed in parallel. For example, the processes in steps S522 to S524 that actually perform the logout process may be executed before the deletion process for the copy job (for example, before step S503).

  As described above, in the information processing system according to the present embodiment, the target user is allowed to select whether or not to delete the job of the target user downloaded to the target processing server when the target user logs out, and deletion is selected. If this happens, the job is to be deleted. If it is selected not to delete the downloaded job, when the target user logs in next time and tries to print his job again, there is no need to download the job from the remote processing server 30a again. Printing processing can be shortened. On the other hand, when deletion of a downloaded job is selected, the utilization efficiency of resources such as the storage unit 314 of the target processing server can be improved.

  In the present embodiment, the job downloaded to the target processing server is deleted when the target user logs out, but the timing of deleting the job is not limited to this. For example, a job downloaded to the target processing server may be deleted after a predetermined time elapses when it remains without being printed.

[Sixth Embodiment]
An information processing system according to the sixth embodiment will be described focusing on differences from the information processing system 1 according to the first embodiment. In the present embodiment, an operation will be described in which the processing server that is the target of the preceding download process is designated in advance in the target processing server. The overall configuration of the information processing system according to the present embodiment and the hardware configurations of the client, the image forming apparatus, the processing server, and the management server are the same as those described in the first embodiment.

(Function block configuration of information processing system)
FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional block configuration of an information processing system according to the sixth embodiment. FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating an example of a server management table of the processing server according to the sixth embodiment. The configuration of functional blocks of the information processing system 1b according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. Note that the functional block configurations of the client 10, the image forming apparatus 20, and the management server 40 of the information processing system 1b are the same as those described in the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 21, the processing server 30b of the information processing system 1b includes a first communication unit 301, a second communication unit 302, an authentication unit 303, a first job acquisition unit 304 (third acquisition unit), Job list acquisition unit 305 (second acquisition unit), job list creation unit 306, first job list response unit 307, second job acquisition unit 308 (first acquisition unit), and first job response unit 309 ( (Second transmission unit), second job list response unit 310, second job response unit 311 (first transmission unit), storage destination notification unit 312 (notification unit), storage destination acquisition unit 313, and storage unit 314 (accumulation unit), an operation unit 315, a display control unit 316, a display unit 317, and a server management unit 319 (designation unit).

  The server management unit 319 is a processing server (processing server 30 according to the first embodiment, processing server 30a according to the second embodiment, and processing server 30a according to the second embodiment) that is a target of the preceding download process in the processing server 30b as the target processing server. Although it may be any of the processing server 30b and the like, it will be described here as being the processing server 30b). Specifically, the server management unit 319 manages the server management table 1301 as shown in FIG.

  In the server management table 1301 illustrated in FIG. 22, an “ID” that uniquely identifies a record, a “server IP address” that is an access destination of the processing server 30 b that is a target of the preceding download process, and a target of the preceding download process “Download target”, which is a flag indicating whether or not, is stored in association with each other.

  The server management table 1301 may be in a white list format in which only records for the processing server 30b that is the target of the preceding download process (that is, the download target is “true”), and is not the target of the preceding download process ( That is, a black list format in which only records for the processing server 30b whose download target is “false”) may be stored. Further, the server management table 1301 may be a table including all records of the processing server 30b that can be the target of the preceding download process, and whether or not to be the target of the preceding download process for each processing server 30b in advance. May be set in a format. In this case, the server management unit 319 displays the contents of the server management table 1301, and registers a new processing server 30b, deletes the processing server 30b, and registers or changes an access destination according to an operation input to the operation unit 315 of the user 50. The contents of the server management table 1301 may be freely set for the download target.

  The server management unit 319 is realized by, for example, a program executed by the CPU 501 illustrated in FIG.

  Other functional units of the processing server 30b are the same as the functional units of the processing server 30 described in the first embodiment.

  Moreover, each function part of the processing server 30b shown in FIG. 21 shows the function conceptually, and is not limited to such a configuration. For example, a plurality of functional units illustrated as independent functional units in the processing server 30b illustrated in FIG. 21 may be configured as one functional unit. On the other hand, the processing server 30b shown in FIG. 21 may be configured as a plurality of functional units divided into a plurality of functions of one functional unit.

  Further, in FIG. 21, main functional units included in the processing server 30b are shown, and the functions included in the processing server 30b are not limited to these.

(Advance download process)
The advance download process of the information processing system 1b according to the present embodiment is different from the operation illustrated in FIG. 8 of the first embodiment in the following points.

  In step S224 illustrated in FIG. 8, the second job acquisition unit 308 of the processing server 30b (processing server 30 in FIG. 8) refers to the server management table 1301 stored in the storage unit 314 and indicates the acquired storage destination information. The processing server 30b determines whether or not the server management table 1301 is a target of the prior download process. Then, the processing server 30b performs the processing (target) of steps S224 to S231 on the processing server 30b (remote processing server 30b) that is the target of the preceding download processing among the processing servers 30b indicated by the storage destination information. Download user jobs).

  Further, for example, in step S238 shown in FIG. 8, the job list acquisition unit 203 of the image forming apparatus 20 receives the job list from the processing server 30b, receives the server management table 1301 and the accumulation destination information, and stores the storage unit 206. Remember me. Note that the timing at which the image forming apparatus 20 receives the server management table 1301 and the storage destination information is not limited to the processing in step S238, but any timing as long as it is before execution of the job acquisition / printing processing in step S242 and subsequent steps. It's okay.

  In step S244 shown in FIG. 8, the job acquisition unit 204 of the image forming apparatus 20 refers to the server management table 1301 stored in the storage unit 206, and the processing server 30b corresponding to the job indicated by the operation information downloads in advance. When the job is not the target of processing, the job indicated by the operation information is downloaded (acquired) directly from the processing server 30b using the storage destination information, instead of acquiring the job from the target processing server.

  As described above, in the information processing system 1b according to the present embodiment, the advance download process is executed on the processing server 30b specified by the server management table 1301 managed by the server management unit 319. Further, when executing the printing process for the job of the processing server 30b that is not the target of the prior download process, the image forming apparatus 20 downloads the job directly from the processing server 30b. In a large-scale office or the like, a plurality of processing servers (processing server 30b in the present embodiment) may be arranged at a short distance on the network. In this case, when the image forming apparatus 20 prints a job of another processing server arranged in the same office, downloading from the other processing server by the preceding download process every time increases traffic. It is not efficient. In this case, as in the information processing system 1b according to the present embodiment, by downloading a job directly from another processing server in the same office at the time of executing printing, the storage unit 314 of the target processing server, etc. Efficient use of resources can be expected.

  In the present embodiment described above, the server management table 1301 designates the processing server 30b that is the target of the prior download process. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the server management table 1301 provides the prior download process. May be designated for each processing server 30b.

[Seventh Embodiment]
The information processing system according to the seventh embodiment will be described focusing on differences from the information processing system 1 according to the first embodiment. In the present embodiment, an operation of measuring the download processing time from the processing server storing the job and determining the priority order of the preceding download processing based on the processing time will be described. The overall configuration of the information processing system according to the present embodiment and the hardware configurations of the client, the image forming apparatus, the processing server, and the management server are the same as those described in the first embodiment.

(Function block configuration of information processing system)
The functional block configuration of the information processing system according to the present embodiment is the same as that of the information processing system 1 according to the first embodiment, and the function of each functional unit is the same as that of the information processing system according to the third embodiment. Although the functions of some of the functional units are different, the difference will be mainly described.

  The job acquisition unit 204 of the image forming apparatus 20 is a functional unit that acquires the job of the selected target user from the processing server 30 when executing print processing by the operation of the target user. However, before acquiring the job of the selected target user, the job acquisition unit 204 indicates from the processing server 30 whether or not the job has been copied from the other processing server 30 by the processing server 30. Get information. When the acquired job status information indicates that the job has not been copied, the job acquisition unit 204 acquires the job directly from another processing server 30 instead of the processing server 30, and requests the job. Measure the processing time until the job is actually acquired. The job acquisition unit 204 is realized, for example, by a program executed by the CPU 651 shown in FIG.

  In addition to the functions described in the third embodiment, the storage unit 314 of the processing server 30 is information that associates the processing time until the job measured by the job acquisition unit 204 is acquired for each of the other processing servers 30. This is a functional unit that stores (for example, a server management table 1302 shown in FIG. 24 described later). The storage unit 314 is realized by the auxiliary storage device 504 and the RAM 503 shown in FIG.

  The job list acquisition unit 305 of the processing server 30 refers to the server management table 1302 stored in the storage unit 314, and in accordance with the priority order based on the processing time indicated by the server management table 1302, the other processing servers 30 store the target user. This is a functional unit that requests and acquires a job list. The job list acquisition unit 305 is realized by, for example, a program executed by the CPU 501 illustrated in FIG.

(Advance download processing, job list acquisition processing and job acquisition / print processing)
FIG. 23 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of a prior download process, a job list acquisition process, and a job acquisition / print process of the information processing system according to the seventh embodiment. FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating an example of a server management table of the processing server according to the seventh embodiment. With reference to FIGS. 23 and 24, a description will be given of the advance download processing, job list acquisition processing, and job acquisition / print processing of the information processing system according to the present embodiment. Note that the advance download process and job list acquisition process of the information processing system according to this embodiment are basically the same as the processes described in the third embodiment, but the advance download process is partially different. explain.

  First, differences in the prior download process from the process described in the third embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, in step S213 (for example, see FIG. 12), the job list acquisition unit 305 of the target processing server refers to the server management table 1302 shown in FIG. In accordance with the priority order based on the processing time indicated by, the job list of the target user is requested and acquired from the remote processing server 30. In the server management table 1302 shown in FIG. 24, an “ID” that uniquely identifies a record, a “server IP address” that is the access destination of the processing server 30 that is the target of the preceding download process, and a job from the image forming apparatus 20. “Processing time”, which is the time when downloaded directly, is stored in association with each other. For example, the job list acquisition unit 305 gives priority to the user of the target user together with a job list request for requesting a list of jobs corresponding to the target user in preference to the processing server 30 having a long “processing time” shown in the server management table 1302. The information is transmitted to the remote processing server 30 using the storage destination information via the second communication unit 302.

  As a result, the processing in steps S224 to S231c, which is the job acquisition processing after the job list acquisition unit 305 has acquired the job list, also from the processing server 30 having a long “processing time” shown in the server management table 1302. It will be executed with priority.

  Next, the job acquisition / printing process will be described with reference to FIG. In the job acquisition / printing process shown in FIG. 23, for convenience of explanation, description of processing corresponding to steps S249a to S253a in FIG. 16 (processing for acquiring a job from the target processing server) is omitted.

<Steps S242b to S248b>
The processes of steps S242b to S248b are the same as the processes of steps S242a to S248a shown in FIG. 16 of the third embodiment, respectively.

<Step S249b>
When the job status information received via the communication unit 201 indicates that the job status information received through the communication unit 201 is not “copied” (for example, “copying”), the job acquisition unit 204 of the image forming apparatus 20 indicates the job indicated by the operation information in step S243b. The user information of the user 50 is transmitted to the remote processing server 30 via the communication unit 201 together with the job request that directly requests the remote processing server 30. Further, the job acquisition unit 204 starts measuring the processing time until the job indicated by the operation information in step S243b is acquired.

<Step S250b>
When receiving a job request and user information from the image forming apparatus 20 via the first communication unit 301, the second job response unit 311 of the remote processing server 30 sends the job request to the storage unit 314.

<Steps S251b and S252b>
Upon receiving the job request, the storage unit 314 reads the job of the user 50 requested by the job request and sends the job to the second job response unit 311.

<Step S253b>
The second job response unit 311 transmits (responds) the received job of the user 50 to the image forming apparatus 20 via the first communication unit 301.

<Step S254b>
When the job acquisition unit 204 of the image forming apparatus 20 receives (acquires) a job from the remote processing server 30 via the communication unit 201, the job acquisition unit 204 sends a print request for requesting printing of the job together with the job to the printing unit. Send to 205. Then, the job acquisition unit 204 stops measuring the processing time until acquisition of the job, and determines the processing time.

<Steps S255b and S256b>
Upon receiving a print request and a job, the printing unit 205 generates drawing data from the job and executes print processing. After the printing process is completed, the printing unit 205 sends a print completion message to the job acquisition unit 204.

<Step S257b>
The job acquisition unit 204 of the image forming apparatus 20 sets the processing time determined in step S254b together with information (for example, access destination) of the remote processing server 30 corresponding to the processing time via the communication unit 201. Send to the target processing server.

<Steps S258b and 259b>
The storage unit 314 of the target processing server receives the processing time and information of the remote processing server 30 corresponding to the processing time from the image forming apparatus 20 via the first communication unit 301, and is shown in FIG. The server management table 1302 stores the processing time and the remote processing server 30 corresponding to the processing time in association with each other. Then, the storage unit 314 transmits information indicating the completion of storage to the image forming apparatus 20 via the first communication unit 301.

  Here, the processing time stored in the server management table 1302 in association with the processing server 30 by the storage unit 314 is used in the next processing of step S213. The processing time stored in the server management table 1302 may be updated by the processing time measured every time when the image forming apparatus 20 directly downloads from the processing server 30 other than the target processing server, or An average value of processing times measured a plurality of times may be stored.

<Step S260b>
When the job acquisition unit 204 of the image forming apparatus 20 receives a storage completion message from the target processing server via the communication unit 201, the job acquisition unit 204 sends a completion display request for displaying the print completion message to the display control unit 208. .

<Steps S261b and S262b>
Upon receiving the completion display request, the display control unit 208 causes the display unit 209 to display that the printing process has been completed. The user 50 confirms that the printing process has been completed based on the display on the display unit 209.

  The job acquisition / printing process is executed by the processes in steps S242b to S262b.

  Note that the order of processing in each step shown in FIG. 23 is an example, and is not limited to this order. If the effect of the overall processing is the same, part of the processing may be performed. Alternatively, some processes may be processed in parallel.

  As described above, in the information processing system according to the present embodiment, the processing time of the download from the processing server that stores the job is measured, and the priority order of the preceding download processing is determined based on the processing time. It is said. Thereby, based on the processing time for acquiring the job by the image forming apparatus 20, the target processing server may download the job preferentially from the other processing servers 30 having a long processing time in the next preceding download processing. As a result, efficient processing is possible. In addition, since the priority order of the prior download process is automatically determined based on the processing time, it is not necessary for the administrator or the like to manually set the priority order for each processing server 30.

  In the above-described embodiment, the priority order of the preceding download process is determined based on the measured processing time. However, the priority is not limited to this, and the prior download process is determined based on the processing time. The target processing server 30 may be determined. For example, with respect to the processing server 30 having a predetermined processing time or less, the preceding download process is not executed, and the job is directly downloaded from the processing server 30 when the image forming apparatus 20 executes the printing process. Good.

[Eighth Embodiment]
The information processing system according to the eighth embodiment will be described focusing on differences from the information processing system 1 according to the first embodiment. In the present embodiment, an operation of preferentially downloading from a job that satisfies a preset condition for a job that the target processing server downloads from another processing server in the preceding download processing will be described. The overall configuration of the information processing system according to the present embodiment and the hardware configurations of the client, the image forming apparatus, the processing server, and the management server are the same as those described in the first embodiment.

(Function block configuration of information processing system)
FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional block configuration of an information processing system according to the eighth embodiment. FIG. 26 is a diagram showing an example of the advance download setting screen of the processing server according to the eighth embodiment. The configuration of functional blocks of the information processing system 1c according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The functional block configurations of the client 10, the image forming apparatus 20, and the management server 40 of the information processing system 1c are the same as those described in the first embodiment.

  As illustrated in FIG. 25, the processing server 30c of the information processing system 1c includes a first communication unit 301, a second communication unit 302, an authentication unit 303, a first job acquisition unit 304 (third acquisition unit), Job list acquisition unit 305 (second acquisition unit), job list creation unit 306, first job list response unit 307, second job acquisition unit 308 (first acquisition unit), and first job response unit 309 ( (Second transmission unit), second job list response unit 310, second job response unit 311 (first transmission unit), storage destination notification unit 312 (notification unit), storage destination acquisition unit 313, and storage unit 314 (storage unit), an operation unit 315, a display control unit 316, a display unit 317, and a setting unit 320.

  The setting unit 320 is a functional unit that sets a preferential download condition among jobs to be downloaded from the other processing server 30c by the target processing server in the preceding download process in accordance with an operation input to the operation unit 315 by the user 50. is there. For example, the setting unit 320 requests the display control unit 316 to display the advance download setting screen 2301 as illustrated in FIG. 26 on the display unit 317 by an operation input to the operation unit 315 by the user 50. In the example of the advance download setting screen 2301 shown in FIG. 26, a condition relating to the file size, a condition relating to the file name, and a condition relating to the job submission date / time can be set as preferential download conditions. In FIG. 26, the file size condition is set as “file size is“ 100 ”MB or more”, the file name condition is set as “file name includes“ emergency ””, and In this example, the condition regarding the job submission date and time is set as “the submission date and time is within“ 3 ”days”.

  Note that the advance download setting screen 2301 shown in FIG. 26 is an example of a screen for setting preferential download conditions. For example, other conditions such as a file extension being a specific extension can be set. It is good also as what is.

  The setting unit 320 causes the storage unit 314 to store the setting information set on the advance download setting screen 2301. The setting unit 320 is realized, for example, by a program executed by the CPU 501 shown in FIG. Note that the setting information set on the advance download setting screen 2301 may be stored in the storage unit 314 in association with each user.

  The other functional units of the processing server 30c are the same as the functional units of the processing server 30 described in the first embodiment.

  Each functional unit of the processing server 30c shown in FIG. 25 conceptually shows functions, and is not limited to such a configuration. For example, a plurality of functional units illustrated as independent functional units in the processing server 30c illustrated in FIG. 25 may be configured as one functional unit. On the other hand, the function possessed by one function unit may be divided into a plurality of functions in the processing server 30c illustrated in FIG. 25 and configured as a plurality of function units.

  In addition, in FIG. 25, main functional units included in the processing server 30c are shown, and the functions included in the processing server 30c are not limited to these.

(Advance download process)
The advance download process of the information processing system 1c according to the present embodiment is different from the operation illustrated in FIG. 8 of the first embodiment in the following points.

  In steps S213 to S231 shown in FIG. 8, for each accumulation destination information, a job list is first acquired, and the jobs indicated in the job list are acquired. In the present embodiment, after the processing server 30c acquires the storage destination information from the management server 40 in step S210, first, a job list is acquired from each of the other processing servers 30c indicated by all the storage destination information. Create a job list of all jobs that can be acquired by the target user.

  Then, the second job acquisition unit 308 of the processing server 30c refers to the setting information about the preferential download condition set by the setting unit 320, and sets the setting information for each job indicated in the acquired job list. Is obtained from the remote processing server 30c with priority given to jobs satisfying the condition.

  As described above, in the information processing system 1c according to the present embodiment, in the prior download process, the job that the target processing server downloads from another processing server is preferentially downloaded from the job that satisfies the preset condition. It is said. As a result, according to the conditions desired by the user, it is possible to download the job that is preferentially printed first, thereby improving the convenience for the user.

  In the information processing system according to each of the above-described embodiments, an example is described in which the image forming apparatus is applied to a system that acquires a job corresponding to a user from a processing server in order to perform print processing on print data of the job. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in order to perform the projection operation of the projection data of the projector, it is also possible to apply the projection data corresponding to the user as a job to a projector system that acquires it from the processing server.

  When at least one of the functional units of the image forming apparatus 20 (20a), the processing server 30 (30a to 30c), and the management server 40 (40a) of each of the above-described embodiments is realized by executing a program, The program is provided by being preinstalled in a ROM or the like.

  In addition, the programs executed by the image forming apparatus 20 (20a), the processing servers 30 (30a to 30c), and the management server 40 (40a) according to the above-described embodiments are files that can be installed or executed. CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), flexible disk (FD), CD-R (Compact Disc-Recordable), DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), etc. You may comprise as follows.

  In addition, the programs executed by the image forming apparatus 20 (20a), the processing servers 30 (30a to 30c), and the management server 40 (40a) of the above-described embodiments are executed on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet. You may comprise so that it may provide by storing and downloading via a network.

  In addition, the programs executed by the image forming apparatus 20 (20a), the processing servers 30 (30a to 30c), and the management server 40 (40a) of the above-described embodiments are provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet. You may comprise.

  In addition, the program executed by the image forming apparatus 20 (20a), the processing server 30 (30a to 30c), and the management server 40 (40a) of each of the above-described embodiments includes at least one of the above-described functional units. As the actual hardware, the CPU reads the program from the storage device and executes it, so that the above-described functional units are loaded onto the main storage device and generated. .

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 1a-1c Information processing system 2, 2a, 2b Network 10, 10_1, 10_2 Client 20, 20_1, 20_2, 20a Image forming apparatus 21 Main body 22 Operation part 25 Connection line 30, 30_1, 30_2, 30a-30c Processing server 40 40a management server 50 user 101 communication unit 102 setting unit 103 generation unit 104 storage unit 105 operation unit 106 display control unit 107 display unit 201 communication unit 202 authentication request unit 203 job list acquisition unit 204 job acquisition unit 205 printing unit 206 storage unit 207 Operation unit 208 Display control unit 209 Display unit 210 Job deletion request unit 301 First communication unit 302 Second communication unit 303 Authentication unit 304 First job acquisition unit 305 Job list acquisition unit 306 Job list creation unit 307 First job list response Unit 308 second job acquisition unit 309 first job response unit 310 second job list response unit 311 second job response unit 312 storage destination notification unit 313 storage destination acquisition unit 314 storage unit 315 operation unit 316 display control unit 317 display unit 318 Job deletion unit 319 Server management unit 320 Setting unit 401 Communication unit 402 Storage destination management unit 403 Storage destination response unit 404 Storage unit 405 Storage destination deletion unit 501 CPU
502 ROM
503 RAM
504 Auxiliary storage device 505 Communication I / F
506 Input / output I / F
507 Input device 508 Display device 509 DVD drive 510 DVD-RW
511 bus 601 CPU
602 ROM
603 RAM
604 Storage 605 Communication I / F
606 Connection I / F
607 Engine part 608 Bus 651 CPU
652 ROM
653 RAM
654 Flash memory 655 Communication I / F
656 Operation panel 657 Connection I / F
658 External connection I / F
659 bus 701 CPU
702 ROM
703 RAM
704 Auxiliary storage device 705 Communication I / F
706 I / O I / F
707 Input device 708 Display device 709 Bus 1001 Accumulation destination information table 1101 Job list table 1201, 1202 Remote job management table 1301, 1302 Server management table 2001 Job list screen 2101 Download continuation confirmation screen 2201 Copy deletion confirmation screen 2301 Preliminary download setting screen

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2015-219854

Claims (16)

An authentication unit for authenticating the login of the target user;
When the target user is specified by the authentication unit, from the first server device indicated by the storage destination information indicating the access destination of the first server device which is another server device in which the job of the target user is stored A first acquisition unit that downloads and acquires the job of the target user;
A first transmission unit configured to transmit, to the image processing device, a job requested by the image processing device among the jobs of the target user acquired by the first acquisition unit;
A server device comprising: A second acquisition unit configured to acquire a job list of the target user's job from the first server device indicated by the storage destination information when the target user is specified by the authentication unit;
The server device according to claim 1, wherein the first acquisition unit downloads and acquires a job indicated in the job list acquired by the second acquisition unit from the first server device indicated by the storage destination information. . A third acquisition unit that acquires the target user's job and user information indicating the target user from the information processing apparatus;
A storage unit that stores the target user's job acquired by the third acquisition unit in association with the user information;
The server information and the user information are transmitted to the management apparatus in order to register the server information indicating the server apparatus as the storage destination of the target user and the storage apparatus as the storage destination information that associates the user information. A notification unit for notification,
The server device according to claim 1, further comprising: When the first acquisition unit acquires the job of the target user from the first server device, the first remote job information indicating that the job of the target user has been copied from the first server device is stored in the storage unit. Remember,
When the first remote job information corresponding to the specific job is stored in the storage unit when the deletion request for the specific job of the target user is received from the image processing apparatus, the first server apparatus 4. The server device according to claim 1, further comprising: a first deletion unit that requests deletion of the specific job and deletes the specific job from the storage unit. 5. . A second transmission unit that transmits the job of the specific user to the second server device when a job of the specific user is requested from the second server device which is another server device;
The second transmission unit stores second remote job information indicating that the job of the specific user has been copied to the second server device when the job of the specific user is transmitted to the second server device. Remember
If the second remote job information corresponding to the specific job is stored in the storage unit when the deletion request for the specific job of the target user is received from the image processing apparatus, the second server apparatus 4. The server device according to claim 1, further comprising: a first deletion unit that requests deletion of the specific job and deletes the specific job from the storage unit. 5. .   The said 1st acquisition part interrupts the download operation of the said target user's job from the said 1st server apparatus, when the logout process of the said target user is performed by the said authentication part. The server device according to item.   The said 1st acquisition part continues the download operation of the said target user's job from the said 1st server apparatus, when the logout process of the said target user is performed by the said authentication part. The server device according to item. The first acquisition unit, when logout processing of the target user is performed by the authentication unit, stops the download operation of the target user job from the first server device,
The server device according to claim 1, further comprising a second deletion unit that deletes the job of the target user that has already been downloaded from the first server device by the first acquisition unit. . When the target user is specified by the authentication unit, the first acquisition unit further includes a designation unit that designates another server device that downloads the job of the target user,
The server device according to claim 1, wherein the first acquisition unit does not download the job of the target user from a server device other than the other server device specified by the specifying unit. When the target user is specified by the authentication unit, the first acquisition unit further includes a specification unit that specifies the priority order of other server devices that download the target user's job,
The server device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the first acquisition unit downloads the job of the target user in order from the other server device with the higher priority specified by the specification unit. . A setting unit configured to set a preferential download condition among the jobs of the target user to be downloaded from the first server device by the first acquisition unit;
The said 1st acquisition part preferentially downloads and acquires from the said 1st server apparatus the job of the said object user who satisfy | fills the said conditions set by the said setting part. Server device. The first acquisition unit, when the target user is specified by the authentication unit, the first storage unit indicated by the storage destination information indicating an access destination of the first server device in which a print job of the target user is stored Download and acquire the target user's print job from one server device,
The first transmission unit transmits a print job requested by an image forming apparatus as the image processing apparatus to the image forming apparatus among the print jobs of the target user acquired by the first acquisition unit. The server apparatus as described in any one of 1-11. The server device according to any one of claims 1 to 12,
A management device for registering the storage destination information;
An information processing system having The image processing apparatus for processing the job of the target user transmitted from the first transmission unit;
When the first acquisition unit downloads the job of the target user from the first server device, the first acquisition unit stores state information indicating a download state of the job in the storage unit,
The image processing apparatus includes:
When requesting a specific job of the target user from the server device, the status information corresponding to the specific job is acquired from the server device,
The information processing system according to claim 13, wherein the specific job is directly acquired from the first server device when the acquired state information indicates that the download of the specific job is not completed. When the image processing apparatus directly acquires a job of the target user from another server apparatus, the image processing apparatus measures a processing time from an acquisition start to an acquisition end, and transmits the processing time to the server apparatus.
The said 1st acquisition part downloads and acquires the said job from the other server apparatus which has accumulate | stored the job of the said target user according to the priority based on the said processing time received from the said image processing apparatus. The information processing system described. On the computer,
An authentication step for authenticating the login of the target user;
When the target user is identified in the authentication step, the job of the target user is obtained from the other server device indicated by the storage destination information indicating the access destination of the other server device in which the job of the target user is stored. An acquisition step to download and acquire;
A transmission step of transmitting, to the image processing apparatus, a job requested by the image processing apparatus among the acquired jobs of the target user;
A program for running

Images