JP2019133399A - Image forming system and image forming method - Google Patents

Abstract

To reduce time and effort in set-up of a printer driver of a user terminal.SOLUTION: A management server 1 comprises: a common queue 122 that temporarily stores print jobs transmitted from user terminals; a plurality of individual queues 123 associated one by one with a plurality of image forming apparatuses; an individual queue setting receiving unit 133 that receives the setting for the individual queues 123 for every user; a print job allocation unit 133 that allocates the print jobs stored in the common queue 122 to the individual queues 123 received by the individual queue setting receiving unit 132; and a print job transmission unit 134 that transmits the print jobs stored in the individual queues 123 to the image forming apparatuses associated with the individual queues 123. The user terminals each create a print job on the basis of a printer driver in which the output destination of the print job is set to the common queue 122.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming system and an image forming method in which a plurality of image forming apparatuses, a plurality of user terminals, and a management server are connected via a network.

  Conventionally, an image forming system in which a plurality of image forming apparatuses such as printers, a user terminal such as a personal computer, and a management server are connected via a network is known (for example, see Patent Document 1). In the technique of Patent Document 1, based on a printer driver installed in a user terminal, after successful user authentication by the management server, a print job is transmitted from the user terminal to the image forming apparatus for execution.

JP 2011-114538 A

  However, in the prior art, an image forming apparatus that is an output destination of a print job must be set by setting a printer driver. For this reason, when providing an image forming system to a customer, a service person must individually set an output destination image forming apparatus when installing a printer driver in each user terminal. There was a problem of becoming.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technique that can reduce the setting effort in a printer driver of a user terminal.

An image forming system of the present invention is an image forming system in which a plurality of user terminals that transmit a print job, a plurality of image forming apparatuses that execute the print job, and a management server are connected via a network, The management server includes a common queue that temporarily stores the print job transmitted from each user terminal, a plurality of individual queues that are one-to-one associated with the plurality of image forming apparatuses, and a user-specific queue. An individual queue setting reception unit that receives the setting of the individual queue, a print job distribution unit that distributes the print job stored in the common queue to the individual queue received by the individual queue setting reception unit, and the individual queue A print job transmission unit configured to transmit the stored print job to the image forming apparatus associated with the individual queue. , Each said user terminal, the output destination of the print job based on the printer driver set in the common queue, and further comprising a print job creation unit for creating the print job.
The management server includes an authentication unit that performs user authentication, and the individual queue setting reception unit checks whether the user authenticated by the authentication unit has set the individual queue, and sets an unset In this case, the setting of the individual queue may be accepted.
The image forming method of the present invention is executed by an image forming system in which a plurality of user terminals that transmit a print job, a plurality of image forming apparatuses that execute the print job, and a management server are connected via a network. In the image forming method, the management server receives the setting of the individual queue for each user from among the plurality of individual queues associated with the plurality of image forming apparatuses on a one-to-one basis. The transmitted print job is temporarily stored in a common queue, the print job stored in the common queue is distributed to the individual queue that has received the setting, and the print job stored in the individual queue is The user terminal transmits the output destination of the print job to the common key. Based on the printer driver set in over, characterized in that to create the print job.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the setting effort in the printer driver of the user terminal.

1 is a system configuration diagram of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic block diagram of the management server shown in FIG. It is an example of registration of the individual queue setting information shown in FIG. It is a schematic block diagram of the user terminal shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the process in which the management server shown in FIG. 1 receives the setting of an individual queue. It is an example of an individual queue setting screen shown in FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of printing processing of the image forming system shown in FIG. 1.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that, in the following embodiments, the same reference numerals are given to configurations showing similar functions.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in the image forming system X, a management server 1, a plurality of user terminals 2, and a plurality of image forming apparatuses 3 are connected via a network 5. The image forming apparatus 3 is a printer, a copier, a multifunction machine, or the like, and has a printing function.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the management server 1 includes a server communication unit 11, a server storage unit 12, and a server control unit 13.

  The server communication unit 11 has a function of transmitting / receiving various data to / from a plurality of user terminals 2 and a plurality of image forming apparatuses 3 via a network 5 such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or the Internet.

  The server storage unit 12 is a storage unit such as a semiconductor memory or an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), and includes user information 121, a common queue 122, and a plurality of individual queues 123 corresponding to the plurality of image forming apparatuses 3 on a one-to-one basis. And individual queue setting information 124. In addition, the server storage unit 12 includes a config. A system setting file such as an ini file is also stored.

  In the user information 121, a user name (user ID), a password, and the like used for user authentication are registered.

  The common queue 122 is a queue in which a print job transmitted from each user terminal 2 is temporarily stored.

  The plurality of individual queues 123 are provided by the number of the plurality of image forming apparatuses 3 to be managed by the management server 1 and correspond to the plurality of image forming apparatuses 3 on a one-to-one basis.

  In the individual queue setting information 124, as shown in FIG. 3, an individual queue 123 corresponding to the image forming apparatus 3 that is an output destination is registered for each user. A user whose queue name is blank like user E indicates that the queue has not been set.

  The server control unit 13 is an information processing unit such as a microcomputer including a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like. In the ROM, a control program for controlling the operation of the management server 1 is stored. The CPU of the server control unit 13 reads the control program stored in the ROM, expands the control program in the RAM, and executes it to control the entire management server 1.

  The server control unit 13 functions as an authentication unit 131, an individual queue setting reception unit 132, a print job distribution unit 133, and a print job transmission unit 134.

  The authentication unit 131 collates authentication information such as a user name (user ID) and a password transmitted from the user terminal 2 or the image forming apparatus 3 via the network 5 with the user information 121 stored in the server storage unit 12. Thus, it has a function of performing user authentication.

  The individual queue setting reception unit 132 has a function of receiving the setting of the individual queue 123 that is the output destination of the print job for each user. The user can set the individual queue 123 corresponding to the image forming apparatus 3 that is the output destination of the print job among the plurality of individual queues 123.

  In the present embodiment, a printer driver 241 (described later) installed in each user terminal 2 has a print job output destination set in the common queue 122 in common. Therefore, an individual queue setting reception unit 132 is provided so that the user can set the image forming apparatus 3 that is the output destination of the print job by the individual queue 123.

  The print job distribution unit 133 monitors the storage state of the print job in the common queue 122, and when the print job is stored in the common queue 122, the print job is assigned to a plurality of individual jobs based on the individual queue setting information 124. It has a function of distributing to any of the queues 123. Note that the job information of the print job includes the name of the user who created the print job. The print job sorting unit 133 moves the print job to the individual queue 123 associated with the user name included in the print job based on the individual queue setting information 124.

  The print job transmission unit 134 monitors the storage state of the print job in each individual queue 123, and sends the print job stored in each individual queue 123 to the image forming apparatus 3 corresponding to the individual queue 123 as a server communication unit. 11 has a function of transmitting via the terminal 11.

  Next, a schematic configuration of the user terminal 2 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The user terminal 2 is, for example, a personal computer, a tablet terminal, a smartphone, or the like, and includes a terminal communication unit 21, a display unit 22, an input unit 23, a terminal storage unit 24, and a terminal control unit 25.

  The terminal communication unit 21 has a function of transmitting / receiving various data to / from the management server 1 and the plurality of image forming apparatuses 3 via the network 5 such as a LAN or the Internet.

  The display unit 22 is a display unit such as a display for displaying various information.

  The input unit 23 is an input unit such as a mouse, a keyboard, or a pointing device. The input unit 23 may be provided as a transparent touch sensor on the display surface of the display unit 22 and may function as a touch panel together with the display unit 22. Further, the input unit 23 may be able to read authentication information such as a user name by reading an IC card such as an employee ID card.

  The terminal storage unit 24 is a storage unit such as a semiconductor memory or an HDD, and stores a printer driver 241, a browser 242, and document creation software 243.

  The printer driver 241 is an application program for creating a print job in accordance with a user operation instruction input from the input unit 23 and transmitting the created print job to the management server 1 by the terminal communication unit 21. The output destination of the print job of the printer driver 241 installed in each of the plurality of user terminals 2 is set in the common queue 122 of the management server 1. Therefore, the service person can deploy the printer driver 241 to a plurality of user terminals 2 at a time, and there is no need to change the output destination setting for each printer driver. The printer driver 241 is installed in the user terminal 2.

  The browser 242 is an application program that displays a web page in HTML format on the display unit 22.

  The document creation software 243 is an application program for browsing, editing, and creating document data in, for example, Word (registered trademark) format of Microsoft (registered trademark).

  When the browser 242 and the document creation software 243 are activated via the input unit 23, the terminal control unit 25 reads the browser 242 and the document creation software 243 stored in the terminal storage unit 24 and expands them in the RAM. Are executed, the browser 242 and the document creation software 243 are activated. Thereby, the user can display image data, HTML data, document data, and the like on the display unit 22 using the browser 242 and the document creation software 243, and can perform browsing and editing.

  The terminal control unit 25 is an information processing unit such as a microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like. The ROM stores a control program for controlling the operation of the user terminal 2. The CPU of the terminal control unit 25 reads the control program stored in the ROM, expands the control program in the RAM, and executes it to control the entire user terminal 2.

  The terminal control unit 25 functions as an individual queue setting unit 251 and a print job creation unit 252.

  The individual queue setting unit 251 communicates with the management server 1 via the terminal communication unit 21 based on an operation instruction from the input unit 23, and the individual queue corresponding to the image forming apparatus 3 to which the user outputs a print job. 123 is set. This is because the output destination of the printer driver 241 is set in the common queue 122, so that the print job is moved from the common queue 122 to the individual queue 123 of the image forming apparatus 3 desired by the user.

  The print job creation unit 252 has a function of creating a print job for printing document data to be printed when printing of document data being browsed or edited using the browser 242 or the document creation software 243 is instructed. . When printing of document data is instructed, the terminal control unit 25 reads out the printer driver 241 stored in the terminal storage unit 24, expands it in the RAM, and executes it to activate the printer driver 241. Accordingly, the terminal control unit 25 functions as a print job creation unit 252 that realizes the function of the printer driver 241.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 5, a flow of processing for setting an individual queue 123 as a print job output destination by the user will be described.

  First, a login request is transmitted from the user terminal 2 to the management server 1 based on a user operation instruction via the input unit 23 (s11). Subsequently, the management server 1 transmits a login screen to the user terminal 2 in response to the login request (s12). The management server 1 may function as a web server.

  Subsequently, the user terminal 2 displays a login screen on the display unit 22 (s13), and accepts input of authentication information (s14). When authentication information such as a user name is input on the login screen, the user terminal 2 transmits the input authentication information to the management server 1 (s15).

  The management server 1 executes a login process based on the authentication information transmitted from the user terminal 2 (s16). In the login process, the authentication unit 131 of the management server 1 performs user authentication by comparing the authentication information transmitted from the user terminal 2 with the user information 121 stored in the server storage unit 12. As a result, the authentication unit 131 logs the user who has succeeded in the user authentication into the management server 1 and permits browsing of various types of information associated with the user and acceptance of settings.

  If the user authentication fails, the authentication unit 131 may not accept the user login, notify the user terminal 2 that the user authentication has failed, and transmit the login screen again.

  Subsequently, the individual queue setting reception unit 132 of the management server 1 refers to the individual queue setting information 124 and determines whether or not the logged-in user has set the individual queue 123 that is the output destination of the print job (s17). ).

  When the individual queue 123 is set (s17: Yes), this process ends.

  On the other hand, if the individual queue 123 is not set as the output destination of the user's print job in the individual queue setting information 124 (s17: No), the individual queue setting reception unit 132 displays the individual queue setting screen G60 shown in FIG. It transmits to the terminal 2 (s18).

  The user terminal 2 displays the individual queue setting screen G60 transmitted from the management server 1 on the display unit 22 (s19).

  On the individual queue setting screen G60, an input field 61 for a user to input an individual queue 123 as an output destination of a print job, a list display button 62 for displaying a list 63, and a list of a plurality of individual queues 123 Are displayed, and an OK button B64 is arranged.

  The user can select the individual queue 123 as the output destination from the list 63 by operating the list display button 62 to display the list 63. Further, when the user operates the list display button 62 in a state where a part of the queue name is input in the input field 61, only the individual queue 123 including the input queue name can be displayed in the list 63. When the user selects a desired individual queue 123 from the list 63, the selected individual queue 123 is input to the input field 61. When the queue name of the individual queue 123 that is the output destination is known in advance, the queue name of the individual queue 123 that is the output destination can be directly input in the input field 61.

  The list of individual queues 123 displayed in the list 63 may be generated by the individual queue setting reception unit 132 of the management server 1 every time the list display button 62 is operated, or the individual queue setting unit of the user terminal 2. 251 may be generated. When the individual queue setting unit 251 generates, a list of all the individual queues 123 may be received from the individual queue setting receiving unit 132 together with the individual queue setting screen G60 in advance. The search of the individual queue 123 including the queue name may be a forward match search, a partial match search, or a backward match search.

  Then, when the OK button B64 is operated in a state where the individual queue 123 is input in the input field 61, the individual queue setting unit 251 of the user terminal 2 inputs the input field 61 via the individual queue setting screen G60. The queue name of the individual queue 123 is transmitted to the management server 1 (S21).

  The individual queue setting reception unit 132 of the management server 1 registers the queue name of the individual queue 123 transmitted from the user terminal 2 in the individual queue setting information 124 (s22), and ends this process.

  As a result, each user can access the management server 1 via the user terminal 2 and set the individual queue 123 as the output destination of the print job.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 7, the flow of the printing process of the image forming system X will be described.

  When the print job creation unit 252 of the user terminal 2 receives a print instruction from the user via the input unit 23 (s31), the terminal communication unit 21 receives authentication information such as a user name input via the input unit 23. To the management server 1 (s32).

  The authentication unit 131 of the management server 1 stands by until there is an authentication request from the user terminal 2 (s33, s33: No), and when there is an authentication request (s33: Yes), the authentication transmitted from the user terminal 2 Based on the information, a login process is executed (s34).

  In the login process, the authentication unit 131 performs user authentication by comparing authentication information transmitted from the user terminal 2 with the user information 121, and logs in a user who has succeeded in user authentication. The user authentication result by the authentication unit 131 is transmitted to the user terminal 2 via the server communication unit 11.

  The print job creation unit 252 of the user terminal 2 determines whether or not the login is OK based on the login result notified from the management server 1 (s35). When the login fails (s35: No), the print job creation unit 252 may return the process to s32 that transmits the authentication information and prompt the user to log in again.

  On the other hand, if the login is OK (s35: Yes), the print job creation unit 252 creates a print job based on the print instruction, and the created print job is stored in the common queue 122 of the management server 1 by the terminal communication unit 21. Transmit (s36). At this time, the print job creation unit 252 includes the logged-in user name in the print job and transmits it to the common queue 122.

  The print job distribution unit 133 of the management server 1 monitors the print job storage state of the common queue 122 and waits until the print job is input to the common queue 122 (s37, s37: No). Since all output destinations of the printer driver 241 installed in each user terminal 2 are set in the common queue 122, all print jobs received by the server communication unit 11 are stored in the common queue 122.

  When a print job is input to the common queue 122 (s37: Yes), the print job sorting unit 133 identifies the individual queue 123 associated with the user name included in the print job based on the individual queue setting information 124. Then, the print jobs in the common queue 122 are distributed to the specified individual queue 123 (s38). As a result, the print job is moved from the common queue 122 to the individual queue 123.

  Subsequently, the print job transmission unit 134 transmits the print job stored in the individual queue 123 to the image forming apparatus 3 corresponding to the individual queue 123 by the server communication unit 11 (s39).

  The image forming apparatus 3 stands by until a print job is received from the management server 1 via the network 5 (s40, s40: No).

  Upon receiving the print job (s40: Yes), the image forming apparatus 3 executes the print job and prints (s41). Thus, this process ends.

  As described above, the image forming system X includes an image forming system in which a plurality of user terminals 2 that transmit a print job, a plurality of image forming apparatuses 3 that execute the print job, and the management server 1 are connected via the network 5. In the system X, the management server 1 includes a common queue 122 that temporarily stores print jobs transmitted from the respective user terminals 2 and a plurality of individual units that are associated with a plurality of image forming apparatuses 3 on a one-to-one basis. A queue 123, an individual queue setting reception unit 133 that receives the setting of the individual queue 123 for each user, and a print job distribution that distributes the print jobs stored in the common queue 122 to the individual queue 123 received by the individual queue setting reception unit 132 And the print job stored in the individual queue 123 to the image forming apparatus 3 associated with the individual queue 123. Each user terminal 2 includes a print job creation unit 252 that creates a print job based on the printer driver 241 in which the output destination of the print job is set in the common queue 122. It is characterized by.

  As a result, the print job transmitted from each user terminal 2 is temporarily stored in the common queue 122 of the management server 1, and is stored in the individual queue 123 associated with the user who created the print job by the print job distribution unit 133. It is distributed. Then, the print job transmission unit 134 transmits the print job to the image forming apparatus 3 corresponding to the individual queue 123 and prints it by the image forming apparatus 3. Accordingly, the output destination of the printer driver 241 of each user terminal 2 can be set in the common queue 122 in common. Therefore, when applying the image forming system X to a large-scale customer, it is possible to save the trouble of changing the setting for each printer driver 241 installed in thousands or tens of thousands of user terminals 2. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the labor of a service person and provide the image forming system X at a low cost.

  The individual queue setting unit 251 may be included in the function of the printer driver 241. For example, the terminal control unit 25 may function as the individual queue setting unit 251 when the user terminal 2 starts the printer driver 241 for the first time. Then, the individual queue setting unit 251 may perform user authentication with the management server 1 and receive the individual queue setting screen G60 and display it on the display unit 22 to allow the user to set an individual queue.

  In addition, the print job transmission unit 134 of the management server 1 prints the print settings of the print job to be transmitted on the destination image forming apparatus 3 before transmitting the print job to the image forming apparatus 3 corresponding to the individual queue 123. It may be determined whether or not it is possible. If printing is not possible, the print job transmission unit 134 notifies the user who created the print job that the print settings are inappropriate by email or the like without transmitting the print job to the image forming apparatus 3. May be. Further, instead of determining whether or not the print job transmission unit 134 can perform printing, it is determined whether or not the image forming apparatus 3 can execute the print job transmitted from the print job transmission unit 134 and printing is impossible. In this case, it may be notified to the user who created the print job that the print settings are inappropriate by e-mail or the like.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it goes without saying that various changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Management server 2 User terminal 3 Image forming apparatus 5 Network 11 Server communication part 12 Server storage part 13 Server control part 21 Terminal communication part 22 Display part 23 Input part 24 Terminal storage part 25 Terminal control part 61 Input column 62 List display button 63 List 121 User information 122 Common queue 123 Individual queue 124 Individual queue setting information 131 Authentication unit 132 Individual queue setting reception unit 133 Print job distribution unit 134 Print job transmission unit 241 Printer driver 242 Browser 243 Document creation software 251 Individual queue setting unit 252 Print job creation unit G60 Individual queue setting screen B64 OK button X Image forming system

Claims (3)

An image forming system in which a plurality of user terminals that transmit a print job, a plurality of image forming apparatuses that execute the print job, and a management server are connected via a network,
The management server is
A common queue for temporarily storing the print jobs transmitted from the user terminals;
A plurality of individual queues associated one-to-one with the plurality of image forming apparatuses;
An individual queue setting reception unit that receives the setting of the individual queue for each user;
A print job distribution unit that distributes the print jobs stored in the common queue to the individual queue received by the individual queue setting reception unit;
A print job transmission unit that transmits the print job stored in the individual queue to the image forming apparatus associated with the individual queue;
Each said user terminal
An image forming system, comprising: a print job creation unit that creates the print job based on a printer driver whose output destination is set to the common queue. The management server is
It has an authentication unit that performs user authentication,
The individual queue setting reception unit
2. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the user authenticated by the authentication unit confirms whether or not the individual queue has been set, and accepts the setting of the individual queue if the individual queue has not been set. . An image forming method executed by an image forming system in which a plurality of user terminals that transmit a print job, a plurality of image forming apparatuses that execute the print job, and a management server are connected via a network,
The management server is
Among the plurality of individual queues associated with the plurality of image forming apparatuses on a one-to-one basis, the setting of the individual queue is received for each user,
Temporarily storing the print job transmitted from each user terminal in a common queue;
The print job stored in the common queue is distributed to the individual queue that has received the setting,
Sending the print job stored in the individual queue to the image forming apparatus associated with the individual queue;
Each said user terminal
An image forming method, wherein the print job is created based on a printer driver whose output destination is set to the common queue.

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