JP2020053746A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To allow an image forming apparatus including a plurality of network connection sections to transmit data to an appropriate network when storing data in a storage destination.SOLUTION: A printing apparatus 1 including an NIC 20a and an NIC 20b comprises: a network determining unit 14 that limits a network to be used out of the NIC 20a and the NIC 20b to only one network; and a file transmitting unit 15 that transmits a file such as scan data via the restricted network. Further, the network determining unit 14 determines the network to be used as a network designated by a user or the like.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for determining a network in an image forming apparatus.

  Currently, research and development of a printing apparatus equipped with a plurality of network connection units are underway. Since this printing apparatus includes a plurality of network connection units, when storing a file such as scan data in another apparatus, it is necessary to specify a storage destination of the file and then determine a network at the time of starting communication. Regarding such network determination processing, Patent Document 1 discloses a method of selecting a network in response to a user operation and switching the network when communication connection is impossible.

JP 2010-183375 A

  However, when switching networks when communication connection is not possible, there is the following problem. If a storage destination with the same name accidentally exists in each of the networks before and after the switching, the file storage processing itself ends normally, but the file may not be stored in the desired storage destination. Further, if the file is erroneously stored in a storage location of another network that cannot be accessed by the user, the file cannot be deleted due to access restrictions of the other network or the storage location, and the file is disclosed to a third party. Further, traffic increases, and waste such as a response waiting time occurs. These problems occur, for example, when a file storage destination is located on a network beyond a router and is located on a network that can be reached only from one of the networks.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has an object to transmit data to an appropriate network when storing data in a storage destination in an image forming apparatus having a plurality of network connection units. .

  In order to solve the above-described problems, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a network determining unit that limits a network to be used to only one of a plurality of networks, and a data transmission that transmits data via the restricted network. And a unit.

  According to the present invention, in an image forming apparatus including a plurality of network connection units, when data is stored in a storage destination, data can be transmitted to an appropriate network.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a network having a printing device. FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a functional block configuration of a printing apparatus. It is a figure showing an example of registered user information. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of authentication server information. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of file storage destination information. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of network information. It is a figure showing an example of network use history information. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of print job history information. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a processing flow of an operation example 1; FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a processing flow of an operation example 2; FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a processing flow of an operation example 3;

  According to the present invention, in an image forming apparatus having a plurality of network connection units, when data is stored in a storage destination, in addition to a process of designating a data storage destination, only one network is used. I do. Since only one network is used, the printing apparatus can transmit data to an appropriate network, and can reliably store data in a desired storage destination. Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a network having a printing device 1. The printing apparatus 1 includes two network connection units (NICs: Network Interface Cards). The NICs 20a and 20b are connected in multiple stages to a plurality of networks N including the Internet via a plurality of routers R, respectively. Note that the printing apparatus 1 may include three or more NICs.

  The printing device 1 operates as a client that transmits data in addition to the original operation of the printing device that receives and prints a print job from the user terminal 2. Specifically, the printing apparatus 1 can access each network N through the NIC 20a or the NIC 20b, transmits a file such as scan data to a predetermined network N, and stores the file in the user terminal 2 or the DB server 3. When authenticating a user who operates the printing apparatus 1, the printing apparatus 1 performs authentication using registered user information included in the printing apparatus 1 and uses each authentication server 4 that performs user authentication in each network N. Authentication.

  The user terminal 2 is an information processing terminal used by a user for business or the like. The DB server 3 is a server device that stores data from the user terminals 2 belonging to each network N. The printing apparatus 1 can selectably specify the user terminal 2 and the DB server 3 as file storage destinations. The authentication server 4 is a server device that stores a user ID of a user belonging to each network N and a password in association with each other, and authenticates a user who operates the printing apparatus 1.

  The network configuration shown in FIG. 1 is applicable, for example, when a plurality of departments having different networks N share one printing apparatus 1 in a certain company. It is assumed that access is possible between each department and the printing apparatus 1 but not between departments. Users of each department can print a print job with one shared printing device 1 and save a file of scan data scanned by the printing device 1 in their own user terminal 2 or DB server 3. I do.

  Here, the definition of the network will be described. The network is a network represented by a network address, for example, a LAN (Local Area Network), a VLAN (Virtual LAN), a WAN (Wide Area Network), a private network, a public network, or the like. Further, a network in the sense of a communication medium is closely related to the NIC in that the network is connected to the NIC, and both are located in the network layer when viewed from the application layer of the printing apparatus 1. The phrase “network” includes “NIC” included in the printing apparatus 1.

  Next, functions of the printing apparatus 1 will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional block configuration of the printing apparatus 1. The printing apparatus 1 includes a user authentication unit 11, a file generation unit 12, a file storage destination designation unit 13, a network determination unit 14, a file transmission unit 15, a print job control unit 16, a network use control unit 17, , A data storage unit 18 and a data setting unit 19.

  The user authentication unit 11 has a function of authenticating a user who operates the printing apparatus 1 using the registered user information 181 in the data storage unit 18. Further, the user authentication unit 11 has a function of using the authentication server information 182 of the data storage unit 18 to authenticate a user who operates the printing apparatus 1 using the authentication server 4 of each network.

  The file generation unit 12 has a function of generating a file of transmission target data transmitted from the printing device 1. The type and type of the transmission target data are arbitrary. For example, it is scan data scanned by the scanner device of the printing device 1.

  The file storage destination specifying unit 13 obtains the file storage destination information 183 from the data storage unit 18 and displays the file storage destination on the panel screen of the printing apparatus 1 so that the file storage destination can be selected. It has a function to specify as a specified save destination.

  The network determination unit 14 has a function of using the network information 184 of the data storage unit 18 to limit the network used when saving a file to only one of a plurality of networks.

  The file transmitting unit 15 has a function of transmitting a file of transmission target data via one restricted network and storing the file in a designated storage destination. Further, the file transmission unit 15 has a function of storing, in the data storage unit 18, the transmission date and time when the file was transmitted, as network usage history information 185. The file transmitting unit 15 corresponds to a “data transmitting unit” described in the claims.

  The print job control unit 16 receives the print job from the user terminal 2, prints the print job on a paper medium using the printing mechanism of the printing apparatus 1, and stores the reception date and time when the print job was received as print job history information 186. It has a function of storing in the storage unit 18.

  The network usage control unit 17 uses the network information 184 of the data storage unit 18 to use the restricted network only when the input password input to the printing apparatus 1 matches the password of one restricted network. It has a function to permit

  As shown in FIG. 2, the data storage unit 18 stores registered user information 181, authentication server information 182, file storage destination information 183, network information 184, network usage history information 185, and print job history information 186. , And a function of storing them in a readable manner.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the registered user information 181. The registered user information 181 stores information about a registered user who can operate the printing apparatus 1. For example, the name of the user, the group to which the user belongs, the network to which the user belongs, and the password of the user are stored in association with the user ID.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the authentication server information 182. The authentication server information 182 stores information on the authentication server 4. For example, the ID of the authentication server 4 and the IP address of the authentication server 4 are stored in association with each other. Since the IP address can be resolved from the ID (name or the like) of the server, the IP address of the authentication server 4 may be acquired at the time of user authentication instead of storing the IP address in advance.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the file storage destination information 183. The file storage location information 183 stores information on the storage location of the file. For example, the storage destination ID and the storage destination IP address are stored in association with each other. The storage destination may be a folder or directory in a computer other than the user terminal 2 and the DB server 3 illustrated in FIG. Since the IP address can be resolved from the server ID (name or the like), the IP address of the storage destination may be acquired at the time of file storage instead of registering the IP address of the storage destination in advance. Also, the storage destination may be acquired by inquiring of the user terminal 2 and the DB server 3 when saving the file.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the network information 184. The network information 184 stores information about a network connected to the printing apparatus 1. For example, a network ID, a network address of the network, and a network password are stored in association with each other. The network may be the NIC of the printing device 1 as described above. Since the network address can be obtained by inquiring the network, the network address of each network may be obtained at the time of saving a file instead of registering the network address in advance.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of the network usage history information 185. The network usage history information 185 stores information on the network usage history at the time of saving the file. For example, the file transmission date and time, the ID (name or the like) of the user who transmitted the file, and the ID of the network (NIC) used when saving the file are stored in association with the file ID.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of the print job history information 186. The print job history information 186 stores information on print jobs that the user has printed in the past. For example, the date and time of reception of the print job from the user terminal 2, the ID (name or the like) of the job owner of the print job, and the ID of the network (NIC) that has received the print job are stored in association with the print job ID. .

  The data setting unit 19 displays input fields for setting registered user information 181, authentication server information 182, file storage destination information 183, and network information 184 on the panel screen, and manages the printing apparatus 1. A function of receiving setting data input by a user and storing the setting data in the data storage unit 18.

  Next, the operation of the printing apparatus 1 will be described. As described at the beginning, the printing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is characterized in that, when a file is stored in a storage destination, only one network is used. Hereinafter, an operation example of determining a network from a plurality of networks will be described.

(Operation example 1)
In the first operation example, a description will be given of a case where the network determination unit 14 limits the network to be used to only one of a plurality of networks, and a case where the network determination unit 14 determines the network to be used to be a network designated by the user. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a processing flow of the operation example 1.

Step S101;
First, the file generation unit 12 receives scan data scanned by the scanner device and generates a file of the scan data.

Step S102;
Next, the file save destination specifying unit 13 displays the file save destination included in the file save destination information 183 on the panel screen so as to be selectable, and designates the save destination selected by the user as the designated save destination of the file. At this time, the file storage destination specification unit 13 may additionally display the file storage destination (for example, a folder of the DB server 3) acquired by inquiring the user terminal 2 and the DB server 3.

Step S103;
Next, the network determining unit 14 determines whether the designated storage location of the file is within the first network (LAN1) segment included in the network information 184 (YES) or not (NO). In the case of YES, the process proceeds to step S104, and in the case of NO, the process proceeds to step S105. For example, the network determination unit 14 determines whether the first 24-bit bit string of the IP address of the designated storage destination matches the first 24-bit bit string of the LAN1 network address.

Step S104;
In the case of YES in step S103, the network determining unit 14 determines the network to be used when saving the file as the LAN1. When the network to be used is determined to be LAN1, the NIC 20a connected to LAN1 is used. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S112.

Step S105;
In the case of NO in step S103, the network determination unit 14 determines whether the designated storage destination of the file is within the segment of the next network (LAN2) included in the network information 184 (YES) or not (NO). In the case of YES, the process proceeds to step S106, and in the case of NO, the process proceeds to step S107.

Step S106;
In the case of YES in step S105, the network determining unit 14 determines the network to be used when saving the file to the LAN2. When the network to be used is determined to be LAN2, the NIC 20b connected to LAN2 will be used. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S112.

Step S107;
In the case of NO in step S105, the network determination unit 14 determines whether or not the designated storage location of the file or the static route to the segment including the designated storage location of the file is set in the printing device 1 (YES) or not (NO). I do. The static route is a fixed communication route set by the administrator of the printing device 1. In the case of YES, the process proceeds to step S108, and in the case of NO, the process proceeds to step S109.

Step S108;
In the case of YES in step S107, the network determining unit 14 determines the network to be used when saving the file to the network specified by the static route. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S112.

Step S109;
In the case of NO in step S107, the network determination unit 14 determines whether or not the user has specified a network to be used when saving the file (YES) or not (NO). In the case of YES, the process proceeds to step S110, and in the case of NO, the process proceeds to step S111.

Step S110;
In the case of YES in step S109, the network determination unit 14 determines the network to be used when saving the file to the network specified by the user. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S112.

Step S111;
In the case of NO in step S109, the network determination unit 14 determines the network to be used when saving the file to the network of the default gateway set in the printing device 1. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S112.

Step S112;
Finally, the file transmitting unit 15 transmits the file generated in step S101 to the use network determined in any of steps S104, S106, S108, S110, and S111, and specifies the file specified in step S102. Save to the save destination.

  According to the first operation example, the file is transmitted to the use network determined in any one of steps S104, S106, S108, S110, and S111. When saving to a destination, you can send the file to the appropriate network. In other words, since only one network can be used when saving a file, the possibility that a file is transmitted to a storage destination that is not intended by the user can be reliably eliminated, and traffic generated by the conventional method of switching networks when communication connection is not possible. It is possible to reliably prevent an increase in the number of requests and a waste of response waiting time. In addition, when the operation intended by the user is not performed at the time of saving the file, the cause can be easily and quickly determined.

  Further, according to the operation example 1, in step S110, the network to be used when saving the file is determined to be the network specified by the user. Can save files.

(Operation example 2)
In the operation example 2, a case will be described in which the network determination unit 14 determines the network to be used when saving a file to a network associated with a user who has been authenticated as a registered user. FIG. 10 is a diagram depicting a processing flow of the operation example 2;

Step S201;
First, the user authentication unit 11 receives the user ID and password of the user accepted on the card reader or the monitor screen of the printing apparatus 1 and matches the user ID and password of the registered user included in the registered user information 181 (YES). It is determined whether or not (NO). If YES, log in as a registered user and proceed to step S202; if NO, end the process without logging in.

Step S202;
Next, the file generation unit 12 receives the scan data scanned by the scanner device and generates a file of the scan data.

Step S203;
Next, the file storage destination specifying unit 13 displays the file storage destination included in the file storage destination information 183 on the panel screen so as to be selectable, and specifies the storage destination selected by the user as the specified storage destination of the file.

Step S204;
Next, the network determining unit 14 refers to the registered user information 181 and determines the network to be used when saving the file to the affiliated network associated with the login user who has logged in in step S201.

Step S205;
Finally, the file transmission unit 15 transmits the file generated in step S202 to the use network determined in step S204, and stores the file in the specified storage destination specified in step S203.

  According to the operation example 2, in step S204, the network to be used when saving the file is determined to be the network to which the logged-in user belongs, so that when the user operates the printing apparatus 1 in a state where the user is authenticated, the network to be used is You can automatically select the appropriate network without having to specify it each time you save the file, and send the file to the appropriate network.

(Operation example 3)
In the operation example 3, a case will be described in which the network determination unit 14 determines the network to be used when saving a file to the network to which the authentication server that has authenticated the user as the registered user belongs. FIG. 11 is a diagram depicting a processing flow of the operation example 3;

Step S301;
First, the user authentication unit 11 determines whether there is an authentication server 4 that has not made an inquiry for user authentication (YES) or not (NO). In the case of YES, the process proceeds to step S302, and in the case of NO, the process ends.

Step S302;
In the case of YES in step S301, the user authentication unit 11 determines one authentication server 4 to inquire about user authentication from the plurality of authentication servers 4 included in the authentication server information 182.

Step S303;
Next, the user authentication unit 11 transmits a user authentication request including the user ID and password of the user accepted on the card reader or the monitor screen of the printing apparatus 1 to the determined authentication server 4 and causes the user to execute the user authentication.

Step S304;
Thereafter, the user authentication unit 11 receives the user authentication result from the authentication server 4 and determines whether the user has been authenticated (YES) or not (NO) based on the user authentication result. In the case of YES, the process proceeds to step S305, and in the case of NO, the process returns to step S301 to inquire of another authentication server 4 for user authentication.

Step S305;
In the case of YES in step S304, the user authentication unit 11 determines the network to which the authentication server 4 that has authenticated the user as a registered user is the network to be used when saving the file.

  According to the third operation example, in step S305, the network to be used when saving a file is determined to be the network to which the authentication server 4 that has authenticated the user as the registered user belongs. Therefore, the printing apparatus 1 is operated in a state where the user is authenticated. In this case, an appropriate network can be automatically selected without specifying a network to be used each time a file is saved, and a file can be transmitted to an appropriate network.

(Operation example 4)
In operation example 4, as another example of step S204, a description will be given of a case where the history of network (NIC) information used at the time of receiving a print job is stored as needed, and the history information is used when saving a file.

  Specifically, the network determination unit 14 uses the print job history information 186 that associates the network (NIC) that has received the print job with the job owner of the print job, and specifies the network to be used when saving the file to the login user. Determine the network associated with the matching job owner. For example, the network determination unit 14 searches the print job history information 186 for a job owner ID that matches the user ID of the logged-in user, and uses the network (NIC) associated with the searched job owner ID as the network used when saving the file. To be determined.

  According to the operation example 4, the use network at the time of saving the file is determined to be the network associated with the job owner corresponding to the login user using the print job history information 186. Therefore, the use network is designated every time the file is saved. Without having to do this, you can automatically select the appropriate network and send files to the appropriate network.

  As an option 1 of the operation example 4, the network determination unit 14 gives priority to a network (NIC) that receives a print job received within a predetermined time immediately before the current time among a plurality of print jobs related to the login user. Good. For example, in the case of the print job history information 186 illustrated in FIG. 8, the printing apparatus 1 receives the print job from the user A by the NIC # 1 and the NIC # 2. As described above, when one user uses a plurality of networks, the printing apparatus 1 regards the NIC that has received a print job within a predetermined time close to the current time as the NIC of the network to which the user A belongs. If the current time is "2018/09/01 00:00:00" and the predetermined time is "1 day", "2018/08/31 00:00:00"-"2018/09/01 00: NIC # 1 that has received the print job at “00:00” is prioritized as the user A's use network.

  According to the option 1 of the operation example 4, the network (NIC) that receives the print job received within the immediately preceding predetermined time among the plurality of print jobs related to the login user is prioritized. You can choose a network and send files to a more appropriate network.

  As Option 2 of Operation Example 4, the network determination unit 14 may give priority to a network (NIC) that has received the print job for the login user the most. Even when one user uses a plurality of networks, it is not always correct to regard the network used immediately before as the network to which the user belongs as in option 1. Therefore, in option 2, the number of receptions of the print job relating to the login user for each NIC is calculated from the print job history information 186, and the NIC with the largest number of receptions is regarded as the NIC of the network to which the login user belongs. For example, in the case of the print job history information 186 illustrated in FIG. 8, if the logged-in user is the user B, NIC # 1 is prioritized as the network used by the user B.

  According to the option 2 of the operation example 4, since the network (NIC) which has received the print job relating to the login user most frequently is prioritized, the network which is frequently used by the login user can be selected. Can be sent.

(Operation example 5)
In the operation example 5, as another example of the step S204, a case will be described in which the network (NIC) used by the user before saving the file is stored, and the network used by the login user when saving the file is determined.

  Specifically, the network determination unit 14 uses the network usage history information 185 that associates the user who previously transmitted the file with the network used when saving the file, and determines the network to be used when saving the file by the login user. Determine the network used for For example, the network determination unit 14 specifies a network (NIC) associated with the user ID of the login user from the network usage history information 185, and determines the specified network (NIC) as a network to be used when saving a file.

  According to the operation example 5, since the network to be used when saving the file is determined to be the network used by the user before, the file can be transmitted to a more appropriate network.

(Operation example 6)
In operation example 6, as another example of step S204, a case will be described in which a network (NIC) used by another user in the same group is stored, and the network used by the logged-in user when saving a file is determined.

  Specifically, the network determination unit 14 uses the registered user information 181 that associates the user with the group to which the user belongs, and the network usage history information 185 that stores the network previously specified by the user, and Is determined as a network associated with another user in the same group as the group to which the login user belongs. For example, the network determination unit 14 searches for other users belonging to the same group as the login user from the registered user information 181, specifies a network used by the other user in the past from the network usage history information 185, and specifies the specified network. Is determined as the network to be used when saving the file.

  According to the operation example 6, the network to be used when saving a file is determined to be a network associated with another user in the same group as the group to which the user belongs, so that the file can be transmitted to a more appropriate network.

(Operation example 7)
In operation example 7, the operation after step S204 will be described. In the operation example 7, a case will be described in which a password is set in the network (NIC), and only a user who knows the password can use the network (NIC).

  Specifically, the network use control unit 17 permits the use of the used network only when the input password matches the password of the used network. For example, after step S204, the network use control unit 17 requests the password of the determined use network (NIC) from the login user. After the password is input, the network usage control unit 17 uses the network information 184 to determine whether or not the input password matches the password of the usage network. Permit use. If the passwords do not match, the process ends without proceeding to step S205.

  According to the operation example 7, the use of the use network is permitted only when the input password matches the password of the use network, so that the security of the use of the network can be improved.

(Operation example 8)
In operation example 8, another example of step S203 will be described. In the operation example 8, the file storage destination specifying unit 13 displays storage destination list information in which all storage destinations are listed on the panel screen. For example, the file storage destination specifying unit 13 lists all the file storage destinations included in the file storage destination information 183 and all the file storage destinations obtained by inquiring of the user terminal 2 and the DB server 3 together with a list. Display on the panel screen as a save destination candidate. Further, the file storage destination specifying unit 13 inquires of the specified storage destination according to a user operation, and displays a list of files existing in the storage destination. According to the operation example 8, since the storage destination list information listing all the storage destinations is displayed on the panel screen, the user can reliably and easily determine whether the storage destination is correct. Further, according to the operation example 8, since a list of files existing in the storage destination is displayed, the file list of the storage destination can be referred to. Can be reliably and easily determined.

(Operation example 9)
In operation example 9, another example of step S204 will be described. In the operation example 9, the network determination unit 14 performs a communication test before transmitting a file, specifies a communicable network (NIC) based on the result of the communication test, and has the highest communication speed among one or more communicable networks. The network is determined as the network used when saving the file. For example, the network determining unit 14 transmits several bits of test data to a predetermined server via each network, measures a response time until a response is received, and determines a network (NIC) having the shortest response time. Use network. According to the operation example 9, since the network having the highest communication speed among the one or more communicable networks is determined as the use network, the file can be transmitted to a more appropriate network.

(Operation example 10)
In the operation example 10, an operation before step S201 will be described. In the operation example 10, the data setting unit 19 displays a setting field of the network information on the monitor screen, and adds the network name (NIC name) input by the user to the network information 184 so as to be changeable. In this case, the printing apparatus 1 uses a network name (NIC name) for the network (NIC) stored in the network usage history information 185 and the print job history information 186. According to the operation example 10, since the network name input by the user is changeably added to the network information 184, a network name that can be easily recognized by the user can be set, and the network to be used can be easily determined.

(Operation example 11)
In operation example 11, an operation example after step S205 will be described. In the operation example 11, the file transmission unit 15 displays information such as the name of the network used at the time of saving the file on the monitor screen. According to the operation example 11, information on the used network used at the time of saving the file is displayed on the monitor screen, so that the user can be notified of the used network and the used network can be easily determined.

  Finally, the printing apparatus 1 can execute all the operations described in the operation examples 1 to 11. The printing apparatus 1 may select and execute one of the operation examples by a user operation, or may execute the operation by combining two or more operation examples. The printing apparatus 1 can be realized by a computer having a memory and a CPU. It is also possible to construct each process of the printing apparatus 1 as a program, install and execute it on a computer, and distribute the program via a communication network. Further, the printing apparatus 1 is an example of an image forming apparatus. An enclosing device and the like attached to the printing device 1 can also be included in the target device.

<Appendix>
This application discloses the following inventions.

(Appendix 1)
A network determining unit that limits a network to be used to only one of the plurality of networks;
A data transmission unit for transmitting data via the restricted network;
An image forming apparatus comprising:

(Appendix 2)
The network determination unit,
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the network to be used is determined to be a network specified by a user.

(Appendix 3)
The network determination unit,
3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the network to be used is determined to be a network associated with a user who has been authenticated as a registered user.

(Appendix 4)
The network determination unit,
4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the network to be used is determined to be a network to which an authentication server that has authenticated the user as a registered user belongs.

(Appendix 5)
The network determination unit,
The network to be used is determined as a network associated with a job owner matching a user using print job history information in which a network that has received a print job and a job owner of the print job are associated with each other. An image forming apparatus according to any one of supplementary notes 1 to 4.

(Appendix 6)
The network determination unit,
6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein, of the plurality of print jobs related to the user, a network that receives a print job received within a predetermined time immediately before a current time is prioritized.

(Appendix 7)
The network determination unit,
7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the network to be used is determined to be a network associated with another user in the same group as the group to which the user belongs.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printing apparatus 2 ... User terminal 3 ... DB server 4 ... Authentication server 11 ... User authentication part 12 ... File generation part 13 ... File storage destination designation part 14 ... Network determination part 15 ... File transmission part 16 ... Print job control part 17 ... Network use control unit 18 ... Data storage unit 19 ... Data setting unit 20a ... NIC # 1
20b… NIC # 2
181 registered user information 182 authentication server information 183 file storage destination information 184 network information 185 network usage history information 186 print job history information

Claims (7)

A network determining unit that limits a network to be used to only one of the plurality of networks;
A data transmission unit for transmitting data via the restricted network;
An image forming apparatus comprising: The network determination unit,
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the network to be used is determined to be a network designated by a user. The network determination unit,
3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the network to be used is determined to be a network associated with a user who has been authenticated as a registered user. The network determination unit,
4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the network to be used is determined to be a network to which an authentication server that has authenticated the user as a registered user belongs. The network determination unit,
The network to be used is determined as a network associated with a job owner matching a user using print job history information in which a network that has received a print job and a job owner of the print job are associated with each other. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The network determination unit,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a network that receives a print job received within a predetermined time immediately before a current time among a plurality of print jobs related to the user is prioritized. The network determination unit,
The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the network to be used is determined to be a network associated with another user in the same group as the group to which the user belongs.

Images