JP2021149776A - Information processing apparatus, information processing method, printing system, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an information processing apparatus for conducting printing based on transmitted e-mail, an information processing method, a printing system, and a program.SOLUTION: A method using an image processing system includes: determining whether an attachment file is included in print instruction e-mail, and generating print job data from the attachment file when the attachment file is included; or acquiring URI from a mail body when the attachment file is not included, and generating print job data from a file or a folder in an available storage linked.EFFECT: Regardless of whether the print instruction e-mail includes a file, or URI indicating a file or a folder, a printing system which generates appropriate print job data can be provided.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

The present invention relates to an information processing device for printing in an image forming device based on a transmitted e-mail.

Conventionally, a printing system that receives a printing instruction from an external device such as a mobile terminal and prints on the printing device has been known.
For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a printing system that acquires document data to be printed based on a printing instruction from a mobile terminal and prints from a printer. Specifically, in the printing system of Patent Document 1, when the control server receives a printing instruction from the mobile terminal, the control server manages the document based on the storage location information associated with the printing file information included in the printing instruction. Obtain the document data to be printed from the application server. Then, the document data acquired by the control server is printed on the printer.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2014-85953

By the way, in a printing system that prints on a printing device based on a printing instruction from an external device, there is also known a printing system that prints an attached file by transmitting an e-mail including an attached file from the external device.
However, in a printing system that acquires a document to be printed based on storage location information such as Patent Document 1, the attached file to be printed is a link destination on the storage contrary to the intention of the person who gave the print instruction. It may be replaced with information (storage location information). In this case, the attached file to be printed will not be printed properly.

Further, in the printing system of Patent Document 1, it is premised that the information of the print file and the storage location information of the print file are managed in association with each other, and any file not managed in the printing system is printed. That is not taken into account.

Therefore, in view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an information processing device used in a printing system in which appropriate printing can be easily executed based on an email sent by a print instructor. do.

The present invention includes information processing including a receiving means for receiving an email, a first determining means for determining whether or not a file is included in the email, and a generating means for generating print job data from the email. In the device, the generation means generates print job data based on the file when the file is included in the mail, and includes the print job data in the mail when the file is not included in the mail. It is characterized in that print job data is generated based on the information of the save destination of the file.

According to the present invention, appropriate print job data can be generated regardless of the format of the print target included in the mail.

This is the overall configuration of the image processing system. This is the hardware configuration of the MFP. This is the hardware configuration of the MFP linkage service. This is the software configuration of the image processing system. It is a flowchart which shows the print job data generation process. It is a flowchart which shows the mail print process based on a file link. It is a flowchart which shows the mail print process based on a folder link. This is an example of determining the available cloud storage.

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
However, the embodiments described below are merely examples, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention to them. In addition, not all combinations of features described in the following embodiments are essential to the means of solving the present invention.

<Embodiment 1>
<Overall configuration>
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of an image processing system according to the present embodiment.
The image processing system 100 of the present embodiment includes an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral) 110, an MFP cooperation service 120, and a cloud storage 130.
The MFP 110 is a multifunction device having a plurality of functions such as a scanner and a printer, and is an example of an image processing device as a printing means in the image processing system 100. The MFP 110 is communicably connected to a server that provides various services on the Internet via a LAN (Local Area Network).

The MFP cooperation service 120 is a type of information processing device configured by a so-called computer or the like. The MFP linkage service 120 is a cloud print service that receives print job data via a network from an external terminal (not shown) such as a PC or mobile terminal connected via the Internet, transfers the print job data to the MFP 110, and prints the print job data. I will provide a.
Further, the MFP cooperation service 120 issues an e-mail address used as a destination for guest prints and e-mail prints for each tenant. A user who knows the e-mail address can give a print instruction by e-mail by sending an e-mail with a file attached to the e-mail address. For example, a user who has a mobile terminal connected to the Internet can print from the MFP 110 by sending an e-mail with a file attached to the mail print destination.
The tenant in the present embodiment is a unit of users who are provided with the same print service. For example, a company that has a contract to use a specific print service, and generally, a tenant has a plurality of users who can use the same print service. The MFP cooperation service 120 in this embodiment is a cloud service having a multi-tenant architecture that manages print services for each of a plurality of tenants.

The cloud storage 130 is a service on a network that can store files via the Internet and acquire files with a web browser.
The image processing system 100 shown in FIG. 1 has a configuration including an MFP 110, an MFP cooperation service 120, and a cloud storage 130, but the image processing system of the present embodiment is not limited to this. For example, the MFP 110 as an image forming apparatus may also serve as the MFP cooperation service 120. Further, the MFP cooperation service 120 may be in a connection form arranged on a server on a LAN instead of on the Internet.

<Hardware configuration of MFP>
FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of the MFP 110.
The MFP 110 includes a control unit 210, an operation unit 220, a printer unit 221 and a scanner unit 222, and a modem 223.

The control unit 210 is composed of the following units 211 to 219, and controls the operation of the entire MFP 110. The CPU 211 reads a control program stored in the ROM 212 to execute and control various functions of the MFP 110, such as reading, printing, and communication.
The RAM 213 is used as a temporary storage area such as a main memory and a work area of the CPU 211. In the present embodiment, one CPU 211 uses one memory (RAM 213 or HDD 214) to execute each process shown in the flowchart described later, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a plurality of CPUs, a plurality of RAMs, or HDDs may be made to cooperate to execute each process. HDD 214 is a large-capacity storage unit that stores image data and various programs.

The operation unit I / F 215 is an interface for connecting the operation unit 220 and the control unit 210. The operation unit 220 includes a touch panel, a keyboard, and the like, and receives operations, inputs, and instructions by the user.
The printer I / F 216 is an interface for connecting the printer unit 221 and the control unit 210. The image data for printing is transferred from the control unit 210 to the printer unit 221 via the printer I / F 216 and printed on the recording medium.

The scanner I / F 217 is an interface for connecting the scanner unit 222 and the control unit 210. The scanner unit 222 reads a document set on a platen or an ADF (Auto Document Feeder) (not shown) to generate image data, and inputs the image data to the control unit 210 via the scanner I / F 217. The MFP 110 can print out (copy) the image data generated by the scanner unit 222 from the printer unit 221, and can also transmit a file or send an e-mail.
The modem I / F 218 is an interface for connecting the modem 223 and the control unit 210. Modem 223 facsimiles and communicates image data with a facsimile machine on the PSTN.
The network I / F 219 is an interface for connecting the control unit 210 (MFP110) to the LAN. The MFP 110 uses the network I / F 219 to transmit image data and information to each service on the Internet, and to receive various information.

<Hardware configuration of MFP linkage service>
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a computer as an actual resource for providing the MFP cooperation service 120 which is a cloud service. The cloud storage 130 can also adopt the same hardware configuration as the MFP cooperation service 120.

The MFP cooperation service 120 includes a CPU 311 and a ROM 312, a RAM 313, an HDD 314, and a network I / F 315.
The CPU 311 controls the overall operation by reading the control program stored in the ROM 312 and executing various processes. The RAM 313 is used as a temporary storage area for the main memory, work area, etc. of the CPU 311. The HDD 314 is a large-capacity storage unit that stores image data and various programs. The network I / F315 is an interface for connecting the MFP cooperation service 120 to the Internet.

The MFP cooperation service 120 receives a processing request from another device (such as the MFP 110) via the network I / F 315 and transmits / receives various information.
As described above, the MFP cooperation service 120 includes hardware such as CPU 311, ROM 312, RAM 313, and HDD 314, and constitutes a computer which is a kind of information processing apparatus. The computer as a resource for realizing the MFP cooperation service 120 may further include an ASIC or the like that renders print data.

In this embodiment, the case where one CPU 311 executes each process shown in the flowchart described later using one memory (RAM 313) will be described, but other modes may be used. For example, a plurality of processors, memories, and storages can be made to cooperate to execute each process shown in a flowchart described later. It is also possible to execute each process using a plurality of computers. A computer as an actual resource that realizes the MFP cooperation service 120, which is a cloud service, realizes a multi-tenant architecture that manages a plurality of tenants by using containerization and virtualization technologies.

<Software configuration of image processing system>
FIG. 4 is a software configuration diagram of the image processing system 100.
First, the software configuration of the MFP 110 will be described.
The MFP 110 is roughly divided into two functional units, a native function unit 410 and an additional function unit 420. Each part included in the native function part 410 is provided as standard in the MFP110. On the other hand, the additional function unit 420 is an application additionally installed in the MFP 110. The additional function unit 420 is an application based on Java (registered trademark), and can easily add functions to the MFP 110. Note that the MFP 110 may have additional applications other than those shown in the figure installed.

The native function unit 410 has a print execution unit 411.
The additional function unit 420 includes a display control unit 421, a print instruction unit 422, and a cooperation service request unit 423.

The display control unit 421 displays a UI screen for accepting an operation by the user on a liquid crystal display unit having a touch panel function of the operation unit 220 of the MFP 110. The display control unit 421 displays a UI screen such as input of authentication information for accessing the MFP cooperation service 120, designation of print job data, print setting, and operation of starting printing.
The print instruction unit 422 acquires a list of print job data from the data management unit 434 and displays it on the UI screen in response to a user instruction input via the UI screen. Further, the print instruction unit 422 acquires the print job data from the data management unit 434 in response to the user instruction input via the UI screen. The print instruction unit 422 requests the print execution unit 411 to perform print processing based on the print job data and the print settings acquired in response to the user instruction input via the UI screen.

The print execution unit 411 receives a print request including print job data and print settings from the print instruction unit 422. The print execution unit 411 executes printing on the printer unit 221 via the printer I / F 216 in accordance with the print request.
The cooperation service request unit 423 requests various processes from the MFP cooperation service 120. For example, it makes a request for login, a list of print job data, print job data, and the like. In the communication with the MFP cooperation service 120, a protocol such as REST or SOAP is used, but other communication means may be used.

Next, the software configuration of the MFP cooperation service 120 will be described.
The MFP cooperation service 120 includes a request control unit 431, a print job data generation unit 432, a cloud storage access unit 433, a data management unit 434, a display control unit 435, and a mail control unit 436.
The request control unit 431 is on standby in a state where it can receive a request from an external device. When the request control unit 431 receives a processing request, the request control unit 431 instructs the print job data generation unit 432, the cloud storage access unit 433, and the data management unit 434 to perform the processing as appropriate according to the request. The request control unit 431 receives the print job data generated by the printer driver on the PC (not shown) connected via the Internet.
The print job data generation unit 432 generates print job data from a file or an image file of general application software.

The cloud storage access unit 433 requests processing for the cloud storage 130. Cloud services generally expose various interfaces for saving files in cloud storage and retrieving saved files using protocols such as REST and SOAP. The cloud storage access unit 433 operates the cloud storage 130 by using the public cloud storage interface.
The data management unit 434 holds user information, various setting data, print job data, and the like managed by the MFP cooperation service 120.

The display control unit 435 receives a request from a web browser operating on another terminal (not shown) such as a PC or mobile terminal connected via the Internet, and receives screen configuration information (HTML,) necessary for screen display. CSS etc.) is returned. The user confirms the user information registered in the MFP cooperation service 120 or changes the setting for printing via the screen displayed on the web browser.

The mail control unit 436 is a mail client that receives an e-mail addressed to a mail account for mail printing issued for each tenant. The mail control unit 436 receives the mail sent to the mail account for mail printing sent from another terminal such as a PC or a mobile terminal connected via the Internet, and stores it in the mailbox. Further, the mail control unit 436 analyzes the received mail and forwards it to the request control unit 431 as an external request, or sends the mail according to the instruction from the request control unit 431.

<Flow of print job data generation process>
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing flow when the MFP cooperation service 120 generates print job data from receiving an email. This series of processing is realized by the CPU 311 executing the control program stored in the HDD 314 in the control unit 310. The print job data generation process is started when the mail control unit 436 of the MFP cooperation service 120 receives a print instruction mail from an external device (not shown) via the Internet.

In S501, the mail control unit 436 determines whether or not the received print instruction mail includes a file.
This determination includes not only whether or not the file is attached to the print instruction mail, but also whether or not the attached file is suitable for generating print job data by the MFP cooperation service 120. The mail control unit 436 analyzes, for example, the extension and metadata of the attached file, and determines whether or not the attached file is in a file format that supports printing.
If the print instruction mail contains a file, the mail control unit 436 passes the file to the print job data generation unit 432 via the request control unit 431 and proceeds to S502. If it is not included, the process proceeds to S504.

In S502, the print job data generation unit 432 generates print job data from the file. The generated print job data is transmitted to the data management unit 434. Further, the print job data generation unit 432 transmits the print job data identifier to the mail control unit 436 via the request control unit 431. The print job data identifier is an identifier for uniquely identifying the print job data generated by the MFP linkage service 120, and is composed of a number, a symbol, an alphabet, and the like. The data management unit 434 stores the print job data received from the print job data generation unit 432 in the HDD 314.

In S503, the mail control unit 436 generates a reply mail including a print job data identifier and information indicating that printing is started by inputting the print job data identifier into the printer, and the sender of the print instruction mail. Send to.

By the above processing, when the print instruction mail contains a file, the MFP 110 can wait for the print start instruction. The sender of the print instruction mail inputs the print job data identifier from the UI screen displayed on the operation unit 220 of the MFP 110 by the display control unit 421. Then, the print instruction unit 422 requests the print execution unit 411 to perform the print process in response to the print instruction including the print job data identifier input via the UI screen, so that the printing exceeding the MFP 110 can be executed. ..

In S504, the mail print process based on the file link is performed. The details of this process are shown with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, the mail print process based on the file link means the process of printing the print job data based on the URI included in the print instruction mail. The URI included in the print instruction mail in the present embodiment is information indicating the save destination of the file to be printed.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of mail print processing based on the file link in the MFP cooperation service 120 performed in S504 of FIG.

In S601, the mail control unit 436 determines whether or not the main body of the print instruction mail includes a URI (Uniform Resource Identifier).
If the main body of the print instruction mail includes the URI, the mail control unit 436 passes the URI to the cloud storage access unit 433 via the request control unit 431 and proceeds to S602. If the URI is not included, proceed to S608.

In S602, the cloud storage access unit 433 determines whether or not the designated destination of the URI is the cloud storage that can be used by the MFP cooperation service 120. This makes it possible to confirm that the cloud storage specified by the URI is reliable.
An example of determining whether or not it is available will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 8A is an example of a URI included in the main body of the print instruction mail. The cloud storage access unit 433 extracts the host information character string from the URI.
FIG. 8B is an extracted host information character string.
FIG. 8C is an example of a list of available cloud storage host information strings. This list is registered by the user and managed by the data management unit 434 in the HDD 314.

The display control unit 435 provides the user with a screen for managing this list from a web browser operating on another terminal such as a PC or a mobile terminal connected via the Internet. The cloud storage access unit 433 collates the extracted host information character string shown in FIG. 8 (B) with the list of host information character strings shown in FIG. 8 (C), and whether it exists in the list. Whether or not it is available cloud storage is determined by whether or not it is available. If the MFP cooperation service 120 is provided in a multi-tenant manner, the list of host information character strings shown in FIG. 8C is divided and managed for each tenant.

Returning to the flowchart of FIG. 6, if the determination of S602 indicates that the designation destination of the URI is cloud storage that can be used by the MFP cooperation service 120, the process proceeds to S603. If it is not available cloud storage, proceed to S608.

In S603, the cloud storage access unit 433 attempts to access the cloud storage 130 based on the URI, and determines whether the access is successful.
If the access to the cloud storage 130 is successful, the process proceeds to S604. If access fails, proceed to S609.

In S604, the cloud storage access unit 433 determines whether or not the object specified by the URI is a single file from the response from the cloud storage 130.
If it is a single file, proceed to S605. If it is not a single file (if it is a plurality of files), the process proceeds to S610.

In S605, the cloud storage access unit 433 acquires the file designated by the URI from the cloud storage 130. The cloud storage access unit 433 passes the acquired file to the print job data generation unit 432.

In S606, the print job data generation unit 432 generates print job data from the file in the same manner as in S502. The generated print job data is sent to the data management unit 434. The print job data generation unit 432 sends a print job data identifier that uniquely identifies the print job data to the mail control unit 436 via the request control unit 431. The data management unit 434 stores the print job data received from the print job data generation unit 432 in the HDD 314.

In S607, the mail control unit 436 generates a reply mail including a print job data identifier and information indicating that printing is started by inputting the identifier into the printer, as in S503, to generate a print instruction mail. Send to the sender.

In S608, the mail control unit 436 processes the print instruction mail that does not include the file and the URI of the available resource as a mail other than the print instruction. Since this process is not a feature of this embodiment, detailed description thereof will be omitted here.

In S609, the mail control unit 436 generates an error mail indicating that the access to the cloud storage 130 has failed and the print job data could not be generated, and sends the error mail to the sender of the print instruction mail.

By the above processing, when the print instruction mail body includes the URI indicating a single file, the MFP 110 can wait for the print start instruction. The operation of starting printing on the MFP 110 by the sender of the print instruction mail and the processing of the MFP 110 in response to the operation are the same as when the print instruction mail includes an attached file.

In S610, the mail print process based on the folder link is performed. The details of this process are shown with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, the mail print process based on the folder link is a process for printing print job data based on a URI that specifies a storage location (folder) for saving one or more files included in the print instruction mail. To say.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of mail print processing based on the folder link in the MFP cooperation service 120.

In S701, the cloud storage access unit 433 determines whether or not the object specified by the URI is a folder containing a plurality of files from the response from the cloud storage 130. The specifications and definitions of an object containing a plurality of files differ depending on the cloud storage to be used, but in this embodiment, a cloud storage having a hierarchical structure consisting of folders and files will be described.
If the object specified by the URI is a folder, the process proceeds to S702. If it is not a folder, proceed to S705.

In S702, the cloud storage access unit 433 acquires one or more files in the folder specified by the URI from the cloud storage 130.
At this time, the cloud storage access unit 433 determines whether or not the acquired files are suitable for generating print job data by the MFP cooperation service 120. For example, it analyzes the extension and metadata of the attached file to determine if the file is in a file format that supports printing. The cloud storage access unit 433 passes the acquired file, which is suitable for generating print job data, to the print job data generation unit 432.

In S703, the print job data generation unit 432 generates print job data from one or more files.
At this time, the print job data generation unit 432 generates a single print job data combined from one or more files. The generated print job data is sent to the data management unit 434. The print job data generation unit 432 sends a print job data identifier that uniquely identifies the print job data to the mail control unit 436 via the request control unit 431. The data management unit 434 stores the print job data received from the print job data generation unit 432 in the HDD 314.

In S704, the mail control unit 436 generates a reply mail including a print job data identifier and information indicating that printing is started by inputting the identifier into the printer, as in S503, to generate a print instruction mail. Send to the sender.

In S705, the mail control unit 436 generates an error mail indicating that the object specified by the URI does not include a file, and returns the error mail to the sender of the print instruction mail.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, it is possible to provide a printing system that generates appropriate print job data regardless of the format of the print target included in the print instruction mail. That is, even if the print instruction mail includes a file as a print target or is included as a URI that specifies a file or a folder, appropriate printing can be executed.

<Embodiment 2>
In the second embodiment, when the MFP cooperation service 120 manages a plurality of tenants (multi-tenants), the determination of whether or not the cloud storage can be used in S602 of FIG. 6 described in the first embodiment will be described. do.
First, using Table 1, when the MFP linkage service 120 manages a plurality of tenants, an example in which only the file link of the cloud storage service whose linkage is permitted in the management settings is allowed for each tenant will be described. do.

Table 1 is an example of a table showing available cloud storage for each tenant.
In the example of Table 1, for tenant A, each cloud storage of "drive.foo.com", "crowd.boo.com", and "storage.woo.com" is set to be available. Further, for tenant B, only the cloud storage of "storage.woo.com" is set to be available, and "drive.foo.com" and "crowd.boo.com" are not available.
Here, the character string extracted from the URI included in the print instruction mail is "drive.foo.com" or "crowd.boo.com", and the destination of the received mail is the mail print destination issued for tenant B. I'm surprised. In this case, in S602 of FIG. 6, it is determined that the designated destination of the URI is the cloud storage that cannot be used by the tenant B.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, even when the MFP cooperation service 120 manages a plurality of tenants, it is determined for each unit such as the tenant whether or not the cloud storage can be used. Therefore, an appropriate printing system can be provided.

<Other Embodiments>
The present invention supplies a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiment to a system or device via a network or storage medium, and one or more processors in the computer of the system or device reads and executes the program. It can also be realized by the processing to be performed. It can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.
Further, the present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or a device composed of one device.
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made based on the gist of the present invention, and these are not excluded from the scope of the present invention. That is, all the configurations in which the above-mentioned configuration examples and modifications thereof are combined are also included in the present invention.

100 Image processing system 110 MFP
120 MFP cooperation service 130 Cloud storage

Claims (15)

Receiving means to receive mail and
A first determination means for determining whether or not a file is included in the email, and
A generation means for generating print job data from the email, and
It is an information processing device that has
The generation means
If the email contains a file, print job data will be generated based on the file.
An information processing apparatus characterized in that when a file is not included in the email, print job data is generated based on information on a storage destination of the file included in the email. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the storage destination has a second determination means for determining whether or not the storage destination is a resource that can be used by the user who sent the e-mail. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second determination means determines whether or not the storage destination is a resource available to the user for each unit to which the user belongs. .. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a third determination means for determining whether or not the storage destination information specifies whether or not a single file is specified. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein when the storage destination information specifies a single file, the generation means generates print job data based on the single file. .. When the save destination information specifies a save location for saving one or more files, the generation means generates print job data based on one or more files saved in the save location. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the generation means generates a single print job data based on the one or more files. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the storage destination information is composed of a URI. The information processing device according to claim 8, wherein the storage destination is a resource on a network. The information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the receiving means receives the mail from an external device. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, further comprising a transmission means for transmitting the print job data to the printing means. The information processing apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising the printing means. The information processing device according to claim 11 and
A printing system including an image forming apparatus as the printing means. Receiving step to receive mail and
The first determination step of determining whether or not the mail contains a file, and
A generation step to generate print job data from the email and
It is an information processing method that has
In the generation step
If the email contains a file, print job data will be generated based on the file.
An information processing method characterized in that when a file is not included in the email, print job data is generated based on information on a save destination of the file included in the email. A program for causing a computer to execute the information processing method according to claim 14.

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