JP2022025067A - Printing system, mobile terminal, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent an image forming apparatus from also performing, if a plurality of users share and use one portable terminal, authentication printing processing for image data for which a previous user issues a printing instruction from the portable terminal because authentication in a user unit cannot be performed.

SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus comprises: print data receiving means for receiving print data added with a terminal individual identifier and user information of a portable terminal; and authentication information receiving means for receiving the individual terminal identifier and the user information of the portable terminal. The image forming apparatus performs processing for printing the print data added with the individual terminal identifier and the user information, if the individual terminal identifier and the user information added to the print data match the received individual terminal identifier and the received user information.

SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 15

COPYRIGHT: (C)2022,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

In recent years, the development of a printing technique capable of directly printing an image data stored in a mobile terminal to the image forming apparatus by instructing the image forming apparatus to print the image data is advancing. In such printing technology, at the same time as printing instructions from the mobile terminal to the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus also develops an authentication printing technology for improving information security by performing user authentication of the user who uses the mobile terminal. I'm on the way.

In Patent Document 1, when a print instruction is given to an image forming apparatus from a mobile terminal, the image forming apparatus authenticates based on the machine identifier of the mobile terminal, and authentication printing is performed when the machine identifier of the mobile terminal is authenticated. Certified printing technology is disclosed. In the authentication printing technique according to Patent Document 1, when a print instruction is given from a mobile terminal to an image forming apparatus, an machine identifier unique to the mobile terminal is added to image data and transmitted to a document management server. Next, the user moves to the vicinity of the image forming apparatus with the mobile terminal, and gives a printing instruction to the image forming apparatus by operating the operation unit of the image forming apparatus. When the image forming apparatus receives a print instruction from the operation unit, the image forming apparatus executes a process of detecting a mobile terminal existing around the image forming apparatus via a detection apparatus included in the image forming apparatus. When the detection device detects the mobile terminal, the image forming device acquires the machine identifier unique to the mobile terminal via the detection device. At the same time as the detection of the mobile terminal, the image forming apparatus receives the received image data related to the print instruction from the document management server. Next, when the image forming apparatus matches the aircraft identifier unique to the mobile terminal received via the detection device and the aircraft identifier unique to the mobile terminal attached to the image data received from the text management server, the image forming apparatus matches. Execute the print process. In the printing system disclosed in Patent Document 1, certified printing is realized by performing the above processing.

Patent Document 2 discloses another aspect of the certified printing technique. In the authentication printing technique according to Patent Document 2, the image forming apparatus registers the machine identifier unique to the mobile terminal in the device registration table in advance. The image forming apparatus is required for user authentication when the machine identifier of the mobile terminal acquired via the short-range communication processing unit is the same as the machine identifier unique to the mobile terminal registered in the authentication server in advance. Send login information to your mobile device. The mobile terminal attempts to authenticate the user to the printing system using the received login information. When the mobile terminal successfully logs in to the printing system, the job management server sends a print job to the image forming apparatus. By executing the above processing, authentication printing from a mobile terminal is realized.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-13871 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-178083

In the printing system according to Patent Document 1, when one mobile terminal is shared and used by a plurality of users, authentication for each user cannot be performed, and image data for which a previous user has given a print instruction from the mobile terminal. Also, the image forming apparatus executes the authentication printing process. When the image forming apparatus executes the authentication printing process on the image data related to the other user, the image data of the other user accumulated in the image forming apparatus without being output is printed together. Therefore, if the image data of another user is confidential information, the confidentiality may not be maintained.

In the printing system according to Patent Document 2, it is necessary to register the machine identifier unique to the mobile terminal in the device registration table in advance. Therefore, when newly registering a mobile terminal capable of performing authentication printing processing or changing the registered contents, it is necessary to change the contents of the device registration table each time, which takes time and effort to manage the operation of the printing system. There is a risk.

The image forming apparatus according to the present invention is a print data receiving means for receiving print data to which a terminal individual identifier and user information of a mobile terminal are added, and authentication information for receiving the terminal individual identifier and user information of the mobile terminal. The receiving means, the authentication information generating means for generating authentication information from the received terminal individual identifier and the user information, and the terminal individual identifier and the user information added to the print data are the said of the authentication information. When the terminal individual identifier and the user information match, it is characterized by comprising a means for printing the print data to which the terminal individual identifier and the user information matching the authentication information are added.

According to the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, even when printing instructions are given from a mobile terminal shared by a plurality of users, authentication for each user can be easily performed, and highly secure authentication printing can be realized. ..

It is a figure which shows an example of a system configuration. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware composition of the image forming apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware configuration of an authentication server. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware composition of a mobile terminal. It is a figure which shows an example of the software module block diagram of an image forming apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of the software module block diagram of an authentication server. It is a figure which shows an example of the software module block diagram of a mobile terminal. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen which is displayed on the touch screen display of a mobile terminal at the time of an authentication print instruction. (A) is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the operation unit of the image forming apparatus, and (b) is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the operation unit of the image forming apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of the data structure of the print data used for the authentication printing in this embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the data structure of the authentication information used for the authentication printing. It is a figure which shows the print data list table managed by the print data management part of an authentication server. It is a figure which shows the print data list table generated by the authentication information analysis part of an authentication server. It is a figure which shows the request print data table generated by the control part of an image forming apparatus. It is a schematic diagram which shows the content of the authentication printing process in Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of the print data transmission process of a mobile terminal. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of the print data reception process of an authentication server. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of the authentication printing process of an image forming apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of the authentication print data extraction process of an authentication server. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of the request print data transmission process of an authentication server. It is a schematic diagram which shows the content of the authentication printing process in Embodiment 2.

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the components described in this embodiment are merely examples, and the scope of the present invention is not intended to be limited thereto.

[overview]
In recent years, mobile terminals such as multifunctional mobile phones (hereinafter referred to as "smartphones") and tablet-type mobile terminals are rapidly becoming widespread. With the spread of mobile terminals, there are an increasing number of use cases in which a plurality of users share and use one mobile terminal. When multiple users share and use one mobile terminal, from the viewpoint of information security, granting access rights to image data stored in the mobile terminal and permitting / disallowing functions such as viewing / editing are determined for each user. It is desired to switch to.

The OS mounted on the mobile terminal supports a multi-user mode that is assumed to be used by a plurality of users in recent years. In the multi-user mode, an account is issued for each user in order to identify the user, and the mobile terminal gives an access right to the image data stored in the mobile terminal and allows or disallows functions such as viewing / editing. It is managed every time. In addition, the smartphone uses a SIM card ID (IMSI: international mobile subscriber identification number) as information for identifying the user. Conventionally, various functions of a mobile terminal have been enabled only when a SIM card having a specific SIM card ID is mounted. However, in recent years, this restriction has been lifted (SIM-free), and it has become possible to enable mobile terminals regardless of the type of SIM card. In the SIM-free mobile terminal, the user can replace the SIM card and use it as a mobile terminal in which a plurality of users can share and use one mobile terminal.

As information for identifying a user who uses a smartphone, there is a UUID generated in a specific application on a mobile terminal. Although the UUID is limited to use in the application, the mobile terminal can generate a UUID uniquely determined for each user and manage the user information using the UUID as the user information. The mobile terminal switches the permission of the function such as granting the access right to the image data stored in the mobile terminal and viewing / editing according to the UUID. As a result, information security can be ensured even if one mobile terminal is shared and reused by a plurality of users.

In the present invention, the account information of the plurality of user modes (for example, a user ID that is not highly confidential), the SIM card ID information, the UUID information, and the like as described above are used to execute the authentication printing as the user information. As a result, even when a plurality of users share and use one mobile terminal, authentication can be easily performed for each user, and highly secure authentication printing can be realized.

As described above, in the prior art, the text management server is configured to perform authentication printing when only the terminal individual identifier of the mobile terminal is authenticated. In the present invention, assuming that a plurality of users share and use one mobile terminal, authentication printing is performed when user information is also authenticated in addition to the terminal individual identifier of the mobile terminal.

In the embodiment of the present invention, account information of a plurality of user modes, SIM card ID information, UUID information, and the like are exemplified as user information. These user information are not uniquely determined identification information in the world, and each of them may be duplicated. Therefore, it is not a desirable form from the viewpoint of information security to configure the authentication printing by authenticating only the user information instead of the terminal individual identifier.

[Embodiment 1]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the authentication printing system 100 configuration in the present embodiment. The authentication printing system 100 according to the present embodiment is composed of an image forming apparatus 200, an authentication server 300, and a mobile terminal 400, and the image forming apparatus 200, the authentication server 300, and the mobile terminal 400 form a network 101. Connected to each other via.

The network 101 can take a form such as a WAN (Wide Area Network) or a LAN (Local Area Network), and can be configured wirelessly or by wire.

The image forming apparatus 200 can be a multifunction device having various functions such as scanning, faxing, printing, and copying. Alternatively, it may be a printer device having only a printing function. When executing the authentication printing, the image forming apparatus 200 acquires the authentication information from the mobile terminal 400 via the short-distance sensor 209 (FIG. 2).

The mobile terminal 400 can be a mobile phone, a PDA, a smartphone, a tablet, or the like. In the present embodiment, a smartphone will be described as an example, but any form as long as it has a communication function capable of acquiring a terminal individual identifier and user information, generating print data, and transmitting the generated print data. It may be a thing. The mobile terminal 400 can convert the image data viewed and edited on the mobile terminal 400 into print data. The mobile terminal 400 can transmit the converted print data to the authentication server 300 by using the communication function provided in the mobile terminal 400.

When the mobile terminal 400 generates print data, the mobile terminal 400 acquires the terminal individual identifier of the mobile terminal 400 and adds the acquired terminal individual identifier to the print data. Here, the terminal individual identifier can be a MAC address, IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity), or the like, and the mobile terminal 400 uses the identification information uniquely determined in the world as the terminal individual identifier of the mobile terminal 400. Get as.

Similar to the process of adding the terminal individual identifier to the print data, the mobile terminal 400 acquires the user information using the mobile terminal 400, and also adds the acquired user information to the print data. When the OS running on the mobile terminal 400 supports the multi-user mode, the mobile terminal 400 can use account information (such as a user ID that is not highly confidential) as user information. When the mobile terminal 400 is a SIM-free mobile terminal 400, the mobile terminal 400 can use SIM card ID information as user information. When the mobile terminal 400 can use the UUID generated by a specific application, the mobile terminal 400 can use the UUID information as user information.

In the present embodiment, when the mobile terminal 400 gives an authentication printing instruction to the image forming apparatus 200, the short-range sensor 408 (FIG. 4) and the short-range sensor 209 (FIG. 2) of the image forming apparatus 200 are used. The terminal individual identifier and the user information are transmitted to the image forming apparatus 200 via the image forming apparatus 200. At this time, the terminal individual identifier and the user information constitute authentication information.

The authentication server 300 in the present embodiment holds a plurality of various print data that can be printed by the image forming apparatus 200, and manages the terminal individual identifier and the user information, which are authentication information, in association with each other. Has the function of printing.

Further, the authentication server 300 executes a process of analyzing the contents of the print data at the timing when the authentication server 300 receives the print data. As a result of the print data analysis process, the authentication server 300 extracts the terminal individual identifier, the user information, and the print setting information included in the print data, and updates the print data management table 330 described later.

Next, when the image forming apparatus 200 executes the authentication printing process, the authentication server 300 receives the authentication information from the image forming apparatus 200. When the authentication server 300 receives the authentication information from the image forming apparatus 200, the print data management unit 324 manages the print data and extracts the print data whose authentication information matches the print data group stored in the storage device 304. do. Details of the processing by the authentication server 300 will be described later in FIG.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 200 according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the image forming apparatus 200 alone, but as described with reference to FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 200 mutually wirelessly or wiredly with the authentication server 300, the mobile terminal 400, and the network 101. Connected to. The print job for executing the print process is transmitted from the mobile terminal 400 or the authentication server 300 to the image forming apparatus via an interface such as a network 101 or USB. In the authentication printing process according to the embodiment of the present invention, the content of the authentication printing process is described in such a manner that print data is transmitted from the authentication server 300. In another aspect of the present invention, the image forming apparatus 200 may be configured to include the function of the authentication server 300. In this case, the image forming apparatus 200 receives the print data directly from the mobile terminal 400.

The image forming apparatus 200 of FIG. 2 includes a CPU 201, a RAM 202, a storage device 203, a RIP 204, a network I / F205, a short-distance sensor I / F206, an operation unit I / F207, and a device I / F208. The image forming apparatus 200 further includes a short-distance sensor 209, an operation unit 210, and a printer engine 211, and each component unit is communicably connected via a bus 212. In addition, "I / F" means "interface" (the same applies hereinafter).

The CPU 201 includes an arithmetic circuit and controls the image forming apparatus 200 in an integrated manner. The RAM 202 is a temporary storage area and is used when the operation is executed by the CPU 201. The storage device 203 has a function as a storage area and stores various programs. The storage device 203 is composed of, for example, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), an SSD (Solid State Drive), or the like, and the CPU 201 reads the program stored in the storage device 203 into the RAM 202 and executes various processes.

The CPU 201 may adopt a multiprocessor system having a plurality of processors as hardware in order to realize parallel processing. Also, even if the microprocessor has multiple processor cores. It may use a technique such as hyper-threading that makes effective use of the free time of registers and pipelines in the processor to operate one processor as if it were a plurality of processors.

RIP204 (Raster Image Processor) is dedicated hardware that expands intermediate print data into raster images. The RIP 204 is for processing the intermediate print data generated on the RAM 202 at high speed and in parallel with the execution of the CPU 201.

The network I / F 205 controls the input / output of data between the network 101 and the image forming apparatus 200 based on the control of the CPU 201. The connection between the network I / F 205 and the network 101 may be in either a wired connection or a wireless connection.

The short-distance sensor I / F 206 controls the input / output of data to and from the short-distance sensor 209 based on the control of the CPU 201. The short-range sensor I / F 206 and the short-range sensor 209 can adopt various communication standards provided that they are standards capable of transmitting and receiving authentication information in the present embodiment. For example, as the short-range sensor I / F206 and the short-range sensor 209, a short-range wireless communication interface conforming to standards such as infrared communication, NFC (Near Field Communication), and Bluetooth (registered trademark) can be used.

The operation unit I / F 207 controls data input / output with the operation unit 210 based on the control of the CPU 201. The operation unit I / F 207 outputs image data to be displayed on the operation unit 210, and transmits the information input by the user via the operation unit 210 to the CPU 201 as input information. The operation unit 210 includes, for example, a liquid crystal panel and a sound source as an output device, and a touch screen display, a keyboard, a microphone, and the like as an input device.

The image forming apparatus 200 is connected to the printer engine 211 via the device I / F 208. The device I / F 208 executes image signal transmission to the printer engine 211, device operation instruction transmission, and device information reception processing from the printer engine 211 based on the control of the CPU 201.

The printer engine 211 is an output device that outputs an image signal from the image forming apparatus 200 onto a medium such as recording paper, and can be configured as an electrophotographic system, an inkjet system, or the like.

Further, in another embodiment of the present invention, a disk drive capable of reading / writing a portable disc recording medium such as a CD or a DVD may be connected to the bus 212. Similarly, a reader / writer capable of reading / writing a portable non-volatile recording medium such as a flash memory may be configured to be connectable to the bus. The program in which the processing content of the present embodiment is described may be stored in the storage device 203 via the above-mentioned various media and installed in the image forming device 200.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the authentication server 300 in this embodiment.

The authentication server 300 of FIG. 3 includes a CPU 301, a RAM 302, a network I / F 303, and a storage device 304. Further, each component is connected so as to be communicable via the bus 305.

The CPU 301 is composed of an arithmetic circuit and controls the authentication server 300 in an integrated manner. The RAM 302 is a temporary storage area and is used when an operation is executed by the CPU 301. The storage device 304 has a function as a storage area and stores various programs. The storage device 304 is composed of, for example, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), an SSD (Solid State Drive), or the like, and the CPU 301 reads the program stored in the storage device 304 into the RAM 302 and executes various processes.

The network I / F 303 controls the input / output of data between the network 101 and the authentication server 300 based on the control of the CPU 301. The connection between the network I / F 303 and the network 101 may be in either a wired connection or a wireless connection.

Further, in another embodiment of the present invention, a disk drive capable of reading / writing a portable disc recording medium such as a CD or a DVD may be connected to the bus 305. Similarly, a reader / writer capable of reading / writing a portable non-volatile recording medium such as a flash memory may be configured to be connectable to the bus 305. The program in which the processing content of the present embodiment is described may be stored in the storage device 304 via the above-mentioned various media and installed in the authentication server 300.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the mobile terminal 400 according to the present embodiment.

The mobile terminal 400 of FIG. 4 includes a CPU 401, a RAM 402, a storage device 403, a network I / F404, an operation unit I / F405, a short-range sensor I / F406, an operation unit 407, and a short-range sensor 408. Further, each component is communicably connected via the bus 409.

The CPU 401 is composed of an arithmetic circuit and controls the mobile terminal 400 in an integrated manner. The RAM 402 is a temporary storage area and is used when an operation is executed by the CPU 401. The storage device 403 has a function as a storage area, and stores user data such as various programs and image data. The storage device 403 is configured by, for example, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), an SSD (Solid State Drive), or the like, and the CPU 401 reads the program stored in the storage device 403 into the RAM 402 and executes various processes.

The network I / F 404 controls the input / output of data between the network 101 and the mobile terminal 400 based on the control of the CPU 401. The connection between the network I / F 404 and the network 101 may be in either a wired connection or a wireless connection. The mobile terminal 400 of the present embodiment may be in a mode in which the content server can be accessed via the network I / F 404 and the network 101, an application dedicated to the mobile terminal 400 can be downloaded, and the application can be installed in the storage device 403.

The operation unit I / F 405 controls the input / output of data with the operation unit 407 based on the control of the CPU 401. The operation unit I / F 405 outputs image data to be displayed on the operation unit 407, and transmits the information input by the user via the operation unit 407 to the CPU 401 as input information. The operation unit 407 includes, for example, a liquid crystal panel and a sound source as an output device, and a touch screen display, a keyboard, a microphone, and the like as an input device.

The short-distance sensor I / F 406 controls the input / output of data to and from the short-distance sensor 408 based on the control of the CPU 401. The short-range sensor I / F 406 and the short-range sensor 408 can adopt various communication standards provided that they are standards capable of transmitting and receiving authentication information in the present embodiment. For example, as the short-range sensor I / F406 and the short-range sensor 408, a short-range wireless communication interface conforming to standards such as infrared communication, NFC (Near Field Communication), and Bluetooth (registered trademark) can be used.

Further, in another embodiment of the present invention, a disk drive capable of reading / writing a portable disc recording medium such as a CD or a DVD may be connected to the bus 409. Similarly, a reader / writer capable of reading / writing a portable non-volatile recording medium such as a flash memory may be configured to be connectable to the bus. The program in which the processing content of the present embodiment is described may be stored in the storage device 403 via the above-mentioned various media and installed in the image forming apparatus 200.

FIG. 5 is a software module configuration diagram of the image forming apparatus 200 according to the present embodiment. Each software module shown in FIG. 5 is stored as a program in the storage device 203, loaded into the RAM 202, and executed by the CPU 201.

The control unit 221 is in charge of overall control of various processes such as authentication information generation processing, print data transmission / reception processing, data interpretation processing, and image rendering processing. The data interpretation unit reads the print data received by the transmission / reception unit via the control unit 221 and interprets the drawing information in the document. The drawing information extracted as a result of this data interpretation process is transmitted to the renderer via the control unit 221 and used for the rendering process. The renderer uses RIP to generate a bitmap image of the drawing information transmitted from the data interpretation unit. The generated bitmap image is transmitted to the printer engine via the device I / F, and the image forming process for the printing paper is executed.

The authentication information generation unit 224 generates the authentication information of the mobile terminal 400 from the terminal individual identifier acquired from the short-distance sensor 209, the user information, and the like. The transmission / reception unit 222 transmits or receives print data, a print data list table 340, generated authentication information, a request print data table 260, and the like via the network I / F 205.

FIG. 6 is a software module configuration diagram of the authentication server 300 in this embodiment. Each software module shown in FIG. 6 is stored as a program in the storage device 304, loaded in the RAM 302, and executed by the CPU 301.

The control unit 321 is in charge of overall control of various processes such as print data transmission / reception processing, storage processing, and authentication processing. The transmission / reception unit 322 receives print data transmitted from the mobile terminal 400, authentication information transmitted from the image forming apparatus 200, and the like via the network I / F 303. Further, the transmission / reception unit 322 transmits the print data list table 340, print data, and the like to the image forming apparatus 200 via the network I / F 303.

The print data management unit 324 manages a plurality of print data, and can store the print data managed by the print data management unit 324 in the storage device 304. The print data managed by the print data management unit 324 is stored in a data table format in which the terminal individual identifier constituting the authentication information of the mobile terminal 400, the authentication information consisting of the user information, and the print settings are associated with each other. Will be done. Details of the method in which the print data management unit 324 stores the data table will be described later with reference to FIGS. 12 and 17.

The print data extraction unit 323 extracts print data to be executed by the image forming apparatus 200 from the print data managed by the print data management unit 324. The print data extraction unit 323 refers to the authentication information received by the control unit 321 and the print data group held in the storage device 304 by the print data management unit 324, and extracts print data in which the authentication information matches. The print data extraction unit 323 transmits the extracted extraction result to the image forming apparatus 200 via the control unit 321 and the network I / F.

FIG. 7 is a software module configuration diagram of the mobile terminal 400 according to the present embodiment. Each software module shown in FIG. 7 is stored as a program in the storage device 403, loaded in the RAM 402, and executed by the CPU 401. The control unit 421 is in charge of overall control of various processes such as print data generation processing, transmission / reception processing, and user information management processing. The transmission / reception unit 422 transmits the print data to be authenticated printing to the authentication server 300 via the network I / F 404.

The print data generation unit 424 converts the image data viewed or edited on the mobile terminal 400 into print data. The print data generation unit 424 further executes a process of adding the user information managed by the user information management unit 423 and the terminal individual identifier of the mobile terminal 400 to the print data.

The user information management unit 423 executes a user information management process for controlling access restrictions to document data and permission / disapproval of viewing / editing functions for each of a plurality of users who use the mobile terminal 400.

In the present invention, the user information management unit 423 can use account information, SIM card ID information, application UUID information, and the like as user information. Further, the user information management unit 423 can manage a plurality of user information on one mobile terminal 400. More specifically, an OS (operating system) running on one mobile terminal 400 can manage a plurality of user information as account information.

The user information is not limited to these, and any user information can be used to identify the user and manage the user information when a plurality of users share and use one mobile terminal 400. User information such as can be used.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the operation unit 407 of the mobile terminal 400 at the time of an authentication print instruction. The screen displayed on the operation unit 407 includes a preview 431 and a pop-up 432. The preview 431 is displayed when the user views or edits the image data on the screen of the mobile terminal 400. The pop-up 432 is displayed when the image data being viewed or edited on the screen of the mobile terminal 400 is authenticated and printed.

When the user selects the No button 434 displayed in the pop-up 432, the authentication print instruction of the image data displayed as the preview is canceled. On the other hand, when the user selects the Yes button 433 displayed in the pop-up, the authentication printing instruction of the image data displayed as the preview is started.

In the present embodiment, data that can be viewed or edited by the user on the screen of the mobile terminal 400 is used as image data. The image data that can be viewed or edited by the user on the screen of the mobile terminal 400 can include various contents such as sentences and images.

FIG. 9A is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the operation unit of the image forming apparatus 200. The screen displayed on the operation unit 210 includes a print data list 231, a Cancel button 235, and a print button 234. The print data list 231 shows the print data to be authenticated and printed in a list format. Further, the print data list 231 is provided with a check box 232 associated with each list in order to select print data for receiving an authentication print instruction. In the present embodiment, the check box 232 functions as a selection receiving means for receiving an authentication printing instruction.

When the user instructs the authentication printing for a plurality of print data, the authentication printing instruction is accepted by selecting the corresponding check box 232. If the user mistakenly instructs the authentication printing, the print data in the print data list 231 corresponding to the check box 232 can be excluded from the target of the authentication printing by unchecking the check box 232.

When the user selects the Panel button 235 displayed on the operation unit 210, the instruction of authentication printing can be canceled. When the user selects the print button 234 displayed on the operation unit, the user can instruct the print data selected by the check box 232 to perform authentication printing. When the print button 234 is selected, the print data selected by the check box 232 is received from the authentication server 300, and then the image forming apparatus 200 starts the printing process.

FIG. 9B is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the operation unit of the image forming apparatus 200. The screen displayed on the operation unit includes a pop-up 241 and an OK button 242. On the screen of FIG. 9B, the user is notified that the print data to be authenticated printing does not exist. The pop-up 241 is displayed when the authentication fails and the print data to be printed by the authentication does not exist. When the user confirms that the print data to be authenticated printing does not exist and selects the OK button 242 displayed in the pop-up, the image forming apparatus 200 does not perform the printing process and ends the authentication printing process.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a data structure of print data used for authentication printing in the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, the print data used for the authentication printing is generated by the print data generation unit 424 of the mobile terminal 400. The print data shown in FIG. 10 includes a terminal individual identifier 441, user information 442, print setting 443, and content information 444. The terminal individual identifier 441, the user information 442, and the print setting 443 constitute a header portion and are added to the content information 444.

The terminal individual identifier 441 is information for uniquely identifying the source mobile terminal 400. The user information 442 is information for identifying the user, and is generated from the account information of the multi-user mode used in the mobile terminal 400 of the transmission source, the SIM card ID, the UUID, and the like. The print setting 443 is setting information when printing document data, and is information for setting, for example, color / monochrome, aggregate layout, staple position designation, and the like. The content information 444 is information that defines the drawing content of the image data included in the image data itself. The content information 444 can take a file format such as a data format of Microsoft Office (registered trademark), but can also take a PDL format such as PostScript.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a data structure of authentication information used for authentication printing in the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, the authentication information used for the authentication printing is generated by the authentication information generation unit 224 of the image forming apparatus 200. The authentication information generation unit 224 of the image forming apparatus 200 generates authentication information from the terminal individual identifier 251 of the mobile terminal 400 read via the short-range sensor 209 and the user information 252.

The terminal individual identifier 251 is information for uniquely identifying the mobile terminal 400 read via the short-distance sensor 209. The user information 252 is information for identifying the user, and is generated from the account information of the multi-user mode used in the mobile terminal 400 read via the short-distance sensor 209, the SIM card ID, the UUID, and the like.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a print data management table 330 managed by the print data management unit 324 of the authentication server 300 in the present embodiment. The authentication server 300 can temporarily hold a plurality of print data transmitted from various mobile terminals 400, and the print data management unit 324 uses the print data management table 330 to display the plurality of print data. To manage. The print data management table 330 is stored as data in the storage device 304 of the authentication server 300. When the print data held by the authentication server 300 is printed, or when the print data elapses for a certain period of time, the print data is erased and excluded from the print data management table 330.

The print data management table 330 stores the print data ID, the terminal individual identifier, the user information, the print setting, and the content information in each field. The print data ID is information for uniquely identifying the print data to be printed, and is given by the print data management unit 324. The terminal individual identifier is information for identifying a user such as account information in the multi-user mode used in the mobile terminal 400 from which the print data is transmitted. The print setting is the setting information when printing the image data. The content information is information that defines the drawing content of the image data included in the image data itself, and specifically, the file name of the image data is used.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a print data list table 340 generated by the print data extraction unit 323 of the authentication server 300 in the present embodiment. The print data extraction unit 323 of the authentication server 300 collates the authentication information transmitted from the image forming apparatus 200 with a plurality of print data held by the authentication server 300, and the authentication information is included in the print data. If matches, the print data is extracted. The print data extraction unit 323 manages the extracted print data in the print data list table 340. The print data list table 340 is stored as data in the storage device 304 of the authentication server 300.

The authentication server 300 transmits the print data list table 340 to the image forming apparatus 200, and the image forming apparatus 200 displays the print data list on the screen of the operation unit based on the received print data list table 340 (FIG. 9). (A)).

The print data list table 340 stores the file number and the content information in each field. The print data extraction unit 323 assigns a file number to each print data extracted when the authentication data and the information included in the print data match. The file number is information for uniquely identifying the extracted print data. The content information is information that defines the drawing content of the image data included in the image data itself, and specifically, the file name of the image data is used.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a request print data table 260 generated by the control unit 221 of the image forming apparatus 200 in the present embodiment. The control unit 221 of the image forming apparatus 200 extracts the print data in the print data list 231 input to the check box 232 in the print data list 231 shown in FIG. 9A. The control unit 221 manages the extracted print data in the request print data table 260. The request print data table 260 is stored as data in the storage device 203 of the image forming apparatus 200.

The control unit 221 of the image forming apparatus 200 transmits the request print data table 260 to the authentication server 300. The print data management unit 324 of the authentication server 300 collates the information of the request print data table 260 transmitted from the image forming apparatus 200 with the print data held by the authentication server 300, and prints the print data to be printed. specify.

The request print data table 260 stores the file number and the content information in each field. Since each information is the same as that of the print data list table 340, the following description will be omitted.

FIG. 15 is a schematic view showing the processing content of the authentication printing process in the present embodiment. In the schematic diagram shown in FIG. 15, the authentication printing process in the present embodiment will be described by taking each table described with reference to FIGS. 12 to 14 and various information stored in each table as an example.

First, the control unit 421 of the mobile terminal 400 transmits the print data to the authentication server 300. For example, it is assumed that the terminal individual identifier is "AA-BBBBBB-CCCCCC-D", the user information is "00000241", the print setting is "Xxxxxxx", and the content information is "AAAAA.doc" (FIG. 10). At this time, the control unit 421 of the mobile terminal 400 transmits the print data composed of the terminal individual identifier, the user information, the print setting, and the content information to the authentication server 300 (A. print data transmission process). ..

The control unit 321 of the authentication server 300 receives print data including the terminal individual identifier "AA-BBBBBB-CCCCCC-D", the user information "00000241", the print setting "Xxxxxxx", and the content information "AAAAA.doc". The print data management unit 324 of the authentication server 300 stores the print data in the print data management table 330 (FIG. 12).

Next, the control unit 221 of the image forming apparatus 200 transmits the authentication information received from the mobile terminal 400 to the authentication server 300. For example, it is assumed that the terminal individual identifier is "AA-BBBBBB-CCCCCC-D" and the user information is "00000241" (FIG. 11). At this time, the control unit 221 of the image forming apparatus 200 transmits the authentication data composed of the terminal individual identifier and the user information to the authentication server 300 as the authentication information (B. Authentication printing process).

The print data extraction unit 323 of the authentication server 300 extracts print data that matches the terminal individual identifier and the user information of the authentication information from the print data management table 330. In the example shown in FIG. 15, the print data matching the terminal individual identifier "AA-BBBBBB-CCCCCC-D" of the authentication information and the user information "00000241" is stored in the print data management table 330 (FIG. 12). .. The print data extraction unit 323 extracts the matching print data and transmits it to the image forming apparatus 200 as a print data list table 340 (FIG. 13) including the file number “000001” and the content information “AAAAA.doc” (C.I. Authentication print data extraction process).

The control unit 221 of the image forming apparatus 200 refers to the print data list table 340 received from the authentication server 300, and displays the print data list screen (FIG. 9A) on the operation unit. Then, the control unit 221 of the image forming apparatus 200 executes a printing process on paper or the like for the print data selected by the check box 232 (S316). For example, on the print data list screen shown in FIG. 9A, it is assumed that the check box 232 corresponding to the file number “0000001” and the file name “AAAAA.doc” is selected. In this case, the control unit of the image forming apparatus 200 targets the print data corresponding to the file name “AAAAAA.doc” for which the check box 232 is selected, and prints on paper or the like on the condition that the print button 234 is selected. The print process is executed (S316).

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the print data transmission processing of the mobile terminal 400 at the time of authentication printing. Using the flowchart shown in FIG. 16, the processing content of the print data transmission process from the mobile terminal 400 to the image forming apparatus 200 at the time of authentication printing will be described. When the Yes button 433 (FIG. 8) displayed on the operation unit 407 of the mobile terminal 400 is selected, the processing of this flowchart is started.

In S101, the control unit 421 of the mobile terminal 400 converts the image data viewed and edited on the mobile terminal 400 into print data. The control unit 421 converts the image data into a print data format such as PostScript so that the image forming apparatus 200 can execute the drawing process. In the present embodiment, the control unit 421 converts the image data into the print data format in S101, but in another embodiment, the data format used in the Microsoft Office application or the like is not converted and the process proceeds to the next step. May be good. In this case, the image forming apparatus 200 interprets the data format and converts the image data received from the mobile terminal 400 into print data. Further, in S101, the user can perform print settings such as color / monochrome, aggregate layout, and stapling position designation by operating the operation unit 407 of the mobile terminal 400. The various print settings that have been set are added to the header portion of the print data.

In S102, the control unit 421 acquires the terminal individual identifier of the mobile terminal 400. The acquired terminal individual identifier is added as authentication information to the header portion of the print data.

In S103, the control unit 421 acquires the user information of the mobile terminal 400. The acquired user information is added as authentication information to the header portion of the print data.

In S104, the control unit 421 transmits the generated print data to the authentication server 300 via the transmission / reception unit 422.

By the above processing, the printing data transmission processing from the mobile terminal 400 to the image forming apparatus 200 at the time of authentication printing is executed.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing the processing content of the print data reception process of the authentication server 300. The print data reception processing content of the authentication server 300 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. When the print data is transmitted from the mobile terminal 400 to the authentication server 300, the processing of this flowchart is started.

In S201, the control unit 321 of the authentication server 300 receives the print data transmitted from the mobile terminal 400.

In S202, the print data management unit 324 of the authentication server 300 stores the received print data in the storage device. Further, in S202, the terminal individual identifier of the transmission source mobile terminal 400, the user information, and the print setting, which are added to the header portion of the print data, are associated with the print data ID that identifies the print data. Stored in the print data management table 330.

By the above processing, the print data reception processing of the authentication server 300 is executed.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing the processing content of the authentication printing process of the image forming apparatus 200. The processing content of the authentication printing process of the image forming apparatus 200 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the short-distance sensor 408 of the mobile terminal 400 is close to the short-distance sensor 209 of the image forming apparatus 200 and communication between the mobile terminal 400 and the image forming apparatus 200 is started, the processing of this flowchart is started. ..

In S301, the control unit 221 of the image forming apparatus 200 acquires the terminal individual identifier of the mobile terminal 400 via the short-distance sensor 209.

In S302, the control unit 221 acquires the user information of the mobile terminal 400 via the short-distance sensor 209.

In S303, the authentication information generation unit 224 of the image forming apparatus 200 generates authentication information from the terminal individual identifier and user information of the mobile terminal 400 acquired in S301 and S302. In S301 and S302, the short-range sensor 209 that receives the terminal individual identifier and the user information constitutes the authentication information receiving means of the present invention.

In S304, the control unit 221 transmits the authentication information generated in S303 to the authentication server 300 via the transmission / reception unit 322. In the steps after S305, the authentication server 300 extracts the print data, and the image forming apparatus 200 is in a standby state until the extraction result is received. When the image forming apparatus 200 receives the extraction result from the authentication server 300, the image forming apparatus 200 restarts the processing after S305.

When the image forming apparatus 200 receives the extraction result in S305, the control unit 221 refers to the extraction result and determines whether or not the print data corresponding to the authentication information acquired from the mobile terminal 400 exists. If the corresponding print data does not exist (S305: No), the process proceeds to S306. If the corresponding print data exists (S305: Yes), the process proceeds to S307.

In S306, the control unit 221 executes a process of displaying a screen (FIG. 9B) for notifying that the authentication print data does not exist on the operation unit 201. In the present embodiment, when the image forming apparatus 200 transmits the authentication information to the authentication server 300 and the print data management unit 324 of the authentication server 300 does not have the print data associated with the authentication information, the print data associated with the authentication information does not exist in S306. It is determined that the transition will occur. At this time, in the present authentication printing system 100, the authentication printing process cannot be continued. When the screen (FIG. 9B) notifying that the authentication print data does not exist is displayed and the OK button 242 is selected by the user via the operation unit 210, the process of this flowchart ends.

In S307, the control unit 221 receives the print data list table 340 (FIG. 13) from the authentication server 300. The print data list table 340 is generated in the authentication print data extraction process (S408) and transmitted from the authentication server 300.

In S308, the control unit 221 refers to the print data list table 340 received in S307, and displays a print data list screen (FIG. 9A) including a print data list and the like on the operation unit.

In S309, the control unit 221 determines whether the Cancel button 235 (FIG. 9A) is selected when the print data list screen is displayed on the operation unit 210. When it is determined that the Panel button 235 is selected (S309: Yes), the user transmits an instruction to cancel the authentication printing process to the control unit 221 of the image forming apparatus 200 via the operation unit 210. Therefore, the control unit 221 of the image forming apparatus 200 ends the authentication printing process. When it is determined that the Candle button 235 is not selected (S309: No), the process proceeds to S310.

In S310, the control unit 221 determines whether or not one or more check boxes 232 (FIG. 9A) are selected when the print data list screen is displayed on the operation unit 210. When one or more check boxes 232 are selected through the operation of the operation unit 210 by the user (S310: Yes), the process proceeds to S311. If no check box 232 is selected (S310: No), the process returns to S308 and the processing after S308 is repeated again. Further, at this time, the control unit 221 makes it possible to accept the selection of the print button 234 (FIG. 9A) in response to the determination that one or more check boxes 232 have been selected (S310: Yes). , Executes the process of activating the print button 234.

In S311 the control unit 221 determines whether the print button 234 (FIG. 9A) is selected when the print data list screen is displayed on the operation unit 210. When it is determined that the print button 234 is selected through the operation of the operation unit 210 by the user (S311: Yes), the process proceeds to S312. If it is determined that the print button 234 is not selected (S311: No), the process returns to S308 and the processing after S308 is repeated again.

In S312, the control unit 221 generates a request print data table 260 (FIG. 14) for the print data for which the check box 232 is selected in S310.

In S313, the control unit 221 transmits the request print data table 260 generated in S312 to the authentication server 300 via the transmission / reception unit 222. In the present embodiment, the print data information corresponding to the check box 232 selected in S310 is transmitted to the authentication server 300 as table format data. As a result, it is possible to selectively send a print request to the authentication server 300 for the print data desired to be printed by the user.

In S313, the control unit 221 transmits the request print data table 260 generated in S312 to the authentication server 300. In the steps after S314, the print data management unit 324 of the authentication server 300 transmits the target print data to be printed to the image forming apparatus 200, and the image forming apparatus 200 waits until the target print data is received. Become. When the image forming apparatus 200 receives the target print data from the authentication server 300, the image forming apparatus 200 restarts the processing after S314.

In S314, the control unit 221 of the image forming apparatus 200 receives the target print data to be printed in S313 from the authentication server 300 via the transmission / reception unit. Next, in S315, the control unit 221 determines whether or not all the target print data has been received from the authentication server 300.

When the control unit 221 completes receiving all the target print data (S315: Yes), the control unit 221 executes a print process for the target print data (S316). On the other hand, when the control unit 221 has not completed receiving all the target print data (S315: No), the process returns to the process of receiving the target print data from the authentication server 300 again in S314. In the present embodiment, in S315, it is determined whether all the target print data has been received and then the execution of the print process is started. However, when it is determined that the reception of even one print data is completed, the process is started. It may be an aspect of starting a process of executing printing at any time.

By the above processing, the authentication printing process by the image forming apparatus 200 is executed.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing the processing content of the authentication print data extraction process of the authentication server 300. The processing content of the authentication print data extraction process of the authentication server 300 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In S304 (FIG. 18), when the authentication information is transmitted from the image forming apparatus 200 to the authentication server 300, the processing of this flowchart is started.

In S401, the transmission / reception unit 322 of the authentication server 300 receives the authentication information transmitted from the image forming apparatus 200.

In S402, the print data extraction unit 323 refers to the print data management table 330 (FIG. 12) and identifies the terminal individual identifier from the authentication information received in S401.

In S403, the print data extraction unit 323 extracts a print data group matching the terminal individual identifier specified in S402 from the print data management table 330 referred to in S402.

In S404, the print data extraction unit 323 identifies the user information from the authentication information received in S401.

In S405, the print data extraction unit 323 extracts the print data that matches the user information specified in S404 from the print data group extracted in S403. In the present embodiment, by further extracting the print data that matches the user information from the print data group of the extraction result of S403, the print data that matches the combination of the terminal individual identifier and the user information is extracted. By executing the above process to extract print data, even when printing instructions are given from a mobile terminal shared by multiple users, it is possible to authenticate each user and realize highly secure authentication printing. be able to.

In S406, the print data extraction unit 323 transmits the extraction result in S405 to the image forming apparatus 200 via the transmission / reception unit 322. In the present embodiment, if the number of print data extracted in S406 is one or more, the extraction result of "corresponding data exists" is transmitted. If the number of extracted print data is 0, the extraction result "No applicable data" is transmitted.

In S407, the control unit 321 determines whether or not the print data extracted in S405 exists. If the print data extracted in S405 exists (S407: Yes), the process proceeds to S408. If the extracted print data does not exist (S407: No), the print data to be printed does not exist and the image forming apparatus 200 cannot continue the certified print process. Therefore, the certified print data extraction process is terminated. do.

In S408, the control unit 321 generates a print data list table 340 (FIG. 13) from the print data extracted in S405.

In S409, the control unit 321 transmits the print data list table 340 generated in S408 to the image forming apparatus 200. In the present embodiment, the print data extracted in S405 is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 200 as tabular data as the print data list table 340.

By the above processing, the authentication print data extraction process of the authentication server 300 is executed.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing a processing content of a process in which the authentication server 300 calls the target print data to be printed, which is designated by the request print data table 260, and transmits the target print data to the image forming apparatus 200. The process of calling the target print data to be printed and transmitting it to the image forming apparatus 200 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In S313 (FIG. 18), when the request print data table 260 is transmitted from the image forming apparatus 200 to the authentication server 300, the processing of this flowchart is started.

In S501, the control unit 321 of the authentication server 300 receives the request print data table 260 transmitted from the image forming apparatus 200 via the transmission / reception unit 322.

In S502, the print data management unit 324 of the authentication server 300 calls the print data to be printed included in the request print data table 260 received in S501 from the storage device 304, and the called target print data is used as the image forming device. Send to 200.

In S503, the control unit 321 determines whether all the print data included in the request print data table 260 received in S501 has been transmitted to the image forming apparatus 200. When all the target print data included in the request print data table 260 are transmitted to the image forming apparatus 200 (S503: Yes), the processing of this flowchart ends. On the other hand, when the transmission of all the target print data included in the request print data table 260 is not completed (S503: No), the process returns to the process of S502 and the transmission process of the target print data is repeated again.

By the above processing, the processing of calling the target print data to be printed and transmitting it to the image forming apparatus 200 is performed.

[Embodiment 2]
In the authentication printing system 100 according to the first embodiment, an embodiment in which the image forming apparatus 200 executes the authentication printing process by using the terminal individual identifier of the mobile terminal 400 and the user information in order to execute the printing process has been described.

In the prior art, there is known a printing system in which an image forming apparatus 200 or an authentication server 300 manages a plurality of user information used in an authentication system in advance. In such a printing system, user information is received from a terminal in the printing system (hereinafter referred to as "print instruction terminal"), and when the received user information matches one of the plurality of user information, the image forming apparatus 200 Executes the printing process.

In the authentication printing system 100 according to the second embodiment, the technical idea of the present invention is applied by linking an existing printing system that manages a plurality of user information in advance with the authentication information which is a characteristic configuration of the present invention. An aspect of executing the authentication printing process will be described.

FIG. 21 is a schematic view showing the processing content of the authentication printing process in the present embodiment. First, the control unit of the print instruction terminal 500 transmits the print data to the authentication server 300. For example, it is assumed that the terminal individual identifier is "EE-FFFFFF-GGGGGG-D", the user information is "00000241", the print setting is "Xxxxxxx", and the content information is "AAAAAA.doc". At this time, the control unit of the print instruction terminal 500 transmits the print data composed of the terminal individual identifier, the user information, the print setting, and the content information to the authentication server 300 (A. print data transmission process). .. The print instruction terminal 500 is a terminal different from the mobile terminal 400 described later, and corresponds to the "first print instruction terminal" in the scope of claims.

The control unit 321 of the authentication server 300 receives print data including the terminal individual identifier "EE-FFFFFF-GGGGGG-D", the user information "00000241", the print setting "Xxxxxxx", and the content information "AAAAA.doc". The print data management unit 324 of the authentication server 300 stores the print data in the print data management table 330 (FIG. 12).

Next, the control unit 221 of the image forming apparatus 200 transmits the authentication information received from the mobile terminal 400 to the authentication server 300. For example, it is assumed that the terminal individual identifier is "AA-BBBBBB-CCCCCC-D" and the user information is "00000241". At this time, the control unit 221 of the image forming apparatus 200 transmits the authentication data composed of the terminal individual identifier and the user information to the authentication server 300 as the authentication information (B. Authentication printing process). The mobile terminal 400 is a terminal different from the above-mentioned print instruction terminal 500, and corresponds to a "second print instruction terminal" within the scope of the claims.

The print data extraction unit 323 of the authentication server 300 extracts print data that matches the terminal individual identifier of the authentication information from the print data management table 330. In the example shown in FIG. 21, the terminal individual identifier of the authentication information is "AA-BBBBBB-CCCCCC-D", while the terminal individual identifier of the print data management table 330 is "EE-FFFFFF-GGGGGG-D". Therefore, the print data extraction unit 323 cannot extract the print data (S403).

In the authentication printing process in the present embodiment, even when the print data matching the terminal individual identifier cannot be extracted, the process of extracting the print data matching the user information is executed (S405). In the example shown in FIG. 21, the user information of the authentication information is "00000241", and the user information of the print data management table 330 is also "00000241". In this case, the print data extraction unit 323 further determines whether the user information "00000241" of the authentication information matches one of the plurality of user information managed by the image forming apparatus 200 or the print server. The process of collating the user information of the above-mentioned authentication information with the user information of the print data management table 330 and the process of collating with the plurality of user information managed by the image forming apparatus 200 or the print server are performed in S405 of FIG. Is executed by.

When the print data extraction unit 323 determines that the user information "00000241" of the authentication information matches, the print data extraction unit 323 extracts the print data that matches the user information of the authentication information from the print data management table 330. In the example shown in FIG. 21, the print data that matches the user information "00000241" of the authentication information is stored in the print data management table 330. The print data extraction unit 323 extracts the matching print data and transmits it to the image forming apparatus 200 as a print data list table 340 (FIG. 13) including the file number “000001” and the content information “AAAAA.doc” (C.I. Authentication print data extraction process).

The control unit 221 of the image forming apparatus 200 refers to the print data list table 340 received from the authentication server 300, and displays the print data list screen (FIG. 9A) on the operation unit. Then, the control unit 221 of the image forming apparatus 200 executes a printing process on paper or the like for the print data selected by the check box 232 (S316). For example, on the print data list screen shown in FIG. 9A, it is assumed that the check box 232 corresponding to the file number “0000001” and the file name “AAAAA.doc” is selected. In this case, the control unit 221 of the image forming apparatus 200 targets the print data corresponding to the file name “AAAAAA.doc” selected in the check box 232, and prints on paper or the like on condition that the print button 234 is selected. Is executed (S316).

In the second embodiment of the present invention, even if the terminal individual identifier of the print instruction terminal 500 and the terminal individual identifier of the mobile terminal 400 are different, the authentication printing process can be performed. Specifically, the authentication printing process is enabled by linking a plurality of user information managed by the image forming apparatus 200 or the authentication server 300 with the user information of the authentication information. Therefore, even if the print instruction terminal 500 that transmits print data and the mobile terminal 400 that transmits authentication information via the short-range sensor 209 are different in the vicinity of the image forming apparatus 200, the authentication printing to which the present invention is applied is different. Can be executed.

As described above, according to the present invention described so far, even when printing instructions are given from a mobile terminal shared by a plurality of users, authentication can be easily performed for each user, and highly secure authentication printing can be realized. can.

[Other Examples]
In the first and second embodiments, the mode in which the authentication server 300 executes the print data extraction process has been described, but the embodiment is not limited to this. The image forming apparatus 200 may have the function of the authentication server 300 and may be configured to execute the print data extraction process.
[Other Examples]
The present invention is also realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment is supplied to the system or device via a network or various storage media, and the computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or device reads the program. This is the process to be executed.

Further, the program code for realizing the function of the present embodiment may be executed by one computer (CPU, MPU) or may be executed by a plurality of computers collaborating with each other. May be good. Further, the program code may be executed by a computer, or hardware such as a circuit for realizing the function of the program code may be provided. Alternatively, a part of the program code may be realized by hardware and the rest may be executed by a computer.

The present invention relates to printing systems, mobile terminals and programs .

The printing system according to the present invention is a printing system including a mobile terminal, a printing device, and a server, and the mobile terminal has a means for holding user information corresponding to one user and a state in which the user information is held. In the mobile terminal, a means for transmitting one print data associated with the user information to the server by wireless LAN communication, a means for receiving and holding the one print data in the server, and the user. In the mobile terminal in a state of holding information, a means for executing a predetermined short-range wireless communication in close proximity to the printing device, and the printing device, the said one, subject to at least the predetermined short-range wireless communication. The information of the print data associated with the user information of the user is acquired from the server, and the print data of the one user is designated as the print target in the list of the print data associated with the user information of the one user. It is characterized by having a means for displaying a possible list on a display unit .

According to the present invention , even when printing instructions are given from a mobile terminal shared by a plurality of users, authentication can be easily performed for each user, and highly secure authentication printing can be realized.

Claims (1)

A print data receiving means for receiving print data to which a terminal individual identifier of a mobile terminal and user information are added, and
An authentication information receiving means for receiving the terminal individual identifier and user information of the mobile terminal,
An authentication information generation means for generating authentication information from the received terminal individual identifier and the user information,
When the terminal individual identifier and the user information added to the print data match the terminal individual identifier and the user information of the authentication information, the terminal individual identifier and the user information matching the authentication information An image forming apparatus comprising a means for printing the print data to which the and is added.

Images