JP2022072817A - Electronic data transmission system, program and method for transmitting electronic data - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an electronic data transmission system, a program and a method for transmitting electronic data, capable of determining a transmission destination to quickly transmit electronic data in a network in which a server is connected with an image formation device.SOLUTION: An electronic data transmission system 10 distributes print data D1 of a homework from a teacher to students to print them. A connection server 12, when the new print data D1 is registered in a storage server 17, receives a registration notification from a notification server 16 (S97). The connection server 12 identifies a class ID and a lesson ID from the notification content, and acquires a file ID of the print data D1 from a learning management server 15 on the basis of the identified information (S103). The connection server 12 acquires the print data D1 from the storage server 17 on the basis of the file ID (S105) and instructs print of the print data D1 to a MFP 11.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

The present disclosure relates to a technique for transmitting electronic data in a network in which a server and an image forming apparatus are connected.

Conventionally, various techniques for transmitting electronic data between a server and an image forming apparatus via a network have been proposed. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a scan service system that uploads image data generated by scanning by an image forming apparatus having a scanner function to a server via a network.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2014-7483

In a system that exchanges electronic data between a server and an image forming device, such as the scan service system described above, transmission that matches the service provided, the user ID to be used, etc., from among the devices connected to the network. It is necessary to specify the destination before transmitting the electronic data. If the determination of the destination of the electronic data is delayed, the transmission of the electronic data may be delayed.

The present disclosure is in view of the above problems, and is an electronic data transmission system, a program, and an electronic data capable of determining a destination and promptly transmitting electronic data in a network in which a server and an image forming apparatus are connected. The purpose is to provide a transmission method.

In order to solve the above problems, the present disclosure is an electronic data transmission system including an image forming apparatus including an image reading unit and a server connected to the image forming apparatus via a network, wherein the first electronic data is provided. The acquisition source ID acquisition process for acquiring the acquisition source ID indicating the acquisition source, and the first electronic data acquired by the image forming apparatus via the server for the first electronic data acquired based on the acquisition source ID. The acquisition process, the print process of printing the first electronic data acquired by the first electronic data acquisition process with the image forming apparatus, and the second electron scanning the original with the image reading unit of the image forming apparatus. Based on the second electronic data generation process for generating data, the destination ID acquisition process for acquiring the destination ID which is the destination of the second electronic data, and the destination ID acquired by the destination ID acquisition process. Disclosed is an electronic data transmission system that executes a transmission process of transmitting the second electronic data from the image forming apparatus to a destination via the server.

Further, the present disclosure is an electronic data transmission system including an image forming apparatus and a server connected to the image forming apparatus via a network, and the information indicating that the first electronic data has been registered is described above. When acquired by the server, the acquisition source ID acquisition process for acquiring the acquisition source ID indicating the acquisition source of the first electronic data and the acquisition of the first electronic data to the server based on the acquisition source ID are performed to form the image. A first electronic data acquisition process for acquiring the first electronic data from the server by the apparatus, and a printing process for printing the first electronic data acquired by the first electronic data acquisition process with the image forming apparatus. Disclose the electronic data transmission system to be executed.

The content of the present disclosure is not limited to the implementation as an electronic data transmission system, and can be implemented in various forms. The contents of the present disclosure are also useful as a method of transmitting electronic data in an electronic data transmission system including a program readable by a computer of a server, an image forming apparatus, and a server.

According to the electronic data transmission system, the program, and the method of transmitting electronic data of the present disclosure, it is possible to determine the destination and quickly transmit the electronic data in the network in which the server and the image forming apparatus are connected.

It is a block diagram of an electronic data transmission system. It is a figure which shows the contents of the management DB. It is a sequence diagram which shows the association process. It is a sequence diagram which shows the association process. It is a sequence diagram which shows the association process. It is a sequence diagram which shows the printing process. It is a sequence diagram which shows the printing process. It is a sequence diagram which shows the scan process. It is a sequence diagram which shows the scan process of another example. It is a sequence diagram which shows the scan process of another example.

(1. Configuration of electronic data transmission system)
Hereinafter, an embodiment embodying the electronic data transmission system of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the electronic data transmission system 10 of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic data transmission system 10 includes an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral / Printer / Product) 11 and a connection server 12. The MFP 11 is connected to the connection server 12 via the network 13. The network 13 is, for example, the Internet. The network 13 is not limited to the Internet, but may be a local area network (LAN) or a network in which a LAN and the Internet are combined. Further, the connection method of the network 13 may be a wired connection, a wireless connection, or a method in which a wired connection and a wireless connection are combined.

Next, the configuration of the MFP 11 will be described. The MFP 11 is installed, for example, at the home of a user who uses the electronic data transmission system 10. The MFP 11 may be one unit or a plurality of units. FIG. 1 illustrates only one MFP 11 to avoid cluttering the drawings. The MFP 11 includes a bus 20, a memory 21, a CPU 22, a communication IF (abbreviation of interface) 23, an image reading unit 25, a printing unit 26, and a user IF 27. Each device such as the memory 21 and the CPU 22 is communicably connected via the bus 20.

The memory 21 includes, for example, a RAM, a ROM, and a non-volatile memory (EEPROM, etc.), and stores a control program 29. The MFP 11 comprehensively controls the operation of the MFP 11 by executing the control program 29 stored in the memory 21. Further, the control program 29 includes, for example, a program such as an EWS (Embedded Web Server) program that causes the MFP 11 to function as a Web server. The MFP 11 receives access to the Web server by executing the control program 29 on the CPU 22. In the following description, the MFP 11 that executes the control program 29 on the CPU 22 may be simply described by the device name. For example, the description "the MFP 11 receives electronic data via the communication IF 23" means that "the MFP 11 controls the communication IF 23 by executing the control program 29 on the CPU 22 and receives the electronic data via the communication IF 23". It may mean that.

The communication IF 23 is, for example, a LAN interface and is connected to the network 13 via a LAN cable, a router, or the like. The image reading unit 25 includes an image sensor such as a CIS (Contact Image Sensor) or a CCD (Charge-Coupled Device), and scans a document set on an ADF (Auto Document Feeder) or a reading table with an image sensor. The image reading unit 25 stores the image data generated by scanning the original in the memory 21.

The printing unit 26 includes, for example, a toner cartridge, a photosensitive drum, a developing roller, an exposure device, and the like, and is a device that prints an image on a sheet (paper, OHP, etc.) by an electrophotographic method. The configuration of the printing unit 26 is not limited to the configuration of printing by the electrophotographic method, and may be, for example, a configuration including an inkjet head, an ink cartridge, or the like and printing by the inkjet method. Further, the MFP 11 may be capable of executing a combined operation in which a plurality of operations are combined. The combined operation referred to here is, for example, a copy operation in which a scanning operation by the image reading unit 25 and a printing operation by the printing unit 26 are combined. Further, the MFP 11 may have a FAX function for transmitting and receiving image data by a method compliant with the FAX protocol.

The user IF 27 is a device that accepts operation inputs by a user who uses the MFP 11 and notifies various information. As will be described later, the connection server 12 of the present embodiment changes the processing content according to the function of the user IF 27 included in the MFP 11. The function referred to here is, for example, a display function for displaying various information, a selection function for selecting an arbitrary content from the display content, and the like. The configuration of the user IF27 is not particularly limited. The user IF27 may be, for example, an indicator lamp such as an LED, a push button such as a numeric keypad, a slide switch, an LCD, a touch panel, or the like, or a configuration in which these devices are combined.

Next, the configuration of the connection server 12 will be described. The connection server 12 includes a bus 30, a memory 31, a CPU 32, a user IF 33, and a communication IF 34. The devices such as the memory 31 and the CPU 32 are connected to each other so as to be able to communicate with each other via the bus 30.

The memory 31 is configured by combining, for example, a RAM, a ROM, a non-volatile memory, a hard disk, and the like. The memory 31 stores an OS (abbreviation of Operating System) 41, a server program 43, and a management DB (abbreviation of database) 45. The OS 41 is, for example, a program for a server of Windows (registered trademark) or Linux (registered trademark), and provides functions such as access control to files. The server program 43 utilizes the functions provided by the OS 41 to generate electronic data (for example, homework) between the vendor server 14, the learning management server 15, the notification server 16, and the storage server 17, which will be described later, in addition to the MFP 11. This is a program that executes a process of transmitting and receiving print data D1). For example, when the power is turned on, the connection server 12 reads the OS 41 from the memory 31 and executes it in the CPU 32 to start the system. After starting the system, the connection server 12 reads the server program 43 from the memory 31 and executes it in the CPU 32, and executes the process of transmitting and receiving the above-mentioned electronic data. Further, the management DB 45 stores information related to the user who uses the MFP 11. The details of the management DB 45 will be described later.

The server program 43 is an example of the program of the present disclosure. Further, another program such as the control program 29 of the MFP 11 may execute a part or all of the processes executed by the server program 43 such as transmission / reception of electronic data. Further, the storage destination of the control program 29 of the MFP 11 and the server program 43 of the connection server 12 may be a storage medium readable by a computer. As the storage medium that can be read by a computer, a recording medium such as a CD-ROM or a DVD-ROM may be adopted in addition to the above example. Further, the connection server 12 may not realize the process of transmitting and receiving electronic data by the software process of executing the server program 43 by the CPU 32, but may realize it by the hardware process such as ASIC. Further, the connection server 12 may execute processing such as transmission / reception of electronic data by using software processing and hardware processing in combination.

The user IF 33 is, for example, an LCD, a keyboard, a mouse, or the like, and accepts operation inputs from a user who manages the connection server 12, displays various information, and the like. The communication IF 34 is, for example, a LAN interface and is connected to the network 13.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a vendor server 14, a learning management server 15, a notification server 16, and a storage server 17 are connected to the network 13. In the electronic data transmission system 10 having the above configuration, for example, a student performs and submits homework given by a teacher. Specifically, the vendor server 14 is, for example, a server provided by the vendor of the MFP 11, and provides product information, update information of the control program 29, various service information, and the like on the homepage. Further, the vendor server 14 of the present embodiment executes a process of transmitting the print data D1 received from the connection server 12 to the MFP 11 and a process of transmitting the scan data D2 received from the MFP 11 to the connection server 12.

Further, the learning management server 15 is a server that provides learning services such as classes, lessons (subjects) of each class, distribution of homework, progress status, deadline for submission, management of submitted homework, and the like. The learning management server 15 provides, for example, a function of registering and managing electronic data (which can also be called content or electronic file) such as homework for each class and subject. In the following description, a case where the print data D1 and the scan data D2 of the homework are adopted as an example of the electronic data will be described. The print data D1 is an example of the first electronic data of the present disclosure. The scan data D2 is an example of the second electronic data of the present disclosure. As the learning service, for example, Google Classroom provided by Google (registered trademark) can be adopted. The learning management server 15, the notification server 16 and the storage server 17, which will be described later, are examples of the function providing server of the present disclosure. The service for registering homework provided by the learning management server 15 is an example of the registration function of the present disclosure.

Further, the notification server 16 is a server that provides a notification service for notifying the occurrence of an event such as the registration of new homework in the learning management server 15. As the notification service, Google Pub / Sub provided by Google® can be adopted. The storage server 17 is a server that provides a storage service such as a storage area for storing electronic data. As the storage service, for example, Google Drive provided by Google (registered trademark) can be adopted. The learning management server 15, the notification server 16, and the storage server 17 may be servers of companies or public organizations other than Google (registered trademark). Further, the service provided from each of the above-mentioned servers is an example, and various services for exchanging electronic data on the network can be adopted.

For example, the teacher registers the information of the print data D1 of the homework in the learning management server 15 by using the service of the learning management server 15, and stores the print data D1 in the storage server 17. When the notification server 16 detects that the information of the new print data D1 is registered in the learning management server 15, it notifies the connection server 12. When the connection server 12 receives the notification from the notification server 16, it acquires the newly registered print data D1 from the storage server 17 and transmits the print data D1 to the MFP 11 via the vendor server 14. As a result, the MFP 11 executes printing of the print data D1 of the homework.

In addition, the student fills in an answer or the like on the homework printed by the MFP 11 (an example of the manuscript of the present disclosure), and scans the filled homework by the MFP 11. The MFP 11 transmits the scan data D2 obtained by scanning the homework to the connection server 12 via the vendor server 14. The connection server 12 stores the scan data D2 acquired from the vendor server 14 in the storage server 17, and notifies the learning management server 15 that the scan data D2 is newly stored. This allows the user (student) of the MFP 11 to perform the printed homework and then simply scan and submit it. The details of the operation of each device will be described later.

Next, the management DB 45 will be described. FIG. 2 shows the contents of the data of the management DB 45. As shown in FIG. 2, each item of NO, product serial number, user ID, authentication token, MFP specification information, change notification reception URL, and print data storage path is associated with the management DB 45 and registered as one record. ing. The content of the data shown in FIG. 2 is an example.

NO. Is an identification number that identifies each record. The product serial number is identification information of the MFP 11, for example, the serial number of the MFP 11. The identification information of the MFP 11 is not limited to the information preset in the MFP 11 such as the serial number, but may be, for example, the information given by the connection server 12 or the learning management server 15. The user ID is identification information that identifies a user who uses a service provided by the learning management server 15, the notification server 16, and the storage server 17. As the user ID, for example, a Google ID for using the service of Google (registered trademark) can be adopted.

The authentication token is information indicating the service of the learning management server 15, the authentication information for using the service of the storage server 17, the authority of the logged-in user after authentication, and the like. The authentication token is information (character string or the like) issued from the server side when the authentication using the user ID or password is successful. As shown in FIG. 2, in the present embodiment, the learning management server 15 and the storage server 17 use different authentication tokens. Details such as issuance and use of authentication tokens will be described later.

The MFP specification information is the information of the user IF 27 of the MFP 11. As shown in FIG. 2, the MFP specification information is information that is divided into models for identification according to the configuration / function of the user IF27, and is, for example, an LED model having only a lamp such as an LED or a push button, an LCD, or the like. Information on models such as a CUI model that has a display function but cannot select the display content, and a touch panel model that has a display function such as a touch panel and a display content selection function is shown. As described above, the connection server 12 executes different processes depending on the configuration / function of the user IF 27. The connection server 12 acquires the information of the user IF 27 from the MFP 11 and registers it in the management DB 45 as the MFP specification information.

The change notification receiving URL is a URL for receiving a notification from the notification server 16. For example, the notification server 16 of the present embodiment sets the notification content in the message of the HTTP message (POST request or the like) using the HTTP protocol and sends it to the connection server 12. Therefore, for example, the connection server 12 executes the OS 41 on the CPU 32 to function as a Web server, and receives an HTTP message from the notification server 16. Further, the connection server 12 can set a URL for receiving the HTTP message corresponding to each user in the WEB server of its own device.

The print data storage path is information indicating a storage destination of print data D1 (print data of each student's homework, etc.) to be transmitted to each user. The connection server 12 creates, for example, a folder for each user name of the product serial number and the user ID under the Store folder of the own device. The connection server 12 stores and manages the print data D1 acquired from the storage server 17 in the created folder for each user name.

(2. Association processing)
Next, the association process executed by the electronic data transmission system 10 described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5. The electronic data transmission system 10 associates the MFP 11 with the service provided by the learning management server 15 by executing the association processing shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, and registers the associated information in the management DB 45. In the following description after FIG. 3, as an example, a case where homework is exchanged between the teacher and the student using the electronic data transmission system 10 will be described. First, a case where a student performs the association processing of FIGS. 3 to 5 by using the home PC 51 and the MFP 11 will be described. The order, contents, main body, and the like of the processing of the sequence diagram shown in FIGS. 3 and 3 are examples.

Further, in the present embodiment, the processing of the controller according to the instruction described in the program is mainly shown. That is, the processes such as "notification", "memory", "authentication", and "acquisition" in the following description include the process of the CPU 22 that executes the control program 29, the process of the CPU 32 that executes the OS 41 / server program 43, and the like. Represents. Further, the processing by the CPUs 22 and 32 also includes hardware control. In addition, "acquisition" is used as a concept that does not require a request. That is, the process of receiving data without the CPU requesting is also included in the concept of "the CPU acquires the data". Further, the "data" in the present specification is expressed in a computer-readable format. Data having the same substantial meaning and different formats are treated as the same data. The same applies to "information" in the present specification.

First, in step 11 of FIG. 3 (hereinafter, simply referred to as S) 11, the student accesses the EWS Web page of the MFP 11. For example, a student operates a PC 51 to access an EWS Web page using a Web browser. The student displays a Web page for setting the MFP 11 on a Web browser, and executes an operation for activating the cloud cooperation function (S13). The cloud linkage function referred to here is a function of using a service from a server device or the like on a network such as a learning management server 15, a notification server 16, and a storage server 17. For example, when the MFP 11 receives a specific operation for a Web page, the MFP 11 stores information indicating that the cloud linkage function is enabled in the memory 21. When the cloud linkage function is enabled, the MFP 11 periodically accesses the vendor server 14, and confirms whether or not the information related to the own device is updated. When the connection server 12 acquires, for example, new print data D1 to be transmitted to the MFP 11, the connection server 12 updates the information of the print data storage path of the management DB 45. By confirming the update information of the management DB 45, the MFP 11 can confirm whether or not the new print data D1 to be transmitted to the own device has been registered. The device for accessing the EWS Web page is not limited to the PC 51, but may be a mobile terminal or a smartphone.

When the cloud linkage function is enabled, the MFP 11 notifies the vendor server 14 of the product serial number (S15). For example, the memory 21 of the MFP 11 stores information on the access destination of the vendor server 14. The MFP 11 reads the access destination information from the memory 21 and accesses the vendor server 14. When the vendor server 14 obtains the product serial number from the MFP 11, the vendor server 14 transmits the URL of the portal site to the PC 51 via the MFP 11 (S17). This portal site is, for example, the top page of a Web page for selecting which service to use from services such as the learning management server 15. The vendor server 14 may directly notify the URL of the portal site to the Web browser or the like of the PC 51 without going through the MFP 11.

The PC 51 causes the Web browser to display, for example, a screen for selecting whether to access the portal site acquired in S17. When the PC 51 receives the operation input to be accessed from the student, the PC 51 accesses the portal site of the vendor server 14 by the Web browser (S21). The PC 51 may automatically redirect the display page of the Web browser to the portal site without accepting the operation input.

The student enables, for example, a setting to use the service of the learning management server 15 (hereinafter, may be referred to as a learning management service) on the portal site (S23). When the vendor server 14 receives the operation input to be activated at the portal site, the vendor server 14 notifies the connection server 12 that the use of the learning management service is enabled (S25). Further, the vendor server 14 notifies the connection server 12 of the product serial number of the MFP 11 received in S15 (S27).

When the connection server 12 acquires the notifications of S25 and S27 from the vendor server 14, the connection server 12 registers the information of the MFP 11 in the management DB 45 (S29). For example, the connection server 12 creates a new record in the management DB 45, assigns a new NO, associates the NO with the product serial number acquired in S27, and stores the record (S29). When the connection server 12 executes S29, the connection server 12 notifies the PC 51 of the authentication information input URL via, for example, the vendor server 14 (S31).

The PC 51 accesses the authentication information input URL acquired from the connection server 12, displays a Web page, and accepts the input of the authentication information (S33). The student operates the PC 51 and inputs the authentication information on the Web page (S35). This authentication information is a user ID and password for using the learning management service and for identifying the user to use. Specifically, the authentication information is, for example, a Google ID and a password for using a service provided by Google (registered trademark). The connection server 12 stores the authentication information received on the Web page of the authentication information input URL in the management DB 45 in association with the product serial number registered in S29 (S37). In the present embodiment, once the authentication is successful with the learning management server 15 or the storage server 17 and the password, the authentication token is used in the subsequent authentication. Therefore, in S37, the connection server 12 stores only the user ID among the authentication information in the management DB 45 (see FIG. 2). When the user ID and password are used each time in the authentication of the learning management server 15 or the like without using the authentication token, the connection server 12 stores the password in the management DB 45 in association with the user ID in S37. You may. Further, the connection server 12 creates, for example, a folder (see FIG. 2) of the print data storage path in which the product serial number and the user name of the user ID are set based on the acquisition of the new user ID in S35. Is also good. Further, the connection server 12 may not create a folder at the time of S35, but may create a folder when storing the print data D1 (in S105 or S109 of FIG. 6 to be described later).

Next, as shown in FIG. 4, the connection server 12 executes authentication with the learning management server 15 using the user ID and password acquired in S35 (S39). When the learning management server 15 succeeds in authentication based on the authentication information acquired from the connection server 12, the learning management server 15 notifies the connection server 12 of the access permission confirmation URL (S41). The connection server 12 notifies the PC 51 of the access permission confirmation URL acquired from the learning management server 15 via the vendor server 14 (S43). The learning management server 15 and the connection server 12 may directly notify the PC 51 of the access permission confirmation URL.

This access permission confirmation URL is, for example, a URL for confirming whether or not the connection server 12 or the like permits the login to the learning management server 15 and the operation after the login on behalf of the student who is the user. The student operates the PC 51, accesses the access permission confirmation URL with a Web browser (S45), and executes an instruction to permit the access (S47). The instruction method for permitting access is not particularly limited. For example, the learning management server 15 displays a specific Web page using the access permission confirmation URL, and displays the presence or absence of access permission and the content of the permission (file viewing, storage, deletion operation authority, etc.) on the Web page. You may accept it. Alternatively, the learning management server 15 may determine that the permission has been instructed when the issued URL is accessed within a predetermined time after issuing the access permission confirmation URL.

When the learning management server 15 determines that the access permission is instructed, it issues an authentication token and notifies the connection server 12 (S49). The authentication token of S49 is an authentication token for the learning management server 15 that authenticates to the service of the learning management server 15 (see FIG. 2). The connection server 12 stores the authentication token acquired from the learning management server 15 in the management DB 45 in association with the product serial number of S29 and the user ID of S37 (S51).

Next, the connection server 12 stores the authentication token of the storage server 17 in the management DB 45 in the same manner as the process of acquiring the authentication token from the learning management server 15 described above. In the following description, the same description as in the case of the learning management server 15 described above will be omitted as appropriate. The connection server 12 executes authentication with the storage server 17 using the authentication information stored in S37 (S53). If the authentication is successful, the storage server 17 notifies the PC 51 of the access permission confirmation URL via the connection server 12 or the like (S55, S57). The student operates the PC 51 to access the access permission confirmation URL (S59), and executes an instruction to permit the access (S61). When the storage server 17 determines that the access permission is instructed, it issues an authentication token and notifies the connection server 12 (S63). The authentication token of S63 is an authentication token for the storage server 17 that authenticates the service of the storage server 17 (see FIG. 2). The connection server 12 associates the acquired authentication token with the user ID and the like and stores it in the management DB 45 (S65 in FIG. 5).

Next, the connection server 12 requests the learning management server 15 for the class ID (S67). The class ID is, for example, information associated with the user ID stored in S37, that is, identification information of the class to which the student who uses the MFP 11 belongs. The class ID is, for example, the class ID of Google Classroom. The learning management server 15 identifies the class ID associated with the user ID based on the authentication token, for example, and notifies the connection server 12 (S69).

For example, when the connection server 12 acquires the class ID in S69, the connection server 12 sets the change notification receiving URL (S71). This change notification reception URL is a URL for acquiring the above-mentioned HTTP message, and when information such as distribution of new homework is updated in the class specified by the class ID (class to be taken by the student). , Is a URL for receiving a notification from the notification server 16. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the connection server 12 creates a folder having the same name as the user name of the user ID on the Web server of its own device as a folder for students, and receives a change notification for the folder path indicating the folder. Set as a URL. The timing for setting the change notification reception URL of S71 is not limited to the execution of S67, but may be, for example, after the execution of S37.

The connection server 12 notifies the notification server 16 of the class ID acquired in S69 and the change notification receiving URL set in S71, and executes the registration of the change notification (S73). The notification server 16 registers the class ID acquired from the connection server 12 and the change notification reception URL. The notification server 16 monitors the learning management server 15 for changes in information such as distribution of new homework for the registered class ID, and when a change is detected, the class ID or change to the associated change notification receiving URL. Notify the class ID etc. of the class where there was. As a result, the homework information distributed to the students can be notified from the notification server 16 to the connection server 12. The method of monitoring the information of the learning management server 15 is not limited to the method of using the notification server 16 described above. For example, the connection server 12 may periodically perform login authentication to the learning management server 15, check the lesson information, and determine whether or not there is new information.

When the connection server 12 executes S73, the connection server 12 requests the MFP specification information from the MFP 11 via the vendor server 14 (S75, S77). When the MFP 11 acquires the request from the vendor server 14, it returns the MFP specification information to the connection server 12 via the vendor server 14 (S79, S81). The connection server 12 stores the MFP specification information acquired from the MFP 11 in the management DB 45 in association with the product serial number of S29, the user ID of S37, and the like (S83). Thereby, the information of the new user (student) can be registered in the management DB 45.

The method of acquiring the MFP specification information is not particularly limited. For example, information on the configuration, function, and model of the user IF 27 may be stored in the memory 21 at the time of manufacturing, and the MFP 11 may respond to the information read from the memory 21 by S79. Alternatively, the vendor server 14 may search for the MFP specification information based on the product serial number of the MFP 11 and respond to the connection server 12 instead of the MFP 11. In this case, the vendor server 14 does not have to execute the inquiry (S77, S79) to the MFP 11.

(3. Printing process)
Next, the printing process of the electronic data transmission system 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. By executing the print process shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the electronic data transmission system 10 converts the print data D1 newly registered in the learning management server 15 into a user ID (student) corresponding to the print data D1. Print with the associated MFP 11. In the following description, as an example, a case where the teacher registers the print data D1 of the homework in an arbitrary class by using the PC53 will be described.

First, the teacher operates the PC 53 to access the learning management server 15 and registers the print data D1 of the homework (hereinafter, may be simply referred to as the print data D1) (S91). For example, when a teacher gives a new homework in an arbitrary class, the teacher registers the print data D1 in the class of the class. When the learning management server 15 receives the registration of the print data D1 from the PC 53, the learning management server 15 stores the print data D1 in the storage server 17 (S93). When the storage server 17 receives the storage process of the new print data D1, it notifies the learning management server 15 of the file ID for identifying the print data D1 (S95). This file ID is an example of the acquisition source ID of the present application, and is, for example, identification information or a file path for individually identifying electronic data stored in the storage server 17.

Further, when the learning management server 15 accepts the registration of the new print data D1, it notifies the notification server 16 that the registration has been accepted (S97). For example, the learning management server 15 notifies the notification server 16 of the class ID and the lesson ID for which registration has been accepted. The notification server 16 notifies the connection server 12 as a change notification that the print data D1 for new homework has been registered (S99). The notification server 16 transmits, for example, a change notification to all the change notification receiving URLs associated with the class ID in which the print data D1 is registered. This allows all students in the same class to be notified of the change. The notification server 16 notifies the connection server 12 of the class ID and the class ID as a change notification.

The connection server 12 identifies the authentication token based on the information acquired in S99 (S101). The connection server 12 specifies, for example, an authentication token (authentication token for the learning management server 15 and the notification server 16) associated with the change notification reception URL that has received the change notification in S99 from the management DB 45. This allows you to identify authentication tokens for all students in a class with new homework. The connection server 12 executes the processing after S103 for each of the specified authentication tokens, that is, each student, and acquires the print data D1 of each student from the storage server 17. The connection server 12 may reuse the print data D1 acquired by the authentication token of any student for the students belonging to the same class to other students.

The connection server 12 executes authentication with the learning management server 15 using the authentication token for the learning management server 15 specified in S101 (S103). When the connection server 12 succeeds in authentication, the connection server 12 acquires the file ID of the newly registered print data D1 from the learning management server 15 based on the class ID and the class ID acquired in S99 (S103).

Next, the connection server 12 executes authentication with the storage server 17 using the authentication token for the storage server 17 specified in S101 (S105). If the authentication is successful, the connection server 12 acquires the print data D1 specified based on the file ID acquired in S103, that is, the print data D1 of new homework from the storage server 17 (S105). The connection server 12 detects the product serial number and user ID corresponding to the authentication token used in S105 from the management DB 45, and identifies the folder of the print data storage path (see FIG. 2) based on the detected information. The connection server 12 stores the print data D1 acquired from the storage server 17 in the specified folder, and updates the information of the print data storage path. When a plurality of print data D1s are acquired, the connection server 12 may manage the plurality of print data D1s in the print data storage path of each print data D1.

Next, the connection server 12 generates coded information, for example, a QR code (registered trademark), which encodes information that can identify the authentication token, class ID, and class ID (S107). The authentication tokens are, for example, two authentication tokens for the learning management server 15 and the storage server 17. As will be described later, the connection server 12 can specify the authentication token, the class ID, and the class ID by analyzing this QR code (registered trademark). The coded information of the present application is not limited to the QR code (registered trademark), but may be other identification information such as a barcode or a character string generated by the connection server 12. Further, the information encoded together with the class ID and the lesson ID is not limited to the authentication token, and may be other information that can identify the record of the management DB 45 such as NO of the management DB 45.

The connection server 12 synthesizes the coded information generated in S107, for example, a QR code (registered trademark) with the image of the print data D1 acquired in S105, and stores it in the print data storage path (for example, memory 31) (for example, memory 31). S109). As a result, as will be described later, coded information that can identify the class ID and the like is printed on the homework, and by scanning when the homework is submitted, the submission destination can be specified by the coded information.

Next, the connection server 12 executes a determination process of the MFP specification information and a process of specifying the product serial number (S111). The connection server 12 obtains, for example, the MFP specification information and the product serial number associated with the change notification receiving URL that received the change notification of S99, that is, the MFP specification information corresponding to the authentication token that generated the coded information in S109. , Specified from the management DB 45. The connection server 12 changes the content of the print instruction to the MFP 11 according to the MFP specification information specified in S111. Therefore, in the following description of FIG. 7, the case will be described separately according to the MFP specification information.

First, a case where the MFP specification information indicates an LED model or a CUI model will be described. Unlike the touch panel described later, the LED model and the CUI model display that there is new print data D1 and it is difficult to receive an instruction as to whether or not to execute the printing. Therefore, in the case of the LED model or the CUI model, the connection server 12 executes printing by the MFP 11 without accepting the printing instruction.

FIG. 7 shows the sequence diagram in the case of the LED model and the CUI model on the upper side, and the sequence diagram in the case of the touch panel model on the lower side. As shown on the upper side of FIG. 7, when the connection server 12 determines in the determination process of S111 of FIG. 6 that the specifications of the MFP 11 are the LED model or the CUI model, the connection server 12 executes a print instruction to the vendor server 14 (S113). .. The connection server 12 transmits the print data D1 in which the coded information is synthesized in S109 and the product serial number specified in S111 to the learning management server 15, and executes a print instruction.

As described above, when the cloud linkage function is enabled, the MFP 11 periodically accesses the vendor server 14 and confirms the update information related to its own device. When the vendor server 14 detects the communication for confirming the update information from the MFP11 of the product serial number acquired in S113, it prints the coded information synthesized on the MFP11, that is, the student MFP11 corresponding to the homework of the print data D1. Data D1 is transmitted and printing is instructed (S115). The vendor server 14 manages the transmission destination information such as the IP address of each MFP 11 in association with the product serial number, and when it receives the instruction of S113, it actively issues a print instruction to the MFP 11 based on the destination information. It may be executed as a target.

When the MFP 11 acquires the print instruction of S115, the printing unit 26 prints the printed data D1 in which the coded information is synthesized (S117), and discharges the printed matter (S119). As a result, when the teacher registers a new homework, the homework with the coded information printed can be printed on the MFP11 at the home of the student belonging to the registered class.

Next, a case where the MFP specification information indicates a touch panel model will be described. In the following description, the same reference numerals will be given to the same contents as those of the LED model and the like described above, and the description thereof will be omitted as appropriate. As shown on the lower side of FIG. 7, when the connection server 12 determines that the specification of the MFP 11 is a touch panel model in the determination process of S111 in FIG. 6, the storage server 17 does not give a print instruction to the vendor server 14. Notifies that a new homework (print data D1) has been acquired from (S121). The connection server 12 transmits the product serial number specified in S111 to the vendor server 14 together with the notification.

When the vendor server 14 acquires the notification of S121, the vendor server 14 notifies the MFP 11 of the acquired product serial number (S123). Upon acquiring the notification of S123, the MFP 11 displays new homework information on the touch panel (user IF27) (S125). The MFP 11 displays characters such as "There is new print data received from the cloud service. Do you want to print now?" On the touch panel, and accepts printing instructions from the students. For example, when the MFP 11 receives a print instruction from a student based on an operation input to the touch panel (S127), the MFP 11 notifies the vendor server 14 of the print instruction including the product serial number of the own device (S129).

The vendor server 14 transmits the product serial number acquired in S129 to the connection server 12 and notifies that the print instruction has been accepted (S131). The connection server 12 identifies the print data storage path associated with the product serial number acquired from the vendor server 14 from the management DB 45 (S135). The connection server 12 acquires the print data D1 of the print data storage path specified in S131, that is, the homework (print data D1) notified in S121. The connection server 12 executes S113 to S119 and prints the print data D1 in the same manner as the processing of the LED model and the like described above. As a result, when new print data D1 is acquired, printing can be executed after receiving the print instruction of the student without immediately executing printing.

The method of accepting print instructions is not limited to the above method. For example, the connection server 12 may notify the user ID together with the product serial number in S121. Some students may share and use one MFP 11 with a plurality of users such as siblings. In such a case, a plurality of user IDs are associated with one product serial number in the management DB 45. Therefore, the connection server 12 may notify the user ID by S121 in order to notify which student's homework is newly distributed among the students who use the same MFP 11. In this case, the MFP 11 may display the user ID on the touch panel in S125 to notify who's homework. Further, in this case, the MFP 11 notifies the vendor server 14 of the user ID together with the product serial number in S129. As a result, after clarifying which user the print data D1 is for, the print instruction can be accepted, and the homework can be handed over to the students who should be distributed more reliably.

Further, the connection server 12 and the vendor server 14 may accept printing instructions by a device other than the MFP 11. For example, contact information such as the telephone number and e-mail address of the guardian of the student may be registered in the management DB 45. Then, the connection server 12 and the vendor server 14 may notify the registered contact information of which user ID (student) homework is newly distributed and is in the printing waiting state. Then, the connection server 12 and the vendor server 14 may accept print instructions on a guardian's smartphone or the like. As a result, it is possible to notify the responsible user such as a guardian that a new homework has been given and accept the print instruction.

Further, when electronic data such as a moving image file that is difficult to print is registered in the learning management server 15 or the storage server 17, the electronic data transmission system 10 may print the access destination information such as the moving image file by the MFP 11. .. For example, as shown by the broken line S106 in FIG. 6, the connection server 12 determines whether or not the electronic data acquired from the storage server 17 is printable data based on the file extension or the like. When the newly registered electronic data has data such as a video that cannot be printed, the connection server 12 uses, for example, in S107, the access destination of the video, the authentication information for viewing the video, and the like, such as a QR code (registered trademark). Code to code information. This authentication information is, for example, authentication information necessary for viewing a moving image stored in the connection server 12, and can be issued by the connection server 12. In S109, the connection server 12 generates a message such as "Data that cannot be printed has been distributed. Please read and confirm the QR code (registered trademark)" and print data indicating the coded information generated in S107. do. Then, the connection server 12 prints the print data generated in S109 by the MFP 11 of the corresponding user in the same manner as the above-mentioned print process. As a result, if electronic data that cannot be printed is registered, it is possible to present to the student how to access the electronic data.

Further, the connection server 12 may update the information of the print data storage path according to a predetermined condition. For example, the connection server 12 obtains information on the print data storage path of the corresponding print data D1 on condition that the transmission of the print data D1 is completed from the vendor server 14 and the printing is completed from the MFP 11. It may be deleted from the management DB 45, and the print data D1 itself may also be deleted. Alternatively, the connection server 12 may delete the print data D1 or the like that issued the print instruction after a certain period of time has elapsed after transmitting the print instruction of S113.

(4. Scan processing)
Next, the scanning process of the electronic data transmission system 10 will be described with reference to FIG. The electronic data transmission system 10 submits the scan data D2 scanned by the student with the MFP 11 to the submission destination corresponding to the user ID by executing the scan process shown in FIG. 8, and notifies the teacher of the submission. Can be done.

First, the student performs, for example, the homework printed in FIGS. 6 and 7, and scans the printed matter with the answer with the MFP 11 (S141). The MFP 11 scans the document with the image reading unit 25 (S143) based on the scanning instruction, and transmits the scanned scan data D2 to the vendor server 14 (S145). For example, in the case of the LED model or the CUI model, the MFP 11 has a scan start button of the cloud cooperation function in addition to the normal scan start button. When the scan start button of this cloud linkage function is pressed, the MFP 11 transmits the scan data D2 to the vendor server 14. Further, for example, in the case of the touch panel model, the MFP 11 may determine whether or not to transmit the print data D1 to the vendor server 14 based on the operation input to the touch panel.

The MFP 11 transmits the product serial number of its own device to the vendor server 14 together with the scan data D2 (S145). The vendor server 14 transmits the scan data D2 and the product serial number to the connection server 12 (S146). The connection server 12 performs image analysis of the scan data D2 acquired from the vendor server 14 and extracts coded information (S147). The connection server 12 identifies the authentication token, the class ID, and the lesson ID based on the extracted coded information (S147).

The connection server 12 authenticates using the authentication token for the storage server 17 specified in S147, and stores the scan data D2 in the storage server 17 (S149). When the storage server 17 accepts the registration of the new scan data D2, the storage server 17 notifies the connection server 12 of the file ID that identifies the scan data D2 (S151).

When the connection server 12 acquires the file ID in S151, the connection server 12 executes the registration of the file ID with respect to the learning management server 15 (S153). The connection server 12 authenticates using the authentication token for the learning management server 15 specified in S147, and notifies the learning management server 15 of the class ID and the lesson ID together with the file ID. The learning management server 15 records, for example, that the scan data D2 has been submitted by the student specified by the authentication token in the lesson specified by the class ID and the lesson ID, and notifies the teacher that the submission has been made (for example). S155). As a result, the student can submit the homework to the teacher simply by scanning the homework performed by the MFP 11 (pressing the scan start button).

The method of notifying the teacher in S155 is not particularly limited. For example, the teacher's user ID or registered e-mail address may be notified that the homework has been submitted. Further, the connection server 12 may delete the coded information from the scan data D2 before storing the scan data D2 in the storage server 17 in S149. As a result, the coded information added on the connection server 12 side can be deleted, the original print data D1 can be restored, and the data can be submitted to the teacher.

Further, the connection server 12 may notify the vendor server 14 of an error when the coded information cannot be detected in S147 or when the analyzed authentication token is not registered in the management DB 45. Further, whether or not the vendor server 14 is the MFP 11 in which the learning management service linkage function is enabled in S23 of FIG. 3 based on the product serial number before transmitting the scan data D2 to the connection server 12 in S145. You may judge. Then, when the vendor server 14 is the MFP 11 for which the linkage function is not enabled, the error may be notified to the MFP 11 without transmitting the scan data D2 to the connection server 12.

Further, as described above, the scan data D2 is image-analyzed by the connection server 12 and the coded information is extracted. Therefore, the MFP 11 may make the resolution of the page on which the coded information is printed higher than the resolution of the other pages in the scanning process of S143. For example, when the connection server 12 synthesizes the coded information into the print data D1 in S109 of FIG. 6, the connection server 12 synthesizes the coded information on a specific page such as the first page. Then, when the MCU 11 executes the scan of the cloud linkage function in S143, the resolution in the scan of one page is higher than the resolution in the scan of the second and subsequent pages. By making a rule between the page for synthesizing the coded information and the page for scanning at high resolution in this way, the detection accuracy of the coded information can be improved.

(5. Another scan process)
Next, another scan process will be described. In the scan process of FIG. 8 described above, the coded information included in the scan data D2 was analyzed to detect the authentication token and the like. On the other hand, in another scan process, the MFP 11 accepts the selection of the authentication token or the like. For example, another scan process can be performed by an MFP 11 including a user IF 27 having a display function and a display content selection function, such as a touch panel model. In the following description, as an example, a case where one MFP 11 is used by a plurality of students and a plurality of user IDs, authentication tokens, and the like are associated with the same product serial number in the management DB 45 will be described. Further, the description of the same contents as the scan process of FIG. 8 will be omitted as appropriate.

First, the MFP 11 receives a scan instruction from a student (S161). For example, the student operates the touch panel to instruct the start of scanning of the cloud cooperation function. The MFP 11 requests the connection server 12 to acquire the user information via the vendor server 14 (S163, S165). The MFP 11 notifies the connection server 12 of the product serial number together with the request. The user information referred to here is, for example, information of all user IDs (students) associated with the product serial number of the MFP 11 in the management DB 45, and is information that can identify the student who uses the MFP 11. For example, the connection server 12 responds with an authentication token as user information. The connection server 12 identifies a plurality of authentication tokens (for example, authentication tokens for the learning management server) associated with the product serial numbers acquired in S163 and S165 from the management DB 45 (S167). The connection server 12 notifies the MFP 11 via the vendor server 14 of the specified plurality of authentication tokens (S169, S171).

The MFP 11 displays a plurality of authentication tokens notified from the connection server 12 on the touch panel as a list (S172). The MFP 11 accepts the selection of an arbitrary authentication token from the displayed authentication token (S173). As a result, the student can select his / her own authentication token from the plurality of authentication tokens displayed on the touch panel. Further, the authentication token (user ID) can be specified without analyzing the coded information on the connection server 12 side. The method of identifying the student is not limited to the authentication token. For example, the connection server 12 may specify the user ID associated with the product serial number in S167 and display a list of user IDs on the touch panel.

The MFP 11 notifies the connection server 12 of the selected authentication token information and the product serial number via the vendor server 14 (S175, S177). The connection server 12 executes authentication with the learning management server 15 using the authentication token acquired from the MFP 11, and acquires the class ID and the lesson ID from the learning management server 15 (S179). The connection server 12 notifies the MFP 11 of the acquired class ID and class ID via the vendor server 14 (S181, S183).

As shown in FIG. 10, the MFP 11 displays a list of class IDs and class IDs acquired from the connection server 12 on the touch panel (S185). As a result, the student can display the authentication token selected on the touch panel, that is, the list of lessons received by the selected user on the touch panel, and select the lesson (submission destination) to which the scan data D2 is to be submitted. When the MFP 11 accepts the selection of the class ID or the lesson ID (S187), the MFP 11 scans the document and generates the scan data D2 (S189).

The MFP 11 transmits the class ID and class ID selected in S187, the authentication token associated therewith, and the product serial number to the vendor server 14 together with the scan data D2 (S191). The vendor server 14 transmits the data acquired from the MFP 11 to the connection server 12 (S193). Information such as the authentication token may be included in the scan data D2 and transmitted, or may be transmitted as a file (text file or the like) separate from the scan data D2. The connection server 12 executes a determination based on the authentication token or the like acquired from the MFP 11 (S195), and executes the same processing as in S149 to S155 of FIG.

Specifically, when the information acquired from the MFP 11 in S193 includes an authentication token, a class ID, and a class ID in addition to the product serial number, the connection server 12 is a storage server based on the product serial number and the like. 17 authentication tokens are specified from the management DB 45. The connection server 12 stores the scan data D2 in the storage server 17 (S149, S151 in FIG. 8), and notifies the learning management server 15 of the file ID (S153, S155). This allows students to choose their own lessons and submit their homework. In S195, when the information acquired from the MFP 11 in S193 does not include the authentication token, the class ID, and the class ID information, the connection server 12 cannot specify the submission destination of the scan data D2. Similar to S147 of 8, the scan data D2 may be image-analyzed and the coded information may be extracted.

Further, in the scan process of another example described above, it is not necessary to analyze the coded information on the connection server 12 side. Therefore, for example, not only the printed matter (print data D1) printed by the printing process shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 but also other manuscripts can be submitted. Specifically, there is no coded information such as a manuscript written on a piece of paper handed over or mailed from the teacher, a homework manuscript with an answer written on a copied answer sheet, or a manuscript written on a blank sheet of paper or a notebook at home. You can scan the manuscript and submit it to your teacher.

Further, the method of specifying the submission destination is not limited to the method of making an inquiry to the connection server 12 described above. For example, the MFP 11 may store the user ID that has executed the association process of FIG. 3 and accept the selection of the user ID on the touch panel at the start of scanning of the cloud linkage function of S161. Then, the MFP 11 may notify the connection server 12 of the selected user ID (S175, S177). In this case, it is not necessary to execute the above-mentioned processes of S163 to S171.

Incidentally, the MFP 11 is an example of an image forming apparatus. The connection server 12 is an example of a server. The print data D1 is an example of the first electronic data. The scan data D2 is an example of the second electronic data. The learning management server 15, the notification server 16, and the storage server 17 are examples of function providing servers. The file ID, authentication token, class ID, and class ID are examples of acquisition source IDs. The authentication token, class ID, and class ID are examples of destination IDs. The authentication token is an example of authentication information. The product serial number is an example of device identification information. The MFP specification information is an example of functional information. S103 is an example of the acquisition source ID acquisition process. S105, S113, and S115 are examples of the first electronic data acquisition process. S117 is an example of the printing process. S143 is an example of the second electronic data generation process. S147, S175, S177, S191, and S193 are examples of the destination ID acquisition process. S149 is an example of transmission processing. S65 is an example of the authentication information registration process. The process of S29 is an example of the device identification information registration process. S125 is an example of the print instruction acceptance process. S153 is an example of completion notification processing.

(6. Effect)
In the present embodiment described above, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) The connection server 12 of the present embodiment acquires a file ID indicating an acquisition source of the newly registered print data D1 (S103). The connection server 12 transmits the print data D1 acquired based on the file ID to the MFP 11 (S105, S113, S115). The MFP 11 prints the acquired print data D1 (S117). Further, the MFP 11 scans the document by the image reading unit 25 to generate scan data D2 (S143). The connection server 12 acquires an authentication token or the like of the destination of the scan data D2 (S147, S175, S177, S191, S193). The connection server 12 transmits the scan data D2 to the destination based on the acquired authentication token or the like (S149).

According to this, the electronic data transmission system 10 can transmit the print data D1 to the MFP 11 via the connection server 12 and print the print data D1 by acquiring the acquisition source of the print data D1. Further, the electronic data transmission system 10 can determine the destination of the scanned scan data D2 by acquiring the authentication token or the like, and can store the scan data D2 in an appropriate storage destination via the connection server 12. can. Therefore, in the network 13 to which the connection server 12 and the MFP 11 are connected, the destination can be determined and the electronic data can be quickly transmitted.

(2) Further, the connection server 12 causes the MFP 11 to print the coded information in which the authentication token, the class ID, and the lesson ID are encoded (S107, S113). The MFP 11 scans the printed matter on which the coded information is printed by the image reading unit 25 to generate the scan data D2. The connection server 12 specifies an authentication token or the like based on the coded information included in the scan data D2 (S147).

According to this, at the time of printing, the acquisition source ID such as the authentication token is coded into the coded information and printed, so that the printed matter is scanned when the scan data D2 is generated, and the coded information is analyzed and acquired. The destination can be determined according to the original ID. It is possible to eliminate user operations such as instructing the MFP 11 to send the scan data D2.

(3) Further, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the electronic data transmission system 10 may acquire a destination ID based on the input information of the user IF 27 (S175, S177, S191, S193). According to this, the destination of the original can be specified by the operation input of the user IF27. The completed manuscript or the like can be sent to the destination with a relatively simple operation.

(4) Further, when the electronic data transmission system 10 acquires the information indicating that the new print data D1 has been registered from the notification server 16 to the connection server 12, the electronic data transmission system 10 acquires the file ID and the like (S99). According to this, only by newly registering the print data D1, the new print data D1 can be acquired, printed by the MFP 11, and delivered to the student on condition that the print data D1 is newly registered. The printed matter of the print data D1 can be easily handed over from the teacher to the student.

(5) Further, the electronic data transmission system 10 specifies an authentication token, a file ID, etc. based on the information indicating that the new print data D1 has been registered (S101, S103), and newly based on the file ID. The print data D1 registered in is acquired in the connection server 12 (S105), and the acquired print data D1 is transmitted from the connection server 12 to the MFP 11 (S113). According to this, the file ID or the like can be acquired from the information indicating that the new print data D1 has been registered, and the print data D1 can be acquired in the connection server 12.

(6) Further, the electronic data transmission system 10 registers an authentication token for authenticating with the storage server 17 in the connection server 12 server (S65). The connection server 12 acquires the print data D1 from the storage server 17 based on the file ID after successfully authenticating to the storage server 17 based on the authentication token (S105). According to this, by registering the authentication token in the connection server 12 in advance, the print data D1 can be quickly acquired from the storage server 17 that requires authentication.

(7) Further, the electronic data transmission system 10 registers the product serial number that identifies the MFP 11 in the connection server 12 (S29). The electronic data transmission system 10 determines the MFP 11 to acquire the print data D1 based on the product serial number (S113, S115). According to this, by registering the product serial number unique to the device in the connection server 12 in advance, the print data D1 can be transmitted to the appropriate destination MFP 11 for printing.

(8) Further, the electronic data transmission system 10 acquires the MFP specification information related to the function of the user interface included in the MFP 11 from the MFP 11 and registers it in the management DB 45 (S83). The connection server 12 determines the MFP specification information before issuing the print instruction (S111). In the case of the touch panel model, the connection server 12 receives an instruction as to whether or not to execute printing by the user IF27 before printing the print data D1 by the MFP 11 (S125).

According to this, for the MFP 11 provided with the touch panel, the user IF 27 receives a print instruction by the student or the parent before printing the print data D1. As a result, printing can be performed in a state where the student or the like is present in front of the MFP 11, and the printed matter of the print data D1 can be more reliably delivered to the student or the like.

(9) Further, in the case of the LED model or the CUI model, the connection server 12 transmits an instruction to print an image based on the print data D1 to the MFP 11 (S113). According to this, for the MFP 11 having a user interface having no display function and selection function, printing by the MFP 11 is executed without accepting the print instruction of the print data D1. As a result, the print data D1 can be quickly printed each time the print data D1 is generated.

(10) Further, when the connection server 12 completes the process of transmitting the scan data D2 to the storage server 17 (S149), the connection server 12 notifies the management destination (learning management server 15) of the scan data D2 that the transmission is completed. (S153). According to this, by notifying the completion of transmission, it is possible to make the user (teacher) of the management destination recognize that the scan data D2 has been registered. The teacher can eliminate the work of periodically checking whether or not new scan data D2 is registered.

(11) Further, when the notification server 16 detects that the new print data D1 has been registered by the registration functions of the learning management server 15 and the storage server 17 (S97), the new print data D1 is registered by the notification function. Notify the connection server 12 of the information indicating that the data has been sent (S99). When the connection server 12 acquires the notification of S99, it acquires a new file ID from the learning management server 15 by using the registration function (S103), and newly registered printing based on the newly acquired file ID. Data D1 is acquired from the storage server 17 (S105). According to this, the registration of new print data D1 can be detected by using the functions provided by the learning management server 15, the notification server 16, and the storage server 17, and can be printed by the MFP 11.

(12) Further, the MFP 11 may have the coded information printed on a specific page when printing a plurality of pages of the original in the printing process of the print data D1. Then, in the scanning process of S143, the MFP 11 may set the resolution in scanning a specific page on which the coded information is printed higher than the resolution in scanning a page other than the specific page.

According to this, by scanning only a specific page on which the coded information is printed at a high resolution, it is possible to improve the detection accuracy of detecting the coded information from the scan data D2. Further, by lowering the scan resolution of pages other than the specific page, it is possible to shorten the processing time required for scanning and reduce the amount of scan data D2.

(13) Further, the image forming apparatus of the present disclosure is not limited to the MFP 11, and may be, for example, a printer having only a printing function. Specifically, when the electronic data transmission system 10 receives a registration notification of new print data D1 from the notification server 16 to the connection server 12, the electronic data transmission system 10 executes a process of printing the print data D1 on the student's home printer. May be. In this case, the student's home printer does not have to have a scanning function.

Therefore, the electronic data transmission system 10 of the present disclosure may be a system including an MFP 11 having only a printing function and a connection server 12. The electronic data transmission system 10 may be a system that executes the printing process of FIGS. 6 and 7 but does not execute the scanning process of FIG. Even in such a case, the destination can be determined based on the class ID, the product serial number, and the like, and printing of the new print data D1 can be executed.

(7. Others)
The content of the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be transformed into various forms without departing from the gist thereof, and for example, the following modifications are also possible.
The manuscript is not limited to homework. The users who use the electronic data transmission system 10 are not limited to teachers and students. That is, the electronic data transmission system of the present disclosure can be applied to other than the system for submitting homework. For example, the electronic data transmission system of the present disclosure can also be used as a system for collecting questionnaires and a system for submitting work documents.
Further, the data to be scanned is not limited to a manuscript in which characters are written by hand, but may be a printed matter printed by editing the print data D1 of electronic data. That is, the student may make changes on the electronic data.
Further, the learning management server 15, the notification server 16, and the storage server 17 may be one or two server devices instead of separate servers.
Further, the learning management server 15, the notification server 16, and the storage server 17 may be servers of a company other than Google (registered trademark), a public organization, a school, or an individual. Further, the learning management server 15 or the like may be a server that does not require authentication. In this case, the electronic data transmission system 10 does not have to execute the authentication process for the learning management server 15 and the like.

The connection server 12 and the vendor server 14 have specified the MFP 11 from which the print data D1 should be acquired based on the product serial number (S113, S115). However, the connection server 12 or the like may specify the MFP 11 based on another method (user ID or the like).
Based on the MFP specification information, the connection server 12 determines whether to execute printing immediately or accept a print instruction (S111). However, the connection server 12 may uniformly perform immediate printing.
The user IF27 having a display function and a selection function capable of selecting an arbitrary content from the display content is not limited to the touch panel, and may be, for example, a combination of an LCD and an operation button.

10 Electronic data transmission system, 11 MFP (image forming device), 12 Connection server (server), 13 Network, 15 Learning management server (function providing server), 16 Notification server (function providing server), 17 Storage server (function providing server) ), 25 image reader, 27 user IF, D1 print data (first electronic data), D2 scan data (second electronic data).

Claims (17)

An image forming device equipped with an image reading unit and
A server connected to the image forming apparatus via a network,
It is an electronic data transmission system equipped with
The acquisition source ID acquisition process for acquiring the acquisition source ID indicating the acquisition source of the first electronic data, and
The first electronic data acquisition process of acquiring the first electronic data acquired based on the acquisition source ID by the image forming apparatus via the server, and
A printing process for printing the first electronic data acquired by the first electronic data acquisition process with the image forming apparatus, and a printing process.
A second electronic data generation process for generating a second electronic data by scanning the original with the image reading unit of the image forming apparatus.
The destination ID acquisition process for acquiring the destination ID, which is the destination of the second electronic data, and
A transmission process of transmitting the second electronic data from the image forming apparatus to a destination based on the destination ID acquired by the destination ID acquisition process via the server.
An electronic data transmission system that runs. In the printing process
A printed version of the coded information in which the acquisition source ID is coded is printed as the manuscript.
In the second electronic data generation process,
The document on which the coded information is printed is scanned by the image reader to generate the second electronic data.
In the destination ID acquisition process
The electronic data transmission system according to claim 1, wherein the destination ID is acquired based on the coded information included in the second electronic data. The image forming apparatus is
Equipped with a user interface
The electronic data transmission system is
In the destination ID acquisition process
The electronic data transmission system according to claim 1, wherein the destination ID is acquired based on the input information of the user interface. The electronic data transmission according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein when the server acquires information indicating that the new first electronic data has been registered, the acquisition source ID acquisition process is executed. system. In the acquisition source ID acquisition process
The acquisition source ID is acquired based on the information indicating that the new first electronic data has been registered, and the acquisition source ID is acquired.
In the first electronic data acquisition process,
The fourth aspect of claim 4, wherein the newly registered first electronic data is acquired by the server based on the acquisition source ID, and the acquired first electronic data is transmitted from the server to the image forming apparatus. Electronic data transmission system. The electronic data transmission system is
Execute the authentication information registration process to register the authentication information that authenticates to the function providing server that provides the storage function in the server.
The server
Claim 4 or claim 4 or that, after successfully authenticating to the function providing server based on the authentication information, the first electronic data is acquired from the function providing server by using the storage function based on the acquisition source ID. The electronic data transmission system according to claim 5. The device identification information registration process for registering the device identification information for identifying the image forming device in the server is executed.
In the first electronic data acquisition process,
The electronic data transmission system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the image forming apparatus for acquiring the first electronic data is determined based on the apparatus identification information. In the device identification information registration process,
Functional information related to the function of the user interface included in the image forming apparatus is acquired from the image forming apparatus, and the functional information is registered in association with the apparatus identification information.
When the user interface is provided with a display function and a selection function capable of selecting an arbitrary content from the display contents, when it is determined based on the function information, the first electronic data is before being printed by the image forming apparatus. The electronic data transmission system according to claim 7, wherein a print instruction acceptance process for receiving an instruction as to whether or not to execute printing is received by the user interface. In the device identification information registration process,
Functional information related to the function of the user interface included in the image forming apparatus is acquired from the image forming apparatus, and the functional information is registered in association with the apparatus identification information.
When it is determined based on the function information that the user interface does not have a display function and a selection function capable of selecting an arbitrary content from the display contents, the instruction to print an image based on the first electronic data is given. The electronic data transmission system according to claim 7 or 8, which is transmitted to an image forming apparatus. From claim 1, when the process of transmitting the second electronic data to the destination is completed by the transmission process, the completion notification process of notifying the management destination of the second electronic data that the transmission is completed is executed. The electronic data transmission system according to any one of claims 9. The network
A function providing server that provides registration function, notification function, and storage function is connected,
The function providing server is
When it is detected that the new first electronic data has been registered by the registration function, the notification function notifies the server of information indicating that the new first electronic data has been registered.
The server
When the notification by the notification function is acquired, the new acquisition source ID is acquired from the function providing server by using the registration function, and the storage of the function providing server is acquired based on the newly acquired acquisition source ID. The electronic data transmission system according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the first electronic data newly registered by using the function is acquired. The electronic data transmission system is
When printing a plurality of pages of the original in the printing process, the coded information is printed on a specific page.
The image forming apparatus is
The electronic data according to claim 2, wherein in the second electronic data generation process, the resolution in scanning the specific page on which the coded information is printed is higher than the resolution in scanning pages other than the specific page. Transmission system. A program that can be read by a computer of a server connected via a network to an image forming apparatus equipped with an image reader.
To the computer
The acquisition source ID acquisition process for acquiring the acquisition source ID indicating the acquisition source of the first electronic data, and
The first electronic data acquisition process for acquiring the first electronic data acquired based on the acquisition source ID, and
A printing process for causing the image forming apparatus to print the first electronic data acquired by the first electronic data acquisition process, and a printing process.
A second electronic data acquisition process for acquiring a second electronic data generated by scanning a document by the image reading unit of the image forming apparatus.
The destination ID acquisition process for acquiring the destination ID, which is the destination of the second electronic data, and
A transmission process for transmitting the second electronic data to a destination based on the destination ID acquired by the destination ID acquisition process.
A program to execute. An image forming device equipped with an image reading unit and
A server connected to the image forming apparatus via a network,
A method of transmitting electronic data in an electronic data transmission system comprising the above.
The acquisition source ID acquisition process for acquiring the acquisition source ID indicating the acquisition source of the first electronic data, and
The first electronic data acquisition step of acquiring the first electronic data acquired based on the acquisition source ID by the image forming apparatus via the server, and
A printing step of printing the first electronic data acquired by the first electronic data acquisition step with the image forming apparatus, and a printing step.
A second electronic data generation step of scanning a document by the image reading unit of the image forming apparatus to generate second electronic data, and a second electronic data generation step.
The destination ID acquisition step of acquiring the destination ID, which is the destination of the second electronic data, and the process of acquiring the destination ID.
A transmission step of transmitting the second electronic data from the image forming apparatus to a destination based on the destination ID acquired by the destination ID acquisition step via the server.
A method of transmitting electronic data including. Image forming device and
A server connected to the image forming apparatus via a network,
It is an electronic data transmission system equipped with
When the server acquires the information indicating that the first electronic data has been registered, the acquisition source ID acquisition process for acquiring the acquisition source ID indicating the acquisition source of the first electronic data and the acquisition source ID acquisition process.
The first electronic data acquisition process of acquiring the first electronic data to the server based on the acquisition source ID and acquiring the first electronic data from the server by the image forming apparatus.
A printing process for printing the first electronic data acquired by the first electronic data acquisition process with the image forming apparatus, and a printing process.
An electronic data transmission system that runs. A computer-readable program of a server connected to an image forming device via a network.
To the computer
When the server acquires information indicating that the first electronic data has been registered, the acquisition source ID acquisition process for acquiring the acquisition source ID indicating the acquisition source of the first electronic data, and the acquisition source ID acquisition process.
The first electronic data acquisition process of acquiring the first electronic data to the server based on the acquisition source ID and acquiring the first electronic data from the server by the image forming apparatus.
A printing process for printing the first electronic data acquired by the first electronic data acquisition process with the image forming apparatus, and a printing process.
A program to execute. Image forming device and
A server connected to the image forming apparatus via a network,
A method of transmitting electronic data in an electronic data transmission system comprising the above.
When the server acquires information indicating that the first electronic data has been registered, the acquisition source ID acquisition step of acquiring the acquisition source ID indicating the acquisition source of the first electronic data, and the acquisition source ID acquisition process.
A first electronic data acquisition step of acquiring the first electronic data to the server based on the acquisition source ID and acquiring the first electronic data from the server by the image forming apparatus.
A printing step of printing the first electronic data acquired by the first electronic data acquisition step with the image forming apparatus, and a printing step.
A method of transmitting electronic data including.

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