JP2022182024A - Printing request receiving method, print server, and printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a highly convenient printing request receiving method, a print server, and a printing system.SOLUTION: A method includes: accepting an image forming job printing request from a user terminal; determining whether the printing request accepted by the user terminal is effective; when the printing request is effective, referring to a user database and extracting a user who can execute the printing request as a request destination user; generating an address in which the image forming job and the request destination user are associated with each other; and transmitting the address to a user terminal of the request destination user. The method further includes: when the request destination user accesses a web page indicated by the address, regarding that the request destination user has accepted the image forming job printing request, associating the image forming job as a job of the request destination user; and causing the request destination user to transmit image data related to the image forming job to an external image forming apparatus.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

The present invention relates to a print request acceptance method, a print server, and a print system.

In recent years, working styles such as remote work and telework, in which people work outside the workplace, are becoming more common.
In this type of work, if a telecommuter wants to print the data of documents for work, they can print the documents on their home printer and bring them to the company office. Problems such as forgetting or losing it may occur.

On the other hand, with the spread of networks in recent years, it has also become possible to transfer document data to a printer in a company's office for printing.
In this case, the telecommuter transfers the document data to the office printer and asks another person in the office to operate the printer and print the document.

In relation to such a print request via a network, conventionally, requested/non-requested information, which is information indicating whether or not the printing is requested, requested person information, which is information related to the requested person, and request When a group of print information including client information, which is information related to a client, and print data, which is information to be printed by the image forming apparatus, is received, and printing of the print data determined to be requested printing is completed. , an invention of an image forming apparatus that notifies an information processing apparatus used by a requested person of a request print completion notification is disclosed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2008-257503 A

However, even if someone in the office is near the printer, depending on the time of day, they may be busy with other work and may not have time to accept requests. , there may be no one in the office in the first place.

Therefore, before requesting printing, the requester needs to check the availability of the person who can operate the printer in the office. something happened.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the circumstances described above, and provides a print request receiving method, a print server, and a printing system that are more convenient than conventional ones.

(1) A print request receiving method according to the present invention includes a receiving step of receiving a print request for an image forming job from a user terminal, a determining step of determining whether or not the print request received by the user terminal is valid, an extracting step of extracting a user who can execute the print request as a request destination user by referring to a user database when the print request is valid; and generating an address that associates the image forming job with the request destination user. an address generation step of transmitting the address to a user terminal of the requestee user; and an address transmission step of transmitting the address to the user terminal of the requestee user; and an image data transmission step of associating the image forming job as a job of the request destination user, assuming that the print request is accepted, and transmitting the image data related to the image forming job to an external image forming apparatus. Characterized by
Also, the print server according to the present invention includes a communication section for transmitting and receiving various data and commands to and from a user terminal, a user database and an image forming apparatus via a network, and an address generation section for generating an address accessible to an external web page. and a control unit, wherein when the communication unit receives a print request for an image forming job from a user terminal, the control unit determines whether the print request received by the user terminal is valid. and extracting, as a request destination user, a user who can execute the print request by referring to the user database when the print request is valid, and generating the address by associating the image forming job with the request destination user. and send the address to the user terminal of the request-recipient user to the communication unit, and when the request-request user accesses the web page of the address, the request-recipient user executes the image forming job. Assuming that a print request has been accepted, the image forming job is associated with the job of the request destination user, and the image forming apparatus is caused to transmit image data related to the image forming job to the communication unit. .
A printing system according to the present invention comprises a user terminal for transmitting and receiving various data and commands via a network, a print server, a user database, and an image forming apparatus, wherein the user terminal sends an image to the print server. When a print request for a forming job is made, the print server determines whether or not the print request received by the user terminal is valid, and if the print request is valid, refers to the user database. extracting a user who can execute the print request as a request destination user, generating an address that associates the image forming job with the request destination user, and transmitting the address to a user terminal of the request destination user; When the requested user accesses the web page at the address, it is assumed that the requested user has received a print request for the image forming job, and the image forming job is associated as the job of the requested user, and the image forming job is printed. The image data relating to the image forming job is transmitted to the forming apparatus.

According to the present invention, a print request receiving method, a print server, and a print system that are more convenient than conventional ones are realized.

1 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the configuration of an image forming system according to the present invention; FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the digital MFP of FIG. 1; FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a user terminal in FIG. 1; FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a server in FIG. 1; FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing an example of print request processing of the user terminal of FIG. 1; 2 is an example of a printer driver setting screen displayed on the display unit of the user terminal in FIG. 1; 4 is a flowchart showing an example of print request reception processing of the server in FIG. 1; 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a message of a request mail sent by the server of FIG. 1 to a user terminal of a request destination; FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of request acceptance processing of the server in FIG. 1; FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a page for agreeing to accept a print request and selecting a cancel button, which the server in FIG. 1 transmits to a request destination user terminal; FIG. 4 is an example of a message displayed to a request destination user who has agreed to accept a print request. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a print request acceptance mail sent to a request source user terminal; 2 is a flowchart showing an example of print processing of the digital multi-function peripheral of FIG. 1; 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a login screen displayed on the display unit of the digital multi-function peripheral of FIG. 1; FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a request destination user's job list displayed on the display unit of the digital multi-function peripheral of FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of job data transmission processing of the server in FIG. 1; FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a print completion notification mail sent to a user terminal that is a request source; 9 is a flow chart showing an example of print request processing of the user terminal according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention; It is an example of a dialog at the time of execution of printing displayed on the display unit of the user terminal according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the configuration of an image forming system according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention;

In the present invention, a "print server" is a server that receives a print request for an image forming job from a user terminal, transmits image data related to the image forming job to the image forming apparatus, and causes the image forming job to be executed. .

In addition, "image forming apparatus" refers to copiers and multifunction machines with a copying (copying function) function, such as printers that use an electrophotographic method to form images using toner, or multifunctional peripherals (MFPs) that include functions other than copying. (Functional Peripherals) are devices that form and output images.

Furthermore, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described.

(2) The user database contains data on the group to which each user belongs and the schedule, and in the extraction step, when the print request is valid, the user database is referred to and the group to which the requesting user belongs is selected. Among the users who belong to the .

In this way, among the users belonging to the same belonging group as the requesting user, the user who can use the image forming apparatus and who has a schedule for a predetermined time from the time when the request for the image forming job is accepted. By extracting a user who does not have a print request as a request destination user, it is possible to request printing from a user who is highly likely to receive the request.

(3) In the receiving step, a request to print the image forming job from the requesting user terminal may be received along with a comment to the requested user.

In this manner, in the print request acceptance method of extracting users who satisfy predetermined request conditions as request destination users by referring to the user database and requesting printing, the request source user can send comments to the request destination user. , it is possible to realize a print request receiving method that is more convenient than the conventional one.

The present invention will be described in further detail below with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the following description is illustrative in all respects and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[Embodiment 1]
1 to 4, a schematic configuration of an image forming system 10 including a digital multi-function peripheral 1, which is an embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, will be described.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the configuration of an image forming system 10 of the present invention. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the digital multifunction peripheral 1 of FIG. 1. As shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, an image forming system 10 of the present invention comprises a digital multifunction peripheral 1, user terminals 2A to 2D, a server 3 and a user database 4 which are connected via a network 5. FIG.

In the following description, the user terminals 2A to 2D are collectively referred to as the user terminal 2. FIG.

The digital multifunction peripheral 1 is a device such as a multifunction peripheral or MFP (Multifunction Peripheral) that digitally processes image data and has a copy function, a printer function, a scanner function, and a facsimile function.

The user terminal 2 transmits image data to the digital multi-function peripheral 1 via the server 3, and executes a job such as printing.

The server 3 is a print server that provides print services via the network 5 .

The user database 4 is a database that stores schedule data of each user.

As shown in FIG. 2, the digital multifunction peripheral 1 includes a control unit 100, an image data acquisition unit 101, an image forming unit 102, a storage unit 103, an image processing unit 104, a communication unit 105, a timer 106, an operation panel 107, a paper feed A unit 108 and a user authentication unit 109 are provided.

Each component of the digital multifunction peripheral 1 will be described below.

The control unit 100 integrally controls the digital multifunction peripheral 1, and includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, various interface circuits, and the like.

In order to control the overall operation of the digital multifunction peripheral 1, the control unit 100 monitors and controls all loads such as detection of each sensor, motor, clutch, operation panel 107, and the like.

The image data acquisition unit 101 is a part that detects and reads a document placed on a document platen or a document conveyed from a document tray to generate image data. It is also a part for acquiring image data generated by an external information processing device such as the user terminal 2 or a facsimile device (not shown).

The image forming unit 102 is a part that prints out on paper the image data acquired by the image data acquiring unit 101 and processed by the image processing unit 104 , and includes an LSU 1021 .

The LSU 1021 is a device that forms an electrostatic latent image by irradiating the surface of a photosensitive drum (not shown) in a charged state with laser light corresponding to information of image data composed of digital signals.

The storage unit 103 is an element or a storage medium that stores information necessary for realizing various functions of the digital multifunction peripheral 1, control programs, and the like. For example, semiconductor devices such as RAM (Random Access Memory) and ROM (Read only memory), hard disks, flash storage units, SSDs (Solid State Drives) and other storage media are used.

The storage unit 103 stores information related to jobs such as printing and data necessary for executing jobs such as image data.
Storage unit 103 also has a spool area for temporarily storing print/fax data.
The storage unit 103 also stores information such as a user's login name and password stored for user authentication.

Note that programs and data may be held in different devices, such as a hard disk drive as the data holding area and a flash storage unit as the program holding area.

The image processing unit 104 is a part that converts the image data input from the image data acquisition unit 101 into a proper electric signal and performs processing such as enlargement/reduction so that it is suitable for output.

The communication unit 105 communicates with the external user terminal 2 via the network 5 and acquires job commands such as printing, document image data, and the like.

Further, the communication unit 105 communicates with external devices such as the user terminal 2, the server 3, other image forming devices, personal digital assistants, information processing devices, and facsimile devices, and receives various information such as e-mails and faxes. This is the part that transmits and receives to and from these external devices.

The timer 106 is a part that measures and counts time, and acquires the time through a built-in clock or the network 5, for example.

The operation panel 107 includes a display panel configured by a liquid crystal panel or the like, and a capacitive touch panel or the like arranged over the display panel to detect a position touched by a finger. A unit 1072 is provided.

The display unit 1071 is a part that displays various information.
The display unit 1071 is composed of, for example, a CRT display, a liquid crystal display, an EL display, etc., and is a display device such as a monitor or a line display for displaying electronic data such as the processing state of the operating system or application software.

The control unit 100 displays the operation and status of the digital multifunction peripheral 1 through the display unit 1071 .

The operation unit 1072 is an interface for operating the digital multifunction peripheral 1, and is a part that receives commands from the user.

A paper feed unit 108 is a part that conveys paper stored in a paper feed cassette or a manual feed tray to the image forming unit 102 .

User authentication unit 109 compares information such as a login name and password input from operation unit 1072 with correspondence information prerecorded in storage unit 103 to determine whether the user is an authorized user. This is the part that performs authentication.

Note that the user authentication unit 109 may authenticate whether the user is an authorized user based on information such as the user ID read from the user's IC card through a card interface unit (not shown). .

<Schematic configuration of user terminal 2>
Next, based on FIG. 3, a schematic configuration of the user terminal 2 will be described.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the user terminal 2 of FIG. 1. As shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3 , the user terminal 2 includes a control section 200 , a storage section 201 , an image processing section 202 , a communication section 203 , a display section 204 and an operation section 205 .

Each component of the user terminal 2 will be described below.

The control unit 200 integrally controls the user terminal 2, and is composed of a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, various interface circuits, and the like.

In order to control the operation of the user terminal 2 as a whole, the control unit 200 detects each sensor and monitors and controls all loads such as the operation unit 205 .

The storage unit 201 is an element or a storage medium that stores information necessary for realizing various functions of the user terminal 2, control programs, and the like. For example, semiconductor devices such as RAM and ROM, and storage media such as hard disks, flash storage units, and SSDs are used.

The storage unit 201 stores information on jobs such as printing and data necessary for executing the jobs, such as image data.

Note that programs and data may be held in different devices, such as a hard disk drive as the data holding area and a flash storage unit as the program holding area.

The image processing unit 202 is a part that converts image data into a proper electrical signal and performs processing such as enlargement/reduction so that it is suitable for output.

The communication unit 203 communicates with the external digital multi-function peripheral 1 and the server 3 via the network 5 to transmit and receive job commands such as printing, document image data, and the like.

A communication unit 203 communicates with external devices such as an image forming device, a mobile information terminal, an information processing device, and a facsimile device, and transmits and receives various information such as e-mails and faxes to and from these external devices. be.

The display unit 204 is a part that displays various types of information.
The display unit 204 is composed of, for example, a CRT display, a liquid crystal display, an EL display, etc., and is a display device such as a monitor or a line display for displaying electronic data such as the processing state of the operating system or application software.

The control unit 200 displays the operation and state of the user terminal 2 through the display unit 204 .

The operation unit 205 is an interface for operating the user terminal 2, and is a part that receives commands from the user.

The display unit 204 and the operation unit 205 include a display panel configured by a liquid crystal panel or the like, and a capacitive touch panel or the like arranged over the display panel to detect a position touched by a finger. can be anything.

<Schematic configuration of server 3>
Next, based on FIG. 4, a schematic configuration of the server 3 will be described.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the server 3 of FIG. 1. As shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4 , the server 3 includes a control section 300 , a storage section 301 , an image processing section 302 , a communication section 303 , a display section 304 , an operation section 305 and a URL generation section 306 .

Note that the control unit 300, the storage unit 301, the image processing unit 302, the communication unit 303, the display unit 304, and the operation unit 305 correspond to the control unit 100, the storage unit 103, the image processing unit 104, the communication unit 105, and the display unit shown in FIG. Since it has the same configuration as the unit 1071 and the operation unit 1072, the description is omitted.

Each component of the server 3 will be described below.

The control unit 300 integrally controls the server 3, and includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, various interface circuits, and the like.

In order to control the operation of the server 3 as a whole, the control unit 300 detects each sensor and monitors and controls all loads such as the operation unit 305 .

The storage unit 301 is an element or a storage medium that stores information necessary for realizing various functions of the server 3, control programs, and the like. For example, semiconductor devices such as RAM and ROM, and storage media such as hard disks, flash storage units, and SSDs are used.

A storage unit 301 stores information related to jobs such as printing and data necessary for executing jobs such as image data.

Note that programs and data may be held in different devices, such as a hard disk drive as the data holding area and a flash storage unit as the program holding area.

An image processing unit 302 is a part that converts image data into a proper electrical signal and performs processing such as enlargement/reduction suitable for output.

The communication unit 303 is a part that communicates with the external digital multi-function peripheral 1 and the user terminal 2 via the network 5 to transmit and receive job commands such as printing, document image data, and the like.

A communication unit 303 communicates with external devices such as an image forming device, a mobile information terminal, an information processing device, and a facsimile device, and transmits and receives various information such as e-mails and faxes to and from these external devices. be.

The display unit 304 is a part that displays various information.
The display unit 304 is composed of, for example, a CRT display, a liquid crystal display, an EL display, etc., and is a display device such as a monitor or a line display for displaying electronic data such as the processing state of the operating system or application software.

The control unit 300 displays the operation and status of the server 3 through the display unit 304 .

The operation unit 305 is an interface for operating the server 3, and is a part that receives commands from the user.

The display unit 304 and the operation unit 305 include a display panel configured by a liquid crystal panel or the like, and a touch panel such as a capacitive touch panel which is arranged over the display panel and detects a position touched by a finger. can be anything.

A URL generation unit 306 is a part that generates a unique URL that associates a requested job with a target user in the WEB server.

<Example of Print Request Processing of Image Forming System 10 of Embodiment 1 of the Present Invention>
Next, an example of print request processing of the image forming system 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 17. FIG.

[Print request processing of user terminal 2]
FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing an example of print request processing of the user terminal 2 of FIG.

In FIG. 5, it is assumed that a user who is working from home requests another user to print document data created by the user terminal 2A using the digital multi-function peripheral 1 in the office of the company.

In step S1 of FIG. 5, when the operation unit 205 receives a print instruction from the user (step S1), in step S2, the control unit 200 determines whether or not the print request setting of the printer driver is valid (step S2 ).

FIG. 6 is an example of a printer driver setting screen displayed on the display unit 204 of the user terminal 2A of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 6, the user can validate the print request setting by checking the "print request" box on the job management setting screen of the print settings.

When the print request setting of the printer driver is valid (when the determination in step S2 is Yes), in step S3, the control unit 200 causes the server 3 to transmit print data via the communication unit 203 (step S3).

On the other hand, if the print request setting of the printer driver is not valid (determination in step S2 is No), in step S4, the control unit 200 allows the user to select the desired digital multi-function peripheral 1 or printer connected via the network 5. A normal printing process of selecting and printing is performed (step S4).

[Print request reception processing of server 3]
FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing an example of print request reception processing of the server 3 of FIG.

In step S11 of FIG. 7, when the communication unit 303 of the server 3 receives data from the user terminal 2 (when the determination in step S11 is Yes), in step S12, the control unit 300 specifies the request source user of the received data. After checking, the received data is stored in the storage unit 301 as a job of the user (step S12).

Subsequently, in step S13, the control unit 300 determines whether or not print request information is attached to the received data (step S13).

When the print request information is not attached (when the determination in step S13 is No), in step S14, the control unit 300 performs normal print processing (step S14).

On the other hand, if the print request information is attached (if the determination in step S13 is YES), in step S15, the control unit 300 selects from the user database 4 a group to which the request source user belongs and that satisfies the predetermined request condition. A list of users is obtained (step S15).

Subsequently, in step S16, the control unit 300 causes the URL generation unit 306 to generate a unique URL that links the requested job and the target user to the WEB server (step S16).

Next, in step S17, the control section 300 causes the target user to transmit a print request mail describing the URL via the communication section 303 (step S17).

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a message of a request mail sent by the server 3 of FIG. 1 to the user terminal 2 of the request destination.

As shown in Fig. 8, "A print request for document XXX_XXXX.pdf has been accepted from User A. To accept the print request, please click the URL or button below. The requested job is your job. will be registered as.", along with the generated unique URL ( http://xxxxxxx.yyyyyyy.zzz/jcaosjcoiaciuhawehaovja/foa ) and an "accept print request" button are displayed in the email text of the target user.

The requested user can accept the print request from the requesting user by pressing the URL or button.

[Request reception processing of server 3]
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of request acceptance processing of the server 3 of FIG.

In the following description, it is assumed that there is only one target user who satisfies the predetermined request condition.

At step S21 in FIG. 9, the control unit 300 of the server 3 checks the URL accessed from the user terminal 2 (step S21).

Subsequently, in step S22, the control unit 300 determines whether or not the URL is a unique URL linking the requested job and the target user (step S22).

If the URL is not a unique URL that links the requested job and the target user (if the determination in step S22 is No), in step S23, the control unit 300 performs normal data transmission processing, and the communication unit 303 data of the accessed URL page is transmitted to the user terminal 2 via the URL (step S23).

On the other hand, if the URL is a unique URL that links the requested job and the target user (if the determination in step S22 is Yes), in step S24, the control unit 300 causes the user terminal 2, the page data for agreeing to accept the print request and selecting the cancel button is transmitted (step S24).

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a page for agreeing to accept a print request and selecting a cancel button, which is transmitted by the server 3 of FIG. 1 to the user terminal 2 of the request destination.

As shown in FIG. 10, the message "If you accept the print request of document XXX_XXXX.pdf from User A, select 'Agree', if you do not accept it, select 'Cancel'." ” and “Cancel” buttons are displayed on the display unit 204 of the user terminal 2 to which the request is made.

Next, in step S25 of FIG. 9, it is determined whether or not the consent button has been selected (step S25).

When the consent button is not selected and canceled (when the determination in step S25 is No), the control unit 300 terminates the process.

Note that the control unit 300 may cause the request source user to send a notification mail to the effect that the request has been canceled by the request destination user via the communication unit 303 .

On the other hand, if the consent button is selected (if the determination in step S25 is YES), in step S26, the control unit 300 selects the job of the requested user based on the information linked to the URL. as a print service of the server 3 (step S26).

Subsequently, in step S27, the control section 300 causes the display section 204 of the requested user terminal 2 to display a notification to the effect that the user should log in to the digital multifunction peripheral 1 and execute the requested printing (step S27).

FIG. 11 is an example of a message displayed to the request destination user who has agreed to accept the print request.

As shown in FIG. 11, a message "A print request from User A has been received. Please log in to the MFP and print User A's job from the print service." It is displayed on the display unit 204 .

Next, at step S28 in FIG. 9, the control section 300 causes the requesting user to transmit a request acceptance mail via the communication section 303 (step S28).

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a print request acceptance mail sent to the user terminal 2 that is the request source.

As shown in FIG. 12, a message "User B has accepted the print request."

[Printing process of digital multifunction machine 1]
FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing an example of print processing of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 of FIG.

In step S31 of FIG. 13, when the requested user logs in to the digital multifunction peripheral 1 (step S31), in step S32, the control section 100 of the digital multifunction peripheral 1 causes the display section 1071 to display the job list of the requested user. (Step S32).

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a login screen displayed on the display unit 1071 of the digital multifunction peripheral 1 of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 14, the login screen of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 displays a message "Please enter your login name and password" along with input fields for your login name and password.

The request destination user logs in by entering his/her own login name "User B" and password.

As mentioned above, the user authentication method is not limited to knowledge authentication that verifies the identity based on secret knowledge (information) that only the person knows, such as a password or personal identification number. ) Possession authentication that verifies the identity of the person with a card, smartphone, etc., or a biometric that verifies the identity based on the characteristics of the person's biometric information such as fingerprint/vein pattern, iris, voiceprint, retina, face, etc. It is also possible to use authentication.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the job list of the requested user displayed on the display unit 1071 of the digital multifunction peripheral 1 of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 15, the requested user's job list is displayed, including file name, user name and date.

Here, the file for which the request destination user has received the print request from the request source user User A is listed as "document XXX_XXXX.pdf".

The requested user can print the requested file by checking the check box next to the file name and pressing the "Print" button.

Next, in step S33 of FIG. 13, the control unit 100 determines whether or not the operation unit 1072 has received a job selection and print instruction (step S33).

If the operation unit 1072 accepts job selection and print instruction (Yes in step S33), in step S34, the control unit 100 prints the selected job (step S34).

On the other hand, when printing of the job is canceled (when the determination in step S33 is No), the control section 100 terminates the process.

[Job data transmission processing of server 3]
FIG. 16 is a flow chart showing an example of job data transmission processing of the server 3 of FIG.

In step S41 of FIG. 16, the control section 300 of the server 3 determines whether or not the communication section 303 has received an authentication request from the digital multifunction peripheral 1 (step S41).

When the communication unit 303 receives an authentication request from the digital multifunction peripheral 1 (when the determination in step S41 is Yes), in step S42, the control unit 300 checks the data registered in the user database 4 based on the result of collation. , it is determined whether or not the authentication is OK (step S42).

If the authentication is OK (if the determination in step S42 is Yes), in step S43, the control unit 300 causes the digital multifunction peripheral 1 to transmit the job list of the user through the communication unit 303 (step S43).

In subsequent step S44, the communication unit 303 of the control unit 300 receives the print request from the digital multi-function peripheral 1 (step S44).

Next, in step S45, the control section 300 causes the requested job data to be transmitted to the digital multifunction peripheral 1 via the communication section 303 (step S45).

Next, in step S46, the control section 300 notifies the requesting user of the print completion notification of the requested job (step S46), and terminates the process.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the print completion notification mail sent to the user terminal 2 that made the request.

As shown in FIG. 17, a message "User B has completed printout" is displayed on the display unit 204 of the user terminal 2 of the request source.

In this manner, by referring to the user database 4 and extracting users who satisfy predetermined request conditions as requested users and requesting printing, it is possible to realize an image forming system 10 that is more convenient than the conventional one.

[Embodiment 2]
Next, an example of print request processing of the image forming system 10 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 18 and 19. FIG.

Since the schematic configuration of an image forming system 10 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention is the same as that of Embodiment 1 (FIGS. 1 to 4), description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 18 is a flow chart showing an example of print request processing of the user terminal 2A according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

The processing of steps S51, S52, S56 and S53 in FIG. 18 correspond to the processing of steps S1 to S4 in FIG. 5 (embodiment 1), respectively, so description thereof will be omitted.

Here, processing of steps S54 and S55 in FIG. 18, which are not described in FIG. 5, will be described.

If the print request setting of the printer driver is valid (if the determination in step S52 is Yes), in step S54, the control unit 200 causes the display unit 204 to display a print request execution confirmation screen, and prompts the user to input a comment. Accept (step S54).

FIG. 19 is an example of a dialog displayed on the display unit 204 of the user terminal 2A according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention when printing is executed.

As shown in FIG. 19, the display unit 204 displays a message "Do you want to execute the print request?"
The user selects "Yes" if the print request is to be executed, or "No" if not.

In addition, a comment input field is displayed on the display unit 204 together with the message "If you want to send a comment to the request destination, please enter it below."
In the example of FIG. 19, the comment "Please print document XXX. Please submit the printed document to Mr. AAA."

Next, at step S55 in FIG. 18, the control unit 200 determines whether or not the operation unit 205 has received a print request instruction (step S55).

When the operation unit 205 receives the print request instruction (when the determination in step S55 is Yes), in step S56, the control unit 200 causes the server 3 to transmit print data via the communication unit 203 (step S56).

On the other hand, when the operation unit 205 does not accept the print request instruction (when the determination in step S55 is No), normal print processing is performed in step S53 (step S53).

In this way, in the image forming system 10 that refers to the user database 4 and extracts a user who satisfies a predetermined request condition as a request destination user and requests printing, the request source user can send a comment to the request destination user. , it is possible to realize the image forming system 10 that is more convenient than the conventional one.

[Embodiment 3]
Next, an example of the image forming system 10 according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

The schematic configuration of an image forming system 10 according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention is the same as that of Embodiment 1 (FIGS. 1 to 4) except that the user database 4 is replaced with a video conference system 6, so description thereof will be omitted. .

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the configuration of the image forming system 10 according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

In the third embodiment, when the requesting user makes a print request, the control unit 300 of the server 3 accesses the video conference system 6 and determines that one of the users in the same group as the requesting user is online at the time of accepting the request. Users (that is, excluding users who are away, busy, or offline) are extracted as request destination users.

The control unit 300 transmits a message describing the URL to the extracted request destination user via chat of the video conference system 6 .

When the requested user accepts the request, the control unit 300 transmits the acceptance of the request to the requesting user via chat of the video conference system 6 .

Also, when the request is canceled or when the printing is completed, the control unit 300 similarly transmits to the requesting user via the chat of the video conference system 6 .

In this manner, even in the video conference system 6, by extracting users who satisfy predetermined request conditions as requested users and requesting printing, it is possible to realize the image forming system 10 that is more convenient than the conventional one.

Preferred aspects of the present invention include combinations of any of the aspects described above.

Various modifications of the present invention are possible in addition to the above-described embodiments. Those modifications should not be construed as not belonging to the scope of the present invention. The present invention should include all modifications within the scope of the claims, the meaning of equivalents, and the scope.

1: Digital MFP 2, 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D: User Terminal 3: Server 4: User Database 5: Network 6: Video Conference System 10: Image Forming System 100, 200, 300: Control Unit 101: Image Data Acquisition Unit 102: Image Forming Unit 103, 201, 301: Storage Unit 104, 202, 302: Image Processing Unit 105, 203, 303: Communication Unit 106: Timer 107: Operation panel 108: Paper feed unit 109: User authentication unit 204, 304, 1071: Display unit 205, 305, 1072: Operation unit 306: URL generation unit 1021: LSU

Claims (5)

a receiving step of receiving a print request for an image forming job from a user terminal;
a determination step of determining whether the print request accepted by the user terminal is valid;
an extracting step of referring to a user database and extracting a user who can execute the print request as a request destination user when the print request is valid;
an address generation step of generating an address that associates the image forming job with the requested user;
an address transmission step of transmitting the address to the user terminal of the request destination user;
When the requested user accesses the web page at the address, it is assumed that the requested user has accepted the print request of the image forming job, and the image forming job is associated with the requested user's job, and the external image is displayed. and an image data transmitting step of transmitting image data relating to the image forming job to a forming apparatus. The user database includes data on each user's belonging group and schedule,
In the extracting step, if the print request is valid, the user database is referred to, and among the users belonging to the same group as the requesting user, the users who can use the image forming apparatus and request the image forming job. 2. The print request receiving method according to claim 1, wherein a user who has no schedule is extracted as a request destination user for a predetermined time from the time when the request is received. 3. The print request receiving method according to claim 1, wherein, in said receiving step, a comment for the requested user is received together with the print request for the image forming job from the requesting user terminal. a communication unit that transmits and receives various data and commands to and from a user terminal, user database and image forming apparatus via a network;
an address generator that generates an address accessible to an external web page;
and a control unit,
When the communication unit receives a print request for an image forming job from a user terminal, the control unit determines whether the print request received by the user terminal is valid, and determines if the print request is valid. extracting a user capable of executing the print request as a request destination user by referring to the user database, causing the address generation unit to generate an address that associates the image forming job with the request destination user, and generating the request destination; When the user terminal of the user is caused to transmit the address to the communication unit, and the requested user accesses the web page of the address, it is assumed that the requested user has accepted the print request of the image forming job, A print server, which associates the image forming job as a job of the requested user and causes the image forming apparatus to transmit image data related to the image forming job to the communication unit. A printing system comprising a user terminal, a print server, a user database, and an image forming device for transmitting and receiving various data and commands via a network,
When the user terminal requests the print server to print an image forming job, the print server determines whether or not the print request accepted by the user terminal is valid. In this case, the user who can execute the print request is extracted as a request destination user by referring to the user database, an address is generated by associating the image forming job with the request destination user, and the user terminal of the request destination user is generated. send said address to
When the requested user accesses the web page at the address, it is assumed that the requested user has received a print request for the image forming job, and the image forming job is associated with the requested user's job to print the image. A printing system that transmits image data relating to the image forming job to a forming apparatus.

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