JP2023046494A - Information processing system, information processing device, method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an information processing system, device, method and program which cause an arbitrary output device to output a document stored on an external document management service.SOLUTION: A location-free printing system for outputting a document from an output device selected from the plurality of output devices (compound machine and the like) in the network comprises: a management server which includes an access information holding unit 246 that holds access information for accessing to a document management service on the outside of the network on behalf of a user; and a storage server which includes a device information provision unit 253 that provides information of the plurality of output devices for selection to a mobile terminal of the user, a document data acquisition unit 257 that acquires document data of the document registered in association with the user from the document management service on the basis of the access information in response to a user request from the mobile terminal, and an output request unit 260 that requests output of the acquired document data to the selected output device in response to the user request.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

The present invention relates to an information processing system, an information processing device, a method, and a program.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, techniques for printing documents stored on cloud services have been known. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2019-67361 (Patent Document 1) discloses that a file generation unit of a cloud service generates data of each page in a plurality of pages from a PDF file that includes data of a plurality of pages. specific information for identifying the boundaries of the data of each page in the array generates a conversion file contained in this array, and the communication unit of the cloud service converts the conversion file generated by the file generation unit into an image Disclosed is a configuration for transmission to a forming device.

Techniques are also known that enable location-free printing. For example, Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2012-64030 (Patent Document 2) discloses a technique for improving usability in a location-free printing system including a wireless compatible printer. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-200000 discloses that a high-performance mobile terminal such as a smartphone carried by a user functions as an authentication token, functions as a connection setting token for an unconfigured wireless printer, and further customizes the display screen for each user. Disclosed is a configuration for functioning as an integrated operation panel. As a result, as long as users have their mobile terminals with them, they can access the desired files at any time, from any location, even if the network printing system includes an unconfigured wireless printer. can be printed out.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-200012 describes a function of printing a document in the cloud on a predetermined image forming apparatus, and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-200011 describes a mechanism of location-free printing. However, neither Patent Document 1 nor Patent Document 2 discloses location-free printing of documents on the cloud. Therefore, it was not possible to provide a function for location-free printing of documents on the cloud using a mobile terminal and an image forming device.

The present disclosure has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to provide an information processing system capable of outputting a document stored on an external document management service from any output device.

In order to solve the above problems, the present disclosure provides an information processing system for outputting a document from a selected output device among a plurality of output devices in a network, having the following features. The information processing system includes an access information holding unit that holds access information for accessing a document management service outside the network on behalf of a user. The information processing system also includes a device information providing unit that provides a user terminal with information on a plurality of output devices for selection, and a document management unit that responds to a user request from the terminal device and performs document management based on access information. a document data acquisition unit for acquiring document data of a document registered in association with a user from a service; and an output request unit for requesting a selected output device to output the acquired document data in response to a user request. including.

With the above configuration, it is possible to output the document saved on the external document management service from any output device.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a location-free printing system according to this embodiment. FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of a multi-function peripheral as an output device according to this embodiment. FIG. 3 is a hardware configuration diagram of a personal computer (PC) as a client terminal, management server, or storage server according to this embodiment. FIG. 4 is a hardware configuration diagram of a smartphone as a mobile terminal in this embodiment. FIG. 5 is a block diagram explaining functions related to location-free printing of a document saved in an external document management service in the location-free printing system according to this embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the flow of processing during advance preparation for location-free printing according to the embodiment; FIG. 7 is a diagram exemplifying a screen displayed on the client terminal during advance preparation for location-free printing according to the embodiment; FIG. 8 is a diagram exemplifying the data structure of various tables managed by the management server and storage server according to the present embodiment; FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the flow of processing during location-free printing according to the embodiment; FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a screen displayed on the mobile terminal during location-free printing according to the embodiment; FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram showing the flow of processing in the location-free printing system according to this embodiment;

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below, but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the embodiments described below. In the embodiments described below, as an example of an information processing system for outputting a document from an output device selected from among a plurality of output devices in a network, An LF printing system that implements location-free printing (hereinafter sometimes abbreviated as LF printing) that prints out a specified document from any of a plurality of output devices in a network will be described.

FIG. 1 schematically shows the configuration of an LF printing system 100 according to this embodiment. The LF printing system 100, as shown in FIG. 1, is configured in an intra-organizational network 120 such as a government office, an educational institution, or a company, connected to the Internet 102 via a router, for example. The internal network 120 includes a plurality of MFPs 130 (two MFPs 130a and 130B in FIG. 1) as output devices, a management server 140, one or more storage servers 150, a client terminal 170, a mobile A terminal 190 is connected. The mobile terminal 190 shown in FIG. 1 has functions such as LTE, and is wirelessly connected to the intra-organizational network 120 via an access point 122 using a wireless communication function such as WiFi. An arbitrary document management system 124 for managing documents is provided on-premises in the intra-organizational network 120 shown in FIG.

In the LF printing system 100 shown in FIG. 1, the user can post-select any one of a plurality of output devices, such as the multifunction device 130 in the intra-organizational network 120, for the document submitted in advance, A desired document can be output. In such LF printing, for example, documents stored in any client terminal 170 on the intra-organizational network 120, documents registered in the document management system 124 on the intra-organizational network 120, etc. Documents that can be used within the system can be printed from any image forming device.

The management server 140 is a server that manages various types of information in LF printing. In LF printing, when an LF printing job is input from a user, the storage server 150 receives the job and then prints out from a desired output device in response to a post-printing request from the user. It is a server that accumulates data to be printed out until In the example shown in FIG. 1, only one storage server 150 is provided. may be provided in plurality.

A client terminal 170 is a terminal device used by an administrator or a user of the LF printing system 100 . The client terminal 170 is, for example, a personal computer such as a desktop or laptop. Although one terminal is shown in FIG. 1 for convenience of explanation, there may be a plurality of terminals. The client terminal 170 can be used by the administrator to make various settings regarding the LF printing system 100 . The client terminal 170 can also be used by a user to submit jobs to the LF printing system 100 and store print data in the storage server 150 .

The MFP 130 is an output device that prints out print data. MFP 130 may include an operation panel and optional card reader. The user authenticates the user by, for example, holding an IC card over a card reader or entering an ID and password on the operation panel. Data can be displayed and printed.

In the LF printing system 100 described above, the user, for example, opens a document file with a document editing application on the client terminal 170, selects a printer driver for LF printing, and instructs printing to send print data to the storage server 150. is transmitted and stored once. After that, the user moves in front of a desired output device, for example, the MFP 130a, logs in using the operation panel of the MFP 130a, selects the print data accumulated in association with the user, and prints out. can be commanded and printed matter can be obtained.

A mobile terminal 190 is a terminal used by a user of the LF printing system 100 . The mobile terminal 190 can be used, for example, to display and print documents stored in association with the user.

Also, in FIG. 1, the intra-organizational network 120 is connected to the cloud service 110 via the Internet 102 . FIG. 1 shows a document management service 112 and an authentication server 114 as cloud services 110 .

The document management service 112 manages document files and the like. The authentication server 114 is a server for performing system authentication and user authentication using the document management service 112 . For example, in OAuth, the document management service 112 corresponds to a resource server, and the authentication server 114 corresponds to an authorization server.

The document management service 112 is an existing document management service provided outside the internal network 120 . The document management service 112 may include a cloud storage service that provides users with a predetermined storage area via the Internet and stores various files in the storage area. The document management service 112 can be accessed by the service's native or web applications that provide functionality for uploading, downloading, and deleting files or folders to storage on the document management service 112 . For example, the client terminal 170 can register document files in advance with the external document management service 112 via a web browser.

The document management service 112 has an API published in a predetermined format such as REST (REpresentational State Transfer) API (Application Programming Interface), and uploads files or folders to a storage area on the document management service 112. , to download and delete functions as an API. It should be noted that in the described embodiment, the document management service 112 is provided with such an API.

In the present disclosure, the document management service is not particularly limited as long as it can manage documents, and is not limited to managing only documents. It may manage arbitrary files such as files. The document management service outside the intra-organizational network 120 refers to a document management service outside the intra-organizational network 120, such as a LAN (local area network) or a multi-site LAN connected by a VPN (virtual private network). Implying that there is a management service. Also, external document management services are generally operated by an entity separate from the owner or administrator of intra-organizational network 120 .

In the conventional LF printing, the client terminal 170 on the internal network 120, the document management system 124, documents stored on other file servers, and other documents stored in the resources of the internal network 120 are submitted in advance from the terminal. , can be printed out from any output device selected after the fact. However, it has been difficult to easily print a document stored in an external document management service 112 such as a cloud storage service from any output device. Therefore, in the LF printing system 100 according to the present embodiment, a document pre-registered on the document management service 112 outside the intra-organization network 120 is transferred to a plurality of output devices within the intra-organization network 120 using the mobile terminal 190. It is configured to enable output from those selected after the fact.

First, the hardware configuration of the main devices in this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4. FIG.

FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of a multi-function peripheral as an output device according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, a multifunction peripheral/product/printer 9 includes a controller 910, a short-range communication circuit 920, an engine control section 930, an operation panel 940, a network I/F 950, and a facsimile control/controller. A unit (FCU) 960 is provided.

Among them, the controller 910 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 901, a system memory (MEM-P) 902, a north bridge (NB) 903, a south bridge (SB) 904, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) 906, a local memory (MEM-C) 907 that is a storage unit, an HDD (Hard Disc Drive) controller 908, and an HD (Hard Disk) 909 that is a storage unit. (Accelerated Graphics Port) bus 921 is connected.

Among these, the CPU 901 is a control unit that performs overall control of the MFP 9 . NB 903 is a bridge for connecting CPU 901, MEM-P 902, SB 904, and AGP bus 921, and is a memory controller that controls reading and writing to MEM-P 902, PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) master and AGP target. have

The MEM-P 902 is composed of a ROM 902a which is a memory for storing programs and data for realizing each function of the controller 910, and a RAM 902b which is used as a drawing memory for expansion of programs and data and memory printing. The program stored in the RAM 902b is a file in an installable format or an executable format, and can be read from a CD-ROM (Compact Disc-Read Only Memory), a CD-R (Compact Disc Recordable), or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc). It may be configured to be provided by being recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as.

SB 904 is a bridge for connecting NB 903 with PCI devices and peripheral devices. The ASIC 906 is an image processing IC (Integrated Circuit) having hardware elements for image processing, and serves as a bridge that connects the AGP bus 921, PCI bus 922, HDD controller 908, and MEM-C 907, respectively. This ASIC 906 includes a PCI target and AGP master, an arbiter (ARB) that forms the core of the ASIC 906, a memory controller that controls the MEM-C 907, and multiple DMACs (Direct Memory Access Controllers) that rotate image data using hardware logic. , and a PCI unit that transfers data between the scanner section 931 and the printer section 932 via the PCI bus 922 . Note that the ASIC 906 may be connected to a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface or an IEEE 1394 (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 1394) interface.

MEM-C 907 is a local memory used as an image buffer for copying and an encoding buffer. The HD 909 is a storage for accumulating image data, accumulating font data used for printing, and accumulating forms. HD controller 808 controls reading or writing of data to HD 909 under the control of CPU 901 . The AGP bus 921 is a bus interface for graphics accelerator cards proposed to speed up graphics processing, and can speed up the graphics accelerator card by directly accessing the MEM-P 902 with high throughput. .

Also, the short-range communication circuit 920 is equipped with an antenna 920a. The short-range communication circuit 920 is a communication circuit for NFC, Bluetooth (registered trademark), or the like.

Furthermore, the engine control section 930 is configured by a scanner section 931 and a printer section 932 . FCU 960 connects with ASIC 906 via PCI bus 922 . The FCU 960 executes a communication method conforming to a facsimile communication standard such as G3 or G4. The operation panel 940 displays a current setting value, a selection screen, and the like, and a panel display unit 940a such as a touch panel for receiving input from an operator, and setting values for image forming conditions such as density setting conditions. An operation panel 940b is provided which includes a numeric keypad for receiving a start key for receiving a copy start instruction, and the like. The controller 910 controls the entire multifunction machine 9, such as drawing, communication, and input from the operation panel 940, for example. The scanner unit 931 or printer unit 932 includes an image processing section such as error diffusion and gamma conversion.

Note that the application switching key on the operation panel 940 of the multi-function device 9 allows the document box function, the copy function, the printer function, and the facsimile function to be sequentially switched and selected. The document box mode is set when the document box function is selected, the copy mode is set when the copy function is selected, the printer mode is set when the printer function is selected, and the facsimile mode is set when the facsimile mode is selected.

A network I/F 950 is an interface for data communication using a communication network. Near field communication circuit 920 and network I/F 950 are electrically connected to ASIC 906 via PCI bus 922 .

Although the hardware configuration of the MFP 104 has been described with reference to FIG. 2, image forming apparatuses such as inkjet printers and laser printers can also be configured similarly by adding and deleting hardware components as appropriate. can be implemented in a simple configuration. Any image forming device can be used as the output device in this embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a hardware configuration diagram of a personal computer (PC) as the client terminal 170, storage server 150, or management server 140 in this embodiment. FIG. 3 is a hardware configuration diagram of the PC. Here, the hardware configuration of PC5 is demonstrated.

As shown in FIG. 3, the PC 5 is constructed by a computer, and as shown in FIG. HDD (Hard Disk Drive) controller 505, display 506, external device connection I/F (Interface) 508, network I/F 509, data bus 510, keyboard 511, pointing device 512, DVD-RW (Digital Versatile Disk Rewritable) drive 514 , media I/F 516 .

Among these, the CPU 501 controls the operation of the entire PC 5 . The ROM 502 stores programs used to drive the CPU 501 such as IPL. A RAM 503 is used as a work area for the CPU 501 . The HD 504 stores various data such as programs. The HDD controller 505 controls reading or writing of various data to/from the HD 504 under the control of the CPU 501 . A display 506 displays various information such as a cursor, menus, windows, characters, or images. The external device connection I/F 508 is an interface for connecting various external devices. The external device in this case is, for example, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory, a printer, or the like. A network I/F 509 is an interface for data communication using a communication network. A bus line 510 is an address bus, a data bus, or the like for electrically connecting each component such as the CPU 501 shown in FIG.

Also, the keyboard 511 is a kind of input means having a plurality of keys for inputting characters, numerical values, various instructions, and the like. A pointing device 512 is a kind of input means for selecting and executing various instructions, selecting a processing target, moving a cursor, and the like. A DVD-RW drive 514 controls reading or writing of various data to a DVD-RW 513 as an example of a removable recording medium. It should be noted that not only DVD-RW but also DVD-R or the like may be used. A media I/F 516 controls reading or writing (storage) of data to a recording medium 515 such as a flash memory.

FIG. 4 is a hardware configuration diagram of a smart phone as the mobile terminal 190 in this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, the smartphone 4 includes a CPU 401, a ROM 402, a RAM 403, an EEPROM 404, a CMOS sensor 405, an image sensor I/F 406, an acceleration/direction sensor 407, a media I/F 409, and a GPS receiver 411. there is

Among these, the CPU 401 controls the operation of the smartphone 4 as a whole. The ROM 402 stores programs used to drive the CPU 401 such as the CPU 401 and IPL. A RAM 403 is used as a work area for the CPU 401 . The EEPROM 404 reads or writes various data such as smartphone programs under the control of the CPU 401 . A CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) sensor 405 is a type of built-in imaging means for capturing an object (mainly a self-portrait) and obtaining image data under the control of the CPU 401 . Note that imaging means such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) sensor may be used instead of the CMOS sensor. An imaging device I/F 406 is a circuit that controls driving of the CMOS sensor 405 . The acceleration/direction sensor 407 is various sensors such as an electronic magnetic compass, a gyro compass, and an acceleration sensor for detecting geomagnetism. A media I/F 409 controls reading or writing (storage) of data to a recording medium 408 such as a flash memory. The GPS receiver 411 receives GPS signals from GPS satellites.

The smartphone 4 also includes a long-distance communication circuit 412, a CMOS sensor 413, an image sensor I/F 414, a microphone 415, a speaker 416, a sound input/output I/F 417, a display 418, an external device connection I/F (Interface) 419, a near A distance communication circuit 420, an antenna 420a of the short distance communication circuit 420, and a touch panel 421 are provided.

Among these, the telecommunications circuit 412 is a circuit that communicates with other devices over a communication network. The CMOS sensor 413 is a type of built-in imaging means that images a subject and obtains image data under the control of the CPU 401 . An imaging device I/F 414 is a circuit that controls driving of the CMOS sensor 413 . Microphone 415 is a built-in circuit that converts sound into an electrical signal. The speaker 416 is a built-in circuit that converts electrical signals into physical vibrations to produce sounds such as music and voice. Sound input/output I/F 417 is a circuit for processing input/output of sound signals with microphone 415 and speaker 416 under the control of CPU 401 . A display 418 is a kind of display means such as liquid crystal or organic EL (Electro Luminescence) that displays an image of a subject, various icons, and the like. The external device connection I/F 419 is an interface for connecting various external devices. The short-range communication circuit 420 is a communication circuit such as NFC (Near Field Communication) or Bluetooth (registered trademark). The touch panel 421 is a type of input means for operating the smartphone 4 by the user pressing the display 418 .

The smartphone 4 also includes a bus line 410 . A bus line 410 is an address bus, a data bus, or the like for electrically connecting each component such as the CPU 401 shown in FIG.

The hardware configuration of the device has been described above. Hereinafter, the functional configuration of the LF printing system 100 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating functions related to LF printing of documents stored in an external document management service in the LF printing system 100 according to this embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 5, the management server 140 includes, as functional blocks 240, an information communication unit 241, an external service/device information registration processing unit 242, a user registration processing unit 243, a user information holding unit 244, and an external service It includes an information holding unit 245 , a device information holding unit 247 , a device information synchronization unit 248 and an application providing unit 249 .

The information communication unit 241 uses the network I/F 509 shown in FIG. It is a means.

The external service/device information registration processing unit 242 processes a procedure for registering the external document management service 112 and output devices that are candidates for printout in the LF printing system 100 . As processing for this procedure, a screen for registering qualification information and destination information for the system 100 to use the external document management service 112 and information on a plurality of output devices to the client terminal 170 operated by the administrator is displayed. and acquiring the qualification information and destination information of the external document management service 112 entered through the screen and the information of a plurality of output devices and storing them in an appropriate storage area. The external service/device information registration processing unit 242 constitutes a service registration processing unit in this embodiment.

The user registration processing unit 243 processes procedures for registering user authentication information for obtaining information from the external document management service 112 on behalf of the user in the LF printing system 100 . As processing for this procedure, the client terminal 170 is provided with a screen for registering user authentication information for the system 100 to access the document management service 112 on behalf of the user. Including obtaining the entered user authentication information and storing it in an appropriate storage area. The user registration processing unit 243 constitutes a user registration processing unit in this embodiment.

The external service/device information registration processing unit 242 and the user registration processing unit 243 are configured as, for example, web servers, and respond to requests from the web browser provided in the client terminal 170 with web pages. . As a result, a screen for performing the above registration can be displayed on the web browser.

The user information holding unit 244 is a storage area that holds user authentication information registered by the procedure of the user registration processing unit 243 described above. The external service information holding unit 245 is a storage area that holds the qualification information and destination information registered by the procedure of the external service/device information registration processing unit 242 . The device information holding unit 247 is a storage area that holds information on a plurality of output devices registered by the procedures of the external service/device information registration processing unit 242 .

In this embodiment, the user authentication information of the predetermined user stored in the user information storage unit 244 and the qualification information and destination information stored in the external service information storage unit 245 are sent to the external document management service 112 on behalf of the predetermined user. Configure access information for access. Also, the user information holding unit 244 and the external service information holding unit 245 constitute the access information holding unit 246 in this embodiment.

The device information synchronization unit 248 performs processing for mutually synchronizing information on registered output devices between the management server 140 and one or more storage servers. Synchronized output device information includes static information such as the name and IP address of the output device, as well as dynamic information such as the status of the output device (printable state, non-printable state). It also includes information that changes dynamically.

The application providing unit 249 provides the mobile terminal 190 with an application program for LF printing a document pre-registered in the external document management service in the LF printing system 100 . In the described embodiment, business operators such as public offices, educational institutions, and companies distribute application programs to be installed in terminals managed by the business operators from the management server 140 under the management of the business operators. However, it is not limited to this. For example, it may be provided from an application distribution service such as Google Play (registered commercial) or App Store (registered trademark).

Referring to FIG. 5, the storage server 150 includes, as functional blocks 250, a user authentication processing unit 251, an access information requesting unit 252, a device information providing unit 253, a document list obtaining unit 254, and a document list providing unit 255. , a document selection reception unit 256 , a document data acquisition unit 257 , a data conversion unit 258 , a print data transmission unit 259 , a device information holding unit 261 and a device information synchronization unit 262 .

A user authentication processing unit 251 performs login authentication of a user accessing the LF printing system 100 using the mobile terminal 190 .

The access information requesting unit 252 requests the management server 140 for access information for accessing the external document management service 112 on behalf of the logged-in user, and acquires the access information from the management server 140 . As described above, the access information includes the qualification information and destination information stored in the external service information storage unit 245 of the management server 140, and the user authentication information of the login user stored in the user information storage unit 244. .

The device information holding unit 261 holds information similar to that held by the device information holding unit 247 of the management server 140, and stores a plurality of outputs registered by the procedure of the external service/device information registration processing unit 242 of the management server 140. This is a storage area that holds device information. Similar to the device information synchronization unit 248 of the management server 140 , the device information synchronization unit 262 performs a process of synchronizing information on registered output devices between the storage server and the management server 140 . The storage server 150 monitors the status of a plurality of output devices, and the device information synchronization unit 262 also synchronizes the status (printable state, printinhibited state) of each output device.

The device information providing unit 253 provides a list of printable output devices based on the information of the output devices held by the device information holding unit 261 in response to an external user request. At this time, the list to be provided may be narrowed down according to the log-in user by excluding items in the print-impossible state. For example, it is possible to narrow down the output devices set in the office to which the logged-in user belongs, which is registered in association with the logged-in user. The device information providing section 253 constitutes the device information providing section in this embodiment.

In response to a user request from the outside, the document list acquisition unit 254 associates the document list with the log-in user from the external document management service 112 based on the access information acquired by the access information request unit 252 . Get a list of one or more documents registered with The document list acquisition unit 254 constitutes the document list acquisition unit in this embodiment.

Also, as described above, cloud storage services include various file formats. Therefore, preferably, the one or more document lists described above are generated by filtering files registered in association with the user in the document management service 112 so as to retain files having document type extensions. The extension of the document type is not particularly limited, but may include, for example, PDF (Portable Document Format), Microsoft (registered trademark) Word doc format, and docx format. In addition, cloud storage services are often managed in a folder structure, but the following description assumes that the document list is generated regardless of the folder structure, but this is not a particular limitation. A document list may be generated including

The document list providing unit 255 provides the requester of the user request with a list of one or more documents acquired by the document list acquisition unit 254 so as to be selectable by the requester. The document list providing section 255 constitutes the document list providing section in this embodiment.

The document selection accepting unit 256 accepts selection of a specified document to be printed out from a list of one or more documents in response to an external user request. The document selection reception section 256 constitutes the document selection reception section in this embodiment.

In response to a user request from the outside, the document data acquisition unit 257 receives from the document management service 112, based on the access information, the document selected from among the documents registered in the document management service 112 in association with the user. Get the document data of the document. The document data acquisition section 257 constitutes the document data acquisition section in this embodiment.

The data conversion unit 258 converts the document data acquired by the document data acquisition unit 257 into print data in a format suitable for the selected output device. The data converter 258 constitutes the data converter in this embodiment. A print data sending unit 259 sends the converted print data to a predetermined port of the selected output device. The print data sending unit 259 constitutes the sending unit in this embodiment. The data conversion unit 258 and the print data sending unit 259 constitute an output requesting unit in this embodiment.

Further referring to FIG. 5 , the multi-function device 130 includes a print data receiving section 232 , a print processing section 234 , and a network communication section 236 as a function block 230 . The print data receiving unit 232 receives print data sent from the storage server 150 or the like. The print processing unit 234 executes printout processing based on the received print data. The network communication unit 236 is responsible for various communications.

5, the functional block 270 of the client terminal 170 includes a network communication section 272, an information input section 274, and an information transmission section 276. FIG. The network communication unit 272 is responsible for various communications. The information input unit 274 receives input of various information through various setting screens provided by the management server 140 . The information input unit 274 is configured on, for example, a web browser. For example, a web page provided from the external service/device information registration processing unit 242 and the user registration processing unit 243 of the management server 140 configured as a web server is displayed, and a screen for performing various registrations is displayed on the web browser. indicate. The information transmission unit 276 transmits information input to the information input unit 274 to the management server 140 . Also, when uploading a desired document file to the external document management service 112 using the client terminal 170, the information transmission unit 276 can transmit the document file.

Further referring to FIG. 5, the mobile terminal 190 includes, as functional blocks 290, a login information input section 291, a login information transmission section 292, a device list display section 293, a device list request section 294, and a document list display section 295. , a document list request section 296 and a print request section 297 . These functional units are implemented on the mobile terminal 190 by installing the applications described above.

The login information input unit 291 receives login information input from the user via a login screen for logging into the LF printing system 100 . The login information transmission unit 292 transmits the login information input to the login information input unit 291 to the accumulation server 150 .

The device list display unit 293 displays an output device selection screen that displays a plurality of output devices in a selectable manner. The device list requesting unit 294 requests a list of printable output devices from the storage server 150 in order to display the above-described output device selection screen, and obtains a printable output device list as a response.

The document list display section 295 displays a document selection screen for selecting documents to be output by the external document management service 112 . Document list requesting unit 296 requests storage server 150 for a list of one or more documents registered in association with the user of mobile terminal 190 in order to display the document selection screen described above. Get list. As described above, the storage server 150 that receives the request acquires the document list associated with the user from the external document management service 112 and responds to the mobile terminal 190 . Also, as described above, the document list may be displayed as a list, or if a folder structure is provided, it may be displayed reflecting the folder structure.

The print request unit 297 selects an output device as an output destination on the output device selection screen, selects a pre-registered document to be output on the document selection screen, and issues a print request from the user. Then, the storage server 150 is requested to print the selected pre-registered document from the selected output device. As described above, the storage server 150 that has received the request acquires the designated document data from the external document management service 112 and causes the output device selected on the output device selection screen to print out.

6 to 11, processing for LF printing a document saved in the external document management service 112 in the LF printing system 100 according to the present embodiment will be described in more detail.

FIG. 6 illustrates the flow of processing during advance preparation for location-free printing according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6, first, as a preparation, the administrator uses the client terminal 170 to send the management server 140 system-side service information (destination information and credential information) for accessing the document management service 112. ) and information on candidate output devices to be used by the user are registered (1).

The destination information is information published by a business operator that provides the external document management service 112 such as a cloud storage service. ). Further, the credential information may be a private key issued by a business operator that provides the external document management service 112, or a client ID and a client secret in OAuth. Destination information and credential information are information dependent on the external document management service 112 . Also, the information of the output device is the IP address of the multi-function device 130 and the like.

FIG. 7 illustrates a screen displayed on the client terminal 170 during preparation for location-free printing according to this embodiment. FIG. 7A exemplifies a registration screen for registering the address information and qualification information of the document management service 112 and the information of the output device in (1) of FIG. 6 for advance preparation. As shown in FIG. 7A, the registration screen 300 includes a text box 301 for inputting destination information of the document management service 112 and a text box 302 for inputting a client ID as qualification information of the document management service 112. and a text box 303 for entering a client secret also as credential information. The registration screen 300 further includes a text box 304 for entering the IP address of the image forming apparatus as an output apparatus, an add button 305 for entering information on another image forming apparatus, a register button 306, and a cancel button 307. and When information according to a predetermined format is entered in all the text boxes 301 to 304 and the registration button 306 is pressed, the entered information is transmitted to the management server 140 and saved.

Referring to FIG. 6 again, as preparation, the administrator then uses the client terminal 170 to register user authentication information and mobile information in the management server 140 for each user of the LF printing system 100 ( 2). The user authentication information includes user authentication information for logging into the LF printing system 100 and user authentication information for the document management service 112 . It is also assumed that an account has already been registered with the document management service 112 . For convenience of explanation, it is assumed that accounts are collectively managed by a system administrator, and user registration of the LF printing system 100 and user registration of the document management service 112 are performed by the administrator. Users may carry out the procedures for

User authentication information for the LF printing system 100 includes, for example, user identifiers such as account IDs and email addresses, and confidential information such as passwords. The user authentication information for the document management service 112 is service-dependent information, but may be a user identifier such as an account ID or e-mail address registered in the document management service 112 and confidential information such as a password. Then, it may be an access token or a refresh token acquired via the authentication server 114 of the authorization server by the authorization code flow, and is held in association with the user of the LF printing system 100 concerned. The mobile information includes the IP address of the mobile terminal 190 used by the user.

FIG. 7B exemplifies a registration screen 310 for registering user authentication information and mobile information of a predetermined user for advance preparation in (2) of FIG. 6 above. As shown in FIG. 7B, the registration screen 310 includes a text box 311 for entering a user ID, a text box 312 for entering a password, and an IP address of the mobile terminal 190 used by the user. and a text box 313 for The registration screen 310 further includes a registration button 306 and a cancel button 307 . When information in an appropriate format is entered in all the text boxes 311 to 313 and the registration button 314 is pressed, the entered information is transmitted to the management server 140 and saved. Note that the user ID and password here may be common to both the LF printing system 100 and the external document management service 112, or may be different. If the user identifier and password for the external document management service 112 are to be held in the LF printing system 100, a text box for entering the user identifier and password for the external document management service 112 may be provided. Also, when using a mechanism such as OAuth, a token (access token or fresh token) obtained through a predetermined flow is held.

Referring to FIG. 6 again, as a preparation, an application program is then installed on the mobile terminal 190 used by the user for LF printing (3).

FIG. 8 illustrates data structures of various tables managed by the management server 140 and the storage server 150 according to this embodiment.

8A exemplifies a device information table held in the device information holding unit 261 of the storage server 150. FIG. As shown in FIG. 8A, the device information table includes a device name field, an IP address field, and a status field. Note that although the registration screen 300 shown in FIG. 7A only shows a text box 304 for entering the IP address of the image forming apparatus, the name of the image forming apparatus and the like can be appropriately entered by the image forming apparatus using the IP address. obtained by inquiring Status information can also be ported from the storage server 150 to the output device at regular time intervals, and it can be determined that the information that receives a response can be used.

FIG. 8B illustrates a service information table held in the external service information holding unit 245 of the management server 140. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 8B, the service information table includes a service identifier field for identifying the external document management service, a destination information field, and a qualification information field. Here, multiple external document management services can be registered. The destination information field holds the IP address and endpoint URL for using the external document management service 112 as described above. The credential information field is information for confirming the credential of the LF printing system 100 on the side of the document management service 112, and is the private key as described above, or the client ID and client secret in the case of OAuth.

FIG. 8C illustrates a user information table held by the user information holding unit 244 of the management server 140. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 8C, the user information table includes a user identifier field, a user authentication information field, an external service authentication information field, and a mobile terminal 190 IP address field. The user identifier is an identifier that uniquely identifies a user in the LF printing system 100 , and the user authentication information is information such as a password for logging into the LF printing system 100 . The external service authentication information is an access token or a refresh token in the OAuth described above. The IP address of the mobile terminal 190 is retained for transmitting information from the LF printing system 100 side to the mobile terminal 190 .

FIG. 8D illustrates a device information table held by the device information holding unit 247 of the management server 140. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 8(D), the device information table is similar to that shown in FIG. 8(A), and includes a device name field, an IP address field, and a status field. Status is periodically synchronized from the storage server 150 to the management server 140 .

FIG. 9 explains the flow of processing during location-free printing according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 9, at the time of location-free printing, the user first uses the client terminal 170 to upload a desired document to the document management service 112 using his or her own account. Submit a job (1). After submitting the job, the user moves to the vicinity of the desired output device and opens the application on the mobile terminal 190 .

Subsequently, the user uses the mobile terminal 190 to log in to the LF printing system 100 (2). FIG. 10 illustrates a screen displayed on the mobile terminal 190 during location-free printing according to this embodiment. FIG. 10A shows a login screen 320 displayed on the display 418 of the mobile terminal 190 when logging into the LF printing system 100. FIG. As shown in FIG. 10A, the login screen 320 includes a text box 321 for entering a user identifier, a text box 322 for entering a password, and a login button 323 . When the user identifier and password are entered in the text boxes 321 and 322 and the login button 323 is tapped, the mobile terminal 190 transmits a login request to the storage server 150, and the storage server returns the login authentication result to the mobile terminal 190. be

Referring to FIG. 9, when the login is successful, the user uses the mobile terminal 190 to request the storage server 150 to obtain a list of printable output devices, and presents the obtained output device list (3 ). FIG. 10B shows an output device selection screen 330 displayed for selecting an output device. As shown in FIG. 10B, the output device selection screen 330 includes output device selection buttons 331-1 to 331-4 that display candidate output devices in a selectable manner, and an enter button 332. FIG. In this manner, a list of printable output devices is displayed for the user to select an output device for outputting the document of the external document management service 112 . When the decision button 332 is tapped while any button 331 is selected, the mobile terminal 190 records the identifier of the selected output device. Alternatively, the identifier of the selected output device is transmitted from mobile terminal 190 to storage server 150, and the storage server accepts the selection of the output device.

Referring to FIG. 9, when the user successfully logs in, the storage server 150 sends information registered in advance to the management server 140, more specifically, the external document management service on behalf of the logged-in user. 112 (destination information, credential information, user authentication information for external services of the logged-in user) is requested and obtained (4).

When the user successfully logs in and selects an output device, the user uses the mobile terminal 190 to request the storage server 150 to acquire a list of printable documents, acquires the list, and displays the list (5).

Upon receiving the document list acquisition request from the mobile terminal 190, the storage server 150 responds to the request, based on the access information acquired in (4), from the document management service 112 and registered in association with the user. , and returns the document list to the mobile terminal 190 that made the request. The document list includes titles and document names for identifying documents, and document identifiers. At that time, the storage server 150 is authenticated by the document management service 112 using the access information.

FIG. 10C shows a document selection screen 340 displayed for selecting a document to be printed. As shown in FIG. 10C, the document selection screen 340 includes document selection buttons 341-1 to 341-4 that display candidate documents in a selectable manner, a print button 342, and a return button 343. Thus, a document list is displayed for the user to select a document registered in the external document management service 112 . When the print button 342 is tapped while one of the buttons 341 is selected, a print request including the identifier of the selected document and the identifier of the selected output device stored above is sent to the storage server 150 . Storage server 150 accepts designation of a document to be output, selection of an output device, and print request. Although print settings are omitted for convenience of explanation, default print settings may be used, or a screen for making print settings may be provided to the user as appropriate after selecting a document.

Referring to FIG. 9, upon receiving a print request including designation of a document to be output from mobile terminal 190, storage server 150 responds to this request by sending document from external document management service 112 based on the access information. The management service 112 acquires the document data of the document corresponding to the document identifier (8).

When the document data is acquired, the storage server 150 calls the printer driver corresponding to the selected output device, converts it into a format that can be printed by the selected output device, and then transmits the print data to the selected output device. (9). The output device that has received the print data prints out based on the print data (10).

FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram showing location-free printing processing in the location-free printing system according to this embodiment.

The processing shown in FIG. 11 is divided into job input in steps S100 to S101 and print processing in steps S200 to S217.

Job submission starts from step S100, the client terminal 170 requests the external document management service 112 to store a document file, and the response is returned to the client terminal 170 at step S101.

The printing process starts from step S200, the mobile terminal 190 issues a login request to the storage server 150, and a successful login response is returned to the mobile terminal 190 in step S201. In step S202, the mobile terminal 190 requests the storage server 150 to acquire an output device list. The mobile terminal 190 asks the user to select an output device based on the device list, and holds the selection result.

In step S204, the mobile terminal 190 requests the storage server 150 to acquire the document list. In step S205, the storage server 150 requests the management server 140 to acquire access information, and in step S206, the storage server 150 acquires the access information from the management server 140. FIG. In step S207, the storage server 150 requests the external document management service 112 to acquire a document list associated with the logged-in user, and in step S208, the storage server 150 acquires the document list. In step S<b>209 , the document list is returned from storage server 150 to mobile terminal 190 . Based on the document list, the mobile terminal 190 requests the user to designate a document to be printed, and holds the designation result.

When the user selects one output device from the device list, specifies one document from the document list, and issues a print instruction, mobile terminal 190 issues a print request to storage server 150 in step S210. will be In step S211, the storage server 150 requests the external document management service 112 to acquire the document data of the relevant document, and the document data is responded in step S212. In step S213, storage server 150 converts the document data of the specified document into a format suitable for the selected output device. In step S<b>214 , storage server 150 transmits print data to output device 130 . In step S215, the output device 130 executes the printing process, and in step S216, responds to the accumulation server 150 that the printing process has been successfully completed. In step S217, storage server 150 notifies mobile terminal 190 of successful completion of the print process.

According to the embodiments described above, it is possible to provide an information processing system, an information processing device, a method, and a program capable of outputting a document saved on an external document management service from an arbitrary output device.

In the above-described embodiment, the user refers to the list of printable documents existing on the external document management service 112 from the mobile terminal 190 and the printable output device, and the storage server 150 can print the documents in the document management service 112 . and send the print data to the output device. In this manner, the user can print out the document data on the external document management service 112 from any output device using the mobile terminal, thereby improving convenience for the user.

Note that each function of the embodiments described above can be realized by one or more processing circuits. Here, the "processing circuit" in this specification means a processor programmed by software to perform each function, such as a processor implemented by an electronic circuit, or a processor designed to perform each function described above. devices such as ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuits), DSPs (digital signal processors), FPGAs (field programmable gate arrays) and conventional circuit modules.

Although the embodiments and examples of the present invention have been described above, the embodiments and examples of the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiments and examples, and other embodiments, other examples, Additions, changes, deletions, etc., can be made within the range that a person skilled in the art can conceive, and as long as the action and effect of the present invention are exhibited in any aspect, it is included in the scope of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100... LF printing system 102... Internet, 110... Cloud service, 112... Document management service, 114... Authentication server, 120... Internal network, 124... Document management system, 130... MFP, 140... Management server, 150... Storage server 170 Client terminal 190 Mobile terminal 230, 240, 250, 270, 290 Functional block 241 Information communication unit 242 External service/apparatus information registration processing unit 243 User registration processing unit 244 User information holding unit 245 External service information holding unit 246 Access information holding unit 247 Device information holding unit 248 Device information synchronization unit 249 Application providing unit 251 User authentication processing unit 252 Access information requesting unit 253 Device information providing unit 254 Document list acquiring unit 255 Document list providing unit 256 Document selection accepting unit 257 Document data acquiring unit 258 Data converting unit 259 Printing Data transmission unit 261 Device information holding unit 262 Device information synchronization unit 272 Network communication unit 274 Information input unit 276 Information transmission unit 291 Login information input unit 292 Login information transmission unit 293 Device list display unit 294 Device list request unit 295 Document list display unit 296 Document list request unit 297 Print request unit

JP 2019-67361 A JP 2012-64030 A

Claims (11)

An information processing system for outputting a document from an output device selected from among a plurality of output devices in a network,
an access information holding unit holding access information for accessing a document management service outside the network on behalf of a user;
a device information providing unit that provides the terminal device of the user with information on the plurality of output devices for selection;
a document data acquisition unit that acquires document data of a document registered in association with the user from the document management service based on the access information in response to a user request from the terminal device;
and an output request unit that requests the selected output device to output the acquired document data in response to the user request. The information processing system is
a service registration processing unit that executes a procedure for registering qualification information and destination information for the information processing system to use the document management service;
a user registration processing unit that executes a procedure for registering user authentication information for acquiring information from the document management service on behalf of the user in association with the user, wherein the access information is the 2. The information processing system of claim 1, comprising credential information, said destination information and said user authentication information of said user. a document list acquisition unit that acquires a list of one or more documents registered in association with the user in the document management service from the document management service based on the access information;
a document list providing unit for providing a list of the one or more documents to be selectable;
3. The information processing system according to claim 1, further comprising a document selection reception unit that receives selection of a specified document to be output from the list of one or more documents from the user. 4. The list of one or more documents according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the list of one or more documents is obtained by filtering files having document type extensions among files registered in association with the user in the document management service. Information processing system according to the item. The information processing system further includes a program to be installed in the terminal device, and the terminal device on which the program is installed displays a login screen for logging into the information processing system, information on the plurality of output devices, and at least one of an output device selection screen for selecting an output device based on the document management service and a document selection screen for selecting the document to be output by the document management service. The information processing system according to any one of the items. The output request unit is
a data conversion unit that converts the acquired document data into print data in a format corresponding to the selected output device;
6. The information processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a sending unit that sends the converted print data to the selected output device. The information processing system includes a management server and one or more accumulation servers, wherein the management server comprises the access information holding unit, and the accumulation servers each include the device information providing unit and the document data acquisition unit. 7. The information processing system according to claim 1, comprising: and said output requesting unit. The document management service is a cloud storage service, and the output of the document from the selected output device is location-free printing in which the document submitted in advance is printed out from the output device selected afterward. The information processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein: An information processing device for outputting a document from an output device selected from among a plurality of output devices in a network,
an access information acquisition unit that acquires access information for accessing a document management service outside the network on behalf of a user;
a device information providing unit that provides the terminal device of the user with information on the plurality of output devices for selection;
a document data acquisition unit that acquires document data of a document registered in association with the user from the document management service based on the access information in response to a user request from the terminal device;
and an output request unit that requests the selected output device to output the acquired document data in response to the user request. A method for outputting a document from a selected one of a plurality of output devices in a network, comprising:
a computer providing information of said plurality of output devices to a user's terminal device for selection;
the computer reading access information for accessing a document management service outside the network on behalf of the user;
a step of the computer acquiring document data of a document registered in association with the user from the document management service based on the access information in response to a user request from the terminal device;
and requesting the selected output device to output the acquired document data in response to the user request. A program for realizing an information processing device for outputting a document from an output device selected from among a plurality of output devices in a network, the program comprising:
an access information acquisition unit that acquires access information for accessing a document management service outside the network on behalf of a user;
a device information providing unit that provides information on the plurality of output devices for selection to the terminal device of the user;
a document data acquisition unit that acquires document data of a document registered in association with the user from the document management service based on the access information in response to a user request from the terminal device;
A program for functioning as an output request unit that requests the selected output device to output the acquired document data in response to the user request.

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