JP2024037517A - Information processing system, image forming apparatus, and management server - Google Patents

Abstract

To count the number of jobs executed, separately, according to the needs, such as for each cloud storage.SOLUTION: A job processing unit of an image forming apparatus notifies a management server of a first file selected by a user from a file list. A file supplying unit of the management server acquires the first file from a first cloud storage and transmits the file to the image forming apparatus. The job processing unit of the image forming apparatus executes a job using the first file, and transmits, to the management server, a job log including a job counter value and identification information of the first cloud storage. A job log aggregation unit of the management server is configured to aggregate the job counter values for each identification information of the cloud storages, and counts up the job counter value of the identification information included in the job log.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

The present invention relates to a management server that supplies files recorded in cloud storage to an image forming apparatus, an image forming apparatus that executes a job using this file, and an information processing system that includes the management server and the image forming apparatus. .

When executing a print job with an image forming device such as an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral), in addition to printing the file sent from the PC through the printer driver, the file is also managed on the cloud storage where the MFP has an account. It is known to refer to and select a file on an image forming apparatus and print the file.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2013-186674 Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2015-18404

It is becoming common to run print jobs from files retrieved from cloud storage. Additionally, systems for tabulating print results are also commonly used. Unique problems may occur when printing files recorded in multiple cloud storages is combined with a system that aggregates the print results. For example, there may be a problem in which the user account for cloud storage and the user ID managed within the company do not match, making it impossible to simply aggregate by user ID as a unit of aggregation (Patent Document 1). As a result, there is a possibility that the number of executed print jobs cannot be counted individually depending on the needs of each cloud storage.

In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to individually count the number of job executions depending on the needs of each cloud storage.

An information processing system according to one embodiment of the present invention includes:
an image forming device;
a management server communicably connected to the image forming apparatus via a network;
Equipped with
The image forming apparatus includes a login section, a file list request section, and a job processing section,
The management server includes a storage list supply unit, a file list supply unit, a file supply unit, and a job log aggregation unit,
The login unit of the image forming apparatus transmits information regarding a user who logs into the management server to the management server,
The storage list supply unit of the management server transmits to the image forming apparatus a cloud storage list indicating a plurality of cloud storages that are communicably connected to the management server via a network and that are available to the user;
The file list requesting unit of the image forming apparatus notifies the management server of a first cloud storage selected by the user from the cloud storage list;
The file list supply unit of the management server transmits a file list indicating one or more files recorded in the first cloud storage and available to the user to the image forming apparatus,
the job processing unit of the image forming apparatus notifies the management server of the first file selected by the user from the file list;
The file supply unit of the management server acquires the first file from the first cloud storage and transmits it to the image forming apparatus,
The job processing unit of the image forming apparatus executes a job using the first file, and transmits a job log including a job counter value and identification information of the first cloud storage to the management server;
The job log aggregation unit of the management server is configured to aggregate job counter values for each identification information of each cloud storage, and counts up the job counter value of the identification information included in the job log.

According to this embodiment, the job log aggregation unit of the management server can aggregate job counter values (that is, job execution amount such as print amount) for each cloud storage identification information. This allows users to generate more detailed aggregate reports.

The identification information for each cloud storage is
cloud storage identification information that uniquely identifies each cloud storage;
Cloud storage attribute information that identifies attributes of each cloud storage, or a combination of the cloud storage identification information and the cloud storage attribute information.

According to this embodiment, the job log aggregation unit of the management server can aggregate job counter values (i.e., job execution amount such as print amount) for each cloud storage or for each cloud storage attribute. . This allows users to generate more detailed aggregate reports.

The plurality of cloud storages included in the cloud storage list are:
a management server cloud storage provided by the management server supplier;
a third-party cloud storage provided by a supplier different from the supplier of the management server;
including.

By setting the usage unit price for jobs that use files recorded in third-party cloud storage and the usage unit price for jobs that use files recorded in management server cloud storage to different values, appropriate charges are calculated individually. be able to.

The cloud storage attribute information indicates whether each cloud storage is provided by a third party or a supplier of the management server.

By setting different values for the usage unit price for jobs that use files recorded in third-party cloud storage and the usage unit price for jobs that use files recorded in management server cloud storage, appropriate charges are calculated individually. be able to.

The job log aggregation unit of the management server determines a fee for a job using each cloud storage based on a job usage unit price that varies depending on the identification information of each cloud storage.

By setting the job usage unit price for each cloud storage to a different value, it is possible to calculate an appropriate charge individually.

A unit usage price for a job that uses files recorded in the management server cloud storage is set to be higher than a usage unit price for a job that uses files recorded in the third-party cloud storage.

If the user of the imaging device pays the third-party cloud storage fee to the third-party cloud storage supplier, but does not pay the management server cloud storage fee to the management server supplier, the user of the third-party cloud storage By setting the unit usage price for jobs that use files recorded in the management server cloud storage to be higher than the usage unit price for jobs that use files recorded in the management server cloud storage, costs associated with sending files from the management server cloud storage, etc. We can aim to cover the following.

An image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention includes:
It is communicably connected to the management server via the network,
Equipped with
a login unit that transmits information regarding a user logging into the management server to the management server;
A cloud storage list indicating a plurality of cloud storages that are communicably connected to the management server via a network and available to the user is received from the management server, and a first cloud storage selected by the user from the cloud storage list is received. a file list request unit that notifies the management server of the cloud storage of the file;
A file list indicating one or more files recorded in the first cloud storage and available to the user is received from the management server, and a first file selected by the user from the file list is sent to the management server. notify the
The management server acquires the first file from the first cloud storage, transmits it to the image forming apparatus, executes a job that uses the first file, and acquires the job counter value and the first cloud storage. a job processing unit that sends a job log including storage identification information to the management server;
Equipped with.

A management server according to one embodiment of the present invention includes:
It is communicably connected to the image forming device via a network,
Information regarding a user who logs in to the management server is received from the image forming apparatus, and a list of cloud storages indicating a plurality of cloud storages that are communicably connected to the management server via a network and available to the user is formed in the image. a storage list supply unit for sending to the device;
A file indicating a first cloud storage selected by the user from the cloud storage list from the image forming apparatus, and indicating one or more files recorded in the first cloud storage and available to the user. a file list supply unit that transmits the list to the image forming apparatus;
A file that receives from the image forming apparatus a notification of a first file selected by the user from the file list, acquires the first file from the first cloud storage, and sends the first file to the image forming apparatus. a supply section;
A job log including a job counter value and identification information of the first cloud storage when a job using the first file is executed is received from the image forming apparatus, and a job log for each cloud storage identification information is received. a job log aggregation unit configured to aggregate job counter values and count up the job counter value of the identification information included in the job log;
Equipped with.

According to the present invention, the number of job executions can be counted individually depending on the needs of each cloud storage.

Note that the effects described here are not necessarily limited, and may be any of the effects described in this disclosure.

1 shows an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. An example of a GUI for registering third-party cloud storage is shown. The hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus is shown. Shows the hardware configuration of the management server. The functional configuration of the information processing system is shown. The operation sequence of the information processing system is shown. An example of a GUI for selecting cloud storage is shown. An example of a GUI for selecting a file is shown.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1. information processing system

FIG. 1 shows an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The information processing system 1 includes an image forming apparatus 10 and a print management server 20 that are communicably connected via a network N such as the Internet.

The image forming apparatus 10 is, for example, an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral), and is installed in an office or the like. Although there may typically be a plurality of image forming apparatuses 10, in this embodiment, one image forming apparatus will be described.

The print management server 20 manages jobs of the image forming apparatus 10 and users of the image forming apparatus 10. The print management server 20 is a print management server and also has a cloud storage function. In other words, the print management server 20 also functions as a management server cloud storage 29 that can record files.

A user of the image forming apparatus 10 under the management of the print management server 20 can use the image forming apparatus 10 to register a link to the third-party cloud storage 30 in which the user has an account in the print management server 20. The print management server 20 can access the third-party cloud storage 30 via the network N.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a GUI for registering third-party cloud storage.

In the figure, a user who logs in to the print management server 20 via the image forming apparatus 10 registers links of three types of third-party cloud storages 30 in the print management server 20 in association with the user via the GUI. Give an example.

The management server cloud storage 29 is provided by the supplier of the print management server 20. On the other hand, the one or more third-party cloud storages 30 are provided by a plurality of different third-party suppliers that are different from the suppliers of the image forming apparatus 10 and the print management server 20, respectively. Each third-party cloud storage 30 records data that can be output to the image forming apparatus 10.

The user of the image forming apparatus 10 logs into the print management server 20 via the touch panel of the image forming apparatus 10 and prints files downloaded from the third-party cloud storage 30 or the management server cloud storage 29 via the print management server 20. You can execute jobs etc.

The user of the image forming device 10 typically pays a fee for using the third-party cloud storage 30 to the supplier of the third-party cloud storage 30 . On the other hand, the print management server 20 is typically provided by the supplier of the image forming apparatus 10. Typically, the management server cloud storage 29 is provided to users as part of the services of the print management server 20. Therefore, the user typically does not pay a usage fee to the supplier of the print management server 20 that focuses only on the use of the management server cloud storage 29.

2. Hardware configuration of image forming device

FIG. 3 shows the hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus.

Image forming apparatus 10 includes a control circuit 100 . The control circuit 100 is composed of a CPU 11a (Central Processing Unit) which is a processor, a RAM 11b (Random Access Memory), a ROM 11c (Read Only Memory) which is a memory, a dedicated hardware circuit, etc., and controls the entire image forming apparatus 10. Controls motion control. The CPU 11a loads the information processing program stored in the ROM 11c into the RAM 11b and executes it. The ROM 11c permanently stores programs and data executed by the CPU 11a. The ROM 11c is an example of a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium.

The control circuit 100 includes an image reading section 12 (image scanner), an image processing section 14 (including a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit)), an image memory 15, an image forming section 16 (printer), and an operation section 17 (including a display section 17a). touch panel), a large-capacity nonvolatile storage device 18 such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or an SSD (Solid State Drive), a facsimile communication unit 19, a network communication interface 13, and the like. The control circuit 100 controls the operations of the above-mentioned parts connected to it, and transmits and receives signals or data to and from each part. The operation unit 17 (touch panel) is one form of an input device, and an audio input device including a microphone may be provided as the input device.

3. Management server hardware configuration

FIG. 4 shows the hardware configuration of the management server.

The print management server 20 includes a CPU 21, a ROM 22, a RAM 23, a large-capacity nonvolatile storage device 24 such as an HDD or an SSD, a network communication interface 25, an operating device 26, a display device 27, and a bus 28 that interconnects these devices. has. A part of the storage device 24 functions as a management server cloud storage 29. The management server cloud storage 29 only needs to logically belong to the print management server 20, may be built into the print management server 20, and/or may be physically independent and connected.

CPU21, ROM22, and RAM23 constitute control circuit 200. The CPU 21 loads the information processing program stored in the ROM 22 into the RAM 23 and executes it. The ROM 22 permanently stores programs and data executed by the CPU 21. The ROM 22 is an example of a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium.

4. Functional configuration of information processing system

FIG. 5 shows the functional configuration of the information processing system.

In the control circuit 100 of the image forming apparatus 10, the CPU 11a operates as the login section 101, file list request section 102, and job processing section 103 by loading the information processing program stored in the ROM 11c into the RAM 11b and executing it.

In the control circuit 200 of the print management server 20, the CPU 21 loads the information processing program stored in the ROM 22 into the RAM 23 and executes it, thereby controlling the storage list supply unit 201, file list supply unit 202, file supply unit 203, and job log. It operates as a totaling unit 204.

5. Operation sequence of information processing system

FIG. 6 shows the operation sequence of the information processing system.

The login unit 101 of the image forming apparatus 10 accepts a user's login operation via the touch panel, and transmits information regarding the user who logs in to the print management server 20 to the print management server 20 (step S101).

When the storage list supply unit 201 of the print management server 20 receives the user's login from the image forming apparatus 10, it displays a login OK notification and a plurality of cloud storages that are available to the user (that is, linked to the user). The cloud storage list is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 10 (step S201). The multiple cloud storages included in the cloud storage list include the management server cloud storage 29 and one or more (three in this example) third party cloud storages 30.

The login unit 101 of the image forming apparatus 10 receives a login OK notification and a cloud storage list from the print management server 20. The file list requesting unit 102 of the image forming apparatus 10 uses a touch panel to create a GUI 110 for selecting one cloud storage from a plurality of cloud storages (management server cloud storage 29, third party cloud storage 30) included in the cloud storage list. to be displayed.

FIG. 7 shows an example of a GUI for selecting cloud storage.

The GUI 110 includes a button 291 indicating the names of multiple cloud storages included in the cloud storage list received from the print management server 20, that is, the name of the management server cloud storage 29, and a button 291 indicating the name of multiple (three in this example) third-party cloud storages. It includes buttons 301, 302, and 303 indicating the names of the storages 30. The user selects one cloud storage (either the management server cloud storage 29 or the third party cloud storage 30) by operating any of the buttons 291, 301, 302, and 303. Hereinafter, the cloud storage selected by the user will be referred to as a first cloud storage 310.

The file list requesting unit 102 of the image forming apparatus 10 notifies the print management server 20 of the first cloud storage 310 selected by the user from the cloud storage list, and the file list is recorded in the first cloud storage 310 and available for use by the user. A file list indicating one or more files is requested (step S102).

Upon receiving a request from the image forming apparatus 10, the file list supply unit 202 of the print management server 20 displays, in the first cloud storage 310, one or more files recorded in the first cloud storage 310 and available to the user. A file list is requested (step S202).

Upon receiving a request from the print management server 20, the first cloud storage 310 transmits to the print management server 20 a file list indicating one or more files recorded in the first cloud storage 310 and available to the user ( Step S301).

The file list supply unit 202 of the print management server 20 receives from the first cloud storage 310 a file list indicating one or more files recorded in the first cloud storage 310 and available to the user, and sends the file list to the image forming apparatus 10. (Step S203).

The job processing unit 103 of the image forming apparatus 10 receives the file list from the print management server 20. The job processing unit 103 of the image forming apparatus 10 displays a GUI 120 on the touch panel for selecting one file from a plurality of files included in the file list.

FIG. 8 shows an example of a GUI for selecting a file.

The GUI 120 includes buttons 311 , 312 , 313 , and 314 that indicate the names of multiple files included in the file list received from the print management server 20 . The user selects one or more files by operating any of the buttons 311, 312, 313, and 314. As shown in the figure, the user may select two files by operating buttons 311 and 313. Hereinafter, a case will be described in which the user selects one file, and the file selected by the user will be referred to as the first file.

The job processing unit 103 of the image forming apparatus 10 notifies the print management server 20 of the first file selected by the user from the file list of the first cloud storage 310 and requests the first file (step S103 ).

Upon receiving the request from the image forming apparatus 10, the file supply unit 203 of the print management server 20 requests the first file from the first cloud storage 310 (step S203).

Upon receiving the request from the print management server 20, the first cloud storage 310 transmits the first file to the print management server 20 (step S302).

The file supply unit 203 of the print management server 20 receives the first file from the first cloud storage 310 and transmits it to the image forming apparatus 10 (step S204).

The job processing unit 103 of the image forming apparatus 10 receives the first file recorded in the first cloud storage 310 from the print management server 20. The job processing unit 103 records identification information of the first cloud storage 310 (step S104).

The identification information of each cloud storage (management server cloud storage 29, third party cloud storage 30) is cloud storage identification information that uniquely identifies the cloud storage, cloud storage attribute information that identifies the attribute of each cloud storage, or cloud storage It is a combination of identification information and cloud storage attribute information. The figure shows an example in which cloud storage identification information “Cloud Storage A” that uniquely identifies the first cloud storage 310 is recorded as the identification information of the first cloud storage 310.

The cloud storage attribute information indicates whether each cloud storage is provided by a third party or by a supplier of the print management server 20 management server. For example, the cloud storage attribute information of the management server cloud storage 29 is "company", and the cloud storage attribute information of the plurality of third party cloud storages 30 is "third party". The image forming apparatus 10 stores in advance a conversion table for converting the management server cloud storage 29 to a certain cloud storage attribute information "In-house" and converting the plurality of third-party cloud storages 30 to another cloud storage attribute information "Third Party". do it.

The job processing unit 103 of the image forming apparatus 10 executes a job using the first file (step S105). The "job using the first file" is typically a print process for the first file, but may also be another type of job (for example, facsimile transmission, etc.).

The job processing unit 103 of the image forming apparatus 10 transmits the job log to the print management server 20 (step S106). The job log includes user identification information, a job counter value (print counter value in the case of a print job), and identification information of the first cloud storage 310 (in this example, "cloud storage A").

The job log aggregation unit 204 of the print management server 20 is configured to aggregate job counter values for each identification information of each cloud storage. The job log aggregation unit 204 receives the job log from the image forming apparatus 10 and counts up the job counter value of the identification information included in the job log. In this example, the job log aggregation unit 204 counts up the job counter value of the identification information included in the job log (in this example, the identification information "cloud storage A" of the first cloud storage 310). When the job log aggregation unit 204 completes the process, it transmits an ACK to the image forming apparatus 10 (step S205).

The job log aggregation unit 204 of the print management server 20 calculates the number of jobs using each cloud storage based on the job usage unit price, which varies depending on the identification information of each cloud storage (management server cloud storage 29, third-party cloud storage 30). The fee may be determined. For example, the unit usage price for a job that uses files recorded in the management server cloud storage 29 may be set higher than the unit usage price for a job that uses files recorded in the third-party cloud storage 30.

As described above, the user of the image forming apparatus 10 typically pays a usage fee for the third-party cloud storage 30 to the supplier of the third-party cloud storage 30, but the user of the image forming apparatus 10 typically pays the usage fee for the third-party cloud storage 30 to the supplier of the print management server 20. I have not paid the usage fee for Storage 29. In this case, by setting the unit usage price for a job that uses files recorded in the management server cloud storage 29 to be higher than the unit usage price for a job that uses files recorded in the third-party cloud storage 30, the management server Expenses related to file transmission from the cloud storage 29 can be covered.

According to the present embodiment, the job log aggregation unit 204 of the print management server 20 stores data for each cloud storage (management server cloud storage 29, third-party cloud storage 30) or the attributes of the cloud storage (in-house, third-party). For each job, the job counter value (that is, the amount of job execution such as the amount of printing) can be totaled. This allows users to generate more detailed aggregate reports. Additionally, service providers will be able to introduce more flexible fee structures. For example, the unit usage price for a job that uses files recorded in the management server cloud storage 29 is set higher than the unit usage price for a job that uses files recorded in the third-party cloud storage 30, and By aggregating the job counter values for each cloud storage 29, 30 or its attributes, it is possible to calculate appropriate charges individually according to each cloud storage 29, 30 or its attributes, rather than a uniform charge.

Although each embodiment and each modification of the present technology has been described above, the present technology is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various changes may be made within the scope of the gist of the present technology. Of course.

1 Information processing system 10 Image forming apparatus 101 Login unit 102 File list request unit 103 Job processing unit 20 Management server 201 Storage list supply unit 202 File list supply unit 203 File supply unit 204 Job log aggregation unit 29 Management server cloud storage 30 Third party Cloud storage 310 First cloud storage

Claims (8)

an image forming device;
a management server communicably connected to the image forming apparatus via a network;
Equipped with
The image forming apparatus includes a login section, a file list request section, and a job processing section,
The management server includes a storage list supply unit, a file list supply unit, a file supply unit, and a job log aggregation unit,
The login unit of the image forming apparatus transmits information regarding a user who logs into the management server to the management server,
The storage list supply unit of the management server transmits to the image forming apparatus a cloud storage list indicating a plurality of cloud storages that are communicably connected to the management server via a network and that are available to the user;
The file list requesting unit of the image forming apparatus notifies the management server of a first cloud storage selected by the user from the cloud storage list;
The file list supply unit of the management server transmits a file list indicating one or more files recorded in the first cloud storage and available to the user to the image forming apparatus,
the job processing unit of the image forming apparatus notifies the management server of the first file selected by the user from the file list;
The file supply unit of the management server acquires the first file from the first cloud storage and transmits it to the image forming apparatus,
The job processing unit of the image forming apparatus executes a job using the first file, and transmits a job log including a job counter value and identification information of the first cloud storage to the management server;
The job log aggregation unit of the management server is configured to aggregate job counter values for each identification information of each cloud storage, and counts up the job counter value of the identification information included in the job log. Information processing system. The information processing system according to claim 1,
The identification information for each cloud storage is
cloud storage identification information that uniquely identifies each cloud storage;
An information processing system comprising cloud storage attribute information that identifies attributes of each cloud storage, or a combination of the cloud storage identification information and the cloud storage attribute information. The information processing system according to claim 1 or 2,
The plurality of cloud storages included in the cloud storage list are:
a management server cloud storage provided by the management server supplier;
a third-party cloud storage provided by a supplier different from the supplier of the management server;
including information processing systems. The information processing system according to claim 2,
The cloud storage attribute information indicates whether each cloud storage is provided by a third party or a supplier of the management server. Information processing system. The information processing system according to claim 1 or 2,
The job log aggregation unit of the management server determines a fee for a job using each cloud storage based on a job usage unit price that varies depending on identification information of each cloud storage. The information processing system according to claim 3,
An information processing system in which a usage unit price for a job that uses files recorded in the management server cloud storage is set to be higher than a usage unit price for a job that uses files recorded in the third-party cloud storage. It is communicably connected to the management server via the network,
Equipped with
a login unit that transmits information regarding a user logging into the management server to the management server;
A cloud storage list indicating a plurality of cloud storages that are communicably connected to the management server via a network and available to the user is received from the management server, and a first cloud storage selected by the user from the cloud storage list is received. a file list request unit that notifies the management server of the cloud storage of the file;
A file list indicating one or more files recorded in the first cloud storage and available to the user is received from the management server, and a first file selected by the user from the file list is sent to the management server. notify the
The management server acquires the first file from the first cloud storage, transmits it to the image forming apparatus, executes a job that uses the first file, and acquires the job counter value and the first cloud storage. a job processing unit that sends a job log including storage identification information to the management server;
An image forming apparatus comprising: It is communicably connected to the image forming device via a network,
Information regarding a user who logs in to the management server is received from the image forming apparatus, and a list of cloud storages indicating a plurality of cloud storages that are communicably connected to the management server via a network and available to the user is formed in the image. a storage list supply unit for sending to the device;
A file indicating a first cloud storage selected by the user from the cloud storage list from the image forming apparatus, and indicating one or more files recorded in the first cloud storage and available to the user. a file list supply unit that transmits the list to the image forming apparatus;
A file that receives from the image forming apparatus a notification of a first file selected by the user from the file list, acquires the first file from the first cloud storage, and sends the first file to the image forming apparatus. a supply section;
A job log including a job counter value and identification information of the first cloud storage when a job using the first file is executed is received from the image forming apparatus, and a job log for each cloud storage identification information is received. a job log aggregation unit configured to aggregate job counter values and count up the job counter value of the identification information included in the job log;
A management server equipped with.

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