JP4703540B2 - Broadcast distribution management system and information providing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a broadcast distribution management system that manages broadcast distribution of documents.

  Conventionally, in a facsimile apparatus, when simultaneously distributing to a plurality of transmission destinations (hereinafter referred to as “broadcast distribution”), a plurality of transmission destination facsimile numbers corresponding to a destination to be broadcasted are designated using a numeric keypad or a one-touch key. . There is also known a configuration in which a combination of a plurality of broadcast destinations is registered in correspondence with a predetermined one-touch key, and broadcast communication is performed with one touch by operating this key.

  As another configuration in which a combination of broadcast destinations is registered in advance, a configuration in which received image information is broadcasted to a registered broadcast destination when specified by a specific subaddress is also known. ing.

  When a user who sends a document designates a distribution form such as a circulation destination and a circulation order to a server, a system is known in which the server sequentially transmits to a circulation destination terminal (see, for example, Patent Document 1). ).

  However, when a facsimile apparatus is applied to the terminal device of the above system, when distributing a document such as image data, the document is transmitted to a facsimile apparatus defined as a transmission destination in the server. Therefore, when the facsimile apparatus is out of order or when the printing process is concentrated on the facsimile apparatus, there is a problem that it is difficult for the user to acquire the transmitted document.

  Further, due to the characteristics of the facsimile apparatus, once a document is printed by the facsimile apparatus, there is a problem that it is impossible to confirm which user has acquired the document.

JP-A-6-104921

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points. A document can be acquired from a facsimile machine located at a location convenient for the user, and when the document is printed, the document is transmitted with information about the printed user. It is an object of the present invention to provide a broadcast distribution management system that can notify a facsimile apparatus.

In one aspect of the present invention, one or a plurality of receiving devices, one or a plurality of transmitting devices, and an information providing device are communicably connected to each other, and a document is sent from the transmitting device to a plurality of users as destinations. The information providing device of the broadcast distribution management system for managing the broadcast distribution that distributes the destination information and deadline date / time information that is transmitted from the transmission device and indicates the conditions regarding the post or affiliation of the user to whom the document is transmitted Document receiving means for receiving a document included in attribute information, storage means for storing the document, user identification information, a user information management list in which user affiliations and titles are stored in association with each other, and received Correspondence between the document identification information for identifying a document and the transmission destination user information indicating the transmission destination user of the document for each document. When a specified print status management list and a document are received, the user information management list is referred to, and user identification information of the user corresponding to the job title or affiliation condition indicated by the destination information included in the document is extracted. In response to a document transmission request transmitted together with user information from the receiving device , the printing status management list registration means for registering in the printing status management list as the transmission destination user information, and the printing status management list Referring to FIG. 4, transmission target document acquisition means for acquiring a document whose user information is included in the destination user information as a transmission target document, and the transmission target document are included in the attribute information of the document When a predetermined condition based on the expiration date / time information is met, the document is The documents and warning information generation unit, a document transmitting means for transmitting the document and the warning information of the transmitted to the receiving device, in the receiving apparatus for generating a warning information indicating that the approaching expiration of the limited time information A notification indicating that the printing process of the document transmitted by the transmitting unit has been performed, the user information, and a print end notification receiving unit that receives the printed document information from the receiving device; the user information; A print end log generating unit configured to generate a print end log including the printed document information; and a print end log transmitting unit configured to transmit the print end log to a transmission apparatus that has transmitted the printed document.

  The information providing apparatus configured as described above is an apparatus that manages broadcast distribution. Examples of the information providing apparatus include various computers such as general-purpose computers and servers. Further, in the document attribute information, destination information indicating the destination of the document, the expiration date of the document, and the like are registered. The destination information includes user information and group information (for example, job title, affiliation, etc.) that are information related to each user.

  Specifically, when a predetermined transmitting device transmits a document including destination information in attribute information to the information providing device, the information providing device stores the document. When a document transmission request is received together with transmission of user information regarding a user who is using the receiving device from a predetermined receiving device, the information providing device reads a document whose user information corresponds to the destination information. The search is performed, and the searched document is transmitted to the receiving apparatus that has requested transmission. When the information providing apparatus receives a print end notification indicating that the document has been printed, the information providing apparatus transmits a print end log to the transmitting apparatus that has transmitted the document to the information providing apparatus.

  According to this, since the transmitting apparatus transmits a document to the information providing apparatus and transmits the requested document to the receiving apparatus at the timing when the transmission request is made from the receiving apparatus, the user can Documents can be printed from any receiving device connected in communication. In addition, the transmission device that has transmitted the document receives the print end log and displays the print end log, whereby the user of the transmission device can confirm which user has printed the document.

  In one aspect of the receiving device, the attribute information includes expiration date / time information, and the transmission target document satisfies a predetermined condition based on the expiration date / time information included in the attribute information of the document. , Further comprising warning information generating means for generating warning information indicating that the document is a warning target, wherein the first document transmitting means transmits the warning information to the receiving device. According to this, by generating warning information and transmitting the warning information together with the document to the receiving device, the receiving device displays a message in accordance with the warning information, thereby allowing the user of the receiving device to Thus, it can be recognized that there is a document that needs to be printed or displayed immediately.

  In one aspect of the receiving device, when the destination information is predetermined group information, user information corresponding to the group information from a user information management list defining a correspondence relationship of the user information including the group information Information about the document, user information corresponding to the group information, and information regarding the printing status of the document, and defining the correspondence relationship between the user information and the information regarding the document. The printing status management information registration means for registering the correspondence information between the printing status information and the printing status information, and when the printing end notification receiving means receives the printing end notification, it corresponds to the user information and the printed document information. Printing status management information updating means for updating information related to printing status with respect to the correspondence information; Printing that generates a printing status log that describes information about the document, information about the user who is the destination of the document, and the printing status of the document of the user based on the printing status management list for each document A status log generation unit; and a printing status log transmission unit that transmits the printing status log to the transmitting device that has transmitted the document. The first storage unit includes the user information list, the printing status management list, Remember. According to this, the user using the transmission device can easily determine whether or not the user who is the destination of the document is printing by referring to the printing status log.

In another aspect of the present invention, one or a plurality of receiving devices, one or a plurality of transmitting devices, and an information providing device are communicably connected to each other, and a document is sent from the transmitting device to a plurality of users as destinations. A broadcast delivery management system for managing broadcast delivery, wherein the transmission device is configured to form a document according to a user instruction, a document forming unit for forming the document, and a destination of the document according to a user instruction . Attribute information registration means for registering destination information and deadline date and time information indicating a condition related to the post or affiliation of a user in the attribute information of the document, first document transmission means for transmitting the document to the information providing apparatus, Print end log receiving means for receiving a print end log transmitted by the information providing apparatus when the receiving apparatus prints the document , Wherein the information providing apparatus, a first document receiving means for receiving the document the first document sending means has transmitted a first storage means for storing the document, a user identification information Correspondence between a user information management list in which user affiliations and positions are stored in association with each other, document identification information for identifying a received document, and destination user information indicating a user to whom the document is transmitted The printing status management list for each document, and when receiving the document, the user information management list is referred to, and the user of the user who meets the conditions related to the post or affiliation indicated by the destination information included in the document A printing status management list that extracts identification information and registers it in the printing status management list as the destination user information Transmitting and recording means, from said receiving unit, in accordance with the document transmission request is transmitted together with the user information, by referring to the print status management list, the documents the user information is included in the transmission destination user information a transmission target document acquisition means for acquiring a target document, a second document sending means for sending the document and the warning information of the transmission target to the receiver, the transmitted documents, included in the attribute information of the document Warning information generating means for generating warning information indicating that the document is approaching the deadline of the deadline date and time information when the predetermined condition based on the deadline date and time information is met; 2 means that the print processing of the document transmitted by the document transmitting means 2 has been performed. Print end notification receiving means for receiving the user information and the printed document information from the receiving device, and the print end generating the print end log including the user information and the printed document information. A log generation unit; and a print end log transmission unit that transmits the print end log to the transmission device that transmitted the printed document. The reception device acquires user information that is user information. User information acquisition means, document transmission request means for transmitting the user information and document transmission request to the information providing apparatus, and second information for acquiring the document transmitted by the information providing apparatus in response to the document transmission request means. Document receiving means and second storage for storing the document acquired by the second document receiving means Stage and a printing means for printing the document, when said printing means has printed the document, and print end notification to send print completion notification, the user information and printed document information upon printing of the receiving device Printing end notification transmitting means for transmitting the information to the information providing apparatus .

  The transmission device configured as described above registers destination information in the attribute information of the document to be transmitted in accordance with the operation of the user of the transmission device, and transmits the document to the information providing device.

  When the transmitting device transmits a document including destination information in attribute information to the information providing device, the information providing device stores the document. When a document transmission request is received together with transmission of user information regarding a user who is using the receiving device from a predetermined receiving device, the information providing device reads a document whose user information corresponds to the destination information. The search is performed, and the searched document is transmitted to the receiving apparatus that has requested transmission. The receiving device receives the document transmitted from the information providing device and stores the document.

  When the receiving apparatus prints the document transmitted from the information providing apparatus according to the operation of the user of the receiving apparatus, the receiving apparatus transmits a print end notification to the information providing apparatus. Upon receiving the print end notification, the information providing apparatus transmits a print end log including information about the printed document and printed user information to the transmitting apparatus that has transmitted the document.

  According to this, since the transmitting apparatus transmits a document to the information providing apparatus and transmits the requested document to the receiving apparatus at the timing when the transmission request is made from the receiving apparatus, the user can Documents can be printed from any receiving device connected in communication. In addition, the transmission device that has transmitted the document receives the print end log and displays the print end log, whereby the user of the transmission device can confirm which user has printed the document.

In another aspect of the present invention, information for managing broadcast delivery that is communicably connected to one or more receiving devices and one or more sending devices, and delivers a document from the sending device to a plurality of users as destinations. A program executed by a computer of a providing device is a document reception that receives a document that is transmitted from the transmitting device and includes destination information indicating a job title or affiliation condition of a user to whom the document is transmitted and expiration date and time information in attribute information Means, first storage means for storing the document, second storage means for storing a user information management list in which user identification information, user affiliation and title are stored in association with each other, and reception Correspondence between the document identification information for identifying the selected document and the transmission destination user information indicating the transmission destination user of the document A third storage means for storing a printing status management list defined for each document, and when receiving a document, the user information management list is referred to, and the conditions relating to the post or affiliation indicated by the destination information included in the document Document that is transmitted together with user information from the receiving device , and printing status management list registration means for extracting user identification information of the corresponding user and registering it in the printing status management list as the destination user information in response to the transmission request, by referring to the print status management list, a transmission target document acquisition unit that acquires a document in which the user information is included in the transmission destination user information as a document to be transmitted, the transmission target A predetermined condition based on the deadline date and time information included in the attribute information of the document. If applicable, the warning information generating means for generating a warning information indicating that the document is approaching the limit of the deadline information, document transmission means for transmitting the document and the warning information of the transmitted to the receiving device And a notification indicating that the printing process of the document transmitted by the document transmission unit has been performed in the receiving apparatus, the user information, and the print end notification receiving the printed document information from the receiving apparatus. Means, a print end log generating means for generating a print end log including the user information and the printed document information, and a print end log for transmitting the print end log to the transmitting device that has transmitted the printed document. The computer is caused to function as transmission means.

  By executing the above program by a computer, the above information providing apparatus can be realized.

  According to the present invention, by storing a document in an information providing device and making a document transmission request from the receiving device to the information providing device, the document can be acquired from a receiving device at a location convenient for the user. When a document is printed at the receiving device, by transmitting log information including information about the printed document and information about the printed user to the transmitting device, the user of the transmitting device can visually recognize the log information. , It can be confirmed by which user it was printed.

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

  According to the present invention, an arbitrary receiving device acquires a document according to a user's operation from an information providing device that stores the document that is broadcasted by a predetermined transmitting device. The document can be acquired from an arbitrary receiving device connected to the information providing device on the network.

  In this embodiment, the outline of the broadcast distribution management system is shown in FIG. In this embodiment, the information providing device is the printer server device 30, the receiving devices are the receiving facsimile devices 70-1 to 70-N, and the transmitting devices are the transmitting facsimile devices 50-1 to 50-50. -N. Further, the document in the present embodiment means various types of documents. Further, the document holds various attribute information. The attribute information includes a document creator name, creation date and time, destination information, and the like.

  The transmission side facsimile apparatuses 50-1 to 50 -N, the reception side facsimile apparatuses 70-1 to 70 -N, and the printer server apparatus 30 can transmit and receive documents via the network 20. The network 20 includes a telephone communication network.

[Description of sending facsimile machine]
The transmission side facsimile apparatus 50 (for example, the transmission side facsimile apparatus 50-1) includes a display unit 52, an input unit 53, a storage unit 54, an IC card reader / writer 55, a document formation unit 56, an authentication unit 57, and an attribute information generation unit 59. The communication unit 60 is included, and each unit is controlled by the control unit 51.

  The display unit 52 displays an operation status, information on a stored document, and the like. Specifically, it is an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or the like. The input unit 53 is a means for a user to select / determine a menu or the like and to read an image that is a basis of a document to be transmitted. Specifically, a touch panel, various operation keys, a color scanner, and the like. The storage unit 54 stores various programs. Specifically, it is a hard disk or the like. The IC card reader / writer 55 is a communication interface for communicating with the non-contact IC card 3 brought close by the user.

  The document forming unit 56 reads a document, a map, a photograph, and the like according to a user's operation of the input unit 53 (for example, a scanner), and generates a document to be transmitted by converting the read content into an image.

  When the non-contact IC card 3 is brought close to the IC card reader / writer 55, the authentication unit 57 determines that the user who owns the non-contact IC card 3 sends the transmission side based on the authentication information stored in the non-contact IC card 3. An authentication determination process is performed to determine whether the user is authorized to use the facsimile machine 50, that is, whether to authenticate the user. Specifically, the authentication unit 57 first performs mutual authentication with the non-contact IC card 3 and determines whether or not the non-contact IC card 3 is valid. After confirming the validity of the contactless IC card 3, the authentication unit 57 reads a user ID, which is information for identifying the user, from the contactless IC card 3, and the user uses the transmission-side facsimile apparatus 50. Determine if you have authority. That is, the authentication unit 57 does not contact the list of user IDs of authorized users stored in the storage unit 54 of the transmission-side facsimile apparatus 50 or a system management server (not shown) connected to the network 20. The determination is made based on whether or not the user ID read from the IC card 3 is included. If it is determined that the user is not a legitimate user, the transmitting-side facsimile apparatus 50 maintains a blocked state that the user cannot use, such as a screen lock state. If it is determined that the user is a legitimate user, the transmitting facsimile machine 50 releases the blocked state and makes the user usable.

  The attribute information generation unit 59 registers destination information and time limit information designated by the user via the input unit 23 in the attribute information of the document. Thus, if the printer server device 30 that has received the document refers to the attribute information, the printer server device 30 can determine to which user the transmission of the document should be permitted.

  Here, the destination information is a condition determined for the user who can use the document based on the user information. Specific examples include “title is head of the headquarters” and “affiliation is development department”. The user information is information including a user ID and affiliation information that is information for identifying the user.

  The communication unit 60 is connected to the network 20 and is a communication interface for transmitting documents and the like, and is connected to other printer server devices 30 and receiving side facsimile devices 70-1 to 70-N via the network 20. Communication is possible.

[Description of non-contact IC card]
For example, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the non-contact IC card 3 as an information storage medium has a configuration in which a non-contact IC tag 8 is built in card bases 30 and 31. The non-contact IC tag 8 is also called, for example, a non-contact data carrier or RFID, and as shown in FIG. 4, a transmitting / receiving unit 88 made of a coil pattern is formed on a base material 81 such as plastic. The non-contact IC tag 8 receives and transmits a radio wave having a constant frequency by forming a resonance circuit with a coil and a capacitive element. As another method, power transmission and data transmission may be performed by electromagnetic induction of a carrier wave from a reader / writer. Generally, a frequency band of 135 kHz (medium wave), 13.56 MHz, and 2.45 GHz (microwave) is used.

  In the case of the illustrated example, the transmitting / receiving unit 88 formed of a coil pattern forms a jumping circuit on the back surface of the base material 81 by the conductive member 84 and is connected to the bumps on the back surface of the IC chip 82 by the coil connection terminals 88C. The IC chip 82 includes a control unit 89 that is a CPU and a storage unit 90 that is a memory.

  In the illustrated example, the capacitive element is built in the IC chip 82. Such a non-contact IC tag 8 is formed by etching a metal foil such as an aluminum foil laminated on a resin base material after photo-etching or resist printing to form a coil pattern, mounting an IC chip 82, and a protective coating. It is formed by providing. The size can also be set to about 30 mm × 30 mm or less.

  As the resin base material 81 used for the non-contact IC tag 8, various materials such as PET, polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, and nylon can be used. The base material may be paper. Although the thickness of a base material can be 15-300 micrometers, 20-100 micrometers is more preferable from points, such as intensity | strength, workability | operativity, and cost. Although copper foil, aluminum foil, or iron foil can be used as the metal foil, aluminum foil is preferable from the viewpoint of cost and workability, and the thickness is preferably about 6 to 50 μm.

  In reading and writing information recorded on these non-contact IC tags 8, a calling signal that resonates from the IC card reader / writer 9 to the non-contact IC tag 8 is transmitted at a distance of several centimeters to several tens of centimeters. This is done by reading a response signal from the non-contact IC tag 8. Thereby, the information recorded in the memory which is a memory | storage part of IC chip 82 of the non-contact IC tag 8 can be read, or information can be written. Further, ID information (identification information) or the like for authenticating the identity of the person is registered in advance in a memory that is a storage unit of the IC chip 82.

[Description of printer server and receiving facsimile machine]
Next, the printer server apparatus 30 and the receiving facsimile apparatus 70 will be described in detail with reference to a block diagram relating to the printer server apparatus 30 and the receiving facsimile apparatus 70 shown in FIG.

  The printer server device 30 includes a storage unit 32, a communication unit 33, a print status management list registration unit 34, a document search unit 35, a print status management list update unit 36, a print end log generation unit 37, a print status log generation unit 38, a warning. An information generation unit 39 is included, and each unit is controlled by the control unit 31.

  The storage unit 32 stores a document, a printing status management list 100, a user information management list 101 for managing user information such as user identification information and groups, and various programs. Specifically, it is a hard disk or the like.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 6, the printing status management list 100 includes “document information” including a document ID set to uniquely identify each document, a document storage location, and the like, and a document destination. "User information" including user ID, affiliation, job title, etc. related to a certain user, and "print status information" including printing status (information indicating whether printing has been performed) and printing date List.

  By referring to the printing status management list 100, it is possible to determine a user who is a transmission target of each document, and it is also possible to grasp a user who is not printing a document.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the user information management list 101 is a list in which user IDs, group information (for example, affiliation, job title, etc.) and the like are associated. Thereby, information about each user can be acquired under various search conditions (for example, a user whose job title is “head of headquarters”). The printing status management list 100 and the user information management list 101 are held in various formats such as a table format and a text format defined in the database.

  The communication unit 33 exchanges documents and the like with the reception side facsimile 70 and the transmission side facsimile apparatus 50.

  The printing status management list registering unit 34 registers, in the printing status management list 100, information relating to the document received from the transmission-side facsimile device 50, and correspondence information that associates user information to be transmitted and information relating to the printing status.

  Specifically, after receiving a document, the printing status management list registration unit 34 includes group information (for example, affiliation or job title) in the destination information included in the attribute information of the document. The user information management list 101 is searched by using the information as a search key, and information about the user to be transmitted is acquired. Corresponding information including “document information” regarding the document received from the transmitting facsimile machine 50, “user information” retrieved from the user information management list 101, and “information regarding printing status” is registered in the printing status management list 100. To do. At the time of registration, “print status” of “information regarding print status” is “x” because print processing is not performed.

  When group information is designated in this way, user information corresponding to the group information is acquired from the user information management list 101. Thereby, the user of the transmission side facsimile apparatus 50 can designate the destination without being aware of each user corresponding to the designated group information.

  When a document acquisition request is made together with transmission of user information using the reception side facsimile apparatus 70 from the reception side facsimile apparatus 70, the document search unit 35 searches for a document for which the user information is a transmission target. .

  Specifically, the printing status management list 100 is searched using the user ID included in the user information as a search key, and the corresponding document is acquired.

  The destination information included in the document attribute information may be searched using each piece of user information as a search key. For example, when the user information is the user ID: “00015”, the user name: “Taro Tanaka”, the affiliation: “second development headquarters”, and the post: “head of headquarters”, the “address information is the user The document is searched using “ID = 00015 or user name = Taro Tanaka or affiliation = second development headquarters or title = head of headquarters” as a search condition.

  In this case, the document can be searched regardless of whether the user ID is specified in the destination information of each document or the group information such as the affiliation is specified.

  After receiving the print end notification from the receiving facsimile machine 70 that has performed the printing process, the printing status management list update unit 36 matches the “document information” to be printed and the “user information” that has undergone the printing process. Update "Information about printing status". Specifically, the “printing status” is changed from “×” to “◯”, or the printing date and time when the printing process is performed is registered in “printing date and time”.

  The print end log generation unit 37 receives the print end notification from the reception side facsimile apparatus 70 that has performed the print process, and then receives the print process target document to the transmission side facsimile apparatus 50 that has transmitted the document to the printer server apparatus 30. A printing end log describing that the printing process has been performed by the facsimile machine 70 is transmitted.

  In the print end log, information on the document to be printed, user information (for example, user name) about the user of the receiving facsimile machine 70 that performed the print process, print process date and time, and print process are performed. Information on the receiving facsimile machine 70.

  Thus, by displaying the print end log on the transmission side facsimile apparatus 50, information on the reception side facsimile apparatus 70 on which the user using the transmission side facsimile apparatus 50 has performed printing processing or the reception side is displayed. Information about the user of the facsimile apparatus 70 can be confirmed.

  In addition, the fact that the print end log has not arrived at the transmission side facsimile apparatus 50 means that the reception side facsimile apparatus 70 has not performed the printing process, so the printing process is performed via the reception side facsimile apparatus 70. Can identify users who are not.

  The printing status log generation unit 38 generates a printing status log describing the printing status of the document based on the printing status management list 100. This print status log includes user information related to the user corresponding to the destination information of the document and a print status indicating whether or not the user has printed the document.

  The printing status log is transmitted via the communication unit 33 at a predetermined timing (for example, one week after the transmission-side facsimile apparatus 50 transmits a document to the printer server apparatus 30 or three days before the document printing deadline). To the side facsimile machine 50.

  The warning information generation unit 39 determines whether or not the document to be transmitted to the receiving facsimile apparatus 70 is a warning target by comparing the time limit information included in the attribute information of the document with the date of transmission of the document. If it is determined, warning information indicating a warning target is generated. Here, the warning target indicates that the time limit of the time limit information included in the attribute information of the document is approaching.

  The reception-side facsimile apparatus 70 includes a display unit 72, an input unit 73, a storage unit 74, a printing unit 75, an IC card reader / writer 76, a communication unit 77, a user information acquisition unit 78, a document acquisition request unit 79, and a document acquisition unit 90. , A warning message display control unit 91 and an authentication unit 92, and each unit is controlled by the control unit 71.

  The communication unit 77 exchanges documents and the like with the printer server device 30. The input unit 73 is a means for a user to select / determine a menu or the like. Specific examples include a touch panel and various operation keys. The storage unit 74 stores various programs and acquired documents.

  The user information acquisition unit 78 reads user information stored in the non-contact IC card 3 via the IC card reader / writer 76. As a result, information regarding the user who is using the receiving facsimile machine 70 can be acquired.

  The document acquisition request unit 79 transmits the user information acquired by the user information acquisition unit 78 to the printer server device 30 and makes a document acquisition request.

  The document acquisition unit 90 acquires the document and warning information transmitted by the printer server device 30 in response to the document acquisition request made by the document acquisition request unit 79, and stores it in the storage unit 74.

  When there is warning information for the document acquired by the document acquisition unit 90, the warning message display control unit 91 displays the warning information on the display unit 72.

  The printing unit 75 prints the document acquired by the document acquisition unit 90 in response to a user operation on the input unit 73. Specifically, it is a plotter or the like.

  When the non-contact IC card 3 is brought close to the IC card reader / writer 76, the authentication unit 92 determines that the user who has the non-contact IC card 3 receives the receiving side based on the authentication information stored in the non-contact IC card 3. An authentication determination process is performed to determine whether the user is authorized to use the facsimile apparatus 70, that is, whether to authenticate the user.

  In the present embodiment having the above-described configuration, the printer server device 30 functions as an information providing device, the receiving side facsimile device 70 functions as a receiving device, and the transmitting side facsimile device 50 functions as a transmitting device. The communication unit 33 in the printer server device 30 functions as a first document reception unit, a first document transmission unit, a print end notification reception unit, a print end log transmission unit, and a print status log transmission unit. The storage unit 32 functions as a first storage unit, and the document search unit 35 functions as a transmission target document acquisition unit. The warning information generation unit 39 functions as a warning information generation unit, the printing status management list registration unit 34 functions as a printing status management information registration unit, and the printing status management list update unit 36 functions as a printing status management information update unit. The print end log generating unit 37 functions as a print end log generating unit, the print status log generating unit 38 functions as a print status log generating unit, and the document forming unit 56 functions as a document forming unit. The attribute information generation unit 59 functions as attribute information registration means, the communication unit 60 in the transmission-side facsimile apparatus 50 functions as second document transmission means and print end log reception means, and the user information acquisition unit 78 receives user information. It functions as an acquisition means. The document acquisition request unit 79 functions as a document transmission request unit, the communication unit 77 in the reception side facsimile device 70 functions as a second document reception unit and a print end notification transmission unit, and the storage unit 74 in the reception side facsimile device 70 It functions as a second storage unit, and the printing unit 75 functions as a printing unit.

[Document reception processing]
Next, document reception processing in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the document reception process.

  The document reception process is a process in which the printer server apparatus 30 stores a document transmitted from the transmission-side facsimile apparatus 50 (for example, the transmission-side facsimile apparatus 50-1) and registers management information related to the document.

  In the transmission-side facsimile apparatus 50, the user brings the non-contact IC card 3 possessed by the user closer to the IC card reader / writer 55 in order to use the transmission-side facsimile apparatus 50. When the non-contact IC card 3 is brought closer, the authentication unit 57 performs an authentication determination process based on the user information stored in the non-contact IC card 3 (step S1).

  As a result of performing the authentication determination process, when the user is recognized as a legitimate user (step S2; Yes), the transmitting-side facsimile apparatus 50 releases the blocked state and becomes operable by the user. (Step S3).

  In response to a user's operation, the document forming unit 56 generates a document to be transmitted by causing the input unit 53 (for example, a scanner or the like) to read a document, a map, a photograph, or the like, and using the read content as an image. . (Step S4).

  After the document is generated, the attribute information generation unit 59 is configured so that the user operates the input unit 53 (for example, an operation key) to specify destination information (for example, “user whose affiliation is a development unit” Etc.) and time limit information are registered in the attribute information of the document (step S5).

  When the transmission side facsimile apparatus 50 detects that a document transmission instruction has been made through the operation of the input unit 53 by the user, the transmission side facsimile apparatus 50 sends the above information to the printer server apparatus 30 via the communication unit 60. The document is transmitted (step S6).

  As a result, the user information specified by the user is included in the attribute information of the document. Therefore, when the printer server device 30 receiving the document refers to the attribute information of the document, the printer server device 30 transmits the document. The user information registered in accordance with the user's operation can be referred to.

  When the document is transmitted from the transmission side facsimile apparatus 50 to the printer server apparatus 30, the printer server apparatus 30 receives the document via the communication unit 33 (step S11) and stores the document in the storage unit 32 (step S11). Step S12).

  When the destination information included in the document attribute information includes group information (for example, affiliation or job title), the printing status management list registration unit 34 uses the user information management list 101 as a search key. Search and obtain information about the user to be sent. Then, “document information” relating to the document received from the transmission side facsimile apparatus 50, “user information” relating to the user corresponding to the destination information, and “information relating to printing status” are registered in the printing status management list 100 (step S13). .

  In this way, by searching the printing status management list 100 based on the user information, it is possible to acquire document information addressed to the user.

[Document Print Processing]
Next, document printing processing in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the document printing process.

  In the document printing process, the receiving facsimile device 70 (for example, the receiving facsimile device 70-1) makes a document provision request to the printer server device 30 to acquire the document from the printer server device 30, and the document is processed. It is a process to print.

  In the receiving side facsimile apparatus 70, the user brings the non-contact IC card 3 possessed by the user close to the IC card reader / writer 76 in order to use the receiving side facsimile apparatus 70. When the non-contact IC card 3 is brought closer, the authentication unit 92 performs an authentication determination process based on the user information stored in the non-contact IC card 3 (step S41).

  As a result of performing the authentication determination process, when the user is recognized as a valid user (step S41; Yes), the document acquisition request unit 79 transmits user information to the printer server device 30. A document acquisition request is made (step S42).

  When the printer server device 30 receives a document acquisition request together with user information from the receiving side facsimile device 70 (step S31), the document search unit 35 uses the user ID included in the received user information as a search key to manage print status. The list 100 is searched to obtain a document that can be printed by the user (step S32).

  Incidentally, in this embodiment, as described above, the “printing status” is assumed to be “x” as the search condition.

  By using the broadcast management system, the same document is sent to a plurality of users. Therefore, even if a document has already been printed according to an acquisition request from a certain user, it may be inconvenient to delete the document unless another user has already printed it. It is necessary to keep. However, this is not preferable in terms of operation because the printed document information is acquired every time the user uses the receiving facsimile apparatus 70. Therefore, by adding that the “printing status” is “x” as a document acquisition condition, the user acquires only a document that has not been printed. Note that the same document may be printed a plurality of times without adding “x” as the “printing status” as a document acquisition condition.

  After the document search unit 35 searches for a document, the warning information generation unit 39 determines whether or not the document to be transmitted to the receiving facsimile machine 70 is a warning target. Information is generated (step S33). Specifically, the date and time of transmission to the receiving facsimile apparatus 70 are compared with the time limit information included in the document attribute information, and as a result of comparison, a predetermined condition (for example, the date of transmission is three days before the time limit) Etc.), the document is targeted for warning and predetermined warning information is generated.

  After the warning information generation is completed, the printer server device 30 transmits the document searched by the document search unit 35 and the warning information generated by the warning information generation unit 39 to the receiving facsimile device 70 via the communication unit 33. (Step S34).

  In the receiving facsimile device 70, the document acquisition unit 90 acquires the document and warning information transmitted by the printer server device 30, and stores them in the storage unit 74 (step S43). In this way, the document can be received by the receiving facsimile machine 70 at an arbitrary location.

  Then, the receiving side facsimile apparatus 70 displays the acquired document information on the display unit 72 (step S44).

  The warning message display control unit 91 determines whether or not there is a warning target document. If there is a warning target document (step S45; Yes), the warning message display control unit 91 displays a warning message on the display unit 72 (step S46). Thereby, it is possible to make the user recognize a document that needs to be printed and viewed immediately.

  When the receiving side facsimile apparatus 70 detects that a print request has been made in response to the user operating the input unit 73 (step S47; Yes), the printing unit 75 prints the document requested to be printed (step S47). S48).

  After the printing unit 75 prints the document, the reception-side facsimile device 70 transmits a print processing end notification to the printer server device 30 via the communication unit 77, and also uses information about the printed document and use of the reception-side facsimile device 70. The user information of the user is also transmitted to the printer server device 30 (step S49).

  When the printer server device 30 receives a print processing end notification via the communication unit 33 (step S35), the print status management list update unit 36 performs printing processing on the “document information” to be printed and the “user” The “information regarding the printing status” that matches the “information” is updated (step S36).

  Then, after the print end log generation unit 37 generates the print end log including the user information about the user of the receiving facsimile device 70 that printed the document and the information about the document to be printed, The print end log is transmitted to the transmitting facsimile machine 50 (step S37).

  The transmission side facsimile device 50 acquires the print end log transmitted by the printer server device 30 via the communication unit 60 (step S21).

  According to this, the printer server device 30 stores the document including the destination information received from the transmission-side facsimile device 50 in the storage unit 32 of the printer server device 30. When the user information is transmitted from the receiving facsimile device 70 and the document transmission request is made, the printer server device 30 includes the user information transmitted from the receiving facsimile device 70 in the destination information. The document is retrieved, and the retrieved document is transmitted to the receiving facsimile machine 70.

  As described above, the transmission-side facsimile apparatus 50 transmits the document to the printer server apparatus 30, and the transmission-requested document is transmitted to the reception-side facsimile apparatus 70 at the timing when the transmission request is made from the reception-side facsimile apparatus 70. Therefore, the user can print a document from any receiving facsimile machine 70 connected to the network 20.

  In the case of normal broadcast communication, the transmission device transmits a document to a plurality of reception devices at the same time. Therefore, when broadcast communication is performed, a large communication load is temporarily applied. On the other hand, in the present invention, the transmission side facsimile apparatus 50 transmits only the document to be broadcasted to the printer server 30 and the printer server 30 makes a transmission request at the timing when the document transmission request is made from each reception side facsimile apparatus 70. A document corresponding to the transmission request is transmitted to the receiving side facsimile apparatus 70. Therefore, the communication load is distributed, and it can be avoided that a large communication load is temporarily applied.

  When the printer server device 30 receives a document print end notification from the reception-side facsimile device 70, the printer server device 30 receives information about the reception-side facsimile device 70 that printed the document and a user who uses the reception-side facsimile device 70. The printing end log describing the information is transmitted to the transmitting facsimile machine 50.

  In this way, by transmitting a print end log relating to information that the receiving side facsimile apparatus 70 has performed printing processing to the transmitting side facsimile apparatus 50, the user who has transmitted the document using the transmitting side facsimile apparatus 50 can perform the printing. By referring to the end log, it can be confirmed that the transmitted document has been printed.

  Then, when the time limit information is registered in the attribute information of the document transmitted from the transmission-side facsimile device 50, the printer server device 30 transmits user information from the reception-side facsimile device 70 and also sends a document transmission request. Then, the user information transmitted from the receiving side facsimile device 70 is searched for a document whose destination information is included, the deadline information included in the attribute information of the searched document is compared with the date and time of transmission, Warning information is generated according to the comparison result and transmitted to the receiving facsimile machine 70.

  In this way, by generating warning information and transmitting the warning information together with the document to the receiving facsimile apparatus 70, if the receiving facsimile apparatus 70 displays a message in accordance with the warning information, the receiving facsimile machine is displayed. The user of the device 70 can be made aware that there is a document that needs to be printed or displayed immediately.

[Print Status Management List Transmission Processing]
In the document transmission process, the printer server device 30 acquires the user information corresponding to the group information from the user information management list 101 if the document transmitted from the transmitting facsimile device 50 includes group information.

  Then, the printer server device 30 adds correspondence information of the acquired “user information”, “document information”, and “information about printing status” to the printing status management list 100.

  Upon receiving a print processing end notification from the receiving facsimile device 70, the printer server device 30 updates the "user information" and "document information" corresponding information corresponding to the "printing information" that performed the printing. To do.

  Then, at a predetermined timing (for example, two days before the expiration date), the printing status log extracted for each document from the printing status management list 100 is transmitted to the transmitting facsimile machine 50 that has transmitted the document.

  As a result, the user using the transmission side facsimile apparatus 50 can easily determine whether or not the user who is the destination of the document is printing by referring to the print status log.

[Other Embodiments]
In this embodiment, the non-contact IC card 3 is used. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a mobile phone equipped with an information storage medium may be used. That is, in the present invention, any portable storage medium can be applied as long as it can be used as access control for entering and leaving the room.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the case where the transmitting side facsimile device 50 is used as the transmitting device and the receiving side facsimile device 70 is used as the receiving device has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and various other types are possible. It can be applied to devices and equipment. For example, it is conceivable to use a printer as the receiving device and the transmitting device.

  The present invention can be used as a management system for managing broadcast communication for distributing the same document to a plurality of users.

It is a figure explaining the outline | summary of a broadcast delivery management system. It is a top view of a non-contact IC card. It is sectional drawing by the AA line of FIG. It is a top view of the IC tag built in the non-contact IC card. 2 is a block diagram relating to a printer server device and a receiving facsimile device in the broadcast distribution management system. FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically illustrating a data structure of a printing status management list. It is a figure which shows typically the data structure of a user information management list. It is a flowchart which shows the document reception process in a broadcast delivery management system. 6 is a flowchart illustrating document printing processing in the broadcast distribution management system.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 ... Non-contact IC card 9 ... IC card reader / writer 20 ... Network 30 ... Printer server apparatus 50 ... Transmission side facsimile apparatus 70 ... Reception side facsimile apparatus

Claims (3)

One or a plurality of receiving devices, one or a plurality of transmitting devices, and an information providing device are configured to be communicably connected to each other and manage a broadcast distribution in which a document is distributed from the transmitting device to a plurality of users. The information providing device of the broadcast distribution management system,
Document receiving means for receiving a document that is transmitted from the transmission device and that includes destination information indicating the job title or affiliation conditions of the user to which the document is transmitted and deadline date and time information in attribute information ;
Storage means for storing the document;
A user information management list in which user identification information, user affiliation and title are stored in association with each other,
A printing status management list that defines the correspondence between the document identification information for identifying the received document and the transmission destination user information indicating the transmission destination user of the document, for each document;
When a document is received, the user information management list is referred to, user identification information of a user corresponding to a job title or affiliation condition indicated by the destination information included in the document is extracted, and the destination user is extracted. Printing status management list registration means for registering as information in the printing status management list;
From the receiving device, in accordance with the document transmission request is transmitted together with the user information, by referring to the print status management list, the documents the user information is included in the transmission destination user information as a document to be transmitted A transmission target document acquisition means to acquire;
When the transmission target document satisfies a predetermined condition based on the expiration date / time information included in the attribute information of the document, warning information indicating that the document is approaching the expiration date of the expiration date / time information is displayed. Warning information generating means for generating;
Document transmission means for transmitting the document to be transmitted and the warning information to the receiving device;
A print end notification receiving means for receiving a notification indicating that the printing process of the document transmitted by the document transmitting means has been performed in the receiving apparatus, the user information, and the printed document information from the receiving apparatus; ,
A print end log generating means for generating a print end log including the user information and the printed document information;
An information providing apparatus comprising: a print end log transmission unit configured to transmit the print end log to a transmission apparatus that has transmitted the printed document. One or a plurality of receiving devices, one or a plurality of transmitting devices, and an information providing device are configured to be communicably connected to each other and manage a broadcast distribution in which a document is distributed from the transmitting device to a plurality of users. Broadcast distribution management system,
The transmitter is
Document forming means for forming the document according to a user's instruction;
Attribute information registration means for registering destination information and deadline date / time information indicating conditions relating to the post or affiliation of the user to whom the document is transmitted in the attribute information of the document according to the user's instruction;
First document transmitting means for transmitting the document to the information providing apparatus;
A print end log receiving means for receiving a print end log transmitted by the information providing apparatus when the receiving apparatus prints the document;
The information providing apparatus includes:
First document receiving means for receiving the document transmitted by the first document transmitting means;
First storage means for storing the document;
A user information management list in which user identification information, user affiliation and title are stored in association with each other,
A printing status management list that defines the correspondence between the document identification information for identifying the received document and the transmission destination user information indicating the transmission destination user of the document, for each document;
When a document is received, the user information management list is referred to, user identification information of a user corresponding to a job title or affiliation condition indicated by the destination information included in the document is extracted, and the destination user is extracted. Printing status management list registration means for registering as information in the printing status management list;
From the receiving device, in accordance with the document transmission request is transmitted together with the user information, by referring to the print status management list, the documents the user information is included in the transmission destination user information as a document to be transmitted A transmission target document acquisition means to acquire;
Second document transmission means for transmitting the document to be transmitted and the warning information to a receiving device;
When the transmission target document satisfies a predetermined condition based on the expiration date / time information included in the attribute information of the document, warning information indicating that the document is approaching the expiration date of the expiration date / time information is displayed. Warning information generating means for generating;
A print end notification for receiving from the receiving device a notification indicating that the printing process of the document transmitted by the second document transmitting unit has been performed in the receiving device, the user information, and the printed document information. Receiving means;
A print end log generating means for generating the print end log including the user information and the printed document information;
A print end log transmission means for transmitting the print end log to the transmission device that has transmitted the printed document;
The receiving device is:
User information acquisition means for acquiring user information which is user information;
A document transmission request means for transmitting the user information and a document transmission request to the information providing device;
Second document receiving means for acquiring a document transmitted in response to the document transmission request means by the information providing apparatus;
Second storage means for storing the document acquired by the second document receiving means;
Printing means for printing the document;
When said printing means has printed the document, and print end notification to send print completion notifications, print end notification to send the user information and printed document information upon printing of the receiving apparatus to the information providing device A broadcast distribution management system comprising: a transmission unit; Executed by a computer of an information providing apparatus that is communicably connected to one or a plurality of receiving apparatuses and one or a plurality of transmitting apparatuses, and manages broadcast distribution that distributes a document to a plurality of users from the transmitting apparatus. A program,
Document receiving means for receiving a document that is transmitted from the transmission device and that includes destination information indicating the job title or affiliation conditions of the user to which the document is transmitted and deadline date and time information in attribute information ;
First storage means for storing the document;
Second storage means for storing a user information management list in which user identification information is stored in association with a user's affiliation and job title;
Third storage means for storing a print status management list that defines, for each document, correspondence between document identification information for identifying a received document and transmission destination user information indicating a transmission destination user of the document;
When a document is received, the user information management list is referred to, user identification information of a user corresponding to a job title or affiliation condition indicated by the destination information included in the document is extracted, and the destination user is extracted. Printing status management list registration means for registering as information in the printing status management list;
From the receiving device, in accordance with the document transmission request is transmitted together with the user information, by referring to the print status management list, the documents the user information is included in the transmission destination user information as a document to be transmitted A transmission target document acquisition means to acquire;
When the transmission target document satisfies a predetermined condition based on the expiration date / time information included in the attribute information of the document, warning information indicating that the document is approaching the expiration date of the expiration date / time information is displayed. Warning information generating means for generating;
Document transmission means for transmitting the document to be transmitted and the warning information to the receiving device;
A print end notification receiving means for receiving a notification indicating that the printing process of the document transmitted by the document transmitting means has been performed in the receiving apparatus, the user information, and the printed document information from the receiving apparatus; ,
A print end log generating means for generating a print end log including the user information and the printed document information;
A program that causes the computer to function as a print end log transmission unit that transmits the print end log to a transmission apparatus that has transmitted the printed document.

Images