JP4880403B2 - Image forming system, image forming apparatus, and image forming method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming system , an image forming apparatus, and an image forming method that include an image forming apparatus and a server that is connected to the image forming apparatus via a network and controls the image forming apparatus .

  Conventionally, a service in which a system in which a charging apparatus and an image forming apparatus are connected to each other is installed at a store and an image is formed in accordance with the amount of money input by a user input to the charging apparatus has been widely used. However, since such a billing device is used by connecting a device such as a coin rack or a key counter to the main body, it has to carry out its own charge management. The request was strong. In order to solve such a problem, an image forming apparatus that automatically calculates a copy usage fee and automatically creates and outputs a bill according to the usage fee has been proposed (Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent No. 3482294

  When an additional image such as the above bill is registered in a server such as a billing apparatus, the timing at which the additional image is updated in the server and the timing at which the image forming apparatus acquires the additional image from the server are appropriately controlled. There is a need to.

SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image forming system , an image forming apparatus, and an image forming method in which the image forming apparatus can acquire an additional image from a server at an appropriate timing. And

In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, an invention according to claim 1 includes an image forming apparatus, and a server connected to the image forming apparatus via a network and controlling the image forming apparatus. In the image forming system, the server stores an additional image which is an image to be added and output when the target image is output in the image forming apparatus, and the additional image storage unit stores the additional image. An additional image transmitting means for transmitting to the apparatus; an additional image updating means for updating the additional image; and an update notification for transmitting an update notification indicating that the additional image has been updated to the image forming apparatus when the additional image is updated. An update notification receiving means for receiving the update notification from the server; and when the update notification is received, the image forming apparatus receives the update notification from the server. Either the additional image receiving means for receiving the image and the additional image is output to a paper different from the paper for outputting the target image, or the additional image is output to the back surface of the paper for outputting the target image. the has a paper specifying information obtaining means for obtaining a sheet designation information designating, and output means for outputting said additional image and the target image based on the paper specified information in a predetermined form, and the output means , the target image is output settings that will be output on both sides of the paper, sometimes Do one prior Symbol target image is output on both sides of the last sheet, the back surface of the paper where the paper specifying information for outputting the target image Even if it is designated to output the additional image, the additional image is not output to the back surface of the paper on which the target image is output based on the paper designation information, and the additional image is not converted to the target image. Out The paper to be and outputs the different paper.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus acquires reception permission / rejection information indicating permission / rejection of reception of the additional image by the additional image receiving unit. A reception permission / rejection information acquisition unit; and an additional image reception control unit that permits reception of the additional image when the reception permission / rejection information acquisition unit acquires the reception permission / rejection information indicating reception permission. The receiving means receives the additional image when reception of the additional image is permitted by the additional image reception control means.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming system according to the first or second aspect, the image forming apparatus includes a counting unit that counts the number of outputs of the additional image output by the output unit. The transmission permission / rejection information acquisition means for acquiring transmission permission / rejection information indicating permission / rejection of transmission to the server for the number of outputs counted by the counting means; and the transmission permission / rejection information for which the transmission permission / rejection information acquisition means indicates transmission permission. wherein when acquiring a number of outputs transmission control means for permitting transmission of the output number, if it is allowed to send the output speed by the output speed control unit, the number of the output that is output by the output means It further has output number transmission means for transmitting to the server after output by the output means .

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming system according to any one of the first to third aspects, the position designation information for designating a position on the paper on which the additional image is to be output is acquired. The information processing apparatus further includes designation information acquisition means, wherein the output means outputs the additional image at a position indicated by the position designation information .

The invention according to claim 5 is an update notification transmission for transmitting an update notification of the additional image when the additional image, which is an image to be added and output when the target image to be image formed is output, is updated. An image forming apparatus connected via a network to a server comprising means for receiving an update notification receiving means for receiving the update notification from the server, and receiving the additional image from the server when the update notification is received To specify whether to output the additional image to a sheet different from the sheet from which the target image is output or to output the additional image to the back side of the sheet from which the target image is output. It has a paper specifying information obtaining means for obtaining paper specifying information, and output means for outputting said additional image and the target image based on the paper specified information in a predetermined form, the output Means, the target image is an output setting that is output on both sides of a sheet, sometimes Do One prior Symbol Target image output on both sides of the last sheet of paper where the paper specifying information for outputting the target image Even when the output of the additional image is designated on the back side, the additional image is not output to the back side of the paper on which the target image is output based on the paper designation information. The target image is output on a paper different from the paper on which the target image is output.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image forming apparatus according to the fifth aspect, wherein the reception permission / rejection information acquisition unit acquires reception permission / rejection information indicating permission / rejection of reception of the additional image by the additional image receiving unit. An additional image reception control unit that permits reception of the additional image when the reception permission information acquisition unit acquires the reception permission information indicating reception permission, and the additional image reception unit includes the additional image reception unit. The additional image is received when reception of the additional image is permitted by the reception control means.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the fifth or sixth aspect, the counting means for counting the number of outputs of the additional image output by the output means, and the counting means for counting. The transmission permission / rejection information acquisition means for acquiring transmission permission / rejection information indicating permission / rejection of transmission of the output number to the server, and when the transmission permission / rejection information acquisition means acquires the transmission permission / rejection information indicating transmission permission, wherein an output speed transmission control means for permitting transmission of the output number, if it is allowed to send the output speed by the output speed control unit, the number of the output that is output by the output means after output by the output means It further comprises output number transmitting means for transmitting to the server.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the fifth to seventh aspects, the position specifying information for specifying the position on the paper on which the additional image is to be output is acquired. The information processing apparatus further includes designation information acquisition means, wherein the output means outputs the additional image at a position indicated by the position designation information.

The invention according to claim 9 is an update notification transmission for transmitting an update notification of the additional image when an additional image, which is an image to be added and output when outputting a target image to be an image formation target, is updated. An image forming method in an image forming apparatus connected via a network to a server comprising means for updating, wherein an update notification receiving means receives the update notice from the server, and an additional image receiving means comprises the When an update notification is received, an additional image receiving step for receiving the additional image from the server, and whether paper designation information acquisition means outputs the additional image on a paper different from the paper on which the target image is output A paper designation information obtaining step for obtaining paper designation information for designating whether to output the additional image to the back side of the paper for outputting the target image; Stage, it has a output step of outputting said additional image and the target image based on the paper specifying information in a predetermined form, in the outputting step, the target image is output on both sides of the paper output If the setting and the target image is output on both sides of the final sheet, the sheet specifying information specifies that the additional image is output to the back side of the sheet on which the target image is output. Based on the paper designation information, the additional image is not output to the back surface of the paper on which the target image is output, and the additional image is output on a paper different from the paper on which the target image is output. And

According to the present invention, additional image storage unit of the server may store the additional image is an image to be added to the output when outputting the target image in the image forming apparatus, the additional image transmission means, the image forming additional image And the additional image update unit updates the additional image, and the update notification transmission unit transmits an update notification indicating the update to the image forming apparatus when the additional image is updated. When the update notification receiving unit of the apparatus receives the update notification from the server and the additional image receiving unit receives the update notification, the additional notification receiving unit receives the additional image from the server, the print instruction acquiring unit acquires the print instruction, The target image acquisition unit acquires the target image to be printed, and the image forming unit forms the target image and the additional image. Therefore, the image forming apparatus acquires the additional image at the timing when the additional image is updated. You There is an effect that it is possible. Further, the sheet designation information acquisition unit of the image forming apparatus acquires sheet designation information for designating a sheet on which the additional image is to be output, and the output unit of the image forming apparatus applies the target image to the predetermined sheet based on the sheet instruction information. And the additional image are output, so that the additional image can be printed on a sheet according to the user's request.

According to the present invention, the reception permission / inhibition information acquisition unit of the image forming apparatus acquires reception permission / inhibition information indicating whether or not the additional image reception unit has received the additional image, and the additional image reception control unit acquires the reception permission / inhibition information. When the means obtains reception permission / inhibition information indicating permission for reception, reception of the additional image is permitted, and when the additional image reception means is permitted to receive the additional image by the additional image reception control means, the additional image is received. Therefore, it is possible to control whether or not reception is possible according to the wishes of the administrator or the like.

Further, according to the present invention, counting means of the image forming apparatus, and counts the number of outputs of the output additional image by the output unit, the output number of transmission means, transmits the number of output counted by the counting means to the server Therefore, the server can manage the number of output additional images.

Further, according to the present invention, the transmission permission / inhibition information acquisition unit of the image forming apparatus acquires transmission permission / inhibition information indicating permission / inhibition of transmission of the output number by the output number transmission unit, and the output number transmission control unit acquires the transmission permission / inhibition information. If the means acquires transmission permission / inhibition information indicating permission for transmission, transmission of the output number is permitted, and if the output number transmission means is permitted to transmit the output number by the output number transmission control means, the output number is transmitted. Therefore, it is possible to control whether transmission is permitted or not according to the wishes of the administrator or the like.

According to the present invention, the position designation information acquisition unit of the image forming apparatus acquires the position designation information for designating the position on the sheet on which the additional image is to be output, and the output unit is set at the position indicated by the position designation information. Since the additional image is output , it is possible to output the additional image at the position of the sheet according to the user's wish.

Exemplary embodiments of an image forming system , an image forming apparatus, and an image forming method according to the present invention are explained in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming system 1 according to the embodiment. The image forming system 1 includes a server 10 and an image forming apparatus 20. The server 10 and the image forming apparatus 20 are connected via a network 30. The image forming apparatus 20 is installed, for example, in a store, collects a fee from the user, and prints an image that the user desires to print, that is, a target image to be printed. Further, in addition to the target image, an additional image such as a receipt is printed as appropriate.

  The server 10 includes an additional image holding unit 100, an additional image update unit 102, and a communication unit 110. The additional image holding unit 100 holds an additional image. The additional image holding unit 100 is, for example, a nonvolatile memory. The additional image update unit 102 updates the additional image held in the additional image holding unit 100 according to an instruction from the server administrator. The communication unit 110 transmits and receives various data to and from the image forming apparatus 20 via the network 30. For example, the communication unit 110 transmits the additional image held in the additional image holding unit 100. Further, when the additional image is updated, an update notification indicating that the additional image has been updated is transmitted.

  The image forming apparatus 20 includes a communication unit 200, an additional image holding unit 210, a target image acquisition unit 212, an image formation unit 214, a count unit 216, an instruction acquisition unit 220, an additional image reception control unit 222, And an output number transmission control unit 224.

  The communication unit 200 exchanges various data with the server 10. For example, an additional image is received. Also, the number of outputs is transmitted. Here, the output number is the number of output additional images as printed matter. The additional image holding unit 210 holds an additional image received from the server 10 by the communication unit 200. The target image acquisition unit 212 acquires a target image from the user of the server 10. Specifically, a target image obtained by reading with a scanner function of the image forming system 1 is acquired.

  The instruction acquisition unit 220 acquires designation information corresponding to various designations input by the user. Specifically, the instruction acquisition unit 220 acquires output designation information of an additional image. The output designation information includes sheet designation information for designating a sheet to be printed, position designation information for designating a position to be printed, and output format designation information for designating a specific output format. It is also possible to specify that the additional image is not printed. Thus, the instruction acquisition unit 220 according to the present embodiment functions as an output format designation information acquisition unit, a sheet designation information acquisition unit, and a position designation information acquisition unit.

  As the sheet designation information, for example, there is information that designates that an additional image is printed on the back side of the sheet on which the target image is printed. Further, there is information specifying that the additional image is printed on a sheet different from the sheet on which the target image is printed. The designation of the position to be printed is designation to print the additional image at a predetermined position on a predetermined sheet.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a specific output format 300. The specific output format is a predetermined format of the additional image, and specifies the paper and the position of the additional image on the paper. The specific output format 300 shown in FIG. 2 is a format in which an additional image is printed on the attached part 310 of the bill. In addition, it is specified that the bill portion is printed on a sheet different from the target image.

  As described above, since the area of the additional image is secured, it is also possible for the user to give only the additional image part to the other person by separating only the additional image part from the receipt. Thereby, when a coupon is printed as an additional image, for example, it becomes possible to use the coupon separately.

  The image forming unit 214 forms an image of the target image acquired by the target image acquisition unit 212 and outputs a printed matter. Further, according to an instruction from the instruction acquisition unit 220, an additional image held by the additional image holding unit 210 is appropriately formed and a printed matter is output. The counting unit 216 counts the number of output prints of the additional image.

  The additional image reception control unit 222 controls whether or not the communication unit 200 can receive the additional image in accordance with the instruction acquired by the instruction acquisition unit 220. The output number transmission control unit 224 controls rejection of the output number output by the communication unit 200 in accordance with the instruction acquired by the instruction acquisition unit 220.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing processing of the image forming system 1. When the additional image update unit 102 updates the additional image in the server 10 (step S100, Yes), the communication unit 110 transmits an update notification to the image forming apparatus 20 (step S102). At this time, in the image forming apparatus 20, when the additional image reception control unit 222 permits the reception of the additional image, that is, when the reception permission is set (step S110, Yes), the communication unit 200 An additional image request for requesting transmission of the additional image is transmitted (step S112).

  For example, when an instruction to allow or reject the additional image is input by the user or administrator, the instruction acquisition unit 220 acquires reception permission / inhibition information corresponding to the input content. Then, the additional image reception control unit 222 sets reception permission or reception prohibition for the communication unit 200 based on the reception rejection information. That is, the additional image reception control unit 222 according to the present embodiment functions as additional image reception control means. Further, the instruction acquisition unit 220 according to the present embodiment functions as a reception rejection information acquisition unit.

  As described above, by enabling the setting of reception permission / rejection, it is possible to change reception permission / rejection according to the desires of the user and the administrator.

  Further, the authority to set reception permission / rejection may be limited only to the administrator. In this case, for example, when accepting an input of permission / inhibition of reception, an input of input person identification information for identifying an input person such as a password or identification information is accepted. When the input person identification information matches the administrator identification information for identifying the administrator registered in advance, that is, when the authentication is successful, the additional image reception control unit 222 follows the reception permission / denial information. The reception permission or reception prohibition is set. In this way, by restricting the authority to set reception permission / denial, it is possible to prevent setting changes by a malicious third party.

  In the server 10, when the communication unit 110 receives the additional image request, the communication unit 110 transmits the updated additional image to the image forming apparatus 20 (step S120). Thereafter, when the instruction acquisition unit 220 acquires a print instruction by an input of the user of the image forming apparatus 20 (Yes in step S130), the image forming unit 214 performs output setting for outputting an additional image (step S132). . The instruction acquisition unit 220 acquires output designation information together with the print instruction, and the image forming unit 214 performs output setting according to the output designation information. Further, at this time, the target image acquisition unit 212 acquires a target image to be printed corresponding to the print instruction.

  Then, the image forming unit 214 first forms an image of the target image. Further, an additional image is formed (step S134). In the image formation of the additional image, processing is performed according to the setting in step S132.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a printed matter when an output setting is made to print the additional image on a sheet different from the sheet on which the target image is printed. In this case, as shown in FIG. 4, the additional image is printed on a paper 410 different from the paper 400 on which the target image is printed. In this way, by printing on a sheet different from the target image, it is possible to use such that a printed matter of an additional image such as a coupon is handed over to another person.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a printed matter when an output setting is made to print an additional image on the back side of the sheet on which the target image is printed. In this case, the target image is printed on the front surface 402 and the additional image is printed on the back surface 412 as shown in FIG.

  When the target image is printed on both sides and the last page of the target image is printed on the back side of a predetermined sheet, that is, when printing is performed on both sides of the final sheet, the additional image is printed on another sheet. The Furthermore, not only the paper but also the position on the paper can be set.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a printed matter when the target image is set to be output in a specific output format. In this case, as shown in FIG. 6, an image in which the additional image is embedded in the specific output format is printed on a sheet 414 different from the sheet 404 of the target image.

  The description returns to FIG. 3 again. After image formation (step S134), the count unit 216 counts the number of outputs (step S136). Next, when the output number transmission control unit 224 permits transmission of the output number, that is, when transmission permission is set (step S138, Yes), the communication unit 200 sets the output number to the server 10. (Step S140). Thus, the processing by the image forming system 1 is completed.

  Thus, since the output number is transmitted to the server 10, the server 10 can manage the output number. For example, when the additional image is an advertisement, it can be managed as an information source for measuring the advertisement effect.

  For example, when an instruction to permit transmission of the number of outputs is input by a user or an administrator, the instruction acquisition unit 220 acquires transmission permission / inhibition information indicating the input content. Then, the output number transmission control unit 224 sets transmission permission or transmission prohibition for the communication unit 200 based on the transmission permission information. That is, the output number transmission control unit 224 according to the present embodiment functions as an output number transmission control unit. Further, the instruction acquisition unit 220 according to the present embodiment functions as a transmission permission / rejection information acquisition unit.

  As described above, by enabling the transmission permission / inhibition setting, the transmission permission / inhibition can be changed according to the desire of the user or the administrator.

  Further, the authority to set transmission permission / rejection may be limited to only the administrator. The output number transmission control unit 224 sets transmission permission or transmission prohibition according to the transmission permission / denial information only when the administrator authentication is successful. In this way, by restricting the authority of transmission permission / denial setting, setting changes by a malicious third party can be prevented.

  In the above processing, the output number is transmitted from the image forming apparatus 20 to the server 10. However, when the output number request is transmitted from the server 10 to the image forming apparatus 20, the output number is transmitted. It is good to do. In this case as well, only when transmission permission is set.

  As described above, the present invention has been described using the embodiment, but various changes or improvements can be added to the above embodiment.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming system 1 according to an embodiment. It is a figure which shows the specific output format. 3 is a flowchart showing processing of the image forming system 1. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a printed matter when an output setting is made to print an additional image on a sheet different from the sheet on which the target image is printed. It is a figure which shows a printed matter when the output setting of printing an additional image on the back surface of the paper which printed the target image is performed. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a printed matter when an output setting of a target image in a specific output format is performed.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming system 10 Server 20 Image forming apparatus 30 Network 100 Additional image holding part 102 Additional image update part 110 Communication part 200 Communication part 210 Additional image holding part 212 Target image acquisition part 214 Image formation part 216 Count part 220 Instruction acquisition part 222 Additional image reception control unit 224 Output number transmission control unit

Claims (9)

An image forming system comprising: an image forming apparatus; and a server connected to the image forming apparatus via a network and controlling the image forming apparatus,
The server
An additional image storage means for storing an additional image which is an image to be added and output when the target image is output in the image forming apparatus;
Additional image transmission means for transmitting the additional image to the image forming apparatus;
Additional image updating means for updating the additional image;
Update notification transmitting means for transmitting an update notification indicating that the additional image has been updated to the image forming apparatus when the additional image is updated;
The image forming apparatus includes:
Update notification receiving means for receiving the update notification from the server;
An additional image receiving means for receiving the additional image from the server when the update notification is received;
A sheet for acquiring sheet designation information for designating whether to output the additional image to a sheet different from the sheet for outputting the target image or to output the additional image to the back side of the sheet for outputting the target image. Designated information acquisition means;
And an output means for outputting said additional image and the target image based on the paper specified information in a predetermined form,
And the output means, the target image is output settings that will be output on both sides of the paper, sometimes Do One prior Symbol target image is output on both sides of the final paper, paper in which the paper specifying information for outputting the target image Even if it is designated to output the additional image to the back surface of the paper, the additional image is not output to the back surface of the paper on which the target image is output based on the paper designation information. Is output on a sheet different from the sheet on which the target image is output. The image forming apparatus includes:
A reception permission / rejection information acquisition unit that acquires reception permission / rejection information indicating permission / rejection of reception of the additional image by the additional image reception unit;
An additional image reception control unit that permits reception of the additional image when the reception permission information acquisition unit acquires the reception permission information indicating reception permission;
2. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the additional image receiving unit receives the additional image when reception of the additional image is permitted by the additional image reception control unit. The image forming apparatus includes:
Counting means for counting the number of outputs of the additional image output by the output means;
Transmission permission / rejection information acquisition means for acquiring transmission permission / rejection information indicating permission / refusal of transmission to the server of the number of outputs counted by the counting means;
An output number transmission control means for permitting transmission of the output number when the transmission permission information acquisition means acquires the transmission permission information indicating transmission permission;
An output number transmitting means for transmitting the output number output by the output means to the server after output by the output means when transmission of the output number is permitted by the output number control means; The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the image forming system is an image forming system. The image forming apparatus further includes position designation information acquisition means for acquiring position designation information for designating a position on a sheet on which the additional image is to be output.
The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the output unit outputs the additional image at a position indicated by the position designation information. Connected via a network to a server comprising update notification transmission means for transmitting an update notification of the additional image when the additional image, which is an image to be added and output when outputting the target image to be subjected to image formation, is updated An image forming apparatus that
Update notification receiving means for receiving the update notification from the server;
An additional image receiving means for receiving the additional image from the server when the update notification is received;
A sheet for acquiring sheet designation information for designating whether to output the additional image to a sheet different from the sheet for outputting the target image or to output the additional image to the back side of the sheet for outputting the target image. Designated information acquisition means;
And an output means for outputting said additional image and the target image based on the paper specified information in a predetermined form,
And the output means, the target image is an output setting that is output on both sides of a sheet, is either One prior Symbol Target image sometimes output on both sides of the last sheet, the sheet designation information and outputting the target image Even if it is designated to output the additional image on the back side of the paper, the additional image is not output to the back side of the paper on which the target image is output based on the paper designation information. An image forming apparatus, wherein the image is output on a sheet different from the sheet on which the target image is output. A reception permission / rejection information acquisition unit that acquires reception permission / rejection information indicating permission / rejection of reception of the additional image by the additional image reception unit;
An additional image reception control unit that permits reception of the additional image when the reception permission information acquisition unit acquires the reception permission information indicating reception permission;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the additional image receiving unit receives the additional image when reception of the additional image is permitted by the additional image reception control unit. Counting means for counting the number of outputs of the additional image output by the output means;
Transmission permission / rejection information acquisition means for acquiring transmission permission / rejection information indicating permission / refusal of transmission to the server of the number of outputs counted by the counting means;
An output number transmission control means for permitting transmission of the output number when the transmission permission information acquisition means acquires the transmission permission information indicating transmission permission;
An output number transmitting means for transmitting the output number output by the output means to the server after output by the output means when transmission of the output number is permitted by the output number control means; The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus. Further comprising position designation information acquisition means for acquiring position designation information for designating a position on the paper on which the additional image is to be output;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the output unit outputs the additional image at a position indicated by the position designation information. Connected via a network to a server comprising update notification transmission means for transmitting an update notification of the additional image when the additional image, which is an image to be added and output when outputting the target image to be subjected to image formation, is updated An image forming method in an image forming apparatus,
An update notification receiving means for receiving the update notification from the server;
When the additional image receiving means receives the update notification, an additional image receiving step of receiving the additional image from the server;
The paper designation information acquisition means designates whether to output the additional image on a paper different from the paper on which the target image is output or to output the additional image on the back surface of the paper on which the target image is output. A paper specification information acquisition step for acquiring paper specification information;
Output means, possess an output step of outputting said additional image and the target image based on the paper specifying information in a predetermined form,
In the output step, when the target image is output to be output on both sides of the paper and the target image is output on both sides of the final paper, the paper designation information indicates the paper on which the target image is output. Even when the output of the additional image is designated on the back side, the additional image is not output to the back side of the paper on which the target image is output based on the paper designation information. An image forming method, wherein the target image is output on a sheet different from the sheet on which the target image is output .

Images