JP5104366B2 - Print processing system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a print processing system.

  In recent years, applications for browsing electronic mail and electronic documents for personal computers have been proposed on portable terminals such as cellular phones. Since the mobile terminal may have a limited data storage capacity, such an application may not leave data in the memory of the mobile terminal when the data browsing is completed. On the other hand, there are many cases where the screen size of a portable terminal is limited, and browsing electronic mail and electronic documents for personal computers with a portable terminal may be inconvenient. Therefore, there is a demand for improving the convenience of browsing by printing data to be browsed on a portable terminal with an image forming apparatus such as a printer. However, portable terminals often do not have a print instruction function such as a printer driver due to limitations on processing capabilities.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a technique in which a printing apparatus receives a print request with an electronic file attached from a user terminal at an electronic mail address, generates print data based on the attribute of the electronic file, and prints the print request. Yes. In the technique of Patent Document 1, it is necessary to assign a different e-mail address for each printing condition.

  In Patent Document 2, a virtual directory is constructed in the image forming apparatus, a two-dimensional code encoded with the virtual directory is displayed on the console panel of the image forming apparatus, the two-dimensional code is photographed by the imaging means of the portable terminal, and decoded. A technology is disclosed in which data to be printed is uploaded to the virtual directory and the image forming apparatus prints the uploaded data. In the technique of Patent Document 2, it is necessary to store data to be printed in a portable terminal.

JP 2003-167694 A JP 2007-34443 A

  An object of the present invention is to easily issue a print instruction to an image forming apparatus even from a portable terminal that does not have a print instruction function.

The invention according to claim 1 of the present application receives a portable information terminal, a server that holds print target data, is connected to the portable information terminal via a Web browser, and receives print target data transmitted from the server. An image forming apparatus that performs a printing process, wherein the image forming apparatus generates a printing condition identification unit that accepts an input of a printing condition, and print condition identification information for the input printing condition. Identification information notifying means for notifying the printing condition identification information to the outside, registration means for associating the generated printing condition identification information with the inputted printing conditions and registering them in the printing condition storage device, printing condition identification information, In response to input of print target data in association with each other, a print condition associated with the print condition identification information is acquired from the print condition storage device, and acquired. And a print processing unit that performs a printing process of the print data based on the printing condition, wherein the server receives the transfer instruction signal and the print condition identification information of the print target data sent from the portable information terminal The received print condition identification information is associated with the print target data held by the server, and the received print condition identification information and the print target data associated with the print condition identification information are transmitted to the image forming apparatus. A print processing system .

The invention according to the claims 2, in the print processing system according to claim 1, wherein the printing means, by receiving an input of an electronic mail including said print condition identification information and said print object data, the printing in association with condition identification information receiving input of the print data, a print processing system, characterized in that.

According to the present claim 3 invention, in the printing system according to claim 1 or 2, that the print process based on the print condition identification information is performed, or the printing condition identification information the printing condition memory An identification information invalidating means for invalidating the printing condition identification information registered in the printing condition storage device in response to the elapse of a predetermined period from the registration to the printing processing system. It is.

  According to the first or fourth aspect of the present invention, if printing condition identification information corresponding to the inputted printing condition is inputted in association with the print target data, the printing condition identification information is based on the printing condition corresponding to the printing condition identification information. It is possible to execute print processing of print target data.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, if the print condition identification information and the print target data are transmitted to the image forming apparatus by e-mail, the print target data is determined based on the print condition corresponding to the print condition identification information. A printing process can be executed.

  According to the invention of claim 3 of the present application, when the predetermined condition is satisfied, the printing condition identification information becomes invalid, so that erroneous transmission or mischief of the printing condition information can be reduced.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as “embodiment”) will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a network configuration of a print system according to the present embodiment.

  In FIG. 1, the print system is configured by connecting an image forming apparatus 100, a mobile terminal 110, a web mail server 120, and a mail server 130 via an external network 140 and an internal network 142. Here, the external network 140 can use a public network that can be used by any user, for example, the Internet. As the internal network 142, a private network that can be used by a limited number of users, such as an in-house LAN and a home LAN, can be used. In this embodiment, an example in which each device communicates via two networks of the external network 140 and the internal network 142 will be described. However, the configuration of the network is not limited to this configuration, and one network such as the Internet, for example. All devices may communicate with each other via the network.

  The image forming apparatus 100 is an apparatus that prints image data to be printed, and a copier, a printer, a facsimile machine, or the like can be used.

  The webmail server 120 is a server that provides general electronic mail functions such as browsing of electronic mail and creation and transmission of new electronic mail to a terminal via a web browser. The mail server 130 is a server that provides electronic mail functions such as electronic mail browsing and creation and transmission of new electronic mail to a terminal equipped with mail browsing software. The mobile terminal 110 is a device that can communicate with the external network 140 via a wireless or wired connection, such as a mobile phone or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant).

  In the present embodiment, when browsing an email or an attached file using the mail server 130, the terminal needs to download the email or the attached file to be browsed to itself.

  On the other hand, in the case of browsing an e-mail or an attached file using the web mail server 120, the terminal does not need to download the e-mail or the attached file to be browsed to itself, but from the web mail server 120 via the web browser. The provided screen data is displayed on the screen. When the web mail server 120 is used, the e-mail and the attached file exist on a database managed by the web mail server 120, so that the user can himself / herself at any place as long as the user can connect to a public network such as the Internet. You can view e-mails and attached files.

  By the way, the mobile terminal 110 such as a mobile phone generally has a limited screen size, and it may be difficult to view screen data corresponding to an email or an attached file provided from the web mail server 120. There is also a desire to print the contents of an e-mail or an attached file displayed on the screen of the mobile terminal 110 using the image forming apparatus 100 such as a printer.

  However, the mobile terminal 110 generally does not have a print instruction function such as a printer driver in many cases. Therefore, it is often difficult to make a print request directly from the mobile terminal 110 to the image forming apparatus 100.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, a printing system is provided in which a print instruction can be easily given to the image forming apparatus 100 from a portable terminal 110 that does not have a print instruction function.

  More specifically, when printing conditions are set based on an instruction from the user, the image forming apparatus 100 issues printing condition identification information that uniquely identifies the printing conditions and notifies the user. The image forming apparatus 100 records the printing condition identification information and the printing conditions in association with each other. Thereafter, when receiving the printing condition identification information and the image data to be printed from the user via the portable terminal 110, the image forming apparatus 100 provides the image provided under the printing conditions corresponding to the printing condition identification information. Print data.

  According to the present embodiment, even when the mobile terminal 110 does not have a print instruction function, if the user sets a desired print condition on the image forming apparatus 100, the print condition identification information corresponding to the set condition is displayed. Provided. For example, the user inputs print condition identification information in the subject of an e-mail attached with image data to be printed, and transmits the print condition identification information to the image forming apparatus 100. Printed based on conditions.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating functional blocks of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment.

  In FIG. 2, the CPU 10 expands a program 40 stored in the nonvolatile memory 30 in the volatile memory 20 and controls each unit via the bus line 90 according to the expanded program 40. The nonvolatile memory 30 stores a program 40 and a database (DB) 50. Details of the program 40 and the DB 50 will be described later.

  The communication unit 60 is a communication interface for communicating with the outside via a network, and receives, for example, an e-mail or an attached file via the mail server 130.

  The printing unit 70 includes a paper feeding unit 72, a transfer unit 74, and a paper discharge unit 76. The paper feeding unit 72 has a plurality of recording paper cassettes that hold recording papers of different sizes and materials for each type. The transfer unit 74 receives the supply of the recording paper selected based on the printing condition from the paper feeding unit 72 from the paper feeding unit 72, and the toner of the density selected based on the printing condition on the supplied recording paper. Is transferred and fixed to print image data on the recording paper. The paper discharge unit 76 performs a bookbinding process on the printed recording paper based on the printing conditions, and discharges the recording paper. For example, the paper discharge unit 76 bundles the printed recording papers and sorts the recording papers, or staples the designated place based on the printing conditions of the sorted recording papers.

  The operation unit 80 is a user interface for a user to operate the print system, and includes a display unit 82 such as a liquid crystal touch panel.

  Here, the database (DB) 50 and the program 40 stored in the nonvolatile memory 30 will be described in more detail.

  The communication processing unit 42 controls communication with the outside via the communication unit 60. The print processing unit 44 controls the printing unit 70 to print the image data to be printed based on the designated printing condition.

  The print condition setting unit 46 receives a print condition setting from the user via the operation unit 80 and provides the print condition to the print processing unit 44.

  In the present embodiment, when the printing condition setting unit 46 receives designation of a printing condition from the user via the operation unit 80, the printing condition setting unit 46 issues printing condition identification information for uniquely specifying the printing condition, and via the display unit 82. The user is notified of the printing condition identification information. Further, the printing condition setting unit 46 registers the issued printing condition identification information and the printing condition in the printing condition DB 50 in association with each other.

  When the print processing unit 44 receives the print condition identification information and the image data to be printed via the communication unit 60, the print processing unit 44 acquires the print condition corresponding to the print condition identification information from the print condition DB 50, and acquires the acquired print condition. The printing unit 70 is controlled to print the image data to be printed based on the above.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the printing condition table 52T stored in the printing condition DB 50. As illustrated in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, in the printing condition table 52T, printing condition identification information 520 and various printing conditions (printing object 522, color mode 524, page setting 526, single side / double side 528) are registered. Here, the print target 522 indicates an instruction of a print location. Specifically, any one of an e-mail body, an attached file (such as an electronic document file and an image file), an e-mail body, and an attached file is shown. . The color mode 524 indicates a color setting for printing, and specifically indicates one of monochrome and color. The page setting 526 indicates an instruction for the number of pages to be printed on one sheet of paper, and specifically indicates 1 page / sheet, 2 pages / sheet, 4 pages / sheet, and the like. Single-sided / double-sided 528 indicates whether to print on only one side of the paper or on both sides of the paper. These various printing conditions are set by the user via the operation unit 80. Note that the printing conditions are not limited to these, and may be set as appropriate according to the printing functions that the image forming apparatus 100 can provide.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure in which the print condition setting unit 46 receives print condition settings from the user. Note that the image forming apparatus 100 has, for example, a plurality of print modes. When the print mode according to the present embodiment is selected by the user, the print condition setting unit 46 executes the process shown in FIG. Good.

  In FIG. 4, the printing condition setting unit 46 displays a printing condition setting screen as shown in FIG. 5 on the display unit 82, for example, and receives input of desired printing conditions from the user (S100). The printing condition setting unit 46 issues printing condition identification information in response to receiving the printing condition (S102). The print condition identification information only needs to be able to uniquely identify the input print condition. As shown below, this printing condition identification information is input via the portable terminal 110 when the user instructs printing. Therefore, it is preferable that the user can easily input the printing condition identification information from an operation unit (numerical key) provided in the portable terminal 110. For example, a plurality of digits is preferable.

  Next, the printing condition setting unit 46 registers the input printing condition and the issued printing condition identification information in the printing condition DB 50 in association with each other (S104). Further, the printing condition setting unit 46 notifies the user by displaying the issued printing condition identification information on the display unit 82 or the like (S106).

  The user transmits the image data to be printed to the image forming apparatus 100 in association with the printing condition identification information notified from the image forming apparatus 100, so that printing based on the printing conditions set by the user in the image forming apparatus 100 is performed. It becomes possible.

  For example, when the mobile terminal 110 accesses the web mail server 120 and prints an electronic file attached to an electronic mail being browsed, the user first receives the print condition identification information from the image forming apparatus 100. Next, the user accesses the web mail server 120, selects an email to be printed, enters the provided printing condition identification information in the subject of the email, and sends the email to the image forming apparatus 100. Send (transfer). Here, the e-mail address (for example, print001@abc123.co.jp) of the image forming apparatus 100 may be notified to the user by displaying it on the display unit 82 together with the printing condition identification information, for example. When the mobile terminal 110 includes an imaging unit, the image forming apparatus 100 generates a matrix type two-dimensional code (QR code (Quick Response code)) including printing condition identification information and an e-mail address. You may display on the display part 82. FIG. In this case, the user uses the imaging unit of the mobile terminal 110 to image the two-dimensional code displayed on the display unit 82. The mobile terminal 110 accepts selection of an email to be transferred (printed) from the user, decodes the captured two-dimensional code, print condition identification information as the subject of the selected email, and mail of the image forming apparatus 100 as the destination. Enter an address and automatically generate a new e-mail.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of the print processing unit 44 when the image forming apparatus 100 receives the print condition identification information and the image data to be printed via the mail server 130.

  In FIG. 6, when the print processing unit 44 receives an e-mail in which the print condition identification information is indicated in the subject from the mail server 130 via the communication unit 60 (S200), the print processing unit 44 acquires the print condition identification information from the e-mail. (S202). Next, the print processing unit 44 searches the print condition DB 50 for a print condition corresponding to the print condition identification information (S204). If the corresponding print condition does not exist in the print condition DB 50 (the determination result of step S206 is negative “N”), the print processing unit 44 notifies the mobile terminal 110 that is the e-mail transmission source of an error (S208). ).

  On the other hand, if the corresponding print condition exists in the print condition DB 50 (the determination result of step S206 is affirmative “Y”), the print processing unit 44 prints the print target from the received e-mail based on the print condition. Data (email body or attached file) is acquired (S212), and printing processing of the acquired print target data is executed (S214).

  As described above, in the present embodiment, printing based on the printing condition corresponding to the printing condition identification information can be performed by transmitting an electronic mail including the printing condition identification information to the image forming apparatus 100.

  Note that the printing condition identification information registered in the printing condition DB 50 may be invalidated by deleting it from the printing condition DB 50 when the printing process is completed. Alternatively, even when a print request is not received, it may be deleted (invalidated) from the print condition DB 50 when a predetermined period (three minutes) has elapsed since registration. In this way, invalidating the printing condition identification information reduces erroneous transmission and mischief.

  According to the present embodiment, since only one mail address corresponding to the image forming apparatus 100 is assigned, the burden on the administrator is reduced. If one email address corresponding to the image forming apparatus 100 is registered in the portable terminal 110 in advance, it is not necessary for the user to change the email address for each printing condition.

  Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, an e-mail including a message to be printed or an attached file is sent to a predetermined e-mail address with the printing condition identification information issued when the user inputs printing conditions in the image forming apparatus 100 as a subject. A print instruction is made simply by sending. Therefore, even when the portable terminal 110 is not equipped with a printer driver, a print instruction is issued, and the burden of input setting when the user issues a print instruction is reduced.

  Furthermore, if the e-mail transfer function of the known web mail server 120 is used, even if there is no data to be printed on the mobile terminal 110, if the data to be printed is transmitted from the web mail server 120 as an e-mail, The data to be printed is printed.

1 is a diagram illustrating a network configuration of a print system according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating functional blocks of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the printing condition table registered into a printing condition database. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure in which a print condition setting unit receives print condition settings from a user. It is a figure which shows an example of the printing condition setting screen displayed on a display part. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a print processing unit when the image forming apparatus receives print condition identification information and image data to be printed via a mail server.

Explanation of symbols

  10 CPU, 20 volatile memory, 30 nonvolatile memory, 40 program, 42 communication processing unit, 44 print processing unit, 46 printing condition setting unit, 50 printing condition database, 60 communication unit, 70 printing unit, 72 paper feeding unit 74 Transfer section 76 Paper discharge section 80 Operation section 82 Display section 90 Bus line 100 Image forming device 110 Mobile terminal 120 Web mail server 130 Mail server 140 External network 142 Internal network

Claims (3)

A personal digital assistant,
A server that holds data to be printed and is connected to the portable information terminal via a web browser;
An image forming apparatus that receives print target data transmitted from the server and performs print processing;
A print processing system comprising:
The image forming apparatus includes:
A printing condition setting means for receiving an input of printing conditions;
Identification information notifying means for generating printing condition identification information for the inputted printing condition and notifying the printing condition identification information to the outside;
Registration means for associating the generated printing condition identification information with the inputted printing condition and registering it in the printing condition storage device;
In response to the printing target data being input in association with the printing condition identification information, the printing condition associated with the printing condition identification information is acquired from the printing condition storage device, and the printing condition data is based on the acquired printing condition. Print processing means for performing print processing of print target data;
With
The server receives a transfer instruction signal and print condition identification information of the print target data transmitted from the portable information terminal, associates the received print condition identification information with the print target data held by the server, and receives The print condition identification information and the print target data associated with the print condition identification information are transmitted to the image forming apparatus.
A print processing system . The print processing system according to claim 1,
It said printing means, by receiving an input of an electronic mail including said print condition identification information and the print target data, receives an input of the print data in association with the print condition identification information,
A print processing system . The print processing system according to claim 1 or 2,
That the print process based on the print condition identification information is performed, or, in response to the print condition identification information has passed the predetermined period of time since their registration in the printing condition memory, the printing condition memory Identification information invalidating means for invalidating the printing condition identification information registered in
A print processing system comprising:

Images