JP6068266B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming equipment, it relates to an image forming equipment which can especially audio output.

Conventionally, there are image forming apparatuses such as multifunction peripherals (MFPs) capable of printing documents and images.
Some of these image forming apparatuses are capable of outputting sound in addition to printing and outputting a document.

Here, referring to Patent Document 1, means for receiving synthesized data including image data and audio data, and reproducing the audio data included in the synthesized data when the synthesized data is received, or instructing the user An image forming apparatus comprising means for storing a reproduction method indicating whether to wait for reproduction and means for reproducing audio data according to the reproduction method is disclosed (hereinafter referred to as prior art 1). ).
In the prior art 1, when reproducing the audio data included in the synthesized data, the audio data is received when the synthesized data is received if there is no risk of leakage of confidential information due to the installation location of the image forming apparatus. Can be played automatically. If there is a security problem, the audio data can be reproduced only when the user gives an instruction. Therefore, user convenience can be ensured while security is protected.

JP 2006-311093 A

However, according to the prior art 1, image data can be printed without reproducing sound even when a user who has an illegal purpose of taking out a confidential document does not have a person nearby.
For this reason, there was a security problem.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object thereof is to provide an image forming apparatus that solves the above-described problems.

The image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a print data acquisition means for acquiring print data including audio output setting to output audio during image formation, from said print data acquired by the print data acquisition unit, the audio output A voice output setting extracting means for extracting settings; a person confirmation means for confirming that there is a person around when the voice output setting is extracted by the voice output setting extraction means; and a person around the person by the person confirmation means. If is it confirmed that there, a voice output means for outputting sound according to the audio output settings, if the audio is output by the voice output means, e Bei and an image forming means for forming an image of the print data, The voice output means may be configured to output the voice output setting when the voice output setting is extracted by the voice output setting extraction means, even if the stored voice output permission setting is not permitted. And outputting a voice in accordance with the force setting.
The image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a voice input unit that inputs surrounding voice data, a voice recognition unit that recognizes a keyword from the voice data input by the voice input unit, and a keyword recognized by the voice recognition unit. And an image formation stopping unit for stopping the output of the print data by the image forming unit when the instruction is to stop the image formation.
The image forming apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that the person confirmation means confirms that there is a person in the vicinity by an entrance / exit management apparatus that manages the entrance / exit of the person.
The image forming apparatus of the present invention includes: print data acquisition means for acquiring print data including sound output settings for outputting sound at the time of image formation; and the sound output from the print data acquired by the print data acquisition means. A voice output setting extracting means for extracting settings; a person confirmation means for confirming that there is a person around when the voice output setting is extracted by the voice output setting extraction means; and a person around the person by the person confirmation means. Audio output means for outputting sound according to the sound output setting, and image output means for forming an image of the print data when sound is output by the sound output means, The audio output setting includes a message for outputting audio and a setting of the number of audio outputs per page, and the audio output means outputs the message to the audio output. It characterized in that audio output and speech synthesis according to the number of settings.
The image forming apparatus of the present invention includes: print data acquisition means for acquiring print data including sound output settings for outputting sound at the time of image formation; and the sound output from the print data acquired by the print data acquisition means. A voice output setting extracting means for extracting settings; a person confirmation means for confirming that there is a person around when the voice output setting is extracted by the voice output setting extraction means; and a person around the person by the person confirmation means. Audio output means for outputting sound according to the sound output setting, and image output means for forming an image of the print data when sound is output by the sound output means, people confirmation means, the room access management apparatus for managing the entrance and exit of people, characterized in that to ensure that there are people around.

  According to the present invention, the print data includes an audio output setting for outputting audio when it is confirmed that there is a person in the vicinity, thereby informing surrounding people that a confidential document is being output. Therefore, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that promotes monitoring of the surroundings and improves security.

1 is a system configuration diagram according to an embodiment of an image forming apparatus and a terminal of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the control structure of the image forming apparatus and terminal shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. It is a flowchart of the audio | voice output printing process which concerns on embodiment of this invention. FIG. 5 is an example of a screen for performing voice setting of print data in the voice output printing process shown in FIG. 4. FIG. FIG. 5 is a screen example of output stop notification in the voice output printing process shown in FIG. 4. FIG.

<Embodiment>
[System Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus 1 and Terminal 2]
First, a system configuration of an image forming system including an image forming apparatus 1 and a terminal 2 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The image forming apparatus 1 includes an image processing unit 11, a document reading unit 12, a document feeding unit 13, a transport unit (paper feed roller 422, transport roller 44, discharge roller 45), network transmission / reception unit 15, operation panel unit 16, storage The unit 19, the image forming unit 17 (image forming unit), the human sensor 60, the audio output unit 61 (audio output unit), the audio input unit 62 (audio input unit), the timer unit 64, and the like are connected. The operation of each unit is controlled by the control unit 10.

The control unit 10 includes a general purpose processor (GPP), a central processing unit (CPU), a micro processing unit (MPU), a digital signal processor (DSP), a graphics processing unit (GPU), and an application specific processor (ASIC). Information processing means such as a processor for a specific application)
The control unit 10 reads out a control program stored in the ROM or HDD of the storage unit 19, develops the control program in the RAM, and executes it to operate as each unit of a functional block described later. The control unit 10 controls the entire apparatus in accordance with predetermined instruction information input from the terminal 2 or the operation panel unit 16.

  The image processing unit 11 is control arithmetic means such as a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) or a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit). The image processing unit 11 is a unit that performs predetermined image processing on image data, and performs various types of image processing such as enlargement / reduction processing, density adjustment, gradation adjustment, and image improvement processing. The image processing unit 11 converts the image read by the document reading unit 12 into a file unit of a format such as PDF or TIFF, and stores the converted data as print data 300 in the storage unit 19.

The document reading unit 12 is a (scan) unit that reads a set document.
The document feeding unit 13 is a unit that transports a document read by the document reading unit 12.
The image forming unit 17 is a unit that performs image formation on recording paper from data acquired from the terminal 2, stored in the storage unit 19, or read by the document reading unit 12 according to a user output instruction. is there.
The transport unit transports the recording paper from the paper feed cassette 421 (FIG. 3), causes the image forming unit 17 to form an image, and then transports the recording paper to the stack tray 50.
The operations of the document reading unit 12, the document feeding unit 13, the transport unit, and the image forming unit 17 will be described later.

The network transmission / reception unit 15 is a network connection unit including a LAN board for connecting to the network 5 and a wireless transceiver.
The network transmission / reception unit 15 transmits / receives data on a data communication line and transmits / receives voice signals on a voice telephone line.
The image forming apparatus 1 is connected to the terminal 2 and the entry / exit management apparatus 3 via the network 5 from the network transmission / reception unit 15.

The operation panel unit 16 includes a display unit such as an LCD, a numeric keypad, a start button, a cancel button, a button for switching operation modes such as copying, FAX transmission, and a scanner, and a job for printing, transmission, storage, and recording of a selected document. And an input unit such as a button and a touch panel for giving instructions related to execution.
The operation panel unit 16 acquires instructions for various jobs of the image forming apparatus 1 by the user. It is also possible to input and change information of each user according to user instructions acquired from the operation panel unit 16.

The storage unit 19 is a storage unit that uses a semiconductor memory such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) or a RAM (Random Access Memory) or a recording medium such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive).
The storage unit 19 also stores print data 300, audio output settings 310 (FIG. 2), and the like.
A control program for controlling the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 is stored in the ROM and HDD of the storage unit 19. In addition to this, the storage unit 19 also stores user account settings. This account setting may include a user ID (Identification, user name), a password, authority information such as the type of general user and administrator, the IP address of the terminal 2, a mail address, and the like. The account setting is registered using various information input by the user from the operation panel unit 16 or the terminal 2.
The storage unit 19 may include a storage folder area for each user.

The human sensor 60 is a pyroelectric sensor, an infrared sensor, or the like that can sense the approach of a heating body such as a person even at a long distance of several meters or more. The human sensor 60 detects that a person has approached the predetermined range of the image forming apparatus 1. The human sensor 60 can detect that there is a person around the image forming apparatus 1.
Note that the human sensor 60 may be detected using an optical sensor such as a camera, a biometric sensor, a microwave radar, a laser sensor, a floor pressure sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, or the like.

  The voice output unit 61 is a means for voice output including a voice synthesis synthesizer, a D / A (Digital to Analog) converter, an amplifier, a speaker, and the like. The voice synthesis synthesizer of the voice output unit 61 synthesizes character data such as a message included in the voice output setting 310 (FIG. 2) with the set voice type and volume and outputs the synthesized voice data. At this time, the voice output unit 61 synthesizes the message included in the voice output setting 310 according to the voice output count setting included in the voice output setting 310 and outputs the voice. For this reason, the audio output unit 61 includes predetermined audio waveform data and the like. In addition, the audio output unit 61 can output the sampled audio of the standard such as WAV, MP3, AAC or the like when the print data 300 includes it. Furthermore, the audio output unit 61 can also sound a buzzer. The audio output unit 61 can also control a flashlight or the like (not shown) connected to the outside.

  The voice input unit 62 is a means for voice input including a microphone, an A / D (Analog to Digital) converter, and the like. The sound input unit 62 can input sound data around the image forming apparatus 1, for example, several tens of meters or more. For this reason, the microphone of the voice input unit 62 may be configured to have little directivity. The voice input unit 62 may include a filter that makes it easier to acquire a human voice.

The timer unit 64 is a real-time timer or the like, and can set a time zone in which a person is present around the working hours or the like for the place where the image forming apparatus 1 is placed.
In addition, the timer unit 64 can be used to manage time for entering and exiting a person in conjunction with entrance / exit management of the entrance / exit management device 3.

In the image forming apparatus 1, the control unit 10 and the image processing unit 11 may be integrally formed, such as a CPU with a built-in GPU or a chip-on-module package.
The control unit 10 and the image processing unit 11 may include a RAM, a ROM, a flash memory, and the like.
Further, the image forming apparatus 1 may include a FAX transmission / reception unit that performs facsimile transmission / reception.

  The terminal 2 includes a control unit 20, an I / O unit 23, an input unit 24, a network transmission / reception unit 25, a display unit 26, and a storage unit 29.

  The control unit 20 is a control means having a calculation / control capability such as a CPU, MPU, DSP, GPU, ASIC or the like. The control unit 20 is caused to operate as each unit of a functional block described later by executing the control program stored in the storage unit 29 using hardware resources. Further, the control unit 20 controls the entire apparatus of the terminal 2 according to predetermined instruction information input from the input unit 24.

  The I / O unit 23 is a chip that provides an interface such as DVI, analog RGB, HDMI (registered trademark), USB, IEEE 1394, serial, GPIO, parallel, infrared, and wireless for connecting to various peripheral devices (peripherals). Includes sets, circuits, connectors, etc. The I / O unit 23 is connected to the input unit 24, the network transmission / reception unit 25, and the display unit 26.

  The input unit 24 is an input unit such as a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel, or a touch pad for inputting information such as various settings and user authentication.

The network transmitting / receiving unit 25 is a standard LAN interface such as 1000BASE-T / 100BASE-TX, a wireless LAN interface, a portable radio wave transmitting / receiving device, or the like for connecting to the network 5. The terminal 2 can transmit and receive the print data 300 (FIG. 2), the user ID and password at the time of login, and the like via the network transmission / reception unit 25.
The network transmission / reception unit 25 may be connected to an external hub or router.

  The display unit 26 is a display unit such as an LCD display or an organic EL display. The display unit 26 can display a screen for drawing by application software, notification from the image forming apparatus 1, and the like.

The storage unit 29 is a storage unit such as a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a flash memory disk such as a solid state drive (SSD), a hard disk drive (HDD), a magnetic tape device, and an optical disk device. . The storage unit 29 stores various programs and print data 300 (FIG. 2) for causing the terminal 2 to function as a terminal of the image forming apparatus 1.
The storage unit 29 also stores an OS (Operating System) equipped with a GUI (Graphical User Interface), word processor, spreadsheet software, drawing software, WWW browser, electronic mailer and other application software, and other programs and data. doing. These programs and data can be read and executed or written by the control unit 20. That is, the storage unit 29 can temporarily store the print data 300 created by the print data creation unit 200 (FIG. 2).

  The entrance / exit management device 3 is an entrance / exit management system for managing entrance / exit of a person. The entry / exit management device 3 manages entry / exit to / from the floor on which the image forming apparatus 1 is placed, using an IC card, a security camera, or the like. The entry / exit management device 3 can transmit the number of people on the currently managed floor by a request from the image forming device 1.

[Functional Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus 1 and Terminal 2]
Here, with reference to FIG. 2, functional configurations of the image forming apparatus 1 and the terminal 2 will be described.
The image forming apparatus 1 includes a print data acquisition unit 100 (print data acquisition unit), a voice output setting extraction unit 110 (voice output setting extraction unit), a person confirmation unit 120 (person confirmation unit), and a voice recognition unit 130 (voice recognition unit). ), An image formation canceling unit 140 (image formation canceling means).
The terminal 2 includes a print data creation unit 200.
In addition, print data 300 is transmitted and received between the image forming apparatus 1 and the terminal 2.

  The print data acquisition unit 100 acquires print data 300 including an audio output setting 310 for outputting audio during image formation from the terminal 2 or a recording medium (not shown) connected to the outside. In addition to this, the print data acquisition unit 100 can also control the entire program, acquire a user ID and password, and perform user authentication and the like.

  The audio output setting extraction unit 110 extracts the audio output setting 310 from the print data 300 acquired by the print data acquisition unit 100. The audio output setting extraction unit 110 obtains a data chunk of the audio output setting 310 that is metadata by using a PDL parser or the like and accesses the data chunk. Note that if the print data 300 is not confidential data or the like and the audio output setting 310 is not included in the print data 300, the audio output setting extraction unit 110 outputs that fact.

  When the voice output setting 310 is extracted by the voice output setting extraction unit 110, the person confirmation unit 120 checks that there is a person around. The person confirmation unit 120 performs this confirmation based on camera authentication from an IC card or a security camera of the entrance / exit management device 3 connected to the network 5, data from the human sensor 60, working hours by the timer unit 64, and the like.

The voice recognition unit 130 recognizes the keyword set in the voice output setting 310 from the voice data input by the voice input unit 62. The speech recognition unit 130 includes, for example, a hidden Markov model, a kernel machine, etc., and recognizes words and the like from human speech. This word can also be recognized as a coined word or a special phrase.
The voice recognition unit 130 may function as a person confirmation unit that recognizes a human voice from the voice data input by the voice input unit 62 and confirms that there is a person around. Further, the voice recognition unit 130 may recognize a predetermined whistle sound or the like as a keyword.

  When the keyword recognized by the voice recognition unit 130 is an instruction to stop image formation, the image formation cancellation unit 140 stops output of the print data 300 by the image formation unit 17.

The print data creation unit 200 creates print data 300 as PDL (Page Description Language) data in the PS (Postscript (registered trademark)) format for the image forming apparatus 1 according to an instruction from application software (not shown) or the like. And transmitted to the image forming apparatus 1.
The image forming apparatus 1 may be configured to acquire the print data 300 directly from the document reading unit 12 or an external recording medium.

The print data 300 is created by the print data creation unit 200 and includes character data, image data, and other data bodies that are data, and an audio output setting 310 in a format such as metadata that is not printed.
The print data 300 may be PDL data transmitted from the terminal 2 or another terminal (not shown). The print data 300 may include the user ID of the created user (hereinafter referred to as “person”).
The print data 300 may be document data or image data read from a recording medium connected to the image forming apparatus 1 by the user.
The print data 300 may be image data read by the document reading unit 12 and subjected to image processing by the image processing unit 11. In this case, the print data 300 is a bitmap image file of RGB color, monochrome, or gray scale, a file that is lightly compressed by run length, LZW, or the like. In this case, the print data 300 may be data that has already been converted into a format such as PDF or TIFF by the image processing unit 11 or the control unit 10.

  The audio output setting 310 includes control settings such as audio output or flashlight, a message for audio output, setting of the number of audio outputs per page, a password for user authentication, a keyword recognized by the audio recognition unit 130, and the like. Metadata and the like. The voice output setting 310 includes character data for speech synthesis, phoneme piece designation data, and the like as messages. The audio output setting 310 may include encoded binary data such as sampled WAV, MP3, and AAC audio.

  The sound output permission / inhibition setting 320 is a setting for permission / inhibition of sound output. Usually, even if the image forming apparatus 1 can output sound, the sound output may be disabled when the office is used. As described above, even when the audio output permission setting 320 is set as non-permission, the audio output unit 61 follows the audio output setting 310 when the audio output setting 310 is extracted by the audio output setting extraction unit 110. Audio output can be performed.

Here, the control unit 10 of the image forming apparatus 1 executes the control program stored in the storage unit 19, so that the print data acquisition unit 100, the voice output setting extraction unit 110, the person confirmation unit 120, and the voice recognition unit 130. It functions as the image formation canceling unit 140.
The storage unit 19 of the image forming apparatus 1 functions as an audio output setting storage unit that stores the audio output setting 310. The storage unit 19 functions as a print data storage unit that stores the print data 300. The storage unit 19 functions as a sound output permission / non-permission setting storage unit that stores the sound output permission / non-permission setting 320.
Further, the control unit 20 of the terminal 2 functions as the print data creation unit 200 by executing the control program stored in the storage unit 29.
The storage unit 29 of the terminal 2 functions as a print data storage unit that stores the print data 300.
Each unit of the image forming apparatus 1 is a hardware resource for executing the image forming method of the present invention.

[Operation of Image Forming Apparatus 1]
Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
The document reading unit 12 is arranged on the upper part of the main body unit 14, and the document feeding unit 13 is arranged on the upper side of the document reading unit 12. The stack tray 50 is disposed on the recording paper discharge port 41 side on which the main body unit 14 is formed, and the operation panel unit 16 is disposed on the front side of the image forming apparatus 1.

The document reading unit 12 includes a scanner 12a, a platen glass 12b, and a document reading slit 12c. The scanner 12 a includes an exposure lamp, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) imaging sensor, and the like, and is configured to be movable in the document transport direction by the document feeder 13.
The platen glass 12b is an original table made of a transparent member such as glass. The document reading slit 12 c has a slit formed in a direction orthogonal to the document transport direction by the document feeding unit 13.

When reading a document placed on the platen glass 12b, the scanner 12a is moved to a position facing the platen glass 12b, and reads the document while scanning the document placed on the platen glass 12b to obtain image data. The acquired image data is output to the main body unit 14.
When reading the document conveyed by the document feeding unit 13, the scanner 12a is moved to a position facing the document reading slit 12c, and the document feeding unit 13 conveys the document through the document reading slit 12c. The document is read in synchronization with the operation to acquire image data, and the acquired image data is output to the main body unit 14.

The document feeding unit 13 includes a document placement unit 13a, a document discharge unit 13b, and a document transport mechanism 13c. The originals placed on the original placement unit 13a are sequentially fed out one by one by the original conveyance mechanism 13c, conveyed to a position facing the original reading slit 12c, and then discharged to the original discharge unit 13b.
The document feeding unit 13 is configured to be retractable, and the upper surface of the platen glass 12b can be opened by lifting the document feeding unit 13 upward.

The main body 14 includes the image forming unit 17, and includes a paper feeding unit 42, a paper conveyance path 43, a conveyance roller 44, and a discharge roller 45. The paper feed unit 42 includes a plurality of paper feed cassettes 421 that store recording papers of different sizes or orientations, and a paper feed roller 422 that feeds the recording papers one by one from the paper feed cassette 421 to the paper transport path 43. Yes. The paper feed roller 422, the transport roller 44, and the discharge roller 45 function as a transport unit. The recording paper is conveyed by this conveyance unit.
The recording paper fed to the paper transport path 43 by the paper feed roller 422 is transported to the image forming unit 17 by the transport roller 44. Then, the recording paper on which recording is performed by the image forming unit 17 is discharged to the stack tray 50 by the discharge roller 45.

  The image forming unit 17 includes a photosensitive drum 17a, an exposure unit 17b, a developing unit 17c, a transfer unit 17d, and a fixing unit 17e. The exposure unit 17b is an optical unit including a laser device, a mirror, a lens, an LED array, and the like. The exposure unit 17b outputs light or the like based on image data to expose the photosensitive drum 17a, and the surface of the photosensitive drum 17a is statically exposed. An electrostatic latent image is formed. The developing unit 17c is a developing unit that develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 17a using toner, and forms a toner image based on the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 17a. The transfer unit 17d transfers the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 17a by the developing unit 17c to a recording sheet. The fixing unit 17e heats the recording paper on which the toner image is transferred by the transfer unit 17d to fix the toner image on the recording paper.

[Audio Output Printing Process by Image Forming Apparatus 1]
Next, with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6, the audio output printing process by the image forming apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.
In the audio output printing process, the control unit 10 mainly executes a program stored in the storage unit 19 using hardware resources in cooperation with each unit.
Hereinafter, the outline of the audio output printing process will be described step by step with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

(Step S101)
First, the control unit 10 performs print data acquisition processing using the print data acquisition unit 100.
Control is performed when the print data 300 is created and transmitted by the print data creation unit 200 according to an instruction of application software executed by the terminal 2, or when the print data 300 is transmitted from another terminal (not shown) or the like. The unit 10 acquires this. The control unit 10 temporarily stores the acquired print data 300 in the storage unit 19 as primary data.
If the print data 300 is a confidential document or the like, an audio output setting 310 is included.

Here, with reference to FIG. 5, a screen example 500 for performing settings for including the audio output setting 310 when the print data 300 is created by the print data creation unit 200 of the terminal 2 will be described.
The display column 600 is a column for selecting whether to output audio. The display field 600 can also be set for controlling an external flashlight. Further, in the display column 600, the volume, the type of sound such as male or female, the sound quality, and the like can be set.
The display column 610 is a column for setting a voice output message. Messages can be set freely. The display field 610 can also use metadata for designating information such as the user name, document type, and web page URL.
The display column 620 is a column for setting the number of times of audio output. In the display column 620, the number of times corresponding to the output per sheet can be set. As in the example of FIG. 5, when “once” is selected, audio is output only when the first image is output. When “every time” is selected, sound is output every time one sheet is output. If an arbitrary number of times is selected, it is possible to output sound when outputting from the first sheet to the arbitrary sheet. Furthermore, it is possible to set “page designation” to designate a page range to be output as audio by a page number.
The display column 630 is a column for setting a password added to the print data 300, a password for permitting the setting of the audio output setting 310, and the like. In this way, setting the password makes it impossible to easily change the setting contents and improves security.
The display column 640 is a column for setting a keyword for stopping output. The set keyword may be different for each print data 300 or may be a default (regulation) setting of the image forming apparatus 1. This keyword can be set by the operation panel unit 16 and stored in the storage unit 19 of the image forming apparatus 1.
The “OK” button 700 is a button to be pressed when all the settings are completed. With this button, the setting is confirmed and the audio output setting 310 is added or changed to the print data 300.
A “Cancel” button 710 is a button for canceling the setting. With this button, the audio output setting 310 is not added to the print data 300 or is left as it is.
These settings can be made by the print data creation unit 200 by the control unit 20 using the OS GUI stored in the storage unit 29 using the input unit 24 and the display unit 26 of the terminal 2. is there.
Note that when the audio output setting 310 is set in the print data 300 by the print data creation unit 200 of the terminal 2, an image forming apparatus without an audio output function may not be selected as a transmission destination.

Further, the control unit 10 acquires the print data 300 that already exists in a recording medium such as a flash memory card connected to the image forming apparatus 1 or a user's storage folder, and temporarily stores it as primary data in the storage unit 19. May be. Further, the control unit 10 may acquire the print data 300 existing in the storage folder (not shown) of the terminal 2 or another terminal and store the print data 300 in the storage unit 19 as primary data.
The control unit 10 may acquire the print data 300 from another image forming apparatus 1 or another server (not shown), or may acquire a document received by facsimile as the print data 300.
Further, the control unit 10 may cause the document reading unit 12 to read a document set by the user, and store image data of the read document in the storage unit 19 as print data 300.
The print data 300 stored in the storage unit 19 of the image forming apparatus 1 can be changed by adding an audio output setting 310 from the operation panel unit 16. In this case, it may be necessary to input the password set in the display field 630 of FIG. 5 after authenticating with the password of the user account setting.

(Step S102)
Next, the control unit 10 performs an audio output setting extraction process using the audio output setting extraction unit 110.
The control unit 10 extracts the audio output setting 310 from the print data 300 once stored in the storage unit 19 by using a parser or the like when the audio output setting 310 exists. When the print data 300 is confidential data or the like and a password is set, the print data 300 is decrypted with a secret key or the like stored in the storage unit 19.
In addition, the control unit 10 acquires the user ID and the like of the creator of the print data 300 included in the print data 300 as metadata.

(Step S103)
Next, the control unit 10 performs password authentication processing using the print data acquisition unit 100.
When a password is set in the print data 300, the control unit 10 causes the operation panel unit 16 to authenticate the user of the creator of the print data 300 (hereinafter referred to as “person”). Moreover, the control part 10 may authenticate with the IC card reader which is not shown in figure, or may authenticate with the entrance / exit management apparatus 3. FIG. Thereby, it can be confirmed that there is a user around the image forming apparatus 1.
Note that the user may be instructed to be at the terminal 2 side when the print data 300 is formed.

(Step S104)
Next, the control unit 10 causes the audio output setting extraction unit 110 to determine whether the print data 300 includes the audio output setting 310. When the audio output setting 310 is extracted from the print data 300, the control unit 10 determines Yes. In other cases, the control unit 10 determines No.
In the case of Yes, the control part 10 advances a process to step S105.
In No, the control part 10 advances a process to step S107.

(Step S105)
When the audio output setting 310 is included in the print data 300, the control unit 10 determines whether a person other than the person is around by the person confirmation unit 120.
The control unit 10 confirms that there is a person other than the person around the image forming apparatus 1. At this time, the control unit 10 determines that a person other than the person is in the vicinity by authentication using an IC card or a security camera of the entry / exit management device 3. Further, when two or more people are detected by the human sensor 60, the control unit 10 may determine that a person other than the person is around. In addition, the control unit 10 may determine that there is a person during the working hours due to a time limit by the timer unit 64 or the like and that the person is around.
Note that the control unit 10 may determine that there are not a plurality of persons when there are other persons away from the image forming apparatus 1.
Further, when the person is on the terminal 2 side and there is another person around the image forming apparatus 1, it may be determined that a person other than the person is around.
Further, the control unit 10 can also determine whether or not there is a person around by the voice recognition unit 130. In this case, the voice recognition unit 130 may detect the background noise level or the frequency component of the human voice by FFT or the like, or may grasp the number of surrounding people other than the user by voiceprint analysis or the like.
Further, it may be determined whether or not there is a person around by combining a plurality of means described above.

If the control unit 10 determines that there is a person other than the person around the image forming apparatus 1 based on the above confirmation, the control unit 10 determines Yes. In other cases, the control unit 10 determines No.
In the case of Yes, the control part 10 advances a process to step S106.
In No, the control part 10 advances a process to step S111.

(Step S106)
When it is confirmed that there is a person around, the control unit 10 performs the audio output process using the audio output unit 61.
The control unit 10 causes the voice synthesis synthesizer of the voice output unit 61 to voice synthesize a message for voice output of the voice output setting 310.
At this time, the control unit 10 determines whether or not to perform voice synthesis for each page such as PDL of the print data 300 according to the setting of the number of times of voice output in the voice output setting 310.
In addition, the control unit 10 refers to the audio output permission / non-permission setting 320 in the storage unit 19 and forcibly outputs audio regardless of whether the image forming apparatus 1 is permitted or not permitted to output sound.

(Step S107)
Here, the control unit 10 uses the image forming unit 17 to perform image forming processing.
The image forming unit 17 performs image formation when it is confirmed that there is a person other than the person in the vicinity and the sound output unit 61 performs sound output.
Further, the control unit 10 causes the image forming unit 17 to form an image even when the page does not include the audio output setting 310 in the first place.
In addition, the control unit 10 causes the image forming unit 17 to form an image for pages that are not output as a result of determination of the number of times of the audio output setting 310.

(Step S108)
Next, the control unit 10 performs keyword recognition processing using the voice recognition unit 130.
The control unit 10 recognizes the keyword from the voice data input from the voice input unit 62.
Note that the control unit 10 does not need to perform this keyword recognition for the print data 300 in which the audio output setting 310 is not set.
Further, the control unit 10 may recognize a keyword other than the stop of output and perform processing corresponding to the keyword.
When a file that should not be output is output, the surrounding people who have heard the audio output utter the keyword for stopping the output, that is, for instructing to stop the image formation. This keyword may be in a state well known to the surrounding people.

(Step S109)
Next, the control unit 10 determines whether or not the keyword is recognized by the voice recognition unit 130 and this keyword is an instruction to stop image formation.
If Yes, that is, an instruction to stop image formation, the control unit 10 advances the process to step S112.
In the case of No, that is, when it is not an instruction to stop image formation, the control unit 10 advances the process to step S110.

(Step S110)
Next, the control unit 10 determines whether all pages of the print data 300 have been output by the print data acquisition unit 100. In this case, the control unit 10 determines Yes. In other cases, the control unit 10 determines No.
In the case of Yes, the control unit 10 ends the voice output printing process.
In No, the control part 10 returns a process to step S103, and continues the process about the next page of the print data 300. FIG.

(Step S111)
Here, when there is no person other than the person in the vicinity, the control unit 10 performs an output stop notification process using the image formation cancellation unit 140.
Referring to the screen example 501 in FIG. 6, the control unit 10 causes the display section 650 to display a message such as “It is possible to output when another person comes near” on the display unit of the operation panel unit 16 or the terminal 2. . Then, the control unit 10 displays a “stop output” button 720 on the operation panel unit 16 or the terminal 2. When it is detected that the button 720 has been pressed, or when there is no person around even after a predetermined time has elapsed, the control unit 10 advances the process to step S112.

(Step S112)
Here, the control unit 10 uses the image formation cancellation unit 140 to perform image formation cancellation processing.
The control unit 10 causes the image forming unit 17 to stop the image formation of the print data 300 when there is no person in the vicinity after the predetermined time has elapsed, or when the stop keyword is recognized. Then, it is possible to output the next job of the print data 300 in a state where the sheets until the output is stopped are discharged onto the stack tray 50.
At this time, since the document for which the audio output setting 310 is set is usually a confidential information document, the document is displayed on the operation panel unit 16 or the terminal 2 so as to be appropriately processed. The control unit 10 can also notify the user who created the print data 300 by e-mail.
Thus, the audio output printing process according to the embodiment of the present invention is completed.

With the configuration described above, the following effects can be obtained.
The image forming apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention is acquired by a print data acquisition unit 100 that acquires print data 300 including an audio output setting 310 that outputs audio during image formation, and the print data acquisition unit 100. The voice output setting extraction unit 110 that extracts the voice output setting 310 from the print data 300, and the person confirmation unit that confirms that there is a person around when the voice output setting 310 is extracted by the voice output setting extraction unit 110. 120 and when the person confirmation unit 120 confirms that there is a person around, the audio output unit 61 that outputs audio according to the audio output setting 310, and when the audio output unit 61 outputs audio, the print data 300 And an image forming unit 17 for forming an image.
With this configuration, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment can output only when there is a person other than the user who created the print data 300 around. In other words, it is not possible to output without others. For this reason, it is possible to promote the monitoring of the surroundings, to make it easier for surrounding people to notice unauthorized printing of confidential documents, and to improve security.
That is, in accordance with the audio output setting 310 set in the print data 300, the user who has output in real time (real time) at the time of printing is noticed by notifying the surroundings by voice from the image forming apparatus 1 when outputting a file, Security is ensured.

Further, in the prior art 1, when printing a confidential document or the like, the output contents are notified by voice at the time of printing, so there is a risk of information leakage if there is a person within the range where this notification can be heard. There was a problem above.
In contrast, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, on the contrary, can increase the security effect by notifying the surrounding people that the confidential document is being output, not the content of the print data itself. It becomes.

In addition, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a voice input unit 62 that inputs surrounding voice data, a voice recognition unit 130 that recognizes a keyword from the voice data input by the voice input unit 62, When the keyword recognized by the voice recognition unit 130 is an instruction to stop image formation, the image forming unit 17 includes an image formation stop unit 140 that stops output of the print data 300 by the image forming unit 17.
With this configuration, it becomes possible to stop the output of unauthorized data by monitoring surrounding people, and security is improved.

Further, in the image forming apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the audio output unit 61 outputs the audio output by the audio output setting extraction unit 110 even if the stored audio output permission / non-permission setting 320 is not permitted. When the setting 310 is extracted, a sound is output from the sound output unit 61 according to the sound output setting 310.
With this configuration, it is possible to reliably output sound for print data including the sound output setting 310.

In the image forming apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the audio output setting 310 includes a message for outputting audio and setting of the number of times of audio output in units of pages. Is synthesized by voice synthesis in accordance with the setting of the number of times of voice output.
By constructing in this way, by synthesizing according to the setting of the number of voice output, it is not necessary to notify the surrounding people by voice output for every page, suppressing discomfort of the surrounding people and improving convenience Rise. Conversely, important data can be surely attracted attention and security can be improved.

The image forming apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the audio output setting 310 includes a keyword recognized by the audio recognition unit 130.
Thereby, the keyword for emergency stop can be changed for every print data 300, and security can be improved.

In summary, the image forming apparatus 1 of the present embodiment is
・ You can set voice output for files ・ You can set output messages ・ You can set the number of times to output voice ・ You can set voice recognition keywords to stop emergency output.

Note that the terminal 2 of the present invention may be realized by a driver (Driver Software) or a dedicated application (Application Software) of a terminal such as a PC or a smartphone.
The present invention can also be applied to an information processing apparatus other than the image forming apparatus. That is, a configuration using a network scanner, a server in which the scanner is separately connected via USB, or the like may be used.
In addition, information by other sensors or the like may be used for the surrounding confirmation by the person confirmation unit 120. For example, the image forming apparatus 1 itself may be provided with a camera to detect the presence of a person around by face recognition or the like.

  Note that the configuration and operation of the above-described embodiment are examples, and it is needless to say that the configuration and operation can be appropriately changed and executed without departing from the gist of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 2 Terminal 3 Entrance / exit management apparatus 5 Network 10, 20 Control part 11 Image processing part 12 Original reading part 12a Scanner 12b Platen glass 12c Original reading slit 13 Original feeding part 13a Original placing part 13b Original discharge part 13c Original Conveying mechanism 14 Main body unit 15, 25 Network transmission / reception unit 16 Operation panel unit 17 Image forming unit 17a Photosensitive drum 17b Exposure unit 17c Development unit 17d Transfer unit 17e Fixing unit 19, 29 Storage unit 23 I / O unit 24 Input unit 26 Display Unit 41 discharge port 42 paper feed unit 43 paper conveyance path 44 conveyance roller 45 discharge roller 50 stack tray 60 human sensor 61 audio output unit 62 audio input unit 64 timer unit 100 print data acquisition unit 110 audio output setting extraction unit 120 human confirmation Part 130 voice recognition part 140 image formation stop part 2 0 print data creation unit 300 the print data 310 audio output setting 320 audio output permission unnecessary setting 421 sheet cassette 422 paper feed roller 500 and 501 screen example 600,610,620,630,640,650 display column 700, 710, 720 button

Claims (5)

Print data acquisition means for acquiring print data including sound output settings for outputting sound during image formation;
Wherein the print data acquired by the print data acquisition unit, and the audio output setting extraction means for extracting the audio output setting,
When the voice output setting is extracted by the voice output setting extraction means, a person confirmation means for confirming that there is a person around,
When it is confirmed by the person confirmation means that there is a person around, a sound output means for outputting sound according to the sound output setting;
If the voice is outputted by the audio output means, e Bei and an image forming means for forming an image of the print data,
The audio output means is
Even if the stored voice output permission setting is not permitted, if the voice output setting is extracted by the voice output setting extraction unit, a voice is output according to the voice output setting. apparatus. Voice input means for inputting surrounding voice data;
Voice recognition means for recognizing a keyword from voice data input by the voice input means;
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an image formation stopping unit that stops output of the print data by the image forming unit when the keyword recognized by the voice recognition unit is an instruction to stop image formation. The image forming apparatus described. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the person confirmation unit confirms that there is a person around by an entrance / exit management apparatus that manages a person's entrance / exit. Print data acquisition means for acquiring print data including sound output settings for outputting sound during image formation;
Audio output setting extraction means for extracting the audio output setting from the print data acquired by the print data acquisition means;
When the voice output setting is extracted by the voice output setting extraction means, a person confirmation means for confirming that there is a person around,
When it is confirmed by the person confirmation means that there is a person around, a sound output means for outputting sound according to the sound output setting;
An image forming means for forming an image of the print data when a sound is output by the sound output means;
The voice output setting includes a message for voice output and a setting of the number of voice outputs per page,
It said voice output means, voice synthesized images forming device you characterized in that audio output of the message according to the settings of the audio output times. Print data acquisition means for acquiring print data including sound output settings for outputting sound during image formation;
Audio output setting extraction means for extracting the audio output setting from the print data acquired by the print data acquisition means;
When the voice output setting is extracted by the voice output setting extraction means, a person confirmation means for confirming that there is a person around,
When it is confirmed by the person confirmation means that there is a person around, a sound output means for outputting sound according to the sound output setting;
An image forming means for forming an image of the print data when a sound is output by the sound output means;
The person identification unit, the room access management apparatus for managing the entrance and exit of people, images forming device characterized in that to ensure that there are people around.

Images