JP6197389B2 - Document management system, information processing apparatus, document management method, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a document management system, an information processing apparatus, a document management method, and a program. The present invention relates to a document management system for performing print processing based on document data at a synchronization destination in a system in which document data is synchronized. The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, a document management method, and a program.

  In recent years, printing solutions that can print out documents from multifunction devices at each site as many times as necessary by digitizing the documents distributed at multiple sites and sharing them via the network have become widespread. I am doing. For various reasons, there are restrictions on the output content and output format of printed matter, and there is a need for a solution that can easily obtain a printed matter that satisfies the restrictions. For example, in the securities industry, a prospectus is issued for offering or selling securities. The prospectus is regulated by the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law. Due to this restriction, when a prospectus is to be printed by a printer, it is required to always print out with the same contents and print settings.

  Documents such as the prospectus described above may be revised or updated for various reasons. From the viewpoint described above, it is highly necessary to prevent such documents from being printed and distributed in the old version. For this reason, it is desired that the printing solution as described above is configured so that data is synchronized between the respective bases via the document management system so that the document is always shared in the latest state.

  Japanese Patent No. 4761895 (Patent Document 1) is known as a technique corresponding to new registration and update of a document in the document management system. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-228561 discloses a technique for collectively notifying registered destinations of a plurality of documents when a document is registered (updated) in a document management server. Further, as a technique for managing a plate, for example, JP 2004-302649 A (Patent Document 2) is known in relation to form overlay type print output.

  The synchronization processing in the document management system described above may be set to be performed collectively in a time zone such as midnight. If the power of the synchronization target multifunction machine is cut off or a network failure occurs during the synchronization time, the synchronization process will fail. In such a case, it is necessary to prevent the old version of the document remaining in the synchronization destination multifunction peripheral from being printed.

  In the prior art disclosed in Patent Document 1, a new registration or updated document is notified to the transmission destination at once. In the prior art of Patent Document 2, the printer can download the latest version of form data if the version is different from the form data held by the printer by accessing the form server.

  However, in the prior art as described above, it is assumed that the distribution source and the distribution destination can communicate via the network, and the latest version of data and notification cannot be received for some reason. It could not be supported.

  Therefore, in a document management system in which document data is synchronized between the synchronization source and the synchronization destination, there is an updated version that exists locally at the synchronization destination that has not yet been synchronized even though there is an updated document at the synchronization source. It has been desired to develop a technology that can suitably prevent the document from being printed.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems in the prior art, and the present invention is a document management system in which document data is synchronized between a synchronization source and a synchronization destination, and the document is in the latest management state. An object of the present invention is to provide a document management system, an information processing apparatus, a document management method, and a program capable of restricting functions related to the output of such a document when there is a possibility that there is no possibility.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a document management system including a document management apparatus as a synchronization source and an information processing apparatus as a synchronization destination, and having the following characteristics. The information processing apparatus includes a document storage unit that stores one or more document data to be synchronized distributed from the document management apparatus via a network, and one or more document data in the document storage unit are Based on the possibility that it does not match the management state on the document management apparatus side, a determination unit that determines whether or not a function restriction is necessary, and a determination in the document storage unit when the determination unit determines that the function restriction is required. Restriction processing means for restricting functions related to output of one or more document data.

  With the above configuration, in a document management system in which document data is synchronized between the synchronization source and the synchronization destination, if there is a possibility that the document is not in the latest management state, the function related to the output of the document may be limited. it can.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a public document printing system according to a first embodiment. The block diagram relevant to the synchronous process performed with the public document printing system by 1st Embodiment. FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram showing a flow of processing from document registration to synchronization output and printing output in the public document printing system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram related to a function restriction necessity determination process executed in the public document printing system according to the first embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a function restriction necessity determination process based on time monitoring, which is executed in the public document printing system according to the first embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a function restriction necessity determination process based on an inquiry to a document management server, which is executed in the public document printing system according to the first embodiment. The figure which shows the data structure of the management document list and the possession document list which are referred in the function restriction necessity judgment processing based on the inquiry to the document management server according to the first embodiment. The figure which shows the screen display displayed on the user terminal in 1st Embodiment. The schematic block diagram of the public document printing system by 2nd Embodiment. The hardware block diagram of the general purpose computer apparatus by this embodiment.

  Hereinafter, although this embodiment is described, this embodiment is not limited to the embodiment described below. In the following description, as an example of a document management system including a document management apparatus and an information processing apparatus, a document management server and a user terminal that receives distribution from the document management server and prints out document data from a multifunction peripheral are described. This will be described using a public document printing system.

  The public document printing system according to the first embodiment will be described below. FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a public document printing system 100 according to the first embodiment. The public document printing system 100 shown in FIG. 1 includes a document manager terminal 110, a document management server 120, a user terminal 130, and a multifunction device 150 connected to the user terminal 130.

  The document manager terminal 110, the document management server 120, and the user terminal 130 are, for example, a local area network (LAN) such as an intranet or Ethernet (registered trademark), a WAN (private line, VPN (Virtual Private Network), or the like. Wide area network) and can communicate with each other.

  The document manager terminal 110 is a terminal operated by a person in charge of managing a document to be disclosed (hereinafter referred to as a document manager) AU. The document manager AU can register document print data of a document to be published in the document management server 120 by operating the document manager terminal 110. For convenience of explanation, the document print data registration is described as being performed by the document manager AU alone. However, the document print data may be registered in accordance with a predetermined workflow involving a plurality of persons, such as approval by an approver.

  In the embodiment to be described, the document print data includes document main body data, print setting data, and bibliographic data. The document body data is a document file such as PDF (Portable Document Format), and includes the contents of the document itself. The print setting data includes information for specifying printing conditions such as “original size”, “paper size”, “original direction”, “color / monochrome”, “double-sided / single-sided”, “staple”, “printing area”, and the like. . The bibliographic data includes information for the user to search for and identify a document, such as a document title, a product category, a publication period to the user, and a document description. The print setting data and bibliographic data can be composed of, for example, XML files. The document print data is configured so that the contents of the document body data and the print setting data cannot be altered.

  The document management server 120 acquires document print data from the document manager terminal 110 and stores it in, for example, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive). The document management server 120 further distributes the registered document print data to the user terminal 130 registered as a synchronization destination. A document management application 122 is installed in the document management server 120. The document management application 122 implements a document registration processing unit 124 and a print control processing unit 126 on a computer.

  The document registration processing unit 124 stores the document print data sent together with the registration request from the document manager terminal 110 in the database area of the HDD, and performs a process of registering the document to be released. At this time, the document management application 122 stores the received document body data, print setting data, and bibliographic data in association with each other.

  The print control processing unit 126 acquires one or more document print data registered as a disclosure target by the document registration processing unit 124 and distributes it to the user terminal 130 registered as a synchronization destination. As a document print data synchronization method, preferably, differential synchronization in which document print data of a document to be a difference is distributed can be used. The above-described synchronization processing is typically performed according to a schedule that is predefined as daily processing. Alternatively, the synchronization process may be performed in response to an explicit instruction from the administrator.

  In the embodiment to be described, the document registration processing unit 124 and the print control processing unit 126 are described as being realized by the document management application 122, but are not particularly limited. An application for performing document registration and an application for controlling printing of a document may be provided separately, and the document registration processing unit 124 and the print control processing unit 126 may be realized on separate computers.

  The user terminal 130 is operated by an end user (hereinafter referred to as a printing user) EU that performs printing, and causes the multifunction device 150 to print the printed matter P based on the document print data distributed from the document management server 120. It is. The user terminal 130 is a synchronization destination device arranged separately from the document management server 120 as a synchronization source via a network. Although only one user terminal is shown in FIG. 1, the number of terminals that are synchronization destinations is not particularly limited. A print application 132 is installed in the user terminal 130. The print application 132 realizes a distribution reception processing unit 134, a document storage unit 136, a document management unit 138, a restriction necessity determination unit 140, a function restriction processing unit 142, and a print execution processing unit 144 on a computer. To do.

  The distribution reception processing unit 134 receives distribution of one or more document print data to be synchronized from the document management server 120 that is a synchronization source, and stores the distribution in the document storage unit 136. The synchronization process is typically started from the document management server side. The document storage unit 136 stores document body data of the distributed document print data in a predetermined storage area, and stores print setting data and bibliographic data in a predetermined database. The print application 132 prohibits modification of the document body data and the print setting data. It is preferable that access to the storage area or database in which the document print data is stored is prohibited from other applications.

  The document management unit 138 provides the print user EU with a GUI (Graphical User Interface) for performing search, hierarchical display, print preview, and print output instruction of one or more document print data synchronized with the document storage unit 136. . In the public document printing system 100 according to the present embodiment, the print user EU performs a keyword search specifying a keyword, a category search specifying a document classification, and an initial of a document title via a GUI provided by the document management unit 138. 50-tone search or alphabet search for designating an alphabet, document search using a document identification code, document list display based on a hierarchical structure, print output instruction for a specified document, and the like.

  The restriction necessity determination unit 140 verifies the possibility that the document print data in the document storage unit 136 of the user terminal 130 does not match the management state on the document management server 120 side, and functions related to print output based on the verification result It is determined whether or not it needs to be restricted. If there is a possibility that it does not match at least the management state on the document management server 120 side, it is determined that the function needs to be restricted.

  In the described embodiment, the functional limitation is done in two ways. The first mode is that the next synchronization process is not completed for some reason even though the next synchronization process should have been completed if it is scheduled since the last synchronization was completed Is a functional limitation. The first mode is to detect a possibility that consistency has been lost during the activation of the print application 132. The second mode is a function limitation in the case where the distribution by the synchronization process performed during the return from the state where the distribution from the document management server 120 is not received cannot be received. The second mode is to detect that the consistency is lost during the pause or shutdown of the print application 132. Details of the determination processing by the restriction necessity determination unit 140 will be described later.

  The function restriction processing unit 142 restricts the function related to the print output of the document when it is determined that the function restriction is required based on the determination result by the restriction necessity determination unit 140. The functions related to the print output restricted here are the document search function (keyword search, category search, 50 sound search) for calling the print output function in addition to the print output function itself for the document in the document storage unit 136. Alternatively, an alphabet search, a document identification code search), a document list display function based on a hierarchical structure, a print preview function, and the like can be included.

  The print execution processing unit 144 executes print processing for the designated document when a print output instruction designating the document is performed via the GUI provided by the document management unit 138. In response to the print output instruction, the print execution processing unit 144 reads the designated document print data from the document storage unit 136, sets the document main body data constituting the document print data, and the print settings constituting the document print data. A print command is issued to the multi-function device 150 based on the data.

  The MFP 150 includes, for example, an electrophotographic color image forming apparatus, a center folding processing unit that folds printed paper at the center, and a binding processing unit such as a stapler for printed paper or paper folded at the center. And a processing device. The multi-function device 150 is connected to the user terminal 130 via a bus such as USB (Universal Serial Bus) or a network. The multifunction device 150 prints out the printed matter P based on the document print data under the control of the user terminal 130, and appropriately performs post-processing.

  Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, a flow of processing from document registration to data synchronization processing to printout in the public document printing system 100 according to the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram related to the synchronization process executed in the public document printing system according to the first embodiment.

  First, when a new document is newly registered or updated and registered in the document registration processing unit 124 of the document management application 122, (1) printing of the document on the user terminal 130 is managed at an arbitrary timing. Document synchronization is performed with the print control processing unit 126. The print control processing unit 126 (2) a document list of document print data managed by itself (for example, via socket communication) in accordance with a schedule or in response to an explicit instruction from the administrator (hereinafter, referred to as “document list”). (Referred to as a management document list) is distributed to the user terminal 130 registered in advance.

  The distribution reception processing unit 134 of the print application 132 collates the management document list transmitted from the document management application 122 with a document list (hereinafter referred to as a stored document list) 200 held in the document storage unit 136. Extract the difference. Here, missing documents that are not in the retained document list in the acquired managed document list, old versions of documents that are in the retained document list but different versions, and surplus documents that are in the retained document list but not in the managed document list Extracted. If there is a difference, the distribution reception processing unit 134 (3) transmits a difference document request for transferring the latest document print data of the extracted missing document and old version document to the print control processing unit 126.

  The print control processing unit 126 has an FTP server function, for example, and the difference document request is made as an FTP request specifying document print data. In response to the difference document request, the print control processing unit 126 reads the requested latest document print data and transmits it to the distribution reception processing unit 134. The distribution reception processing unit 134 (4) receives the document print data requested from the document management application 122, stores it in the document storage unit 136, and updates the retained document list 200. Further, when the surplus document is extracted, the distribution reception processing unit 134 deletes the document print data of the surplus document in the document storage unit 136 or sets a deletion flag.

  The distribution reception processing unit 134 receives all the document print data that becomes the difference, and when the synchronization processing is successfully completed, (5) returns a positive difference synchronization result to the print control processing unit 126 via socket communication. If for some reason it cannot be completed successfully, a negative differential synchronization result is returned.

  If the synchronization processing is successfully completed, the printing user EU can then perform document printout, browsing search, and the like in the latest state by operating the user terminal 130. During the synchronization process, a screen display indicating that the synchronization process is being executed as shown in FIG. 8A is performed, and functions related to print output may be limited.

  FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram showing a flow of processing from document registration to synchronization printing and printing output in the public document printing system 100 according to the first embodiment. The process shown in FIG. 3 is started in response to the document administrator AU instructing the document administrator terminal 110 to newly register or update the document in step S100.

  In step S101, the document manager terminal 110 transmits the specified document print data together with the document registration request to the document registration processing unit 124 of the document management server 120. The document registration processing unit 124 receives and stores the document print data, and returns a receipt response to the document manager terminal 110. In step S102, document print data is acquired from the document registration processing unit 124 to the print control processing unit 126 according to a predetermined schedule, and the print control processing unit 126 returns a receipt response to the document registration processing unit 124.

  In step S103, the print control processing unit 126 distributes the document print data to the print application 132 of the user terminal 130 registered in advance as a synchronization destination according to a predetermined schedule. In the print application 132, the distribution reception processing unit 134 stores the document body data in the distributed document print data in a predetermined storage area, and stores the print setting data and the bibliographic data in the database area. Then, the distribution reception processing unit 134 returns a reception response to the print control processing unit 126. Thereafter, the document can be printed out.

  In step S200, when the print user EU instructs the print application 132 to execute printing, in step S201, the print application 132 reads the document body data from the storage area, acquires the print setting data from the database, and sets the print settings. Do. In step S <b> 202, the print application 132 confirms the state of the multifunction device 150. In step S <b> 203, the print execution processing unit 144 issues a print command to the multi-function device 150 based on the document print data. In step S204, the multi-function device 150 prints out the printed matter P based on the received document body data and print setting data. As a result, the document is output under the specified printing conditions.

  Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 4 to FIG. 8, a process for verifying the possibility of inconsistency with the management state on the document management server 120 side according to the first embodiment and determining the necessity of function restriction based on the verification result will be described. explain. FIG. 4 is a block diagram related to the function restriction necessity determination process executed in the public document printing system 100 according to the first embodiment.

  As described above, in the described embodiment, the functional limitation is performed by two aspects. First, the elapsed time since the last synchronization was completed is monitored, and if it is scheduled, the function that is supposed to have completed the next synchronization process is limited in response to the fact that the synchronization process has not been performed. The first mode will be described.

  When the distribution reception processing unit 134 completes the synchronization processing, the distribution reception processing unit 134 stores the time at which the synchronization is completed as the update information 202, for example, in the document storage unit 136. The restriction necessity determination unit 140 reads (1-1) the update information 202 in the document storage unit 136, and obtains the non-delivery obtained by adding the preset no-delivery detection setting time to the previous synchronization completion time. Set the allowable time in the timer. The non-delivery detection set time is the time that is set to limit the function when it is determined that the delivery has not been performed for a long period of time when the time set here has passed without delivery. is there. The non-delivery detection setting time is typically set corresponding to the schedule of the synchronization process executed by the document management server 120. For example, when synchronization is performed as daily processing, for example, 24 hours is set as the non-delivery detection set time.

  While the print application 132 is running, the restriction necessity determination unit 140 (1-1) monitors the current time recorded by the timekeeping unit (RTC: Real Time Clock), and whether or not the current time has passed the non-delivery allowed time. Determine whether. When the current time reaches the non-delivery allowable time, a timer interruption occurs, and the restriction necessity determination unit 140 determines that the time has passed beyond a predefined allowable time, and (3) a function restriction processing unit 142 is called and a function restriction is commanded.

  The function restriction processing unit 142 restricts a predetermined function of the print application 132 based on the determination result of the restriction necessity determination unit 140. The function restriction may be a restriction that prohibits the use of the entire application by displaying a warning screen, or a restriction that prohibits the use of a function for calling a print output such as document search or document browsing. It may be. It is preferable that the function restriction prohibits at least print output of document print data to be synchronized in the document storage unit 136.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a function restriction necessity determination process based on time monitoring, which is executed in the public document printing system according to the first embodiment. The process shown in FIG. 5 is started from step S300 in response to the activation of the print application 132, for example.

  In step S301, the restriction necessity determination unit 140 reads the non-delivery detection setting time from the setting information. In step S302, the restriction necessity determination unit 140 reads the previous synchronization completion time from the update information 202 of the document storage unit 136, adds the no-delivery detection set time to the previous synchronization completion time, and calculates the no-delivery allowable time. In step S303, the restriction necessity determination unit 140 acquires the current time from the time measuring unit. In step S304, the restriction necessity determination unit 140 determines whether or not the non-delivery detection set time has elapsed since the current time has passed the non-delivery allowed time and the previous synchronization has been completed.

  If it is determined in step S304 that the non-delivery allowed time has not passed (NO), the process loops to step S302. If the synchronization process is completed before the current time reaches the non-delivery permitted time, the previous synchronization completion time is updated, and a new non-delivery allowable time is calculated. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S304 that the non-delivery allowable time has passed (YES), the process branches to step S305. In step S305, the restriction necessity determination unit 140 instructs the function restriction processing unit 142 to restrict the function. Upon receiving the instruction, the function restriction processing unit 142 notifies the print user EU of an error as shown in FIG. 8B and does not accept a user operation for a function related to the print output of the print application 132. To control. The printing user who has received the error notification as shown in FIG. 8B requests the manual execution of the synchronization processing from the document management server 120 side by contacting the contact address described in the error notification. become.

  In step S306, the restriction necessity determination unit 140 waits for a predetermined time, and in step S307, determines whether or not the synchronization is completed. In step S307, while the synchronization execution is not completed (during NO), the process loops to step S306 to continue waiting for synchronization. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S307 that the synchronous execution has been completed (YES), the process proceeds to step S308. In step S <b> 308, the restriction necessity determination unit 140 instructs the function restriction processing unit 142 to release the function restriction. In response to the release instruction, the function restriction processing unit 142 performs control so that the user operation for the function restricted by the print application 132 is accepted again. After the restriction on the function is released in step S308, the process loops to step S302.

  While the print application 132 is being activated, there is a possibility that the synchronization processing that should be originally performed may not be performed for various reasons. However, the function restriction necessity determination process according to the first aspect is consistent with the print application 132 being activated. This is to detect the possibility of loss of sex. According to the function restriction necessity determination process described above, if the synchronization process is not completed within the predetermined time on the premise that the synchronization process is performed within the predetermined time, the server side does not match the latest state. As a possibility, it is possible to prevent an old version of the document from being printed. Further, when the document data is distributed from the document management server 120 and becomes in a state that matches the management state on the server side, the restriction on the function related to the print output is released in response. When the restriction on the function is released, the error notification as shown in FIG. 8B is deleted, the normal application screen is displayed again, and the function related to the restricted print output can be called again.

  Hereinafter, a description will be given of a second mode in which when the print application 132 is activated or restored, the document management server 120 is inquired to detect that the synchronization is lost while the distribution is not received, and the function is limited. To do.

  Here, FIG. 4 will be referred to again. The restriction necessity determination unit 140 requests (2-1) the management document list from the document management server 120, for example, via socket communication when the print application 132 is activated or restored. In the document management server 120, in response to the request for the management document list, the print control processing unit 126 (2-2) manages the management document list of the document print data managed by itself, for example, via socket communication. Delivered to the requesting user terminal 130.

  The restriction necessity determination unit 140 acquires the management document list transmitted from the document management application 122, compares it with the retained document list 200 in the document storage unit 136, and extracts a difference. Here, as in the case of differential synchronization, missing documents that are not in the retained document list in the managed document list, old versions of documents that are in the retained document list, but different versions are in the retained document list, but are in the managed document list. No surplus document is extracted as a difference. Alternatively, when a version or time stamp is attached to the library of the entire document, it may be detected that there is a difference simply by comparing the version information (version or time stamp) of the library.

  If the possessed document list includes a document shortage, a document surplus, a document version mismatch and a document group version mismatch, or at least one of these, the user terminal that is the synchronization source and the user terminal that is the synchronization destination 130, it is determined that there is an actual document mismatch. The function restriction processing unit 142 restricts a predetermined function of the print application 132 based on the determination result of the restriction necessity determination unit 140.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a function restriction necessity determination process based on an inquiry to the document management server 120, which is executed in the public document printing system 100 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a data structure of the management document list and the retained document list that are referred to in the function restriction necessity determination process based on the inquiry to the document management server according to the first embodiment.

  The process shown in FIG. 6 is started from step S400 in response to the activation of the print application 132 or the return of the user terminal 130 from the sleep state or the hibernation state. In step S <b> 401, the restriction necessity determination unit 140 requests the management document list from the document management server 120. In step S <b> 402, the restriction necessity determination unit 140 acquires a management document list from the document management server 120.

  In step S <b> 403, the restriction necessity determination unit 140 reads the retained document list 200 from the document storage unit 136. In step S404, the restriction necessity determination unit 140 compares the management document list acquired from the document management server 120 with the possessed document list, and calculates a comparison result.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the managed document list and the possessed document list include a document identifier (doc-id) element for identifying a document, a version information (edition) element indicating a version, a document title (doc-title), Information including release date (release-date). In the example shown in FIG. 7, by comparing the managed document list and the retained document list, the old document (doc-id = Document1) whose version information is old in the retained document list and the extra redundant document that does not exist in the managed document list ( doc-id = Document2) and a missing document (doc-id = Document3) that is in the managed document list but not in the possessed document list are detected as differences.

  In step S405, the restriction necessity determination unit 140 determines whether or not the current state is the latest state. If it is determined in step S405 that there is no difference and that the state is the latest state (YES), the process is branched to step S406 and the state is changed to a normal state. Thereafter, the print user EU can operate the print application 132 and use various functions. Typically, subsequent inconsistency detection is left to the process shown in FIG.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S405 that there is a difference in the comparison result and it is not the latest state (NO), the process branches to step S407. In step S407, the restriction necessity determination unit 140 instructs the function restriction processing unit 142 to restrict the function. In response to the instruction, the function restriction processing unit 142 notifies the print user EU of an error as shown in FIG. 8C and does not accept a user operation for a function related to the print output of the print application 132. To control.

  In step S408, the restriction necessity determination unit 140 waits for synchronization to be performed for a predetermined time, and in step S409, determines whether or not the synchronization is completed. In step S409, while the synchronization execution is not completed (during NO), the process loops to step S408 to continue waiting for synchronization. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S409 that the synchronous execution has been completed (YES), the process is looped to step S401. The process proceeds again from step S401 to step S404, and if it is determined in step S405 that there is no difference and the latest state (YES), the process branches to step S406, and the process proceeds to a normal state.

  While the print application 132 is suspended or shut down, the synchronization process cannot be accepted. According to the function restriction necessity determination process according to the second aspect, it is possible to detect an actual synchronization failure during a period in which the distribution is not received and prevent the old version of the document from being printed.

  According to the public document printing system 100 according to the first embodiment described above, a case where there is a possibility that the document to be synchronized is not in the latest management state is detected, and if there is such a possibility, the document is printed out. Functions related to can be limited. This suitably prevents the inconsistent document from being printed out.

  According to the function restriction necessity determination process according to the first aspect, it is possible to detect the possibility that consistency has been lost during the operation of the print application 132. According to the function restriction necessity determination process according to the second aspect, a synchronization failure is detected during a period in which the synchronization process cannot be received, such as during suspension or shutdown of the print application, and an inconsistent document is printed. Can be prevented.

  Further, by combining the first and second function restriction necessity determination processing, it is possible to detect the possibility of loss of synchronization during the operation of the print application 132 and during the entire period of suspension or shutdown.

  Hereinafter, a public document printing system according to the second embodiment will be described. FIG. 9 shows a schematic configuration of a public document printing system 100 according to the second embodiment. In addition, since 2nd Embodiment demonstrated below is equipped with the structure similar to 1st Embodiment, it demonstrates below centering on difference.

  Similar to the first embodiment, the public document printing system 100 according to the second embodiment includes a document manager terminal 110 and a document management server 120, and further includes a multifunction device 160. In the second embodiment, the print application 132 that operates on the user terminal 130 in the first embodiment is configured as an application 162 that operates on the multifunction peripheral 160.

  The multifunction device 160 acquires document print data to be synchronized by synchronization processing from the document management server 120, and holds the document print data. In response to a print instruction specifying a document held by the print user EU, the multi-function device 160 prints and binds the printed matter P.

  Similar to the first embodiment, the print application 162 operating on the multifunction peripheral 160 includes a distribution reception processing unit 164, a document storage unit 166, a document management unit 168, a restriction necessity determination unit 170, and a function restriction. A processing unit 172 and a print execution processing unit 174 are included. The functions of these functional units are the same as those in the first embodiment. On the multifunction peripheral 160, in addition to the print application 162, other applications such as a copy application 176 and a facsimile application 178 are operating. The multifunction device 160 further includes a printing unit 180 that executes electrophotographic image forming processing. The printing unit 180 performs an image forming operation based on a command from the print execution processing unit 174 of the print application 162 and outputs a printed matter P.

  Hereinafter, the hardware configuration of the document manager terminal 110, the document management server 120, and the user terminal 130 in the above-described embodiments will be described with reference to FIG. The document manager terminal 110, the document management server 120, and the user terminal 130 are typically configured as general-purpose computer devices. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the general-purpose computer apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  The general-purpose computer devices 110, 120, and 130 are configured as desktop personal computers, workstations, and the like. General-purpose computer apparatuses 110, 120, and 130 shown in FIG. 10 include a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 12, a north bridge 14 for connecting the CPU 12 and the memory, and a south bridge 16. The south bridge 16 is connected to the north bridge 14 via a dedicated bus or a PCI bus, and is connected to an I / O such as a PCI bus or USB.

  Connected to the north bridge 14 are a RAM (Random Access Memory) 18 that provides a work area for the CPU 12 and a graphic board 20 that outputs a video signal. The graphic board 20 includes video output interfaces such as analog RGB, HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface; HDMI and High-Definition Multimedia Interface are registered trademarks or trademarks), DVI (Digital Visual Interface), and DisplayPort (registered trademark). Connected to the display 50.

  Connected to the south bridge 16 are a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) 22, a LAN port 24, an IEEE 1394, a universal serial bus (USB) port 28, an auxiliary storage device 30, an audio input / output 32, and a serial port 34. The auxiliary storage device 30 is an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), an SSD (Solid State Drive), or the like, and stores an OS for controlling the computer device, the above-described utility program, various system information, and various setting information. The LAN port 24 is an interface device that connects the general-purpose computer devices 110, 120, and 130 to the network by wire and wireless.

  Input devices such as a keyboard 52 and a mouse 54 may be connected to the USB port 28, and a user interface for accepting input of various instructions from an operator can be provided. The general-purpose computer devices 110, 120, and 130 according to the present embodiment read the program from the auxiliary storage device 30 and develop the program in the work space provided by the RAM 18, so that the corresponding functional units and the above-described respective functions and each are controlled under the control of the CPU 12. Realize processing. In the above, the hardware configuration of the general-purpose computer apparatuses 110, 120, and 130 has been described. However, for the multi-function machines 150 and 160, hardware according to a specific application such as an image forming process, an image reading process, and a facsimile transmission / reception process. In addition, it is common in that it includes hardware such as a CPU and a RAM, and can have a similar configuration.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, in a document management system in which document data is synchronized between a synchronization source and a synchronization destination, if there is a possibility that the document is not in the latest management state, It is possible to provide a document management system, a document management method, and a program capable of limiting functions related to output.

  The functional unit can be realized by a computer-executable program written in a legacy programming language such as assembler, C, C ++, C #, Java (registered trademark), an object-oriented programming language, or the like. ROM, EEPROM, EPROM , Stored in a device-readable recording medium such as a flash memory, a flexible disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-RW, a DVD-ROM, a DVD-RAM, a DVD-RW, a Blu-ray disc, an SD card, an MO, or through an electric communication line Can be distributed.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described so far, the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and those skilled in the art may conceive other embodiments, additions, modifications, deletions, and the like. It can be changed within the range that can be done, and any embodiment is included in the scope of the present invention as long as the effects of the present invention are exhibited.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Public document printing system, 110 ... Document manager terminal, 120 ... Document management server, 122 ... Document management application, 124 ... Document registration processing part, 126 ... Print control processing part, 130 ... User terminal, 132, 162 ... Printing Application, 134, 164 ... Distribution acceptance processing unit, 136, 166 ... Document storage unit, 138, 168 ... Document management unit, 140, 170 ... Restriction necessity determination unit, 142, 172 ... Function restriction processing unit, 144, 174 ... Print execution processing unit 150, 160 ... MFP, 176 ... Copy application, 178 ... Facsimile application, 200 ... Retained document list, 202 ... Update information, 204 ... Document print data, 12 ... CPU, 14 ... Northbridge, 16 ... South bridge, 18 ... RAM, 20 ... Graphic board, 2 ... PCI, 24 ... LAN port, 26 ... IEEE1394 port, 28 ... USB port, 30 ... auxiliary storage device, 32 ... audio output, 34 ... serial port, 52 ... keyboard, 54 ... mouse

Japanese Patent No. 4761895 JP 2004-302649 A

Claims (11)

A document management system including a document management device as a synchronization source and an information processing device as a synchronization destination, wherein the information processing device includes:
Document storage means for storing one or more document data to be synchronized distributed from the document management apparatus via a network;
A determination unit that determines whether or not function restriction is necessary based on a possibility that the one or more document data in the document storage unit do not match a management state on the document management apparatus side;
Restriction processing means for restricting a function related to the output of the one or more document data in the document storage means when it is determined by the determination means that the function restriction is required;
The determination means monitors the elapsed time since the last synchronization was completed, and if the elapsed time exceeds a predefined allowable time, the function is limited as there is a possibility of inconsistency. and judging a required, a document management system. A document management system including a document management device as a synchronization source and an information processing device as a synchronization destination, wherein the information processing device includes:
Document storage means for storing one or more document data to be synchronized distributed from the document management apparatus via a network;
A determination unit that determines whether or not function restriction is necessary based on a possibility that the one or more document data in the document storage unit do not match a management state on the document management apparatus side;
Restriction processing means for restricting a function related to the output of the one or more document data in the document storage means when it is determined by the determination means that the function restriction is required;
And the determination means inquires of the document management apparatus when the information processing apparatus is restored to determine a synchronization state of the one or more document data in the document storage means and a management state on the document management apparatus side. by comparison, the determining means determines that if there are inconsistencies between the document to be synchronized, requires limited functions, the document management system. The restriction processing unit searches the document data in the document storage unit for printing, browses the document data in the document storage unit for printing, and prints based on the document data in the document storage unit outputting or characterized by applying a function limitation to prohibit at least one of these, the document management system according to claim 1 or 2,. The restriction placed on the function related to the print output is released in response to the fact that the document data is distributed from the document management apparatus to a state that is consistent with the management state on the document management apparatus side. The document management system according to any one of claims 1 to 3 . The document management apparatus, according to a predefined schedule or in accordance with an instruction from the administrator, and the destination that has been pre-registered, a means for distributing processing of the document data registered for synchronization, according to claim 1 5. The document management system according to any one of 4 . An information processing apparatus that communicates with a document management apparatus as a synchronization source,
Document storage means for storing one or more document data to be synchronized distributed from the document management server via the network;
A determination unit that determines whether or not function restriction is necessary based on a possibility that the one or more document data in the document storage unit do not match a management state on the document management apparatus side;
Restriction processing means for restricting the function related to the output of the one or more document data in the document storage means when the determination means determines that the function restriction is required, and the determination means includes: The elapsed time since the last synchronization was completed is monitored, and when the elapsed time exceeds a predefined allowable time, it is determined that there is a possibility of inconsistency and a function restriction is required. An information processing apparatus.   An information processing apparatus that communicates with a document management apparatus as a synchronization source,
  Document storage means for storing one or more document data to be synchronized distributed from the document management server via the network;
  A determination unit that determines whether or not function restriction is necessary based on a possibility that the one or more document data in the document storage unit do not match a management state on the document management apparatus side;
  Restriction processing means for restricting a function related to the output of the one or more document data in the document storage means when it is determined by the determination means that the function restriction is required;
  And the determination means inquires of the document management apparatus when the information processing apparatus is restored to determine a synchronization state of the one or more document data in the document storage means and a management state on the document management apparatus side. An information processing apparatus characterized in that, by comparing, when there is an inconsistency regarding a document to be synchronized, it is determined that a function restriction is required. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the information processing apparatus is an image forming apparatus that prints out based on document data in the document storage unit. A document management method for managing document data, wherein an information processing apparatus
Based on the possibility that one or more document data to be synchronized stored in the document storage means included in the information processing apparatus does not match the management state on the document management apparatus side of the synchronization source, it is determined whether or not the function should be restricted. A determining step;
Restricting functions related to the output of the one or more document data in the document storage means when it is determined that there is a possibility of inconsistency and a limitation of functions is required;
Storing document data distributed from the document management device via a network;
Releasing the restriction on the function related to the print output when it is determined that the restriction on the function is not required by the distribution;
When the function is not restricted, a step of calling a function related to the output is executed, and in the determining step, the information processing apparatus monitors an elapsed time since the last synchronization was completed. Then, when the elapsed time exceeds a predefined allowable time, it is determined that there is a possibility of inconsistency and a function restriction is required . A document management method for managing document data, wherein an information processing apparatus
Based on the possibility that one or more document data to be synchronized stored in the document storage means included in the information processing apparatus does not match the management state on the document management apparatus side of the synchronization source, it is determined whether or not the function should be restricted. A determining step;
Restricting functions related to the output of the one or more document data in the document storage means when it is determined that there is a possibility of inconsistency and a limitation of functions is required;
Storing document data distributed from the document management device via a network;
Releasing the restriction on the function related to the print output when it is determined that the restriction on the function is not required by the distribution;
Calling a function associated with the output when the function is not restricted;
In the determining step, the information processing apparatus makes an inquiry to the document management apparatus when the information processing apparatus returns to synchronize the one or more document data in the document storage unit with the document. A document management method comprising: comparing a management state on a management apparatus side to determine that a function restriction is required when there is an inconsistency regarding a document to be synchronized . Program for causing a computer to function as each unit of the information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 6-8.