JP6488794B2 - Image forming apparatus and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a program.

  In the image forming apparatus, the user's print data received from the remote is stored in a storage device, and when the user arrives at the image forming apparatus and performs user authentication or password input, the stored print data is stored. Some have a so-called security printing function for printing out. In this type of image forming apparatus, if a large amount of print data is not output and the remaining capacity of the storage device is reduced, there is a possibility that new print data cannot be received.

  When a print job having an authentication request instruction is accumulated in a storage area, the printing apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 monitors the accumulation time, and a print job whose accumulation time has passed in advance is forced from the storage area. Delete it.

  The image processing apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 2 stops job processing and saves job data to an external server when a job is not executable or an error occurs during job execution. Thus, a memory area for processing the next job is secured. When the error or the like is canceled, the saved job data is acquired from the external server, and the job is resumed.

  In recent years, a cloud print service provided on the Internet has been proposed, such as Google Cloud Print operated by Google. A user logs in to the cloud print service from a PC or the like with the user ID of the service, and sends print data to the cloud print service after login. Then, the print is realized by providing the print data from the cloud print service to the image forming apparatus via the Internet or the like. Even in this type of printing via the cloud, it is conceivable to provide a security printing function with the image forming apparatus.

JP 2011-203989 A JP 2008-288733 A

  The present invention relates to an apparatus for saving print data when the print data acquired from the service system on the cloud and stored in the storage means in the image forming apparatus is saved from the storage means in order to increase the free capacity. The purpose is to eliminate the need to provide a special.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided print data storage means for storing print data addressed to the own apparatus acquired from a service system on a cloud until an output instruction is received from a user corresponding to the print data, and the print data storage means Is sent to the service system as print data destined for its own device when the free capacity of the printer no longer satisfies a predetermined free space standard. , seen containing a saving means for performing a saving process of deleting the print data transmitted from the print data storing means, wherein the retracting means, the own apparatus within a predetermined time interval a plurality of print data one received An image forming apparatus, wherein the save processing is performed by grouping the groups into units .

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the save unit saves print data to be transmitted to the service system as print data addressed to the own apparatus among print data stored in the print data storage unit. When a notification indicating that there is print data addressed to the own apparatus and from the service system is received from the service system, the print data is acquired from the service system and stored in the print data storage unit Means for holding the acquisition of the print data until a predetermined re-acquisition condition is satisfied when the save information is added to the print data. The image forming apparatus according to 1.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a data amount storage unit that stores a data amount of each print data acquired by the acquisition unit, and the print data transmitted to the service system by the saving process of the saving unit includes the data amount Means for generating correspondence information indicating which one of the print data corresponding to the data amount stored in the storage means corresponds to, and the acquisition means indicates the notification from the service system When the save information is added to the print data, the print data corresponds to which of the print data whose data amount is stored in the data amount storage means is identified from the correspondence information. When the reacquisition condition that the subtraction result obtained by subtracting the data amount of the print data from the free capacity of the print data storage unit satisfies the free capacity criterion is satisfied Acquires print data to which the notification indicating from the service system, it is an image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided print data storage means for storing print data addressed to the own apparatus acquired from a service system on the cloud until receiving an output instruction from a user corresponding to the print data, the print data When the free capacity of the storage means does not satisfy a predetermined free space standard, at least one of the print data stored in the print data storage means is sent to the service system as print data addressed to the own apparatus. A program for functioning as a saving unit that executes a saving process for transmitting and deleting the transmitted print data from the print data storage unit, and the saving unit receives the same within a predetermined time interval. A plurality of print data is collected into one group, and the save process is executed in units of the group. A program characterized by.

  According to the first or fourth aspect of the invention, the print data acquired from the service system on the cloud and stored in the print data storage unit in the image forming apparatus is transferred from the print data storage unit to increase the free space. In the case of evacuation, it is possible to eliminate the necessity of providing a print data evacuation destination device.

  According to the second or third aspect of the present invention, even when the service system receives the print data and immediately notifies the destination image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus satisfies the criteria for the free capacity of the print data storage unit. The acquisition of the print data can be suspended so as not to disappear.

1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment and a system configuration for printing using a cloud including the image forming apparatus. FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of the job list memorize | stored in a cloud job list memory | storage part. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a processing procedure of the image forming apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of the job information which a cloud server manages. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of job information managed by a cloud server when a job save is received from an image forming apparatus. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of job information managed by a cloud server when a job save is received from an image forming apparatus. FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a processing procedure of the image forming apparatus when a user operation is performed on a job list in a cloud job list storage unit.

  First, an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment and a system configuration for cloud-based printing including the image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIG.

  The illustrated system includes an image forming apparatus 100 connected to the Internet 400, a cloud server 200, and a user terminal 300.

  The image forming apparatus 100 is an apparatus that prints input print data on paper. The image forming apparatus 100 may have a function other than the printing function. For example, the image forming apparatus 100 may be a so-called digital multi-function peripheral that includes a scan function, a copy function, a fax transmission function, and an e-mail transmission function in addition to a printing function. In this example, it is assumed that the image forming apparatus 100 is connected to an in-house network such as a local area network (not shown). The image forming apparatus 100 has a function of executing processing such as copying, scanning, and printing in accordance with an instruction from the user received by the operation / display unit 112 that the image forming apparatus 100 has, and also receives an instruction from a computer on the in-house network. Accordingly, it has a function of executing processing such as printing. The image forming apparatus 100 also has a function of acquiring print data from the cloud server 200 on the Internet 400 and printing it out.

  Each user belonging to a company is assigned a unique user ID (hereinafter referred to as “in-house ID”) within the company. For example, an employee number is an example. Each information processing apparatus (for example, the image forming apparatus 100) on the in-house network authenticates and manages the user using this in-house ID. The image forming apparatus 100 presents authentication information to a user who intends to use the apparatus (for example, input of an in-house ID and a password from the operation / display unit 112, or a status in which internal data can be read in a contact type or a non-contact type). Authentication is performed using a certificate (ID) card), and user authentication is performed by sending information presented in response thereto to an in-house authentication system. If the user authentication is successful, the user's in-house ID is specified. The image forming apparatus 100 includes the identified in-house ID in the history (log) information of the executed process and records it in another apparatus on the own apparatus or on the in-house network. The recorded history information may be tabulated by a billing summarizing device on the in-house network for management of usage status of the image forming apparatus 100 in the company or billing management.

  The cloud server 200 is a system provided on a network such as the Internet that provides a print service to a user. The cloud server 200 is generally a system including a plurality of computers, but may be configured by a single computer. For example, Google Cloud Print (hereinafter abbreviated as “GCP”) is an example of the cloud server 200.

  The cloud server 200 is, for example, a data format (for example, PDF (Portable Document) that can handle document data (for example, created by a word processor or spreadsheet software) designated as a print target by the user in the image forming apparatus 130. Format), PostScript (registered trademark)), a function of generating a print job corresponding to the received print instruction and managing its execution state (for example, queue management), etc. are provided to the user. For example, the cloud server 200 includes a logical printer that communicates with the image forming apparatus 100 to realize various functions for a print service. The image forming apparatus 100, the logical printer, and a user who can use them, Is managing the correspondence. The user registers (creates) his / her account in the cloud server 200. When creating an account, the user registers a unique user ID (hereinafter referred to as “cloud ID”) on the cloud server 200.

  A user logs in to the cloud server 200 with his / her cloud ID via the Internet 400 from a user terminal 300 such as a PC or a smartphone using a communication protocol such as HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol). Then, an output destination is selected from the image forming apparatuses 100 registered in association with the user, and a print instruction is issued. The cloud server 200 (a logical printer corresponding to the image forming apparatus 100) converts document data instructed to be printed into print data in a data format supported by the image forming apparatus 100. For example, in the case of GCP, when the print data is ready, the cloud server 200 notifies the output destination image forming apparatus 100 using XMPP (Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol), and an image is displayed according to the notification. The forming apparatus 100 downloads the print data from the cloud server 200 using HTTP or the like.

  Further details of the image forming apparatus 100 will be described. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 100 realizes a communication control unit 102 that controls data communication with an in-house network, the Internet, and the like, and a function (for example, printing) that the image forming apparatus 100 provides to a user. Main controller 110 that performs control for

  In the main control unit 110, the operation / display unit 112 receives an operation instruction from the user or displays screen information necessary for receiving the operation instruction. The job acquisition unit 114 acquires job data (print data and accompanying print attribute information) from the cloud server 200 or a computer on the in-house network. The print processing unit 116 prints an image represented by the job data on a medium by controlling the printing mechanism according to the job data.

  In the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus 100 has a security printing function (a function for temporarily storing an acquired job and performing print processing after waiting for an output instruction from a user). Of the job data acquired by the job acquisition unit 114, the data of the job that is the target of security printing is stored in the job storage unit 118. The job data stored in the job storage unit 118 is retrieved from the job storage unit 118 and processed by the print processing unit 116 when the user instructs the operation / display unit 112 to execute printing for the job data. In order to simplify the description, in the following example, it is assumed that all jobs sent to the image forming apparatus 100 via the cloud server 200 are targets for security printing.

  The cloud job list storage unit 120 stores a list of management information of each job acquired from the cloud server 200 (hereinafter referred to as “job list”). The image forming apparatus 100 can execute a local job such as scanning or copying, a job corresponding to a print instruction from a computer on an in-house network, and the like, but the job list stored in the cloud job list storage unit 120 stores the job list. Only the job information acquired from the cloud server 200 is registered. Note that management information about local jobs and jobs from the in-house network is managed as usual.

  When the free capacity of the job storage unit 118 decreases, there may be a problem that new job data cannot be received. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the job saving unit 122 is provided in order to keep the free capacity of the job storage unit 118 at an appropriate amount or more. The job saving unit 122 saves the job data stored in the job storage unit 118 to the cloud server 200 when the free capacity of the job storage unit 118 becomes equal to or less than an appropriate amount (threshold). In other words, the job saving unit 122 sends a print instruction including job data stored in the job storage unit 118 to the cloud server 200 by designating the own apparatus (that is, the image forming apparatus 100 itself) as an output destination. In order to send a print instruction to the cloud server 200, the image forming apparatus 100 has account information 124 (authentication information such as a cloud ID and a password) for logging in to the cloud server 200. This account information 124 may be that of an administrator user of the image forming apparatus 100 or may be registered in the cloud server 200 exclusively for the image forming apparatus 100. In either case, the account information 124 is registered in the cloud server 200 as an account that can use the image forming apparatus 100. The job saving unit 122 adds a flag indicating that the job is a saved job to the job data saved in the cloud server 200. For example, the flag is added to the file name of the print data of the job as a specific character string indicating the saved job (see FIG. 6). In addition to this, for example, the flag may be provided as one predetermined item of attribute information such as print attributes included in the job data.

  An example of the job list stored in the cloud job list storage unit 120 will be described with reference to FIG. The job list includes items of file name, status, acquisition date / time, save date / time, file capacity, save reason, operator, and print attribute for each job acquired from the cloud server 200.

  “File name” is the file name of the print data acquired from the cloud server 200. This file name is a name derived from the file name of the document data to be printed that is passed to the cloud server 200 by the user (for example, only the extension is different).

  “Status” is the current status (status) of the job. In this example, the possible states of the job include six states of waiting for printing, printing, printing, deletion, error, and saving. “Waiting for printing” is a state where the print processing of the job received by the cloud server 200 from the user has not yet started. For example, in the case of security printing, the period from when the creation of print data for a job accepted by the cloud server 200 to when the user instructs the operation / display unit 112 to print the job is “printing”. Waiting state. “Printing” is a state in which the print data of the job is printed. For example, in the case of security printing, the job is started after the user instructs the operation / display unit 112 to print the job. This is a state until the printing is completed. “Printed” is a state indicating that the printing of the job is completed in the image forming apparatus 100. Deletion is a state indicating that the job has been deleted in accordance with an instruction from the user. “Error” is a state indicating that an error has occurred for the job. “Save” is a state in which the image data once acquired by the image forming apparatus 100 from the cloud server 200 is saved in the cloud server 200 (that is, after being saved, it has not been acquired again). In GCP, job waiting, printing, printing, and deletion are defined as job states, and errors can be freely defined on the image forming apparatus 100 side. Therefore, the save state can be defined as a kind of error.

  The “acquisition date / time” is the date / time when the job data is first acquired (not reacquired) from the cloud server 200. The save date and time is the date and time when job data once stored in the job storage unit 118 is saved in the cloud server 200. Since the job data reacquired from the cloud server 200 and stored again in the job storage unit 118 may be saved again in the cloud server 200, the save date is the last saved date.

  “File capacity” is the data amount of acquired job data (particularly print data). Once the job data is acquired, the file capacity value is known.

  The reason for saving is the reason why the job data is saved in the cloud server 200. Saving is performed not only when the free capacity of the job storage unit 118 falls below a predetermined appropriate value (“capacity” in the saving reason column), but also after acquiring job data (that is, from “acquisition date”). This can also be done in other cases, such as when a predetermined time has passed without an instruction to print (or delete) ("time has passed"). In the “evacuation reason” column, a value indicating in which case the evacuation corresponds is recorded. The column “Reason for evacuation” indicates the reason for the last evacuation.

  “Operator” is information indicating a user who gives an instruction (for example, a print instruction or a delete instruction) to job data in the job storage unit 118 to the operation / display unit 112 of the image forming apparatus 100. In this example, when using the image forming apparatus 100 installed in the company, the user logs in to the image forming apparatus 100 (and the in-house network) using the in-house ID. The in-house ID of the user is recorded.

  “Print attribute” is print attribute information included in the job data of the job. When the job saving unit 122 saves the print data stored in the job storage unit 118 to the cloud server 00 in response to a print instruction that uses the image forming apparatus 100 as an output destination, the “print attribute” is used as the print attribute of the job. Specify the value of the column.

  Although not shown in FIG. 2, the job list may include a job ID issued by the cloud server 200 as an item. Here, the cloud server 200 assigns a new job ID to the job data received by the saving process of the job saving unit 122. Accordingly, in the job list in the cloud job list storage unit 120 of the image forming apparatus 100, the job ID when the job is completely received and the job when the job saved in the cloud server 200 is reacquired. You may make it register both ID. As for the job ID of the saved job, at least the job ID related to the last save may be registered.

  Next, an example of a processing procedure related to job data exchange with the cloud server 200 executed by the image forming apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The image forming apparatus 100 waits for a notification from the cloud server 200 that the job data of the job specifying the image forming apparatus 100 as an output destination is ready (notification using XMPP in the case of GCP) ( S10). In the case of GCP, upon receiving this notification, the image forming apparatus 100 requests the management information of the job corresponding to the notification to the cloud server 200 and receives this (S12). The management information received at this time includes identification information (job ID) of the job, the file name and URL (Uniform Resource Locator) of the print data of the job, job attribute information, and the like. The image forming apparatus 100 (job acquisition unit 114) determines whether or not the job is a job saved from the job storage unit 118 (hereinafter referred to as “saved job”) based on the management information (for example, file name and attribute information). Is determined (S14). For example, when a flag indicating that the job is a save job is included in the file name of the print data, the determination may be made depending on whether or not the flag is included in the file name in the management information. If the information notified in S10 includes a flag indicating a saved job, the determination may be made based on the information.

  If the notified job is not a save job, the job acquisition unit 114 acquires job data of the job from the cloud server 200, stores the acquired job data in the job storage unit 118, and the cloud job list according to the job data The job list in the storage unit 120 is updated (S16). That is, in this case, since the acquired job data is acquired for the first time (not acquired once again from the saved job), the job acquisition unit 114 creates a new entry for the job in the job list. For the entry, the “file name” of the print data included in the acquired job data, the date and time of acquisition (“acquisition date and time”), the data size of the print data (“file capacity”), and the job data The value of “print attribute” included in the is registered. The “status” of the job is set to “waiting for printing” since no print instruction has been received from the user. “Evacuation date / time”, “reason for evacuation”, and “operator” are blank at this time.

  Next, the job saving unit 122 checks the free capacity of the job storage unit 118, and determines whether or not the free capacity is below a threshold value indicating the lower limit of the appropriate free capacity (S18). If it is not below the threshold value, the process is terminated. When the value is below the threshold value, the data saved in the cloud server 200 is selected from the job data stored in the job storage unit 118 (S20).

  The selection in S20 is performed, for example, by selecting a job in the “waiting for printing” state in the job list (see FIG. 2) in the cloud job list storage unit 120 as a selection candidate. For example, among the selection candidate jobs, for example, the job with the oldest acquisition date is selected as job data to be saved. If only one job data is saved (deleted from the job storage unit 118) and the free capacity of the job storage unit 118 does not exceed the threshold value, the job data with the next acquisition date and time among the selection candidates is further saved as a save target. select. In this way, the necessary number of job data to be saved is selected in order of the acquisition date and time so that the free capacity of the job storage unit 118 becomes equal to or greater than the threshold. In this example, save targets are selected in the order of acquisition date and time, but this is only an example. For example, in another example, job data that has passed a predetermined time (as a grace period until the print instruction) from “acquisition date and time” is selected as a selection candidate, and the items to be saved are ordered in descending order of the selection candidate “file capacity”. (As many as necessary to make the free space in the job storage unit 118 equal to or greater than the threshold). In this example, a job whose grace period has not elapsed since “acquisition date and time” is excluded from selection candidates because the user is highly likely to give a print instruction.

  When the job data to be saved is selected in S20, the job saving unit 122 logs in to the cloud server 200 using the account information 124, and outputs a print instruction for the selected job data to be saved to the image forming apparatus 100 itself. It designates first and transmits with respect to the cloud server 200 (S22). At this time, a flag indicating that the job is a save job is added to the job data. For example, a character string indicating a save job is added to the print data file name included in the job data. Further, the job saving unit 122 changes the “status” of the saved job data in the cloud job list storage unit 120 to “save”, and registers the date and time at that time as “save date and time”. Also, a reason code of “capacity” (indicating that the free capacity of the job storage unit 118 has decreased) is registered in the “reason for saving” column. At this time, the image forming apparatus 100 notifies the cloud server 200 of the job status change. In this case, the status of the job is named, for example, “error (automatic saving)” as a kind of user-definable error status, and the status is notified to the cloud server 200. The cloud server 200 changes the job status managed by the cloud server 200 from the previous “waiting for printing” status to the notified “error (automatic saving)” status.

  After S22, the image forming apparatus 100 ends the process related to the job notified in S10. In this case, the notified job data is stored in the job storage unit 118 as a print waiting state, and when the user inputs a print instruction for the job to the operation / display unit 112, the job data is retrieved from the job storage unit 118 and printed. A printing process is performed at 116.

  If it is determined in S14 that the job notified in S10 is a save job, the job acquisition unit 114 determines whether the reacquisition condition is satisfied (S24).

  The reacquisition condition is, for example, a condition that when the job data is reacquired and stored in the job storage unit 118, the free capacity of the job storage unit 118 is equal to or greater than the appropriate capacity (threshold). That is, the condition is that if the result of subtracting the file capacity of the job data from the free capacity of the job storage unit 118 at the time of the determination does not fall below the threshold value, it is determined that reacquisition is possible. However, this condition is only an example. In addition to this, for example, a condition that re-acquisition is possible if the elapsed time from the “evacuation date” is equal to or longer than a predetermined time may be used. When job data is reacquired and stored in the job storage unit 118 assuming that this condition is satisfied, the free capacity of the job storage unit 118 may fall below a threshold value. In this case, the job saving unit 122 may save the free capacity above the threshold by saving another job in the job storage unit 118 to the cloud server 200.

  If it is determined in S24 that the reacquisition condition is satisfied, the job acquisition unit 114 acquires the job data from the cloud server 200 and stores it in the job storage unit 118 (S26). At this time, the job acquisition unit 114 changes the “status” of the job in the cloud job list storage unit 120 from “saved” to “waiting for printing”. After S26, the image forming apparatus 100 ends the process for the job notified in S10.

  If the reacquisition condition is not satisfied in S24, the job acquisition unit 114 repeats the determination in S24, for example, every predetermined time, and waits for the reacquisition condition to be satisfied. When there are a plurality of jobs being saved, the determination in S24 may be performed on the jobs being saved in the order of priority determined according to a predetermined rule. This rule determines the priority using one or more combinations of information items (see FIG. 2) of the job stored in the cloud job list storage unit 120. For example, the rule may be a rule in which the priority is higher in the order of "acquisition date", or may be a rule in which the priority is higher in the order of "evacuation time". The rule may be such that the priority is higher in descending order of the total score of the score reflecting the score and the score reflecting the order in which the “evacuation date” is the oldest.

  For the determination in S24, it is necessary to specify which job in the cloud job list storage unit 120 corresponds to the save job notified from the cloud server 200 (S10) (identified in S14). For example, information indicating which job in the cloud job list storage unit 120 corresponds to the job data sent to the cloud server 200 in S22 may be incorporated. In one example, the identification information of the original job in the cloud job list storage unit 120 is incorporated into the attribute information of the job data sent to the cloud server 200 in S22. For example, the file name of the print data to be saved in the cloud server 200 is a name derived from the file name of the print data of the original job (for example, a name in which a character string indicating a saved job is added after the original file name) Or an item representing the identification information of the original job in the cloud job list storage unit 120 is added to the attribute information accompanying the print data to be saved. Further, this association may be performed by adding an item representing the identification information of the saved job data to the original job entry in the cloud job list storage unit 120.

  Next, how the state of the job managed by the cloud server 200 changes as the job is saved from the image forming apparatus 100 to the cloud server 200 will be described with a specific example.

  For example, as illustrated in FIG. 4, at a certain point in time, the cloud server 200 has a job ID “1” and a file name “test.pdf” as a job of a specific printer (image forming apparatus 100) “FX01”. Assume that the user knows that the job is in the “standby” (that is, “waiting for printing”) state in the job storage unit 118 of the printer. FIG. 4 shows a table of job states managed by the cloud server 200 at this time point and having the printer “FX01” as an output destination. In FIG. 4 and FIGS. 5 and 6 to be described later, only information of the job of interest is shown for the sake of brevity, but the printer “FX01” stores and processes other jobs. doing.

  From the situation shown in FIG. 4, as a result of the free capacity of the job storage unit 118 being less than the threshold, the job saving unit 122 assigns the job “test.pdf” (hereinafter referred to as job “1”) with the job ID “1” to the cloud server 200. Suppose that it is evacuated. In this saving process, the job saving unit 122 sets the job data of the job “test.pdf” (in this example, the same file name as that of the original job) as a new job addressed to the printer “FX01”. In addition to instructing the cloud server 200 to print, the cloud server 200 is instructed to change the original job “1” state to an “error (automatic save)” state. Upon receiving these instructions, the cloud server 200 changes the status of the job “test.pdf” of the original job “1” to “error (automatic saving)” and newly receives it as shown in FIG. A job ID “2” is assigned to the save job, and the state is set to “standby”. Then, the printer “FX01” is notified that the save job “2” has come. In the example of FIG. 5, for example, the attribute information of the saved job “2” includes information indicating that the saved job “2” corresponds to the job “1”. Accordingly, the printer “FX01” that has received the notification of the save job “2” can recognize that the job is the save of the job “1”, and determines the timing for reacquiring the save job “2”. It becomes possible to do.

  In the example of FIG. 5, the original job “1” and the save job “2” have the same print data file name (job name). However, as another example, the file name of the save job “2” is the original name. FIG. 6 shows an example of another name derived from the file name of job “1”. In this example, the file name of the save job “2” is set to a specific character string “-ret” indicating the save job after the main body “test” of the file name “test.pdf” of the corresponding original job “1”. The name “test-ret.pdf” is added. In this case, the printer “FX01” can recognize that the job is an evacuation job if the file name of the job notified from the cloud server 200 includes the specific character string “-ret”. It is possible to determine which job in the cloud job list storage unit 120 corresponds to the job having the file name from which the column is deleted.

  Next, a user operation on the job list in the cloud job list storage unit 120 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The user logs in to the image forming apparatus 100 using, for example, an identification card when he / she wants to instruct printing, deletion, saving or the like for the job shown in the job list (see FIG. 2). However, this login is a login with an in-house ID, and that alone is insufficient to access the job list. Since the job list is a list of jobs sent to the image forming apparatus 100 via the cloud server 200, the access right to the list is the logical printer corresponding to the image forming apparatus 100 on the cloud server 200. This is because it is limited to users having usage rights. Therefore, the user inputs his / her cloud ID to the image forming apparatus 100 by keyboard input or wireless communication from a mobile terminal. Alternatively, when information on the correspondence between the user's in-house ID and the cloud ID is stored in the in-house network, the image forming apparatus 100 sets the cloud ID corresponding to the logged-in user's in-house ID as the correspondence. Find out from the information. In the image forming apparatus 100, the cloud ID of the user specified in this way is registered for use (registered as an administrator or a sharer in the case of GCP) with respect to the logical printer corresponding to the image forming apparatus 100. If it is registered for use, a menu item for instructing display of the cloud job list is displayed in the operation menu displayed on the operation / display unit 112.

  When the user selects display of the cloud job list from the operation menu (Yes in S30), the image forming apparatus 100 displays the job list on the screen of the operation / display unit 112, and the user selects the operation target. An instruction of a job and the type of operation desired to be executed for the job is received (S32). The types of operations that can be accepted include printing, deleting, and saving. “Print” is an operation for printing out the job, and this operation is allowed only for a job whose status is “waiting for printing” (“waiting”) or “save”. “Delete” is an operation for deleting job data from the job storage unit 118, and this is also allowed only for jobs whose status is “waiting for printing” (“waiting”) or “save”. “Save” is an operation for saving job data from the job storage unit 118 to the cloud server 200 (deletion from the job storage unit 118), and is permitted only for a job whose status is “waiting for printing” (“waiting”). It is done. Thus, in this example, in addition to the automatic saving due to the decrease in the storage capacity described above, saving according to an explicit instruction from the user is also possible.

  If the type of operation instructed by the user is something other than “printing” (No in S34), the image forming apparatus 100 executes the instructed operation (for example, deletion or saving) (S36). When the operation instructed by the user is “print”, the image forming apparatus 100 checks the status of the job selected by the user as the operation target (S38). Job data is re-acquired from the cloud server 200 (S40). The acquired job data is transferred to the print processing unit 116 for printing (S42). If the job status is not “save”, that is, “waiting for printing”, the job data stored in the job storage unit 118 is transferred to the print processing unit 116 for printing (S42).

  As one of modifications to the embodiment described above, the image forming apparatus 100 may combine a plurality of jobs received from the cloud server 200 at a short time interval that can be regarded as continuous into one group. Good. For example, when notification of the next job is received from the cloud server 200 within a predetermined short time (for example, several minutes) after acquiring (downloading) job data of a job from the cloud server 200, the former and the latter are set to 1 Group into one group. Then, saving to the cloud server 200 and re-acquisition from the cloud server 200 are performed in units of the group. In other words, job data belonging to the same group is saved together when saved in the cloud server 200, and all job data belonging to the group is obtained again when collected again. There is a high possibility that a job group belonging to one group is a job group in which a user issues a print instruction to the cloud server 200 continuously. In many cases, the user also prints out the job group collectively. It is possible.

  In the above embodiment, the free capacity of the job storage unit 118 is evaluated in units of data amount in determining whether or not to save, but this is only an example. For example, as another example, the free space may be evaluated by the number of jobs. For example, when notification of a new job arrives in a state where a predetermined upper limit number N (N is an integer of 1 or more) of job data is stored in the job storage unit 118, the free space of the job storage unit 118 May be determined to be equal to or less than the threshold value, and any job data in the job storage unit 118 may be saved in the cloud server 200.

  The information processing unit of the image forming apparatus 100 exemplified above is realized, for example, by causing a general-purpose computer to execute a program representing processing of each functional module of the apparatus. Here, the computer includes, as hardware, a microprocessor such as a CPU, a memory (primary storage) such as a random access memory (RAM) and a read only memory (ROM), an HDD controller that controls an HDD (hard disk drive), Various I / O (input / output) interfaces, network interfaces that perform control for connection to a network such as a local area network, and the like have a circuit configuration connected via a bus, for example. Also, portable non-volatile recording of various standards such as a disk drive and a flash memory for reading and / or writing to a portable disk recording medium such as a CD or a DVD via the I / O interface, for example. A memory reader / writer for reading from and / or writing to a medium may be connected. A program in which the processing contents of each functional module exemplified above are described is stored in a fixed storage device such as a hard disk drive via a recording medium such as a CD or DVD, or via a communication means such as a network, and stored in a computer. Installed. The program stored in the fixed storage device is read into the RAM and executed by a microprocessor such as a CPU, thereby realizing the functional module group exemplified above.

100 image forming apparatus, 102 communication control unit, 110 main control unit, 112 operation / display unit, 114 job acquisition unit, 116 print processing unit, 118 job storage unit, 120 cloud job list storage unit, 122 job save unit, 124 account Information, 130 Image forming apparatus, 160 In-house authentication system, 200 Cloud server, 300 User terminal, 400 Internet.

Claims (4)

Print data storage means for storing the print data addressed to the self apparatus acquired from the service system on the cloud until receiving an output instruction from a user corresponding to the print data;
When the free space of the print data storage unit does not satisfy a predetermined free space standard, at least one of the print data stored in the print data storage unit is used as the print data addressed to its own device. Saving means for transmitting to the service system and executing save processing for deleting the transmitted print data from the print data storage means;
Only including,
The image forming apparatus , wherein the saving unit collects a plurality of print data received by the apparatus within a predetermined time interval into one group and executes the saving process in units of the group . Means for adding save information indicating that the save means saves the print data transmitted to the service system as print data addressed to the apparatus among the print data stored in the print data storage means When,
Upon receiving a notification from the service system that there is print data addressed to its own device, the print data is acquired from the service system and stored in the print data storage unit. If the save information is added, an acquisition unit for holding the acquisition of the print data until a predetermined re-acquisition condition is satisfied;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: Data amount storage means for storing the data amount of each print data acquired by the acquisition means,
Correspondence information indicating which of the print data whose data amount is stored in the data amount storage unit corresponds to the print data transmitted to the service system by the saving process of the saving unit is generated. Means,
Further including
In the case where the save information is added to the print data indicated by the notification from the service system, the acquisition unit selects any one of the print data in which the data amount is stored in the data amount storage unit. If the re-acquisition condition that the subtraction result obtained by subtracting the data amount of the specified print data from the free capacity of the print data storage unit satisfies the free capacity criterion is satisfied, Obtaining print data indicated by the notification from the service system;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2. Computer
Print data storage means for storing the print data addressed to the own device acquired from the service system on the cloud until an output instruction is received from a user corresponding to the print data;
When the free space of the print data storage unit does not satisfy a predetermined free space standard, at least one of the print data stored in the print data storage unit is used as the print data addressed to its own device. Saving means for transmitting to the service system and executing save processing for deleting the transmitted print data from the print data storage means;
A program for functioning as,
The save unit is a program that collects a plurality of print data received by the own apparatus within a predetermined time interval into one group, and executes the save process in units of the group .

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