JP6682581B2 - Image output method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to images output method performed by an image output Ru is instructed by using the information processing apparatus.

  In recent years, information terminal devices such as smartphones and tablet terminals have rapidly spread, and demand for print processing of data such as photographs or documents stored in the information terminal devices has also increased rapidly. The information terminal device has a communication function for connecting to a network, and data can be easily printed by transmitting data to the multifunction peripheral via the network.

  However, in order to transmit the data to the multi-function peripheral, specific information for identifying the multi-function peripheral of the transmission destination is required. For example, an IP (Internet Protocol) address assigned to the multifunction peripheral can be used as the specific information for identifying the multifunction peripheral, but it is not easy to know such information. Although there is a method of posting the IP address assigned to the multi-function peripheral on the multi-function peripheral, this method has a security problem.

  Therefore, in Patent Document 1, the specific information of each multifunction peripheral is converted into a code pattern and displayed on each multifunction peripheral, and the user captures and decodes this code pattern with the camera function of the information terminal device. A system that can acquire the specific information of the multi-function peripheral has been proposed. As a result, it is possible to acquire the specific information of the multifunction peripheral that the user wants to use while maintaining security.

JP 2004-274520 A

By the way, for multifunction machines used in offices, etc., for the purpose of preventing information leakage from the multifunction machines and monitoring usage information, etc., introduce an authentication system that authenticates users when using the multifunction machines. Is common.
Such a system includes, for example, a computer used by a user, a multi-function peripheral, and an authentication server, and the user is configured to make an authentication request to the authentication server using the computer. Also, the authentication server is configured to receive a print request to a desired multi-function peripheral together with an authentication request from the user (computer) and, when the user can be authenticated, send the print request to the multi-function peripheral specified by the user. Has been done. In such a configuration, the computer sends the authentication request together with the identification information of the multi-function peripheral to the authentication server, and the communication identification information (identification information) such as an IP address is transmitted from the computer to the authentication server. Is transmitted. Therefore, there is a problem that confidential information such as communication identification information may be illegally obtained.

The present invention was made in view of such circumstances, and its object is to the user to provide a pre-knowledge required advance is a bur image output method information relating to image output device .

An image output method according to the present invention is an image output method by an image output device instructed to execute image output using an information processing device, wherein the image output device specifies the image output device. The information processing apparatus displays the code pattern obtained by encoding the information so that the information processing apparatus can acquire the code pattern when an operation from the user is received, and the image output apparatus is identified based on the apparatus information. When the image data transmitted from is received, the image output is executed based on the received image data when the image data is received, and when the error occurs in the image output device, the error is generated. displays the code pattern error information obtained by coding included in the apparatus information indicating the information processing terminal device obtained by decoding the obtained code pattern Based on the distribution, characterized by determining whether an error has occurred in the image output device.

  According to the present invention, when the user uses the information processing device to instruct execution of image output by the image output device, the user needs to know in advance information about the image output device (destination information such as IP address). Absent.

1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of an image output system according to a first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configurations of a multifunction peripheral, an authentication server, and an information processing terminal. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of an authentication server. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of compound machine information DB and user information DB. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of print processing by the image output system. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of print processing by the image output system. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structural example of a print request screen. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of the code pattern of compound machine information. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of code pattern generation processing by the multifunction peripheral according to the second embodiment. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of print processing by the image output system according to the second embodiment. 9 is a flowchart showing a procedure of code pattern generation processing by the multifunction peripheral of the third embodiment. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of print processing by the image output system according to the third embodiment. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of code pattern generation processing by the multifunction peripheral according to the fourth embodiment. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of print processing by the image output system according to the fourth embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structural example of a print request screen.

  Hereinafter, an authentication device and an image output system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings showing an embodiment thereof.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an image output system according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configurations of a multifunction peripheral, an authentication server, and an information processing terminal. The image output system according to the first embodiment includes a multifunction peripheral (image output device) 1, an authentication server (authentication device) 2, and an information processing terminal (information processing device) 3, each of which is connected to a network N such as the Internet. Can be connected. In the following, a system including one multi-function peripheral 1, one authentication server 2 and one information processing terminal 3 will be described as an example. However, any one or all of the multi-function peripheral 1, the authentication server 2 and the information processing terminal 3 may be provided in plural units. You may prepare.

The multi-function peripheral 1 is a digital multi-function peripheral or an analog multi-function peripheral, and is installed in, for example, a convenience store. The multifunction machine 1 includes a control unit 10, an operation panel 11, an image reading unit 12, an image forming unit 13, a communication unit 14, and the like.
The operation panel 11 is a touch panel in which the input unit 11a and the display unit 11b are integrally configured. The input unit 11 a includes various input keys necessary for the user to operate the multifunction machine 1, receives information based on the input key operated by the user, and sends the received information to the control unit 10. The display unit 11b is, for example, a liquid crystal display, a plasma display, an organic EL panel, or the like, and displays information to be notified to the user, information necessary for operation, and the like according to an instruction from the control unit 10. The input unit 11a and the display unit 11b may be separately provided without using the touch panel.

  The image reading unit 12 is, for example, a scanner including a CCD (Charged Coupled Device), and reads characters, images, and the like printed on a document as image data. Further, the image reading unit 12 may be provided with a document feeding function of sequentially feeding a plurality of documents placed on a predetermined document placing table to a reading position by the scanner.

  The image forming unit 13 is an image forming unit such as an electrophotographic system, an inkjet system, or a thermal transfer system, and image data read from a document by the image reading unit 12 or printing received by the communication unit 14 from the outside via the network N. Print processing (image output) is performed based on the usage data. The image forming unit 13 forms an image (text / photograph / graphic) on a recording sheet such as recording paper based on image data or printing data.

The communication unit 14 includes a network card, a modem, or the like, and can be connected to a communication network N such as a public line network, a LAN (Local Area Network) or the Internet, and the authentication server 2 and the information processing terminal are connected via the network N. It communicates with an external device such as 3. The communication unit 14 may be an interface for performing wired communication or an interface for performing wireless communication. Further, the communication unit 14 may be directly connected to the authentication server 2 via a physical cable.
Further, the communication unit 14 may have a function of transmitting / receiving electronic mail and may be capable of transmitting / receiving electronic mail via the network N.

The control unit 10 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an MPU (Micro Processor Unit), and the like, and controls the operation of each unit included in the multifunction machine 1. Specifically, the CPU or MPU of the control unit 10 loads a control program stored in advance in a ROM (not shown) into a RAM (not shown) and executes the control program, so that the multifunction machine 1 is realized. It operates as an image output device of the image output system according to the invention.
The multifunction device 1 also includes a storage device (not shown) such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), and stores various data (print data) received as a print processing target from an external device.

The authentication server 2 is a server computer and cooperates with the multi-function peripheral 1 to perform authentication processing of a user who uses the multi-function peripheral 1. The authentication server 2 includes a control unit 20, a storage unit 21, a communication unit 22, and the like.
The storage unit 21 is a storage device such as an HDD, and stores various control programs and various data necessary for the processing executed by the authentication server 2. Further, the storage unit 21 includes an electronic data database (hereinafter referred to as electronic data DB) 21a, a multifunction device information database (hereinafter referred to as multifunction device information DB) 21b, and a user information database (hereinafter referred to as user information DB) 21c (FIG. 3). (Ref.) Is stored.

The communication unit 22 has the same configuration as the communication unit 14 of the multifunction machine 1. Therefore, the communication unit 22 communicates with an external device such as the multifunction peripheral 1 or the information processing terminal 3 via the network N.
The control unit 20 includes a CPU, an MPU, or the like, and controls the operation of each unit included in the authentication server 2. Specifically, the CPU or MPU of the control unit 20 loads the control program stored in advance in the storage unit 21 or the ROM (not shown) into the RAM (not shown) and executes the control program, whereby the authentication server 2 is operated as an authentication device of the image output system according to the present invention.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the authentication server 2. In the control unit 20 of the authentication server 2, the CPU or MPU executes the control program stored in the storage unit 21 or the ROM in advance, so that the function control unit 23, the storage processing unit 24, the multifunction machine management unit 25, and the user. Each function of the authentication unit 26 is realized. The function control unit 23 controls each operation of the storage processing unit 24, the multifunction device management unit 25, and the user authentication unit 26.

The storage processing unit 24 stores, in the electronic data DB 21a, print data (electronic file data to be printed by the multifunction device 1) that the communication unit 22 receives from the outside via the network N. The communication unit 22 receives print data not only from the information processing terminal 3 but also from a personal computer (not shown) that can be connected to the network N. In addition, the print data is transmitted together with the user information of the user who performs the print processing in the multifunction machine 1 using the print service provided by the image output system. A user who wants to use the print service provided by the image output system needs to perform user registration in advance, and the user information transmitted together with the print data is the user ID registered at the time of user registration.
Therefore, when the storage processing unit 24 receives print data from the outside, the storage processing unit 24 stores the received print data in the electronic data DB (data storage unit) 21a in association with the user ID received together with the print data.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the configurations of the multifunction device information DB 21b and the user information DB 21c.
In the multifunction device information DB 21b, a multifunction device ID for identifying each multifunction device 1, an IP address (network identification information) assigned to each multifunction device 1, and setting conditions usable in each multifunction device 1 are associated with each other. It is registered. In the authentication server 2, when the communication unit 22 receives the change or addition of the registration information of the multifunction device information DB 21b via the network N or the operation unit (not shown), the multifunction device management unit 25 The registration information in the multi-function peripheral information DB 21b is updated. The multi-function peripheral management unit 25 manages the information of the multi-function peripheral 1 to be managed by its own authentication server 2 based on the registration information in the multi-function peripheral information DB 21b.

The multifunction device information DB (destination storage unit) 21b stores the multifunction device information (device information) for specifying the multifunction device 1 and the destination information of the multifunction device 1 in association with each other and is registered. The information to be provided is not limited to the information described above.
In the first embodiment, the MFP ID (serial number) is used as the MFP information for identifying the MFP 1, but in addition to this, the name given to each MFP 1 and the installation location of the MFP 1 Any information may be used as long as it is information that can specify each multifunction device 1, such as information for specifying (convenience store). Further, in the first embodiment, the IP address is used as the destination information of the multifunction device 1, but other than this, network identification information such as the host name and the MAC address assigned to the multifunction device 1 may be used.

  Further, in the first embodiment, the setting conditions usable in each multifunction device 1 are registered in the multifunction device information DB (device condition storage unit) 21b, but such information is registered in the multifunction device information DB 21b. You don't have to.

In the user information DB 21c, user IDs and passwords of users who have registered in the print service and setting conditions that each user can use in the multifunction machine 1 are registered in association with each other. In the authentication server 2, when the communication unit 22 receives the change or addition of the registration information of the user information DB 21c via the network N, the control unit 20 updates the registration information of the user information DB 21c.
When the communication unit 22 receives the user authentication request together with the user ID and the password via the network N, the user authentication unit (authentication unit) 26 performs the authentication process based on the registered content of the user information DB 21c. Specifically, the user authentication unit 26 compares and verifies the user ID and password received by the communication unit 22 with the registration information in the user information DB 21c, and determines whether or not the user ID and password are registered in the user information DB 21c.

  In the first embodiment, the setting conditions (setting conditions permitted to be used) for each user in the multifunction machine 1 are registered in the user information DB (user condition storage unit) 21c. Such information does not have to be registered in the user information DB 21c.

Returning to the description of FIG. The information processing terminal 3 is a mobile information terminal such as a mobile computer, a mobile game machine, a mobile phone, or a PDA. The information processing terminal 3 includes a control unit 30, a storage unit 31, an operation panel 32, an imaging unit 33, a communication unit 34, and the like.
The storage unit 31 is a storage device such as an HDD or a flash memory, and stores various control programs necessary for processing executed by the information processing terminal 3, various data, image data obtained by imaging by the imaging unit 33, and the like. are doing.

The operation panel 32 has the same configuration as the operation panel 11 of the multi-function peripheral 1, and includes an input unit 32a and a display unit 32b. The input unit 32a receives information based on the input key operated by the user, and sends the received information to the control unit 30. The display unit 32b displays information to be notified to the user, information necessary for operation, and the like according to an instruction from the control unit 30.
The image capturing unit 33 is a camera, and acquires image data by photoelectrically converting an optical signal input via the CCD.

The communication unit 34 has the same configuration as the communication unit 14 of the multifunction machine 1. Therefore, the communication unit 34 communicates with an external device such as the multifunction peripheral 1 or the authentication server 2 via the network N. Since the information processing terminal 3 is a portable terminal device, the communication unit 34 may be configured to be capable of wireless communication only.
The control unit 30 includes a CPU, an MPU, or the like, and controls the operation of each unit included in the information processing terminal 3. Specifically, the CPU or MPU of the control unit 30 loads a control program stored in advance in the storage unit 31 or ROM (not shown) into the RAM (not shown) and executes the control program, thereby performing information processing. The terminal 3 is operated as an information processing device of the image output system according to the present invention.

  In the image output system having the above-described configuration, for example, a user who has previously registered as a user creates print data such as a document at home using a personal computer. Then, the user transmits the print data to the authentication server 2 from the personal computer at home and registers it in the authentication server 2. When the user actually wants the multifunction device 1 to execute the printing process, the user acquires the multifunction device information (device information) for specifying the multifunction device 1 by using the information processing terminal 3, and the multifunction device information and the user information are acquired. Information (authentication information) is transmitted to the authentication server 2, and the authentication server 2 is requested to perform user authentication and print execution. The authentication server 2 authenticates the user requested by the information processing terminal 3, and when the user can be authenticated, transmits the print data held in association with this user to the multifunction device 1 to execute the print process. Instruct. The process of registering print data in the authentication server 2 and the process of requesting user authentication and print execution from the authentication server 2 are performed, for example, via a web page provided with a print service by the image output system.

  Hereinafter, a process performed by each device when a user (user, instructor) who uses the print service uses the information processing terminal 3 to instruct execution of the print process by the multifunction machine 1 will be described. 5 and 6 are flowcharts showing the procedure of the printing process by the image output system. Note that the print data is already registered in the electronic data DB 21a of the authentication server 2. 5 and 6, the processing on the left side shows the processing by the multifunction machine 1, the processing at the center shows the processing by the authentication server 2, and the processing on the right side shows the processing by the information processing terminal 3.

A user who uses the print service uses the information processing terminal 3 to access the authentication server 2 which provides the print service. The authentication server 2 also has a function as a web server. The information processing terminal 3 acquires a predetermined web page from the authentication server 2 and displays a print request screen on the display unit 32b based on the acquired web page (S1).
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of a print request screen. In the print request screen shown in FIG. 7, an input field for inputting the user ID and password of a user who wants to use the print service, a shooting button, and a print button are displayed. In addition, as a method for the information processing terminal 3 to acquire the multifunction device information of the multifunction device 1 in the vicinity of the shooting button, the pattern displayed on the multifunction device 1 is imaged by the imaging unit 33 of the information processing terminal 3 as a method. The explanation to that effect is displayed.

  FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a code pattern of multifunction device information. The code pattern of the multi-function peripheral information is a code of the multi-function peripheral information (device information) required to specify the multi-function peripheral 1, and is a barcode, a QR code (registered trademark), or the like. In the first embodiment, the MFP information is the MFP ID assigned to the MFP 1. In addition to the multifunction device ID, information that can identify the multifunction device 1 such as the name given to the multifunction device 1 and the information about the installation location (convenience store) of the multifunction device 1 can be used as the multifunction device ID. , Any or more of these information can be used. Further, the code pattern may be displayed on the operation panel 11 (display unit 11b) of the multi-function peripheral 1, or may be printed on paper or the like and attached to an appropriate position of the multi-function peripheral 1.

  The user operates the operation panel 32 of the information processing terminal 3 to input his / her user ID and password, and the control unit (instructor information acquisition unit) 30 is operated by the user via the operation panel 32 (input unit 32a). The ID and the password (instructor information for identifying the instructor) are acquired. Next, the user operates the shooting button, the control unit (device information acquisition unit) 30 switches to the shooting mode by the shooting unit 33, shoots a code pattern as shown in FIG. 8, and the code pattern information (image data ) To get. After shooting the code pattern, the user operates the print button to request the authentication server 2 to execute printing by the desired multifunction device 1. The control unit 30 of the information processing terminal 3 transmits the acquired code pattern information and the user ID and password (hereinafter, collectively referred to as authentication information) to the authentication server 2 via the communication unit (transmission unit) 34 ( S2).

The control unit 20 of the authentication server 2 acquires code pattern information and authentication information via the communication unit (device information acquisition unit, user information acquisition unit) 22. Then, the user authentication unit (authentication unit) 26 performs an authentication process based on the acquired authentication information (S3). The user authentication unit 26 determines (authenticates) whether the user is an appropriate user who has already been registered, based on whether the acquired authentication information is registered in the user information DB 21c (S4). When the user has not been authenticated (S4: NO), that is, when the user is not an appropriate user, the control unit 20 notifies the information processing terminal 3 via the communication unit 22 of an authentication error indicating that the authentication has failed. Yes (S5). In this case, the control unit 20 of the authentication server 2 discards the code pattern information and the authentication information acquired from the information processing terminal 3.
In the information processing terminal 3 notified of the authentication error, the control unit 30 displays the authentication error on the operation panel 32 (S6), and ends the process.

When the user is authenticated (S4: YES), that is, when the user is an appropriate user, the control unit 20 of the authentication server 2 decrypts the code pattern information acquired from the information processing terminal 3 (S7), and the composite Acquire machine information (multifunction machine ID). Then, based on the multifunction device information obtained by decoding and the registration information of the multifunction device information DB 21b, the multifunction device management unit (specification unit) 25 identifies the destination information (IP address) of the multifunction device 1 ( S8). The control unit 20 of the authentication server 2 determines whether or not the destination information of the multifunction device 1 can be specified by the multifunction device management unit 25 (S9). If the destination information of the multifunction device 1 cannot be specified (S9: NO), that is, if the acquired multifunction device information is not registered in the multifunction device information DB 21b, or if the code pattern cannot be decoded, control is performed. The unit 20 notifies the information processing terminal 3 of a specific error indicating that the specification of the destination information of the multifunction machine 1 has failed via the communication unit 22 (S10). In this case, the control unit 20 of the authentication server 2 discards the code pattern information and the authentication information acquired from the information processing terminal 3.
In the information processing terminal 3 notified of the specific error, the control unit 30 displays the specific error on the operation panel 32 (S11), and ends the process.

  When the destination information of the multi-function device 1 can be specified (S9: YES), the control unit 20 of the authentication server 2 prints the data stored in the electronic data DB 21a in association with the user (user ID) who has been authenticated in step S3. The storage data is read by the storage processing unit 24. Then, the control unit (permission unit) 20 transmits the printing data read from the electronic data DB 21a to the multifunction device 1 based on the destination information specified in step S8 (S12), and the printing process is performed on the multifunction device 1. To execute. As a result, it becomes possible to execute the print process that the user has instructed to execute using the information processing terminal 3.

The control unit 10 of the multi-function peripheral 1 acquires print data via the communication unit 14, and the image forming unit 13 outputs an image based on the acquired print data (S13). As a result, the authenticated user can use the multifunction device 1, and the printing process instructed by the authenticated user to the multifunction device 1 is executed.
After the image output is completed, the control unit 10 of the multi-function peripheral 1 notifies the authentication server 2 of the processing result from the communication unit 14 (S14). The control unit 20 of the authentication server 2, which has been notified of the processing result, notifies the information processing terminal 3 of the processing result of the multifunction device 1 from the communication unit 22 (S15). The control unit 30 of the information processing terminal 3 displays the notified processing result on, for example, the operation panel 32 (S16) and notifies the user of the information processing terminal 3 of the result. Thus, the user who has instructed to execute the print process (image output) by the multi-function peripheral 1 using the information processing terminal 3 can know whether or not the print process is properly finished.

  As described above, in the image output system of the first embodiment, when the user uses the information processing terminal 3 to request the authentication server 2 to use the multifunction device 1 (user authentication), the multifunction device 1 is used. It is not necessary to know the destination information in advance. In addition, the user can easily obtain the multifunction device information of the multifunction device 1 by photographing the code pattern displayed (or attached) on the multifunction device 1 by the imaging unit 33 of the information processing terminal 3, so that the multifunction device can be easily combined. Machine 1 can be used.

  When the user sends the user information (user ID and password) to the authentication server 2, the user also sends the code pattern information (multifunction device information) captured using the information processing terminal 3 to the authentication server 2. The information and the multifunction device information can be easily associated with each other. In addition, since the user can make a print request at the same time as the authentication request, the operability when logging in to the authentication server 2 is improved. With this configuration, for example, even when printing is performed using the multifunction machine 1 (public printer) installed in the convenience store that is used for the first time, it takes time to operate the multifunction machine 1. Instead, the printed matter can be promptly obtained.

  Further, since the information with low confidentiality such as the multifunction device ID, the name of the multifunction device 1, and the information about the installation place of the multifunction device 1 is used as the multifunction device information, the multifunction device transmitted from the information processing terminal 3 to the authentication server 2 is used. The information does not include network identification information such as the host name, IP address, and MAC address of the multifunction machine 1. Therefore, since confidential information such as network identification information is not transmitted on the network, it is possible to prevent unauthorized acquisition of confidential information and reduce security risks.

  The multifunction device information may include destination information (network identification information) of the multifunction device 1. In this case, since the authentication server 2 can acquire the destination information of the multifunction device 1 from the information (image data) obtained by the information processing terminal 3 capturing the code pattern, the destination information of the multifunction device 1 is managed in advance. There is no need to keep it. Since the multifunction device information is displayed (or pasted) in the form of the code pattern in the multifunction device 1, even when the multifunction device information includes the destination information of the multifunction device 1, confidential information such as network identification information is displayed. Inadvertent leakage is suppressed and security can be maintained.

(Embodiment 2)
The image output system according to the second embodiment will be described below. The image output system of the second exemplary embodiment is realized by the same configuration as the image output system of the first exemplary embodiment described above, and thus, the same configurations are denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The image output system according to the second embodiment has a configuration in which the multifunction device 1 generates a code pattern of its own multifunction device information and displays the code pattern on the operation panel 11. When generating the code pattern, the multifunction device 1 encodes not only the multifunction device information (for example, the multifunction device ID) but also the printing condition set by the user to generate the code pattern.
Specifically, a user who wants to use the multifunction device 1 operates the operation panel 11 of the multifunction device 1 to set desired printing conditions, and, for example, a "code pattern generation" button (not shown) displayed on the operation panel 11. Operation). When the code pattern generation button is operated, the control unit 10 of the multi-function peripheral 1 encodes the predetermined multi-function peripheral information and the printing condition set by the user, and generates the generated code pattern on the operation panel 11 (display unit 11b). ) To notify (present) to the user. The printing conditions are setting conditions related to processes that can be executed by the multifunction machine 1, such as N-up printing, color printing, and monochrome printing.

  It should be noted that the user performs an operation of inputting user information (authentication information) via the print request screen (see FIG. 7) and an image of the code pattern displayed on the multifunction device 1 by the image capturing unit 33 of the information processing terminal 3. The operation of acquiring code pattern information (image data) by is the same as in the first embodiment. Also, the authentication server 2 performs the user authentication process based on the user information acquired from the information processing terminal 3 as in the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a procedure of code pattern generation processing by the multifunction machine 1 according to the second embodiment.
A user who uses the print service operates the operation panel 11 of the multifunction machine 1 to set desired printing conditions. The control unit 10 of the multifunction machine 1 accepts the printing conditions set by the user via the operation panel 11 (S21). For example, the control unit 10 determines whether or not a predetermined button such as a code pattern generation button has been operated by the user (S22), and when the predetermined button has not been operated (S22: NO), for example, the cancel button is pressed. If operated, the process ends.

  When the predetermined button is operated (S22: YES), the control unit 10 codes the predetermined multifunction device information (multifunction device ID) and the received printing condition to generate a code pattern (S23). Then, the control unit 10 displays the generated code pattern on the operation panel 11 (S24) and ends the process. Note that the predetermined multifunction device information, that is, the multifunction device information for each multifunction device 1, is stored in advance in a storage unit (not shown). Further, the method for generating the code pattern is not particularly limited, and any method may be used.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the printing process by the image output system of the second embodiment. Also in FIG. 10, the processing on the left side shows the processing by the multi-function peripheral 1, the processing at the center shows the processing by the authentication server 2, and the processing on the right side shows the processing by the information processing terminal 3.
In the image output system according to the second embodiment, the authentication server 2 and the information processing terminal 3 perform the same processes as steps S1 to S11 in the flowchart shown in FIG. Then, in step S9, when the multifunction machine management unit 25 of the authentication server 2 can specify the destination information of the multifunction machine 1 based on the multifunction machine information (S9: YES), the control unit 20 of the authentication server 2 proceeds to step S7. The printing conditions are specified from the information obtained by decoding in (S31). In the second embodiment, since the code pattern includes the multi-function peripheral information and the print condition, the control unit 20 of the authentication server 2 decodes the code pattern in step S7, and then the multi-function peripheral information and the print condition. And you can get

  The control unit 20 of the authentication server 2 causes the storage processing unit 24 to read the print data stored in the electronic data DB 21a in association with the user (user ID) who has been authenticated in step S3. Then, the control unit 20 transmits the print data read from the electronic data DB 21a to the multifunction device 1 based on the destination information specified in step S8 (S12). At this time, the control unit 20 transmits, together with the print data, an instruction to execute the print processing under the print condition specified in step S31 to the multifunction device 1. As a result, the printing process can be executed under the conditions set by the user.

  The control unit 10 of the multi-function peripheral 1 acquires the print data and the print condition via the communication unit 14, and the image forming unit 13 performs a print process (image) on the acquired print data under the acquired print condition. Output) (S13). After that, the multi-function peripheral 1, the authentication server 2, and the information processing terminal 3 perform the same processing as steps S14 to S16 in the flowchart shown in FIG.

  As described above, in the image output system according to the second embodiment, the code pattern information transmitted from the information processing terminal 3 to the authentication server 2 includes not only the multifunction machine information but also the printing condition. Therefore, the user can instruct the execution of the printing process under the desired printing conditions by shooting the code pattern of the multi-function peripheral 1 with the imaging unit 33 of the information processing terminal 3 and transmitting it to the authentication server 2. In the conventional device, for example, the user causes the information processing terminal 3 to display a predetermined printing condition setting screen, inputs desired printing conditions to the information processing terminal 3, and the information processing terminal 3 receives the input. The print condition is transmitted to the authentication server 2. However, in the second embodiment, the user operates the operation panel 11 of the multi-function peripheral 1 to set the printing conditions, shoots the code pattern including the set printing conditions with the information processing terminal 3, and displays the obtained information. By transmitting to the authentication server 2, desired printing conditions can be transmitted to the authentication server 2. Therefore, since the user only has to operate the multifunction device 1, it is possible to reduce the burden of the operation of setting the printing conditions.

  In the second embodiment, the multi-function peripheral 1 has been described as an example of the configuration that encodes the multi-function peripheral information and the printing conditions. However, the multi-function peripheral 1 according to the first embodiment described above includes the configuration that encodes the multi-function peripheral information. May be.

The authentication server 2 according to the second embodiment sends to the multi function peripheral 1 an instruction to execute a print process under the print condition (print condition set by the user operating the multi function peripheral 1) acquired from the information processing terminal 3. However, it is not limited to such a configuration.
For example, the authentication server 2 manages print conditions related to print processing that can be actually executed by each multifunction machine 1, based on the multifunction machine information DB 21b (see FIG. 4). Therefore, the authentication server 2 may be configured to specify the printing condition actually instructed to the multifunction device 1 based on the printing condition acquired from the information processing terminal 3 and the registration information of the multifunction device information DB 21b.

  Specifically, the control unit (device condition specifying unit) 20 of the authentication server 2 and the print condition included in the information acquired from the information processing terminal 3 and the print condition registered in the multifunction device information DB 21b (available It is determined whether or not (setting) matches. When they match, the control unit 20 specifies the print condition included in the information acquired from the information processing terminal 3 as the print condition actually instructing the multifunction device 1. If they do not match, for example, if the print condition acquired from the information processing terminal 3 is the execution of color printing and the print condition registered in the MFP information DB 21b is the execution of monochrome printing, the control unit 20 causes the monochrome The execution of printing is specified as the printing condition that is actually instructed to the multifunction device 1. Then, the control unit 20 transmits, to the multifunction peripheral 1, the print data and an instruction to execute the print processing under the specified print condition, together with the print data. As a result, for example, even when the information processing terminal 3 sends a printing condition that the multifunction device 1 cannot actually execute, the authentication server 2 changes the printing condition to the printing condition that the multifunction device 1 can actually execute. Since the print processing execution instruction is transmitted to the multifunction device 1, the print processing can be reliably executed.

  The authentication server 2 also manages the print conditions (usable settings) that each user is permitted to use, based on the user information DB 21c (see FIG. 4). Therefore, the authentication server 2 may specify the print condition actually instructed to the multi-function peripheral 1 based on the print condition acquired from the information processing terminal 3 and the registration information of the user information DB 21c.

  Specifically, the control unit (user condition specifying unit) 20 of the authentication server 2 and the printing conditions included in the information acquired from the information processing terminal 3 and the printing registered in the user information DB 21c for this user. It is determined whether or not the conditions match. If they match, that is, if the printing condition requested by the user is a printing condition permitted for this user, the control unit 20 changes the printing condition included in the information acquired from the information processing terminal 3. , Are specified as the printing conditions that are actually instructed to the multifunction device 1. If they do not match, for example, if the printing condition requested by the user is N-up printing and the printing condition permitted for this user is 1-up printing, the control unit 20 determines 1-up printing. The execution of printing is specified as the printing condition that is actually instructed to the multifunction device 1. Then, the control unit 20 transmits, to the multifunction peripheral 1, the print data and an instruction to execute the print processing under the specified print condition, together with the print data. As a result, it is possible to limit the printing conditions that can be executed for each user, and it is possible to reliably execute the printing process under the printing conditions permitted for each user.

(Embodiment 3)
The image output system according to the third embodiment will be described below. The image output system of the third exemplary embodiment is realized by the same configuration as the image output system of the second exemplary embodiment described above, and therefore, the same reference numerals are given to the similar configurations and detailed description thereof is omitted.

In the image output system according to the third embodiment, the multi-function peripheral 1 is configured to generate a code pattern of its own multi-function peripheral information, and when generating the code pattern, not only the multi-function peripheral information (for example, the multi-function peripheral ID) , And generates a code pattern including status information (status information) regarding the operating status of the multifunction machine 1.
Specifically, the control unit 10 of the multi-function peripheral 1 monitors the operating state of its own multi-function peripheral 1 and detects any error such as running out of ink, inability to execute N-up printing, or paper jam. Watching for outbreaks. When any error occurs, the control unit 10 codes predetermined multifunction device information and information indicating the error that has occurred, displays the code pattern on the operation panel 11 (display unit 11b), and notifies the user (presentation). ) Do.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a procedure of code pattern generation processing by the multifunction machine 1 according to the third embodiment.
The control unit 10 of the multi-function peripheral 1 determines whether or not any error has occurred in its own multi-function peripheral 1 (S41), and if no error has occurred (S41: NO), until the error occurs. , Perform other processing and wait.

  When an error has occurred (S41: YES), the control unit 10 of the multi-function peripheral 1 encodes predetermined multi-function peripheral information (multi-function peripheral ID) and information indicating the error that has occurred, and generates a code pattern (S42). Then, the control unit 10 displays the generated code pattern on the operation panel 11 (S43), and ends the process. The predetermined multifunction device information and information indicating an error are stored in advance in a storage unit (not shown).

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the printing process by the image output system of the third embodiment. Also in FIG. 12, the processing on the left side shows the processing by the multifunction machine 1, the processing at the center shows the processing by the authentication server 2, and the processing on the right side shows the processing by the information processing terminal 3.
In the image output system according to the third embodiment, the authentication server 2 and the information processing terminal 3 perform the same processes as steps S1 to S11 in the flowchart shown in FIG. Then, in step S9, when the multifunction machine management unit 25 of the authentication server 2 can specify the destination information of the multifunction machine 1 based on the multifunction machine information (S9: YES), the control unit (determination unit) 20 of the authentication server 2 Determines whether or not an error has occurred in the multifunction device 1 based on the information obtained by decoding in step S7 (S51). In the third embodiment, since the code pattern includes the multi-function peripheral information and the information indicating the error, the control unit 20 of the authentication server 2 detects the multi-function peripheral information when decoding the code pattern in step S7. Information indicating an error can be obtained.

  When the control unit 20 of the authentication server 2 determines that no error has occurred in the multifunction device 1 (S51: NO), the control unit 20 performs the same process as step S12 in the flowchart shown in FIG. After that, the multi-function peripheral 1, the authentication server 2, and the information processing terminal 3 perform the same processing as steps S13 to S16 in the flowchart shown in FIG.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that an error has occurred in the multifunction device 1 (S51: YES), the control unit 20 of the authentication server 2 informs the communication unit 22 that the error has occurred in the multifunction device 1 from the information processing terminal. 3 is notified (S52). In the information processing terminal 3 notified of the occurrence of the error, the control unit 30 displays, for example, on the operation panel 32 that the error has occurred in the multifunction device 1 (S53), notifies the user, and ends the process. . As a result, the user who has instructed to execute the printing process (image output) by the multi-function peripheral 1 using the information processing terminal 3 can know that the multi-function peripheral 1 cannot be used because an error has occurred in the multi-function peripheral 1. The control unit 20 of the authentication server 2 may also notify the information processing terminal 3 of the type of error occurring in the multi-function peripheral 1.

As described above, in the image output system according to the third embodiment, the information transmitted from the information processing terminal 3 to the authentication server 2 includes the status information of the multi-function peripheral 1. From this, it is possible to know that an error has occurred in the multifunction machine 1 at the time of the authentication request and the print request.
In the conventional system, the authentication server 2 instructs the multifunction device 1 to execute the printing process, and recognizes the occurrence of the error in the multifunction device 1 only at the time when the multifunction device 1 notifies the multifunction device 1 of the print failure. could not. However, in the third embodiment, since the authentication server 2 can grasp the occurrence of an error in the multi-function peripheral 1 at the time when the information acquired from the information processing terminal 3 is decrypted, it can be grasped early and the error can be promptly dealt with. be able to.

In the third embodiment, when the authentication server 2 detects that an error has occurred in the multi-function peripheral 1, it interrupts the print processing by the multi-function peripheral 1 and notifies that the multi-function peripheral 1 has an error. This is a configuration for notifying the information processing terminal 3 (user). In addition to such a configuration, for example, even if an error occurs in the multi-function peripheral 1, if there is print processing that can be executed by the multi-function peripheral 1, the authentication server may instruct the multi-function peripheral 1 to execute the print processing. 2 may be configured.
Specifically, the authentication server 2 determines the operating state of the multi-function peripheral 1 based on the state information acquired from the information processing terminal 3, and when the multi-function peripheral 1 runs out of color ink, the multi-function peripheral information DB 21b is searched. Based on the registration information, it is determined whether the multifunction device 1 can perform monochrome printing. Then, if monochrome printing is possible, the authentication server 2 sends a monochrome printing execution instruction to the multifunction device 1. As a result, even if an error has occurred in the multifunction device 1, it is possible to perform printing processing under the printing conditions that can be executed by the multifunction device 1.

  In the third embodiment, the information processing terminal 3 transmits the information obtained by imaging the code pattern to the authentication server 2, and the authentication server 2 decrypts the acquired information to decode the multifunction device information and the multifunction device 1. The configuration was such that status information was acquired. In addition to such a configuration, the information processing terminal 3 may have a decoding function and decode the information obtained by photographing the code pattern. In this case, at the time of decoding the code pattern, the control unit 30 of the information processing terminal 3 can determine whether or not an error has occurred in the multi-function peripheral 1 based on the status information obtained by the decoding. Therefore, the error can be detected and the error can be dealt with earlier. In this case, the information processing terminal 3 may transmit the multifunction device information and the status information obtained by decryption to the authentication server 2, and in such a configuration, the processing load on the authentication server 2 can be reduced.

  In addition, when the authentication server 2 detects that an error has occurred in the multifunction device 1, for example, a configuration in which a service person who manages the multifunction device 1 notifies a terminal carried by the service person of the occurrence of the error is authenticated. It may be further provided in the server 2.

(Embodiment 4)
The image output system according to the fourth embodiment will be described below. The image output system according to the fourth exemplary embodiment is realized by the same configuration as the image output system according to the first to third exemplary embodiments described above, and therefore, the same reference numerals are given to the similar configurations and detailed description thereof is omitted.
In the image output systems of Embodiments 1 to 3 described above, the user needs to perform user registration for the print service in advance. In the image output system of Embodiment 4, even a user who has not registered as a user can use the multifunction device 1.

  In the multi-function peripheral 1 of the fourth embodiment, for example, a “trial print” button (not shown) is displayed on the operation panel 11. When a user who has not registered as a user wants to use the multifunction device 1, he / she operates the trial print button displayed on the operation panel 11. When the trial print button is operated, the control unit 10 of the multifunction device 1 encodes and generates predetermined multifunction device information (multifunction device ID) and permission information for temporarily permitting use of the multifunction device 1. The code pattern is displayed on the operation panel 11 (display unit 11b) to notify (present) the user.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing the procedure of code pattern generation processing by the multi-function peripheral 1 of the fourth embodiment.
The control unit 10 of the multifunction device 1 determines whether the trial print button on the operation panel 11 has been operated by the user (S61), and when the trial print button has not been operated (S61: NO), It waits for other processing until the trial print button is operated.

  When the trial print button is operated (S61: YES), the control unit 10 codes predetermined multifunction machine information (multifunction machine ID) and permission information to generate a code pattern (S62). Then, the control unit 10 displays the generated code pattern on the operation panel 11 (S63), and ends the process. The predetermined multifunction device information and permission information are stored in advance in a storage unit (not shown).

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the procedure of printing processing by the image output system of the fourth embodiment. Also in FIG. 14, the processing on the left side shows the processing by the multi-function peripheral 1, the processing at the center shows the processing by the authentication server 2, and the processing on the right side shows the processing by the information processing terminal 3.
In the image output system of the fourth embodiment, a user who has not registered as a user but wants to use the print service accesses the authentication server 2 that provides the print service using the information processing terminal 3. Then, the information processing terminal 3 acquires a predetermined web page from the authentication server 2 and displays the print request screen on the display unit 32b based on the acquired web page (S71).

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of a print request screen. In the print request screen shown in FIG. 15, in addition to the input field for inputting the user ID and password of the user who wants to use the print service, the shooting button, and the print button, “Use trial print” is selected. A check box to do this is displayed.
The user who has not registered as a user operates the operation panel 32 of the information processing terminal 3 instead of inputting the user ID and the password, and checks the “Use trial print” check box.

On the other hand, the user operates the trial print button of the multifunction device 1 to display the code pattern in which the multifunction device ID and the permission information are coded on the operation panel 11 of the multifunction device 1. Then, the user operates the shooting button on the print request screen, and the control unit 30 of the information processing terminal 3 shoots the code pattern being displayed on the multifunction machine 1 by the imaging unit 33, and the code pattern information (image data). To get. After shooting the code pattern, the user operates the print button to request the authentication server 2 to execute printing by the desired multifunction device 1.
When the check box of “Use trial print” is checked on the print request screen, the control unit 30 of the information processing terminal 3 does not wait for the input of the user ID and the password, but only the acquired code pattern information. Is transmitted to the authentication server 2 via the communication unit 34 (S72).

When only the code pattern information is acquired via the communication unit 22, the control unit 20 of the authentication server 2 decrypts the acquired code pattern information (S73), and outputs the multifunction device information (multifunction device ID) and the permission information. get. The control unit 20 determines whether the information obtained by decryption includes the permission information (S74), and when determining that the permission information is not included (S74: NO), the control unit 20 The information processing terminal 3 is notified via the communication unit 22 that the use is not permitted (S75). In this case, the control unit 20 of the authentication server 2 discards the code pattern information acquired from the information processing terminal 3.
In the information processing terminal 3 notified that the use of the multifunction device 1 is not permitted, the control unit 30 displays the fact on the operation panel 32 (S76), and ends the process.

  If the information obtained by decryption includes the permission information (S74: YES), the control unit 20 (multifunction peripheral management unit 25) of the authentication server 2 combines the multifunction device information obtained by decryption with the complex information. The destination information (IP address) of the multifunction device 1 is specified based on the registration information in the device information DB 21b (S8). After that, the multi-function peripheral 1, the authentication server 2, and the information processing terminal 3 perform the same processes as steps S9 to S16 in the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

As described above, in the image output system according to the fourth embodiment, it is possible to give a temporary use right to a user who is not registered as a user in the print service and does not have a use right for the multifunction machine 1. Therefore, it is possible to try the print service provided by the image output system.
In addition, a temporary user ID and password may be given to the user who has requested the use of the multi-function peripheral 1 by the above-described processing, and not only the one-time printing processing but also the use authority for a certain period may be given.

  In the first to fourth embodiments, the authentication server 2 may further include a configuration in which the MFP information and the user information (authentication information) acquired from the information processing terminal 3 are stored in a storage unit (not shown). In this case, the storage unit can manage the multi-function peripheral information and the user information as log information, and can analyze the held information. Further, in the authentication server 2, it is possible to execute a charging process according to the usage status of the image output device, an analysis process of the usage status of the image output device, and the like.

In the image output systems of Embodiments 1 to 4, since the user registers print data in the authentication server 2 in advance, the user actually makes an authentication request (print instruction) to the authentication server 2 using the information processing terminal 3. At this time, only the code pattern information of the multifunction peripheral information and the authentication information have to be transmitted to the authentication server 2. Therefore, in the first to fourth embodiments, it is not necessary to store the print data in the information processing terminal 3, and the data amount of the data transmitted from the information processing terminal 3 to the authentication server 2 can be reduced.
In addition to this configuration, when the user uses the information processing terminal 3 to make an authentication request (print instruction) to the authentication server 2, the print data is transmitted to the authentication server 2 together with the code pattern information and the authentication information. You may do it. In this case, since the authentication server 2 does not need to manage the print data for each user, the processing load on the authentication server 2 can be reduced.

  In Embodiments 1 to 3, when the user uses the information processing terminal 3 to make an authentication request (print instruction) to the authentication server 2, the code pattern information and the authentication information are simultaneously transmitted from the information processing terminal 3 to the authentication server 2. It was sent. In addition to such a configuration, for example, when only the authentication information is first transmitted from the information processing terminal 3 to the authentication server 2 and the user can be authenticated as a result of the authentication processing by the authentication server 2, the information processing terminal 3 performs authentication. The code pattern information may be transmitted to the server 2. Further, in a configuration in which print data is transmitted to the authentication server 2 together with the code pattern information and the authentication information when the user makes an authentication request, the code pattern information is transmitted to the authentication server 2 first, and the authentication server 2 If the multifunction peripheral 1 can be identified by the second method, the print data may be transmitted from the information processing terminal 3 to the authentication server 2.

  The information processing terminal 3 according to the first to fourth embodiments acquires the multifunction peripheral information by capturing the code pattern by the image capturing unit 33, but the configuration is not limited to this. For example, when the code pattern of the multifunction device information is a barcode, the information processing terminal 3 includes a code reading unit such as a barcode reader instead of the imaging unit 33, and the multifunction device information is acquired by the code reading unit. You may.

  In the image output systems of Embodiments 1 to 4, the multifunction device 1 notifies the authentication server 2 of the processing result, so that the authentication server 2 can grasp the processing result of the multifunction device 1. Therefore, when the authentication server 2 is notified of the completion of the printing process, the authentication server 2 can, for example, delete the print data held in the authentication server 2 and grasp the usage status of the multifunction machine 1 of each user. In addition, when the processing result includes a specific usage status of each user, for example, output paper size, the number of output papers, print processing content such as execution of monochrome printing or color printing, based on such information. Accounting processing for each user becomes possible.

  The information processing terminal 3 according to the first to fourth embodiments transmits the information (image data) obtained by capturing the code pattern by the image capturing unit 33 to the authentication server 2, and the authentication server 2 decodes the code pattern to decode the code pattern. It was a configuration to acquire information. In addition to such a configuration, the information processing terminal 3 has a decryption function and decrypts information obtained by photographing a code pattern to obtain multifunction device information, and the obtained multifunction device information is used as the authentication server 2 It may be configured to send to. In this case, the processing load on the authentication server 2 can be reduced.

  In the information processing terminal 3 of the first to third embodiments, the user operates the operation panel 32 on the print request screen to input the authentication information (user ID and password). In addition to such a configuration, for example, when the information processing terminal 3 has an IC card reader, a user ID and password may be stored in the IC card in advance, and the IC card reader may read the authentication information from the IC card. Good.

  In the image output system of the present invention, in addition to the multifunction machine 1, a printer having only a printer function, a display device for displaying an image, etc. can be used.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been specifically described above, but the configurations, operations, and the like can be modified as appropriate, and the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments.

1 Multifunction device (image output device)
2 Authentication server (authentication device)
3 Information processing terminal (information processing device)
10 control unit 11 operation panel 20 control unit (permitting unit, determining unit, user condition specifying unit, device condition specifying unit)
22 Communication unit (device information acquisition unit, user information acquisition unit)
25 Multifunction device management unit (specification unit)
26 User Authentication Department (Authentication Department)
30 control unit (device information acquisition unit, instructor information acquisition unit)
34 Communication unit (sending unit)
11b Display 21a Electronic data DB (data storage)
21b Multifunction device information DB (destination storage unit, device condition storage unit)
21c User information DB (user condition storage unit)

Claims (3)

An image output method by an image output device in which execution of image output is instructed using an information processing device,
The image output device,
A code pattern obtained by coding device information for identifying the image output device is displayed so that it can be acquired by the information processing device when an operation from a user is accepted,
Receiving the image data transmitted from the information processing device to the image output device specified based on the device information,
When receiving image data, execute image output based on the received image data,
When an error occurs in the image output device, the error information indicating that the error has occurred is displayed in the device information to display the code pattern encoded ,
The image output method , wherein the information processing terminal determines whether or not an error has occurred in the image output device based on device information obtained by decoding the acquired code pattern . The image output method according to claim 1, wherein the code pattern is a barcode or a QR code (registered trademark). The image output method according to claim 1, wherein the device information is an IP address.

Images