JP7064396B2 - Network system and server - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a network system and a server for providing a service using a network.

In recent years, services using network systems (network print services) have been provided for enterprises. Such a network print service is a service that allows document files and image files to be registered on the network print service website from a personal computer or smartphone and printed out from a multi-copy machine (multifunction device) installed in a convenience store. (Patent Document 1).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-163980

The current network print service has the following problems.
-In recent years, companies have been required to ensure reliable business management regarding overtime work by employees, and it is necessary to limit printing and copying work outside working hours. However, the current network print service is not linked to business management and can be used even outside working hours.
-Network print services that perform printing work outside the company are more likely to be used for unauthorized printing such as information leakage and private use than printing work inside the company.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a network system and a server for realizing a service using a network, which is useful for business management and security improvement in a user company.

In order to solve the above problems, in the network system according to the first aspect of the present invention, a server and a plurality of image forming devices are connected by a network, and a data file registered in advance is used as the plurality of image forming devices. It is a network system for providing a service by any image forming apparatus in the above, and further, a business management server for storing business management data of a user who uses the service is connected by a network. When the user logs in, the image forming apparatus transmits the account information and the login time of the user to the server, and the server stores the login time in the business management data. It is characterized in that it is possible to send a usage permission to the image forming apparatus if it is within the working hours of the user, and to send a usage restriction to the image forming apparatus if the login time is outside the working hours. There is.

According to the above configuration, when a user (for example, an employee of a user company) logs in to the image forming apparatus to print using this service, the user's account information and login time are transmitted to the server. To. This account information and login time are compared with the business management data stored in the business management server connected to the server, and availability is determined according to whether the login time is within the working hours of the user ( The availability judgment may be made on the business management server side or on the server side). The server transmits the determination result of availability to the image forming apparatus. As a result, in this network print service, it is possible to restrict the use of the network print service to the user outside the working hours, and it is possible to strengthen the business management regarding the work of the employee outside the working hours.

In order to solve the above problems, in the network system according to the second aspect of the present invention, a server and a plurality of image forming devices are connected by a network, and a data file registered in advance is combined with the plurality of image forming devices. A network system for providing a service by any image forming apparatus of the above, and further, a business management server for storing business management data of a user who uses the service is connected by a network, and the image is described above. When the user logs in, the forming device transmits the account information and login time of the user and the location information of the place where the image forming device is installed to the server, and the server sends the account information and the location information of the place where the image forming device is installed to the server. If the login time is within the working hours of the user stored in the business management data, and the location information matches the location information of the user stored in the business management data. If the usage permission is transmitted to the image forming apparatus and the login time is outside the working hours, or the location information does not match the location information of the user stored in the business management data. It is characterized in that it is possible to transmit usage restrictions to the image forming apparatus.

According to the above configuration, when a user logs in to the image forming apparatus to print using this service, the user's account information and login time, and the location where the image forming apparatus is installed are installed. Location information is sent to the server. This account information, login time and location information are compared with the business management data stored in the business management server connected to the server, and whether the login time is within the user's working hours or the location information is the user. Whether or not it can be used is determined according to whether or not it matches the location information of. The server transmits the determination result of availability to the image forming apparatus. As a result, in the network print service provided by the above network system, it is possible to restrict the use of the user during non-working hours, and the effect of preventing unauthorized printing such as information leakage and private use is enhanced. , Security can be improved.

Further, in the network system, the service provided by the image forming apparatus can be configured to include at least one of print, copy, fax, scan, and content service.

Further, in the network system, when the administrator terminal device of the user who uses the service is connected by the network and the server transmits the usage restriction to the image forming device, the above is simultaneously performed. The administrator terminal device may also be configured to notify that the use of the image forming device has been restricted.

According to the above configuration, the manager such as the user's boss can recognize that the service use access was made during off-hours, and can be useful for the business management of the employee.

Further, when the server notifies the administrator terminal device that the usage restriction of the image forming apparatus has been made, the network system temporarily cancels the usage restriction from the administrator terminal device. It can be configured to be possible.

According to the above configuration, the administrator can release the usage restriction, and the network print service can be used at a time and place different from the working hours and the place where the business management data table is stored. , The network print service can be used in an emergency.

Further, the network system can be configured so that the usage restriction conditions of the image forming apparatus can be changed according to the user.

According to the above configuration, it is possible to impose appropriate usage restrictions according to the job title and duties of the user, and it is possible to improve the convenience of the network print service.

Further, the server according to the third aspect of the present invention is connected to a plurality of image forming devices by a network, and a data file registered in advance is serviced by any image forming device in the plurality of image forming devices. It is a server for providing the image, and is further connected to a business management server that stores business management data of a user who uses the service via a network, and the image forming apparatus is connected to the user from the user. When there is a login, the user's account information and login time are received from the image forming apparatus, and if the login time is within the working hours of the user stored in the business management data, the image forming apparatus. It is characterized in that it is possible to send a usage permission to the image forming apparatus and send a usage restriction to the image forming apparatus if the login time is outside the working hours.

Further, the server according to the fourth aspect of the present invention is connected to a plurality of image forming devices by a network, and a data file registered in advance is serviced by any image forming device in the plurality of image forming devices. It is a server for providing the above, and is further connected to a business management server that stores business management data of a user who uses the service via a network, and is connected to the image forming apparatus from the user. When there is a login, the user's account information and login time and the location information of the place where the image forming apparatus is installed are received from the image forming apparatus, and the login time is stored in the business management data. If it is within the working hours of the user and the location information matches the location information of the user stored in the business management data, the usage permission is transmitted to the image forming apparatus. If the login time is outside the working hours, or if the location information does not match the location information of the user stored in the business management data, the usage restriction is transmitted to the image forming apparatus. Is characterized by being possible.

Further, the server may be configured such that the service provided by the image forming apparatus includes at least one of print, copy, fax, scan, and content service.

The network system and network print server of the present invention can restrict the use of the network print service provided by these to the user during non-working hours, and strengthen the work management related to the work of employees during non-working hours. It has the effect of being able to do it. Furthermore, it has the effect of enhancing the effect of preventing unauthorized printing such as information leakage and private use, and improving security.

It is a block diagram which shows the schematic structure of the network system which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a flow chart which shows the flow of the process in the network print service which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the business management data table used in the implementation of the network print service which concerns on Embodiment 1 or 2. It is a flow chart which shows the flow of the process in the network print service which concerns on Embodiment 3.

[Embodiment 1]
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a network system (hereinafter, this system) according to the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, in this system, a network print server (server described in the claims) 10, a multi-copy machine (image forming apparatus) 20, and a business management server 30 are connected to each other so as to be able to communicate with each other by network NT. It is composed of. The network print server 10 is a server of a service provider that provides a network print service (hereinafter, this service) by this system. The multi-copy machine 20 is installed in a store such as a convenience store, and there are a large number of multi-copy machines 20 in this system. The multi-copy machine 20 is a so-called MFP (Multi Function Peripheral), and has many functions such as a copy function, a print function, a scanner function, and a fax function. The business management server 30 is a server that stores business management data in a company (contract company) that uses this service. Further, an administrator personal computer (administrator terminal device) 31 in the user company may be connected to this system. The service provided by the multi-copy machine 20 is not limited to printing, and may include at least one of printing, copying, faxing, scanning, and content services.

This service in the first embodiment is linked with the business management of the user company, and in particular, for the service user (the user described in the claims, for example, the employee of the user company) outside the working hours. The feature is that the use of can be restricted. Hereinafter, the processing of the service according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the flow of processing in this service. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a business management data table used in the implementation of this service.

Process (1): When a service user intends to use this service (printing, copying, etc.), the service user performs account authentication (login) to the multi-copy machine 20 at the nearest store. This account authentication can be performed, for example, by holding the authentication card (IC card) possessed by the service user over the reader possessed by the multi-copy machine 20 and having the account information read from the authentication card. The authentication method of the service user is not limited to this, and various known authentication methods can be used.

Process (2): The multi-copy machine 20 transmits the account information of the service user to the network print server 10 together with the login time.

Process (3): The network print server 10 identifies a user company to which the service user belongs based on the account information, and transmits the account information and the login time to the business management server 30 of the user company.

Process (4): The business management server 30 determines whether or not the service can be used based on the stored business management data. Specifically, the login time is compared with the working time zone (working time to leaving time) stored in the business management data table (see Fig. 3), and it is determined that the service can be used if the login time is within working hours. , If the login time is outside working hours, it is judged that it cannot be used.

For example, if the account information belongs to employee A and the login time is 15:00 on November 3, 2017, it is determined that the account information can be used because the login is during working hours. On the other hand, if the account information belongs to employee A and the login time is 18:30 on November 2, 2017, it is determined that the account information cannot be used because the login is outside working hours.

The business management data table shown in FIG. 3 stores predetermined working hours, and is different from attendance data that records actual attendance and departure times. Further, although the business management data table shown in FIG. 3 stores the outing or business trip schedule in addition to the working hours, only the working hours information is used in the process of the first embodiment. In the business management data table shown in FIG. 3, the basic working hours are set from 8:30 to 17:15, and in the case of overtime or business trips, the business hours according to the meeting or work are set in advance. .. For example, overtime work and business trip time schedules can be pre-registered by electronic application, etc., and saved in business management data to create a business management data table that matches the actual situation of the user. In this way, overtime and business trip schedules are considered to be within working hours even if they are outside the basic working hours (8:30 to 17:15) if they are registered in the business management data table in advance. You can use this service.

Process (5): The business management server 30 transmits the determination result in the process (4), that is, the determination result of availability to the network print server 10.

Process (6): The network print server 10 transmits the availability determination result to the multi-copy machine 20.

Process (7): The multi-copy machine 20 is controlled based on the received determination result. That is, when the determination result is available, the multi-copy machine 20 displays the operation screen on the operation display unit. As a result, the authenticated service user can use this service using the multi-copy machine 20. On the other hand, when the determination result is unavailable, the multi-copy machine 20 displays a warning screen on the operation display unit, and the service user cannot use this service.

Process (8): When the administrator personal computer 31 is connected in this system, if the determination result in the process (4) is not available, the network print server 10 sends the employee access information to the administrator personal computer 31. You may send the unavailable result. As a result, the manager of the user company can recognize that there was an access to use the service outside the working hours, which can be useful for the business management of the employee.

In the processing of this service according to the first embodiment, it is possible to restrict the use of the service to the service user outside the working hours. As a result, it is possible to strengthen work management related to overtime work of employees.

In the above description, in the processes (3) to (5), the availability is determined on the business management server 30 side. That is, the account information and the login time are sent from the network print server 10 to the business management server 30, and the determination result of the business management server 30 is returned from the business management server 30 to the network print server 10. However, if the following processes (3)'to (4)' are performed instead of the processes (3) to (5), the availability can be determined not on the business management server 30 side but on the network print server 10 side. Is also possible.

Process (3)': When the business management data in the business management server 30 is linked to the network print server 10, the network print server 10 acquires the business management data from the business management server 30.

Process (4)': The network print server 10 determines whether or not the service can be used based on the acquired business management data.

[Embodiment 2]
In the first embodiment, the case where the availability of this service is determined based on the working hours of the employee is illustrated. However, in order to prevent unauthorized printing such as information leakage and private use, it is considered that the judgment based only on working hours is not sufficient. In the second embodiment, a case where the availability of this service is determined based on the working hours and the location information of the employee is illustrated.

The processing of this service according to the second embodiment will be described below. The flow of the process in the second embodiment is almost the same as the flow shown in FIG. 2, but the processes (2a) to (4a) described below are performed instead of the processes (2) to (4). The points are different.

Process (2a): The multi-copy machine 20 transmits the account information of the service user to the network print server 10 together with the login time and the location information (address, etc.) of the store.

Process (3a): The network print server 10 identifies a user company to which the service user belongs based on the account information, and transmits the account information, the login time, and the location information to the business management server 30 of the user company.

Process (4a): The business management server 30 determines whether or not the service can be used based on the stored business management data. Specifically, the login time is compared with the working hours (working time to leaving time) stored in the business management data table (see Fig. 3), and if the login time is outside working hours, it cannot be used. judge. If the login time is within working hours, the store location information is further compared with the outing destination (service user's location information) stored in the business management data table, and the location information matches the outing destination. If it is, it is determined that it can be used, and if the location information does not match the location information, it is determined that it cannot be used. In the second embodiment, it is assumed that the outing place stored in the business management data table can also be registered in advance by electronic application or the like.

For example, if the account information belongs to employee A, the login time is 15:00 on November 8, 2017, and the location information is the address in Tokyo, it is determined that the information can be used. On the other hand, even if the login time is 15:00 on November 8, 2017, if the location information is an address other than Tokyo, it is determined that the service cannot be used.

In the processing of the Service according to the second embodiment, the service user can use the Service only when both the usage time and the usage location are appropriate, and either the usage time or the usage location is available. However, if it is not appropriate, the service cannot be used. As a result, the effect of preventing unauthorized printing such as information leakage and private use can be enhanced, and security can be improved.

[Embodiment 3]
In the first embodiment, the service cannot be used unless the usage time of the service is appropriate, and in the second embodiment, the service is used if the usage time and place of use of the service are not appropriate. Is prohibited. Further, the determination of whether or not the usage time and the usage location are appropriate is based on the information stored in the business management data table. However, due to unavoidable urgent circumstances, it may be necessary to use this service outside of working hours or outside the office stored in the business management data table. In the third embodiment, a process for enabling the use of the service in such an emergency will be described.

In the third embodiment, the administrator personal computer 31 (see FIG. 1) needs to be connected in this system. FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing a flow of processing in the service according to the third embodiment, and processing (9) to (11) is added to the flow shown in FIG.

In the service according to the third embodiment, the processes (1) to (8) are as described in the first embodiment. Of course, the processes (3)'to (4)' are performed instead of the processes (3) to (5), and the processes (2a) to (4a) are performed instead of the processes (2) to (4). It is also possible to do it. The contents of the processes (9) to (11) will be described below.

Process (9): The administrator who has been notified that there is an access that cannot be used in the process (8) changes the determination result to available and makes it possible to reply to the network print server 10. Of course, there may be a case where the reply is left unusable without changing the judgment result.

In order to perform this process (9), it is preferable to simultaneously display a determination button (permit button and disapproval button) as to whether or not to permit the use of this service in the notification of process (8). In this case, if the administrator presses the permit button, the determination result is changed to available, and if the disallow button is pressed, the determination result remains unavailable. Further, if there is no reply from the administrator even after a certain period of time has passed from the notification of the process (8), it may be regarded as disapproval.

Process (10): The network print server 10 transmits the availability determination result determined in the process (9) to the multi-copy machine 20.

Process (11): The multi-copy machine 20 is controlled based on the determination result received in the process (10). That is, when the determination result is available, the multi-copy machine 20 displays the operation screen on the operation display unit. As a result, the authenticated service user can use this service using the multi-copy machine 20. On the other hand, if the determination result is not available, the multi-copy machine 20 displays a warning screen on the operation display unit.

In the processing of the service according to the third embodiment, if the service user reports to the administrator in advance by telephone, e-mail, etc. and obtains permission, the service can be used in an emergency. That is, the administrator who received the prior report issues a usage permit in the above process (9), so that the service can be used at a time and place different from the working hours and the place where the business management data table is stored. Is possible.

[Embodiment 4]
This service restricts the use of the service based on the service user's working hours and information on where to go, but depending on the service user (for example, depending on the job title or job title of the service user). It is also possible to make different usage restriction conditions. As a result, it is possible to impose appropriate usage restrictions according to the job title and duties of the service user, and it is possible to improve the convenience of this service.

As an example, if the service user is a general employee, the use of this service is restricted outside working hours as described in the above-described first and second embodiments, while if the service user is a manager, it is outside working hours. It is conceivable not to restrict the use of this service in Japan.

Further, as another example, when the job of the service user is a job that handles highly confidential information and has few urgent outings, the work is as described in the second embodiment. If the use of the service is restricted based on the information of time and whereabouts, and the job of the service user does not handle confidential information and the job is such that there are many urgent outings, the above implementation is carried out. As described in Form 1, the use of the service may be restricted based only on the information on working hours.

When the service according to the fourth embodiment is performed, the job title and job description of the service user may be stored in the business management server 30 in association with the account information of the service user.

The embodiments disclosed this time are exemplary in all respects and are not grounds for limited interpretation. Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention is not construed solely by the embodiments described above, but is defined based on the description of the scope of claims. It also includes all changes within the meaning and scope of the claims.

10 Network print server (server)
20 Multi-copy machine (image forming device)
30 Business management server 31 Administrator personal computer (administrator terminal device)
NT network

Claims (9)

A network system in which a server and a plurality of image forming devices are connected by a network, and a data file registered in advance is provided by any image forming device among the plurality of image forming devices.
Furthermore, the business management server that stores the business management data of the users who use the service is connected by a network.
When the user logs in, the image forming apparatus sends the user's account information and login time to the server.
The server transmits a usage permission to the image forming apparatus if the login time is within the working hours of the user stored in the business management data, and the image if the login time is outside the working hours. It is possible to send usage restrictions to the forming device ,
Furthermore, the administrator terminal device of the user who uses the service is connected by a network.
When the server transmits the usage restriction to the image forming apparatus, the administrator terminal apparatus is also notified at the same time that the usage restriction of the image forming apparatus has been made, and the usage restriction is temporary. A network system characterized by displaying the operations for canceling in a receptible manner . A network system in which a server and a plurality of image forming devices are connected by a network, and a data file registered in advance is provided by any image forming device of the plurality of image forming devices.
Furthermore, the business management server that stores the business management data of the users who use the service is connected by a network.
When the user logs in, the image forming apparatus transmits the account information and login time of the user and the location information of the place where the image forming apparatus is installed to the server.
In the server, the login time is within the working hours of the user stored in the business management data, and the location information matches the location information of the user stored in the business management data. If so, the usage permission is transmitted to the image forming apparatus, and the login time is outside the working hours, or the location information matches the location information of the user stored in the business management data. If not , it is possible to send usage restrictions to the image forming apparatus.
Furthermore, the administrator terminal device of the user who uses the service is connected by a network.
When the server transmits the usage restriction to the image forming apparatus, the administrator terminal apparatus is also notified at the same time that the usage restriction of the image forming apparatus has been made, and the usage restriction is temporary. A network system characterized by displaying the operations for canceling in a receptible manner . The network system according to claim 1 or 2.
A network system characterized in that the usage restriction is not temporarily released after a predetermined fixed time has elapsed after displaying the operation for temporarily releasing the usage restriction so that it can be accepted. The network system according to any one of claims 1 to 3 .
A network system characterized in that the services provided by the image forming apparatus include at least one of print, copy, fax, scan and content services. The network system according to any one of claims 1 to 4 .
A network system characterized in that it is possible to make the usage restriction conditions of the image forming apparatus different according to the user. A server that is connected to a plurality of image forming devices by a network and provides a service of a data file registered in advance by any image forming device among the plurality of image forming devices.
Furthermore, it is connected to the business management server that stores the business management data of the users who use the service via the network.
When a user logs in to the image forming apparatus, the user's account information and login time are received from the image forming apparatus, and the user receives the account information and the login time.
If the login time is within the working hours of the user stored in the business management data, the usage permission is transmitted to the image forming apparatus, and if the login time is outside the working hours, the image forming apparatus is used. It is possible to send limits ,
Furthermore, it is connected to the administrator terminal device of the user who uses the service via a network.
When transmitting the usage restriction to the image forming apparatus, at the same time, the administrator terminal device is also notified that the usage restriction of the image forming apparatus has been made, and the usage restriction is temporarily lifted. A server characterized by displaying the operations of . A server that is connected to a plurality of image forming devices by a network and provides a service of a data file registered in advance by any image forming device among the plurality of image forming devices.
Furthermore, it is connected to the business management server that stores the business management data of the users who use the service via the network.
When the user logs in to the image forming apparatus, the account information and login time of the user and the location information of the place where the image forming apparatus is installed are received from the image forming apparatus. ,
If the login time is within the working hours of the user stored in the business management data, and the location information matches the location information of the user stored in the business management data, the above If the usage permission is sent to the image forming apparatus and the login time is outside the working hours, or the location information does not match the location information of the user stored in the business management data, the above It is possible to send usage restrictions to the image forming device ,
Furthermore, it is connected to the administrator terminal device of the user who uses the service via a network.
When transmitting the usage restriction to the image forming apparatus, at the same time, the administrator terminal device is also notified that the usage restriction of the image forming apparatus has been made, and the usage restriction is temporarily lifted. A server characterized by displaying the operations of . The server according to claim 6 or 7.
A server characterized in that the usage restriction is not temporarily released when a predetermined fixed time has elapsed after displaying the operation for temporarily releasing the usage restriction so that it can be accepted. The server according to any one of claims 6 to 8 .
The service provided by the image forming apparatus is a server including at least one of print, copy, fax, scan and content services.

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