JP7182428B2 - Communication server, communication terminal, and image forming system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a communication server, a communication terminal, and an image forming system including the same, which communicate with a communication terminal and an image forming apparatus via a network.

In recent years, with the development of communication environments, various services have come to be provided via networks. A network print service is implemented in the image forming apparatus, and the printed material can be easily distributed by transmitting the data of the printed material to the server, storing the data, and printing the data with an arbitrary image forming apparatus. . In such a network print service, a method using e-mail has been proposed in order to reliably distribute printed matter (see, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-100002).

JP 2008-97336 A

The document distribution apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-200010 includes a storage unit in which print data is stored with a distribution destination address attached from a distribution source, and an electronic device that notifies the distribution destination address of the existence of the print data when the print data is stored. A print data distribution unit that sends mail and distributes the print data to the requested image forming apparatus when there is a request to read the print data. The print data distribution unit automatically generates a password for each distribution destination and notifies it by e-mail, and manages the access status from the distribution destination. In the document distribution apparatus described above, although confidentiality can be ensured by using a password, it is not possible to make detailed settings for distribution destinations and differentiate the contents of distribution.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a communication server, a communication terminal, and an image forming system that can easily process usage settings for a network print service. do.

A communication server according to the present invention is a communication server that communicates with a communication terminal and an image forming apparatus via a network, and is an image information storage unit that stores image information transmitted from a transmission-side communication terminal. an authority information generation unit for generating usage authority information and an authority code associated with the usage authority information according to the destination information transmitted together with the image information; a code transmission unit configured to transmit the authority code to a communication terminal; and an image information transmission unit configured to transmit the image information to the image forming apparatus according to the authority code, wherein the usage authority information includes the image information is set for each communication terminal on the receiving side, and in the destination information, one of a plurality of destination types is set for the destination of the e-mail sent to the communication terminal on the receiving side The authority information generation unit determines usage authority for each communication terminal on the receiving side according to the destination type . It is characterized by comprising an authority information update section for updating the use authority information generated by the authority information generation section .

A communication terminal according to the present invention is a communication terminal that communicates with another communication terminal and a communication server via a network, and transmits and receives information between the other communication terminal and the communication server. A terminal communication unit is provided, and the terminal communication unit transmits image information and destination information to the communication server, and also transmits an e-mail to the communication terminal on the receiving side, and the destination information includes communication on the receiving side. One of a plurality of destination types is set as the destination of an e-mail sent to the terminal, and the transmission-side communication terminal instructs the communication server to update the generated usage authority information. characterized by

An image forming system according to the present invention is an image forming system in which communication is performed between a communication terminal, an image forming apparatus, and a communication server via a network, wherein the communication server receives an image transmitted from a communication terminal on the transmission side. an image information storage unit for storing the image information received; and an authority information generation unit for generating usage authority information and an authority code associated with the usage authority information according to the destination information transmitted together with the image information. a code transmission unit for transmitting the authority code to a receiving communication terminal corresponding to the destination information; and an image information transmission unit for transmitting the image information to the image forming apparatus according to the authority code. , the image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit that forms an image based on the image information, a code input unit that receives an input of the authority code, and an authority code that is received by the code input unit. an authority reference unit that inquires of the communication server about the use authority for information; and a processing determination unit that determines processing for the image information according to the use authority, wherein the use authority information specifies the use authority for the image information. is set for each communication terminal on the receiving side, and in the destination information, one of a plurality of destination types is set for the destination of an e-mail sent to the communication terminal on the receiving side; The information generating unit determines usage authority for each communication terminal on the receiving side according to the destination type, and when an instruction to update the usage authority information is given from the communication terminal on the transmitting side, the authority information generating unit and an authority information updating unit for updating the authority information generated by the.

According to the present invention, in a network print service in which image information registered in a communication server is acquired by an arbitrary image forming apparatus and image formation is performed, by providing an appropriate use authority according to destination information, image information can be used. Settings can be easily handled.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an image forming system according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of usage authority information; FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of image registration processing for registering an image in a communication server; FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of image forming processing for forming an image registered in the communication server;

(First embodiment)
An image forming system according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an image forming system according to the first embodiment of the invention.

An image forming system 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of communication terminals 10, a communication server 20, and an image forming apparatus 30, which are connected via a network NW. FIG. 1 shows four communication terminals 10, ie, a first communication terminal 10a, a second communication terminal 10b, a third communication terminal 10c, and a fourth communication terminal 10d. number may be changed as appropriate. At least one image forming apparatus 30 may be connected to the network NW, and more image forming apparatuses 30 may be connected. In the following, for the sake of explanation, transmission and reception via the network NW may be distinguished by calling them a transmission side and a reception side.

The communication terminal 10 is, for example, a smart phone, a mobile phone, or a personal computer, and includes a terminal communication section 11 and an image display section 12 . The terminal communication unit 11 is connected to the network NW and transmits and receives data. The image display unit 12 is a display that displays images. In addition to the configuration described above, the communication terminal 10 may include a storage unit for storing data, a camera for capturing images, an input unit for inputting characters, and the like.

The communication terminal 10 can send e-mails to other communication terminals 10 and the communication server 20 . In this embodiment, an image attached to an e-mail is treated as image information 21a, and a destination address in the e-mail is treated as destination information 21b. In e-mail, in general, "TO", "CC", and "BCC" can be set as the destination type (destination type), and the same e-mail can be sent to multiple destinations at the same time. can do. By distinguishing the destination type, it is possible to differentiate, for example, not to notify the set destination together.

The communication server 20 includes an image information storage section 21 , an authority information generation section 22 , a server communication section 23 and an authority information update section 24 .

The image information storage unit 21 is a storage device for storing images and data, and stores image information 21a and destination information 21b transmitted from the communication terminal.

The authority information generation unit 22 generates and stores usage authority information 22a and an authority code 22b associated with the usage authority information 22a according to the destination information 21b transmitted together with the image information 21a. The usage authority information 22a and the authority code 22b will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 2, which will be described later.

The server communication unit 23 is connected to the network NW to transmit and receive data, and includes a code transmission unit 23a and an image information transmission unit 23b. The code transmission unit 23a transmits the authorization code 22b to the receiving communication terminal 10 corresponding to the destination information 21b. The image information transmission unit 23b transmits the image information 21a to the image forming apparatus 30. FIG. Also, the server communication unit 23 may send an e-mail to the communication terminal 10 as appropriate.

The authority information updating section 24 updates the usage authority information 22a generated by the authority information generating section 22 . Note that processing for updating the usage authority information 22a will be described in detail based on a second embodiment, which will be described later.

The image forming apparatus 30 includes an image forming section 31 , a code input section 32 , an authority reference section 33 , a process determining section 34 and an image forming communication section 35 .

The image forming section 31 has a copying function, a facsimile function, a printer function, etc., and forms an image on paper based on the image information 21a.

The code input unit 32 receives the input of the authority code 22b from the user. Specifically, the code input unit 32 is a button or the like for accepting input of characters or the like. Also, the code input unit 32 may be an image reading unit that reads a shadowed image.

The authority reference unit 33 inquires of the communication server 20 about the authority to use the image information 21a according to the authority code 22b received by the code input unit 32. FIG. The processing determination unit 34 determines processing for the image information 21a according to the usage authority. The operation related to usage authority will be described in detail together with the operation in the network print service shown in FIG.

The image forming communication unit 35 is connected to the network NW to transmit and receive data.

The image forming apparatus 30 may include, in addition to the configuration described above, a deposit device for accepting payment of fees and a display for displaying images. The image forming apparatus 30 may be installed in a store such as a convenience store, for example, and may be set to require payment of a fee when used.

In the network print service of the image forming system 1, an image is transmitted from the communication terminal 10 (sender) on the transmission side and stored in the communication server 20 as image information 21a. The image information 21a stored in the communication server 20 can be obtained by the image forming apparatus 30 via the network NW to form (print) an image on paper. Also, when registering the image information 21a in the communication server 20, by setting the destination of another communication terminal 10, users other than the sender can also print in the same way. At this time, in order to confirm that the destination is set in the destination information 21b, the authority code 22b related to the authority to use is used. be. The communication server 20 generates use authority information 22a that associates the destinations set in the destination information 21b with the use authority for each destination.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of usage authority information.

In the usage authority information 22a shown in FIG. 2, "sender", "TO destination", "CC destination", and "BCC destination" are recorded as destinations set in the destination information 21b. Has a corresponding setting item associated with it.

In the example of the usage authority information 22a shown in FIG. 2, the setting items corresponding to the destination are "authority code", "data download", "print execution", "post-charge", "print permission range", and "print number of times is recorded.

"Authority code" indicates the authority code 22b corresponding to each destination, and has different content for each destination.

"Folder access" indicates whether or not to permit access to the folder in which the image information 21a is stored in the image information storage unit 21. In the example shown in FIG. ' is marked with '○' (permitted), and 'CC destination' and 'BCC destination' are marked with 'X' (impossible).

"Data Download" indicates whether or not the image information 21a saved in the communication server 20 is permitted to be downloaded to the communication terminal 10. In the example shown in FIG. ' are marked with '○', and 'CC destination' and 'BCC destination' are marked with 'x'.

"Print execution" indicates whether or not printing of the image information 21a is permitted, and is marked with "o" for all destinations.

"Post-payment" indicates whether or not the sender bears the payment of the charge for printing. demand payment of fees. "Sender" is set to "○", and the sender bears the cost. "TO address" and "CC address" are marked with "△", and the sender is conditionally charged. demand payment of fees. "BCC Destination" is set to "X" and the user is requested to pay the fee.

"Print permission range" indicates the range of the image information 21a that is permitted to be printed. That is, in the image forming system 1, only one image may be registered as the image information 21a, or a folder containing a plurality of images may be registered as the image information 21a. "Sender" and "TO destination" are set to "whole folder", and the entire folder containing multiple images can be printed. "CC destination" and "BCC destination" are set to "one file", and one designated image can be printed.

"Print count" indicates the number of times printing is permitted. "Sender" and "TO Destination" are set to "unlimited", and printing can be performed any number of times. "CC Destination" and "BCC Destination" are set to "ONCE", and printing can be performed only once.

Setting items may be provided in addition to the items described above. For example, items related to printing, such as the size of the paper to be printed and whether or not to accept changes in the magnification of the image in printing, may be appropriately provided.

As shown in FIG. 2, in the usage authority information 22a, there are many permitted items for "sender" and "TO address", and restricted items for "CC address" and "BCC address". are set a lot. The authority information generation unit 22 may assign predetermined settings to each item, or may accept instructions from the sender.

Next, processing relating to registration of the image information 21a and image formation in the image forming system 1 will be described.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of image registration processing for registering an image in a communication server.

In step S<b>01 , a mail is transmitted from the communication terminal 10 on the transmission side by the terminal communication section 11 . An e-mail for registering an image in the communication server 20 is sent to the communication server 20 with the image information 21 a attached thereto. In this mail, a notification indicating that the image has been registered in the communication server 20 may also be sent to the other communication terminal 10 (receiving side). Here, the destination of the communication terminal 10 set as the receiving side is transmitted to the communication server 20 as the destination information 21b. As described above, the destination information 21b includes the destination type (“TO”, “CC”, and “BCC”) in the e-mail, and also includes the destination of the communication terminal 10 on the sending side.

For example, when the first communication terminal 10a is the transmission side communication terminal 10 (sender), the second communication terminal 10b is the "TO destination", the third communication terminal 10c is the "CC destination", and the fourth communication terminal 10b is the "TO destination". The terminal 10d may be the "BCC destination". Note that the present invention is not limited to this, and two or more communication terminals 10 may be set as "BCC destinations", and some of the "TO destinations", "CC destinations", and "BCC destinations" are not set. You may

In step S02, the image information storage unit 21 of the communication server 20 stores the image information 21a. Here, the destination information 21b transmitted together is saved.

In step S03, the authority information generator 22 of the communication server 20 refers to the destination information 21b. If the communication terminal 10 on the receiving side is not set as the destination of the mail, only the destination of the communication terminal 10 on the transmitting side is confirmed.

In step S04, the authority information generator 22 of the communication server 20 generates the usage authority information 22a and the authority code 22b. Here, the usage authority information 22a and the authority code 22b are generated based on the destination information 21b saved in step S02.

In step S05, the authority code 22b is transmitted to the set destination by the server communication section 23 (particularly, the code transmission section 23a) of the communication server 20, and the process ends. That is, the authority code 22b is transmitted to the communication terminal 10 on the transmitting side and the communication terminal 10 on the receiving side as the destination included in the destination information 21b.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram showing a processing flow of image forming processing for forming an image registered in the communication server.

In step S11, the code input unit 32 of the image forming apparatus 30 receives the input of the authority code 22b. As described above, the image forming apparatus 30 requests the user to enter the authorization code 22b when using the network print service.

In step S12, the authority reference unit 33 of the image forming apparatus 30 determines whether image information 21a corresponding to the authority code 22b received in step S11 exists. Specifically, the authority reference unit 33 notifies the authority code 22b to the communication server 20, and the communication server 20 compares the usage authority information 22a with the authority code 22b to check the presence or absence of the image information 21a. As a result, when the image information 21a corresponding to the authority code 22b exists (step S12: Yes), the process proceeds to step S14. On the other hand, if the image information 21a corresponding to the authority code 22b does not exist (step S12: No), the process proceeds to step S13.

In step S13, the image forming apparatus 30 displays that there is no corresponding image, and the process ends. Note that if the number of prints is set and the allowed number of prints have been completed, it may be displayed that printing is not possible even if the corresponding image exists.

In step S14, the image information transmission section 23b of the communication server 20 transmits the image information 21a corresponding to the authority code 22b to the image forming apparatus 30. FIG. At the same time, based on the usage authority information 22a, settings corresponding to the usage authority are also transmitted.

In step S<b>15 , the processing determination unit 34 of the image forming apparatus 30 displays settings corresponding to the usage authority. Here, if change of settings related to printing is permitted, a change instruction from the user may be accepted.

In step S16, the image forming section 31 of the image forming apparatus 30 forms an image on the paper, and the process ends. Here, the number of prints is set, and if printing has not been completed the permitted number of times, re-execution of printing may be accepted. Also, if printing of a plurality of images in the folder is permitted, printing of other images may be accepted.

As described above, in the network print service in which the image information 21a registered in the communication server 20 is acquired by an arbitrary image forming apparatus 30 and image formation is performed, by providing an appropriate use authority according to the destination information 21b, The use setting of the image information 21a can be easily processed.

Further, in this embodiment, when the user sets the destination of the e-mail, the authority information generation unit 22 assigns the usage authority according to the destination, thereby easily setting the access level to the image information 21a. can be done.

Furthermore, even if the usage setting of the image information 21a is not recorded in advance in the image forming apparatus 30, by communicating between the image forming apparatus 30 and the communication server 20, appropriate usage setting corresponding to the authority code 22b can be performed. can be received from the communication server 20 .

(Second embodiment)
Next, an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment of the invention will be described. Since the second embodiment has substantially the same configuration as the first embodiment, substantially the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and explanations and drawings are omitted.

In the second embodiment, the authority information updating unit 24 updates the usage authority information 22a. When updating the usage authority information, an instruction may be given from the communication terminal 10 (sender) on the transmission side. By providing the authority information updating unit 24 in this way, the sender who has registered the image information 21a can easily change the usage setting of the image information 21a.

(Third embodiment)
Next, an image forming apparatus according to a third embodiment of the invention will be described. Note that the third embodiment has substantially the same configuration as the first and second embodiments, so substantially the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and explanations and drawings are omitted.

In the third embodiment, the code transmission section 23a transmits a two-dimensional code as the authority code 22b. Here, the two-dimensional code may be converted from the sentence number set as the authority code 22b, or the two-dimensional code may be transmitted together with the sentence number. When using a two-dimensional code, the two-dimensional code should be displayed on the image display section 12 of the communication terminal 10 and read by the code input section 32 of the image forming apparatus 30 . By applying the two-dimensional code to the authority code 22b in this way, it is possible to simplify the labor involved in inputting the authority code 22b.

In addition, the embodiment disclosed this time is an example in all respects, and does not serve as a basis for a restrictive interpretation. Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention is not to be interpreted only by the above-described embodiments, but is defined based on the description of the claims. In addition, all changes within the meaning and range of equivalence to the claims are included.

1 image forming system 10 communication terminal 10a first communication terminal 10b second communication terminal 10c third communication terminal 10d fourth communication terminal 11 terminal communication section 12 image display section 20 communication server 21 image information storage section 21a image information 21b destination information 22 Authority information generation unit 22a Usage authority information 22b Authority code 23 Server communication unit 23a Code transmission unit 23b Image information transmission unit 24 Authority information update unit 30 Image forming device 31 Image formation unit 32 Code input unit 33 Authority reference unit 34 Processing decision unit 35 Image forming communication unit NW network

Claims (6)

A communication server that communicates with a communication terminal and an image forming apparatus via a network,
an image information storage unit for storing image information transmitted from a transmission-side communication terminal;
an authority information generation unit that generates usage authority information and an authority code associated with the usage authority information according to the destination information transmitted together with the image information;
a code transmission unit that transmits the authorization code to a receiving communication terminal corresponding to the destination information;
an image information transmitting unit that transmits the image information to the image forming apparatus according to the authority code;
In the usage authorization information, the usage authorization for the image information is set for each communication terminal on the receiving side,
In the destination information, one of a plurality of destination types is set as the destination of the e-mail sent to the communication terminal on the receiving side,
The authority information generation unit determines usage authority for each communication terminal on the receiving side according to the destination type ,
comprising an authority information update unit for updating the use authority information generated by the authority information generation unit when an instruction to update the use authority information is issued from the transmission-side communication terminal;
A communications server characterized by: A communication server according to claim 1 , comprising:
The communication server, wherein the code transmission unit transmits a two-dimensional code as the authority code. A communication server according to claim 1 or claim 2 ,
The communication server, wherein the destination type is TO, CC, and BCC in the destination of the e-mail sent from the communication terminal on the sending side. A communication terminal that communicates with another communication terminal and a communication server via a network,
A terminal communication unit that transmits and receives information between another communication terminal and the communication server,
The terminal communication unit transmits image information and destination information to the communication server, and transmits an e-mail to the communication terminal on the receiving side,
In the destination information, any one of a plurality of destination types is set as the destination of the e-mail sent to the communication terminal on the receiving side ,
The communication terminal on the transmission side instructs the communication server to update the generated usage authority information.
A communication terminal characterized by An image forming system that communicates between a communication terminal, an image forming apparatus, and a communication server via a network,
The communication server is
an image information storage unit for storing image information transmitted from a transmission-side communication terminal;
an authority information generation unit that generates usage authority information and an authority code associated with the usage authority information according to the destination information transmitted together with the image information;
a code transmission unit that transmits the authorization code to a receiving communication terminal corresponding to the destination information;
an image information transmitting unit that transmits the image information to the image forming apparatus according to the authority code;
The image forming apparatus is
an image forming unit that forms an image based on the image information;
a code input unit for receiving input of the authority code;
an authority reference unit that inquires of the communication server about the authority to use the image information according to the authority code received by the code input unit;
a processing determination unit that determines processing for the image information according to the usage authority;
In the usage authorization information, the usage authorization for the image information is set for each communication terminal on the receiving side,
In the destination information, one of a plurality of destination types is set as the destination of the e-mail sent to the communication terminal on the receiving side,
The authority information generation unit determines usage authority for each communication terminal on the receiving side according to the destination type ,
comprising an authority information update unit for updating the use authority information generated by the authority information generation unit when an instruction to update the use authority information is issued from the transmission-side communication terminal;
An image forming system characterized by: The image forming system according to claim 5 ,
The communication terminal comprises a terminal communication unit that transmits and receives information between another communication terminal and the communication server,
The terminal communication unit transmits image information and destination information to the communication server, transmits an e-mail to the communication terminal on the receiving side, and grants the communication server usage rights for each communication terminal on the receiving side. An image forming system characterized by giving an instruction to set.

Images