JP2005173642A - Image forming system, image forming apparatus, and processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To output print data to a target printer without knowing an e-mail address for each printer in advance, and even when a designated printer is down or printing is interrupted during printing An image forming system capable of completing printing by the substitution of the printer is provided.
Provided is a configuration (sender list, etc.) that allows a plurality of printers to share a common mail address, and when a specific printer falls into a non-printable state, proxy printing to another printer Proxy print request processing (step S109), a first proxy print processing (step S105) in which the printer requested by the proxy print request processing performs proxy printing, and a specific printer is down. A second proxy printing process (step S107) is performed in which another printer voluntarily performs proxy printing when a print request cannot be made.
[Selection] Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming system that performs printing by sending print data to a remote place using electronic mail, and an image forming apparatus such as a printer included in the image forming system and a processing method.

  2. Description of the Related Art An image forming system that attaches print data to an e-mail, sends print data to an image forming apparatus installed at a remote place, and performs printing is generally known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). .

  FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram of a conventional image forming system using electronic mail, and conceptually shows a state where a company or a private house is connected to the Internet.

  In the figure, 1001 represents the Internet, and 1002 represents the network configuration of Company A. In the network configuration 1002 of company A, client PCs 1003 and 1004, a mail server of company A, and a router 1006 for connecting to the Internet 1001 are connected to the intranet of company A. Assume that the client PC 1003 is a personal computer dedicated to Mr. X who is an employee of company A, and the client PC 1004 is a personal computer dedicated to Mr. Y who is an employee of company A.

  1007 represents the network configuration of Mr. Z's home. In the network configuration 1007 at Mr. Z's home, a client PC 1009 which is a personal computer used by Mr. Z at home is connected to a modem 1008 for connecting to the Internet 1001.

  Reference numeral 1010 represents the network configuration of company C. In the network configuration 1011 of company C, client PCs 1011 and 1012, a mail server 1014 of company C, a router 1013 for connecting to the Internet 1001, and printers 1015 and 1016 are connected to the intranet 1000 of company C. The printers 1015 and 1016 have the ability to receive and print the print data from the client PCs 1011 and 1012 connected to the intranet 1000, and at the same time, the image files attached to the e-mail sent via the Internet 1001. It also has the ability to print.

  For example, when Mr. X of company A sends print data from the client PC 1003 to the printer 1015 or 1016 of company C, Mr. X wants to create an e-mail using the client PC 1003 and perform printing. Attach image data to an email.

  Subsequently, Mr. X transmits the e-mail by inputting the e-mail address of the printer 1015 or 1016 in the e-mail address field. This electronic mail is taken into the mail server 1014 from the router 1013 of company C via the Internet 1001.

The printers 1015 and 1016 of company C regularly check the mail server 1014 to see if mail has arrived at the mail address assigned to it, and if the mail addressed to itself has arrived Then, all the mails are received, the attached file part is extracted from the received mails, and the image data of the extracted attached file is printed.
JP 2002-304259 A

  However, the conventional example has the following problems.

  (1) Since an e-mail address is assigned to each printer, a client requesting printing using e-mail must always be aware of the target printer, and must recognize the e-mail address of the target printer in advance. I had to. Furthermore, since an e-mail address is assigned to each printer, in companies that have installed a large number of printers, the number of characters in the e-mail address assigned to each printer is naturally longer, reducing convenience from the print client. .

  (2) If the specified printer is down for some reason (during maintenance, etc.), printing could not be performed.

  (3) When printing is interrupted for some reason (out of paper, paper jam, etc.) during printing, there is a problem that printing is not completed.

  In view of the above-described conventional problems, the present invention can output print data to a target printer without knowing the mail address of each printer in advance, and can reduce the trouble of inputting the mail address, An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus, a control method for the image forming apparatus, and a control program.

  It is another object of the present invention to provide a mechanism that can complete printing on behalf of another printer even when a designated printer goes down or printing is interrupted during printing.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a mail receiving device that receives an e-mail, and a plurality of image forming devices that are assigned a predetermined mail address and are connected to the mail receiving device. An image forming apparatus is an image forming system that receives an e-mail received from the e-mail receiving apparatus to the predetermined e-mail address, and performs an image forming process on image data in the e-mail, wherein the plurality of image forming apparatuses Has a mail address sharing means for sharing the same mail address as the predetermined mail address.

  In addition, a predetermined mail address that is connected to a mail receiving apparatus that receives an electronic mail via a network and is shared by a plurality of image forming apparatuses is assigned to the predetermined mail address received by the mail receiving apparatus. In an image forming apparatus that receives an e-mail via the network and performs an image forming process on image data included in the e-mail, the predetermined e-mail address is the same as an external image forming apparatus connected to the network It has a mail address common means for sharing a mail address.

  According to the present invention, a plurality of image forming apparatuses can share the same mail address. As a result, the image data can be output to the target image forming apparatus without knowing in advance the mail address for each image forming apparatus, and the effort for inputting the mail address can be reduced. In addition, since each image forming apparatus determines whether or not to perform image forming processing based on transmission source information registered in each image forming apparatus, a high-function print server that centrally manages a plurality of image forming apparatuses is provided. There is no need to provide it.

  According to the present invention, even when an image formation process is not completed due to, for example, an abnormality in the image forming apparatus during the image forming process on the image data, another image forming apparatus performs the image formation on behalf of the image forming apparatus. Processing can be performed, and the reliability of the image forming processing of the system can be improved.

  Furthermore, according to the present invention, for example, even when the image forming apparatus that should perform the image forming process is down, the other image forming apparatus can take the place on its own, and the system image It becomes possible to further improve the reliability of the forming process.

  Embodiments of an image forming system and an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The image forming apparatus of this embodiment is applied to, for example, a laser beam printer. Of course, an image forming apparatus using an inkjet method may be used.

<Configuration of this embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the network connection mode shown in FIG. 10, a mail server 1014 and a printer applied to this embodiment are shown. The detailed hardware configuration of 1015 and 1016 is shown.

I. Configuration of Mail Server 1014 In the figure, a mail server 1014 connected to the intranet 1000 of company C has a ROM 3 that stores a control program for executing various processes such as a received mail storage process, A CPU 51 is provided for executing processing according to the control program. The CPU 51 generally controls the devices 52 to 55 and 57 connected to the system bus 50.

  In the figure, 52 is a RAM that functions as a main memory and work area of the CPU 51, and 54 is a communication unit that manages communication with the router 1013, printers 1015, 1016, and the like via the intranet 1000. 55 is an operation unit I / F that interfaces with the operation unit 56, and 57 is a disk controller (DKC) that controls access to a hard disk (HD) 58 that stores received e-mails.

II. Configuration of Printers 1015 and 1016 On the other hand, the printers 1015 and 1016 connected to the intranet 1000 of company C (including more printers if they are installed) are assigned the same mail address and are used for fonts. The ROM 13 includes a ROM 13a, a program ROM 13b, and a data ROM 13c, and is controlled by the printer CPU 12. The printer CPU 12 includes various devices 13, 15, connected to the system bus 15 based on a control program stored in the program ROM 13 b (including a control program for realizing processing of a flowchart shown in FIG. 18, 19, 20, and 21 are collectively controlled, and an image signal as output information is output to a printing unit (printer engine) 17 connected via a printing unit interface (I / F) 16. To do. The control program may be stored in an external memory 14 such as a hard disk, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, or an IC card.

  The program ROM 13b stores a control program that can be executed by the printer CPU 12, and the font ROM 13a stores font data (including outline font data) used to generate the output information. Various other information is stored in the ROM 13c. Further, for example, the external memory 14 stores a sender list (see FIG. 5) that is a registered list of mail addresses assigned with different priorities for each printer, which is a feature of the present embodiment. To do. This sender list is not limited to this, and any sender information that can identify the sender can be used as appropriate. For example, a user name, a login password of a web page, a password arbitrarily determined by the user, etc. Apply.

  The operation unit 21 is an operation panel, on which switches for operation, LED indicators, and the like are arranged (not shown). The printer CPU 12 can perform communication processing with the mail server 1014 via the communication unit 18.

  Reference numeral 19 denotes a RAM, which mainly functions as a main memory and work area of the printer CPU 12, and is configured such that the amount of memory can be expanded by an optional RAM connected to an expansion port (not shown). The RAM 19 is used as an output information expansion area, an environment data storage area, NVRAM, and the like. Access to the external memory 14 is controlled by a disk controller (DKC) 20. The external memory 14 is connected as an option, and stores font data, an emulation program, form data, and the like.

  The above-described external memory 14 is not limited to one, but includes at least one external memory, an optional font card, and an external memory storing a program for interpreting a printer control language having a different language system in addition to the built-in font. You may be comprised so that two or more can be connected.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a client PC applied to this embodiment in the network connection form shown in FIG.

  For example, the client PC 1003 of company A has a ROM 3 including a font ROM 3a, a program ROM 3b, and a font data ROM 3c, and further a program ROM 3b or an external memory (for example, hard disk: HD or floppy (registered trademark) disk: FD). The CPU 1 executes document processing based on the document processing program stored in the computer 11. The CPU 1 comprehensively controls each device connected to the system bus 4.

  The program ROM 3b or the external memory 11 stores an operating system program (hereinafter referred to as “OS”), which is a control program for the CPU 1, and the font ROM 3a or the external memory 11 is used for the document processing. The data ROM 3c or the external memory 11 stores various types of data used in the document processing, such as various page description language programs and font rasterization data. .

  Reference numeral 2 in the figure denotes a RAM that can be expanded by an option RAM or the like, and functions as a main memory, a work area, or the like of the CPU 1. A keyboard controller (KBC) 5 controls key input from a keyboard (KB) 9 or a pointing device (not shown). Reference numeral 6 denotes a CRT controller (CRTC), which controls display of a CRT display (CRT) 10. A disk controller (DKC) 7 controls access to the external memory 11 that stores a boot program, various applications, font data, user files, editing files, a printer control command generation program (printer driver), and the like. Reference numeral 8 denotes a communication unit that executes communication control processing with the Internet 1001.

<Operation of this embodiment>
Hereinafter, in the network connection form shown in FIG. 10, for example, Mr. X of company A sends the print data from the client PC 1003 to the printer 1015 or 1016 of company C and tries to print in detail. explain.

I. Operation of Client PC 1003 FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the client PC 1003 according to the print processing of this embodiment.

  First, Mr. X uses the client PC 1003 to create an e-mail, and attaches image data to be printed to the e-mail. Subsequently, Mr. X inputs the same mail address assigned to the printers 1015 and 1016 (hereinafter referred to as a unified mail address) in the email address field and transmits the email (step S51). This electronic mail is taken into the mail server 1014 from the router 1013 of company C via the Internet 1001.

  After that, it waits until it receives a result notification from the printer of the company C that has performed this printing process (step S52).

II. Overall Operation of Printers 1015 and 1016 FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the overall operation of the printers 1015 and 1016 of this embodiment.

  Each of the printers 1015 and 1016 performs communication with the mail server 1014 for confirming whether or not an incoming e-mail is addressed to the unified mail address used in common (step S101). Usually, POP3 (Post Office Protocol-Version 3) is used for confirmation and reception of incoming mail, and STAT command, LIST command, UIDL command, etc. are used for confirmation of incoming mail.

  Here, when the arrival of a new e-mail can be confirmed for the unified e-mail address (step S102), only the header information of the e-mail is acquired using the TOP command of the POP3 command, and the acquired header information is subsequently acquired. The sender's mail address information is extracted from the FROM field or the SENDER field (step S103). It should be noted that each electronic mail is uniquely identified based on the information extracted here. Further, it is assumed that the processing in steps S102 and S103, which will not be described, is performed in each image forming apparatus.

  Next, it is determined whether or not the extracted sender's email address is the same as the unified email address used by the sender (step S104), and if it is the same as the unified email address. If it is determined, the first proxy printing process (step S105) is executed. The first proxy printing process will be described later with reference to FIG.

  If it is determined in step S104 that the sender's email address is not the same as that used by the sender, the sender's email address exists in the sender list individually held by each printer 1015, 1016. Whether or not is confirmed (step S106).

  Here, the sender list will be described with reference to FIG. Each printer 1015, 1016 individually holds a sender list as shown in FIG. 5 in a storage area (for example, the external memory 14). In this list, at least one priority is assigned, and the mail address of the print client is registered for each priority, thereby constituting the first priority sender list to the nth priority sender list. . The mail address of the print request to the plurality of printers by the function of discriminating whether or not to form an image depending on whether or not the sender information (sender) is included in the plurality of senders registered for the apparatus. However, it is not limited to this. For example, a POP server specifies a printer that preferentially registers a sender in an e-mail and an extracted sender, issues a print instruction to the specified printer, and recognizes the print instruction as mail address sharing means. You may make it do.

  In step S106, first, it is determined whether or not the sender's email address matches the email address registered in the first priority sender list. Here, the mail address registered in the first priority sender list of the printer is the default printer that accepts printing of the mail address, and is registered in only one printer among the printers that share the unified mail address. Has been. Similarly, in the second priority sender list and the nth priority sender list, the same mail address should not be registered in the same priority sender list of a plurality of printers. Specifically, the mail address “aaa@abc.com” registered in the first priority sender list of a certain printer must not be registered in the first priority sender list in other printers. Need to be registered with other priorities.

  In step S106, the printer whose sender's e-mail address is registered in the first priority sender list subsequently determines whether or not it is in a printable state (step S108). If it is determined that the status is in place, proxy print request processing is executed (step S109). The proxy print request process will be described later with reference to FIG. If it is determined in step S108 that the printer is ready for printing, normal printing processing is executed (step S110). The normal printing process will be described later with reference to FIG.

  Returning to step S106 again, if it is determined that the sender is not registered in the first priority sender list, the second proxy printing process is performed (step S107). The second proxy printing process will be described later with reference to FIG.

  The process of the flowchart of FIG. 11 is a process that is individually performed by a plurality of image forming apparatuses that can access the e-mail server, and whether each image forming apparatus performs the image forming process based on transmission source information registered in each of the image forming apparatuses. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a high-function print server that centrally manages a plurality of image forming apparatuses.

  In addition, the user may make a print request to an email address shared by a plurality of image forming apparatuses via the email without regard to the address of the email of each image forming apparatus. As described above, it is possible to reduce the troublesome work of checking e-mails of individual image forming apparatuses. In addition, each image forming device has a mechanism for checking whether or not an e-mail should be printed out by checking the incoming e-mail, so that it can be surely printed in correspondence with the simplified work of the user. Output can be performed.

III. Normal Printing Process FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing details of the normal printing process (step S110) in FIG.

  The printer receives from the mail server 1014 the entire text of the mail addressed to the unified mail address (step S201), and extracts the attached file portion (step S202). The image data of the attached file extracted here is developed into a raster image that can be processed by the printer (step S203), and a printing process for printing the image on paper is performed (step S204).

  Subsequently, it is checked whether or not the printing of the image data sent from the client PC 1003 has succeeded (step S205). If it is determined that the printing has not succeeded (completed), the proxy printing request is issued. Processing (see FIG. 7) is performed (step S206).

  If it is determined in step S205 that printing has succeeded, a print completion notification mail is transmitted to the mail sender (client PC 1003) as the print client (step S207), and the mail data held in the mail server 1014 is deleted. (Step S208), and the process ends. More specifically, the electronic mail uniquely identified in step S103 is deleted.

IV. Proxy Print Request Process FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing details of the proxy print request process (step S109) in FIG.

  In this proxy print request processing, an email in which the email address of the print client that could not be processed by the printer and the priority order of the sender list in which the print client is registered is described in the body part of the email is sent. , Send it to the unified email address you use. This electronic mail is a proxy print request mail (step S301).

V. First Delegation Printing Process FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing details of the first agency printing process (step S105) in FIG.

  This first proxy printing process is executed when the sender of the e-mail matches the unified mail address. As described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 6 and 7, the printer can complete printing for some reason. This is a process for performing proxy printing when there is no such.

  This process is executed when the sender's e-mail address matches the unified e-mail address used by the sender in step S104 in FIG. 4, and printing is rejected from the received proxy print request e-mail (cannot be completed). I) The priority of the sender list in which the sender's e-mail address is registered is acquired (step S401), and 1 is added to the acquired priority and a new priority is set (step S402).

  Subsequently, from the received proxy print request mail, the mail address of the sender who has been rejected (cannot be completed) is acquired (step S403), and this mail address is registered in the sender's new priority sender list. It is determined whether or not (step S404).

  If the priority of the sender list obtained from the received proxy print request mail is 1, then 1 is added to this and the new priority is 2, so the second priority sender of the printer itself. It is determined whether or not the sender's mail address obtained from the proxy print mail is registered in the list.

  If it is determined in step S404 that the printer has been registered, the printer has a priority order for receiving the sender's print request next to the printer that sent the proxy print request mail. Implement (step S405) and execute proxy printing.

VI. Second Proxy Printing Process FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing details of the second proxy printing process (step S107) in FIG.

  The second proxy printing process is executed when it is determined that the sender of the e-mail does not exist in the sender list, and is not necessary when the target printer is operating normally. Is a process intended to perform proxy printing spontaneously when it is down for some reason (during maintenance, etc.).

  This process is executed when it is determined in step S106 in FIG. 4 that the sender's e-mail address does not exist in the sender's sender list, and a certain waiting is performed (step S501). This waiting period needs to be sufficient for the printer to be processed to perform normal printing. Furthermore, when the printer terminates abnormally, the printer with the next priority performs proxy printing. It is desirable that the time is sufficient in consideration of the time to perform.

  After this time, each of the plurality of printers determines whether or not the e-mail data has been deleted from the mail server 1014 (step S502). In this determination, as described in the normal printing process (step S208) in FIG. 6, when the printing is normally completed, the printer deletes the e-mail data from the mail server 1014. Thus, it can be determined that printing has been completed normally. In addition, it is assumed that it is performed for each electronic mail uniquely identified in step S103.

  If it is determined in step S502 that the e-mail data has not yet been deleted, neither normal print processing nor proxy print processing has been performed because the target printer is down (proxy print request). It can be determined that the processing cannot be performed. Therefore, the printer voluntarily checks whether the email address of the e-mail sender exists in the second priority sender list, and if it exists, by executing normal printing processing (step S504), proxy printing is performed. Execute.

  It goes without saying that the printer registered in the n-th priority sender list can voluntarily perform proxy printing by setting the waiting period in step S501 to a larger value.

  Also, when a predetermined e-mail that is not deleted for a predetermined time or more is confirmed in step S502, or when a predetermined e-mail that is not deleted from the mail server is confirmed by performing the process of step S502 a predetermined number of times. If the failure notification mail is transmitted to the mail sender (client PC 1003) as the print client and the mail data held in the mail server 1014 is deleted, the user can be notified of the failure accurately.

VII. Advantages of the present embodiment (1) In the present embodiment, a configuration (a mail address sharing means) is provided that enables a plurality of printers to share a unified mail address. In this configuration, sender information such as sender information is registered in each printer, and when the printer receives an email from the mail server, the sender information included in the received email is registered in the own device. It is determined whether or not it is included in the transmission source information, and when it is determined that it is included, print processing is performed on the image data attached to the e-mail. By adopting such a configuration, it becomes possible to set a plurality of printers to the same mail address, and the print client outputs print data to the target printer without knowing the mail address of each printer in advance. Will be able to.

  Further, the configuration (mail address standardization means) registers a sender list for registering sender information assigned with a different priority from other printers as the transmission source information for each printer, Issued when the printer falls into a non-printable state by obtaining the sender information of the e-mail received from the printer and determining whether the acquired sender information is included in the sender list. When the printer requested by the proxy printing request process (step S109) performs the proxy printing in the first proxy printing process (step S105) and the printer is down and cannot perform the proxy printing request, other printers The second proxy printing process (step S107) for performing proxy printing spontaneously can be executed.

  (2) Since a plurality of printers can share a unified mail address, the trouble of inputting the mail address can be reduced. For example, when Mr. X of company A wants to print to the printer of section F of company C, it has been necessary to send an e-mail with an image data file attached to the e-mail address of the printer. Then, since all the printers of company C are unified to “printer@fff.com”, for example, Mr. X, a print client, always uses “printer@fff.com” as the email address, and the printer of company C Print data can be sent to

  Further, to which printer the image data for each print client is output is determined by the priority order of the sender list held for each printer. In such a case, it is not necessary to notify Mr. X of the mail address of the new printer, and it becomes possible to easily change the printer to be output by performing maintenance of the sender list held for each printer. .

  (3) Even in a case where a printer is disclosed to an unspecified number of people on the Internet, such as a WWW server, it is not necessary to disclose the email address of the printer in the company, and only the unified email address is disclosed. Further, which printer is used for output for each print client can be determined on the public side and can be easily changed.

  (4) The proxy printing request mail and the first proxy printing process allow other printers to perform proxy printing even when a printer malfunctions during printing and printing cannot be completed. Thus, the printing reliability is improved.

  (5) By the second proxy printing process, even when the printer to be originally printed is down, other printers can voluntarily perform proxy printing, and the printing reliability is improved. .

  The above-described control method can be realized by storing and executing the program according to the flowcharts of FIGS. 4 and 6 to 9 described above in the ROM 13 or the like in each of the printers 1015 and 1016.

  The present invention is not limited to the apparatus of the above-described embodiment, and may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device. A storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus, and a computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus reads and executes the program codes stored in the storage medium. Needless to say, it will be completed by doing.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM is used. Can do. In addition, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also the OS running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code performs the actual processing. Needless to say, a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by performing part or all of the processing is also included.

  Furthermore, after the program code read from the storage medium is written to the memory provided in the function expansion board inserted in the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, the program code is expanded based on the instruction of the next program code. It goes without saying that the functions of the above-described embodiments may be realized by performing some or all of the actual processing by the CPU or the like provided on the expansion board or the expansion unit.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of the client PC applied to embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation in the client PC 1003 related to the printing process of the embodiment. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an overall operation of the printers 1015 and 1016 according to the embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the sender list | wrist which concerns on embodiment. 6 is a flowchart showing details of normal printing processing (step S110) in FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing details of proxy print request processing (step S109) in FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing details of a first proxy printing process (step S105) in FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing details of second proxy printing processing (step S107) in FIG. It is a conceptual diagram of the conventional image forming system using an electronic mail.

Explanation of symbols

1001 Internet 1002 Network configuration of company A 1003 Client PC
1004 Client PC
1005 Mail server 1006 Router 1007 Mr. Z home network configuration 1008 Modem 1009 Client PC
1010 Conceptual diagram showing network configuration of company C 1011 Client PC
1012 Client PC
1013 router 1014 mail server 1015 printer 1016 printer

Claims (10)

A mail receiving device for receiving an e-mail; and a plurality of image forming devices to which a predetermined mail address is assigned and connected to the mail receiving device, wherein each image forming device receives the predetermined mail from the mail receiving device. An image forming system for receiving an e-mail received to an e-mail address and performing an image forming process on image data in the e-mail,
The plurality of image forming apparatuses each have a mail address sharing means for sharing the same mail address as the predetermined mail address. An e-mail addressed to the predetermined e-mail address received by the e-mail receiving apparatus is assigned to a e-mail receiving apparatus that receives the e-mail and is assigned a predetermined e-mail address shared by a plurality of image forming apparatuses. An image forming apparatus that performs image forming processing on image data included in the e-mail,
An image forming apparatus comprising mail address sharing means for sharing the same mail address as an external image forming apparatus connected to the network as the predetermined mail address. Having image forming means for forming an image;
The mail address standardization means determines whether or not the transmission source information included in the received electronic mail is included in a plurality of transmission sources registered for the device, and is determined to be included The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein an image is formed. The sender information is sender information,
The mail address sharing means is
A sender list for registering sender information assigned with a different priority from the external image forming apparatus, sender acquisition means for acquiring sender information of an email received from the mail receiving apparatus, and the acquired sender information Having a first determination means for determining whether or not the sender list exists,
An image forming process execution unit that performs an image forming process on the image data in the e-mail when the first determining unit determines that the sender information exists in the sender list. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3. When the first determination unit determines that the sender information exists in the sender list, the second determination unit determines whether or not the image forming apparatus is ready to perform an image forming process. Have
5. The image forming process execution unit performs the image forming process of the image data when the second determination unit determines that the image forming process can be performed. The image forming apparatus described.   When it is determined by the second determination means that the image forming process cannot be performed, the sender information acquired by the sender acquisition means and priority information in the sender list corresponding to the sender information The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising: a proxy processing request unit that transmits a proxy request e-mail describing the above to the same mail address. Third determination means for determining whether the sender information acquired by the sender acquisition means matches the same email address;
If the third determination means determines that the same email address matches, the email is described as the proxy request email sent from the external image forming apparatus. Priority acquisition means for acquiring priority information in the sender list from the content;
A priority update means for setting a new priority by lowering the priority obtained by the priority acquisition means;
Sender information acquisition means for acquiring the sender information from the description content of the e-mail;
Fourth determination means for determining whether or not the sender information obtained by the sender acquisition means exists in the sender list of the priority newly set by the priority update means;
7. The apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising: a first substitution processing execution unit that executes the image forming processing execution unit when it is determined by the fourth determination unit that the image is present in the sender list. Image forming apparatus. The image forming processing execution means includes:
Implementation means for performing an image forming process on the image data in the e-mail;
Fifth determination means for determining whether or not the image forming process is successful;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a unit that executes a predetermined process when the image forming process is successful. Standby means for waiting for a certain period of time when it is determined by the first determination means that it does not exist in the sender list;
Sixth determination means for determining whether or not the predetermined processing has been performed after waiting for the predetermined period;
The sender information obtained by the sender obtaining means exists in the lower-order sender list having a lower priority than the sender list when the sixth judging means determines that the predetermined processing is not performed. Seventh determination means for determining whether or not to do;
9. The apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a second substitution processing execution unit that executes the image forming processing execution unit when it is determined by the seventh determination unit that the low-order sender list is present. The image forming apparatus described. An e-mail addressed to the predetermined e-mail address received by the e-mail receiving apparatus is assigned to a e-mail receiving apparatus that receives the e-mail and is assigned a predetermined e-mail address shared by a plurality of image forming apparatuses. A processing method in an image forming apparatus for performing image forming processing on image data included in the e-mail,
A processing method comprising: a mail address sharing step for sharing the same mail address as an external image forming apparatus connected to the network as the predetermined mail address.

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