JP2019160218A - Printing system, information processing device, printing control method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To control printing in an on-demand printing system using an image forming apparatus connected to a local network by utilizing an information terminal not connected to the local network. A first information processing apparatus connected to a first network uses information on a user of an information terminal connected to a web service corresponding to the image forming apparatus by using connection information acquired from the image forming apparatus, and A management unit that manages the destination information of the web service corresponding to the image forming apparatus in association with each other, and a user registered in the web service from the second network based on the user information managed by the management unit. A printing unit that provides a list of print jobs to the information terminal, and information about the print jobs selected by the user from the list of print jobs to the image forming apparatus or to control printing by the image forming apparatus. And a notification unit for notifying the information processing apparatus. [Selection diagram] Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing system, an information processing apparatus, a printing control method, and a program.

  A printing method in which a user inputs a print job including print data from a client device to the server device, and then operates the image forming device to specify a print job stored on the server device and execute printing of the print job ( Hereinafter, “on-demand printing” is known.

  In addition, for example, when performing on-demand printing with a device such as a printer that does not have a sufficiently wide display screen, there is a technology for setting and operating on-demand printing using the screen of a mobile terminal such as a smartphone. It is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, the mobile terminal is connected to the same network as an image forming apparatus (printer) that executes printing and other information processing apparatuses. However, for example, when a client device or printer is connected to a local network such as a corporate network, connecting a personal information terminal owned by the user to the local network is a security aspect. Not desirable.

  Embodiments of the present invention have been made in view of the above problems, and in a printing system that performs on-demand printing using an image forming apparatus connected to a local network, information that is not connected to the local network Enable printing control using a terminal.

  In order to solve the above problems, a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an information terminal connectable to a first network and an image forming apparatus connected to a second network different from the first network. A first information processing apparatus connected to the first network and providing a web service for using the image forming apparatus, wherein the first information processing apparatus includes: A management unit that associates and manages user information of the information terminal connected to the web service using connection information acquired from the image forming apparatus and destination information of the web service corresponding to the image forming apparatus And a print job of the user registered in the web service from within the second network based on the information of the user managed by the management unit A providing unit that provides a list to the information terminal; and information on a print job selected by the user from the list of print jobs. The image forming apparatus or the image forming apparatus that controls printing by the image forming apparatus. A notification unit for notifying the information processing apparatus 2.

  According to an embodiment of the present invention, in a printing system that performs on-demand printing using an image forming apparatus connected to a local network, printing can be controlled using an information terminal that is not connected to the local network. .

1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of the hardware constitutions of the computer which concerns on one Embodiment. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of a function structure of the web server which concerns on 1st Embodiment, and an information terminal. It is a figure which shows the example of the information which the web server which concerns on 1st Embodiment manages. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. It is a sequence diagram (1) which shows the example of a process of the printing system which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a sequence diagram (2) which shows the example of a process of the printing system which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a sequence diagram (3) which shows the example of a process of the printing system which concerns on 1st Embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram for describing a print job list according to the first embodiment. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment. FIG. It is a sequence diagram which shows the example of a process of the printing system which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of the system configuration | structure of the printing system which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a function structure of the printing control apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a sequence diagram (1) which shows the example of a process of the printing system which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a sequence diagram (2) which shows the example of a process of the printing system which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a sequence diagram (3) which shows the example of a process of the printing system which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a sequence diagram which shows the example of a process of the printing system which concerns on 4th Embodiment.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<System configuration>
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment. The printing system 100 includes, for example, a web server 101, an image forming apparatus 111, a client apparatus 112, a spool server 113, an authentication server 114, a firewall 115, an information terminal 120, and the like.

  Among these, the image forming apparatus 111, the client apparatus 112, the spool server 113, the authentication server 114, and the firewall 115 are connected to a local network 116 such as the office 110, for example.

  The image forming apparatus 111 is an electronic device such as a multifunction peripheral or a printer having a printing function.

  The client device 112 is an information processing device such as a PC (Personal Computer), a tablet terminal, or a smartphone. For example, the client apparatus 112 generates print data that can be printed by the image forming apparatus 111 from document data, image data, or the like to be printed, and transmits a print job including the generated print data to the spool server 113.

  The spool server (third information processing apparatus) 113 is, for example, an information processing apparatus such as a PC or a system including a plurality of information processing apparatuses. The spool server 113 receives the print job transmitted from the client device 112 and stores the received print job in the storage unit or the like of the spool server 113 for management.

  The authentication server 114 is a system including an information processing device such as a PC or a plurality of information processing devices, for example. The authentication server 114 authenticates a user who uses the printing system 100. For example, the authentication server 114 authenticates the user 121 who uses the client device 112 and notifies the client device 112 of identification information (hereinafter referred to as user ID) for identifying the user who has succeeded in the authentication.

  Preferably, the client device 112 adds the user ID notified from the authentication server 114 to the print job to be transmitted to the spool server 113. Accordingly, the print job of the user 121 among the print jobs stored in the spool server 113 can be identified using the user ID of the user 121.

  The firewall 115 separates the external network (first network) 102 such as the Internet from the local network 116 and restricts access from the external network 102 to the local network 116. The local network 116 is an example of a second network that is different from the first network.

  The information terminal 120 is an information terminal such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal possessed by the user 121. The information terminal 120 can be connected to the external network 102 using public wireless communication such as 3G (3rd. Generation) and LTE (Long Term Evolution). Thereby, the information terminal 120 can communicate with the web server 101 without going through the local network 116.

  With the above configuration, the user 121 registers a print job in the spool server using the client device 112 and then designates the print job stored in the spool server 113 from the image forming device 111 or the like to execute printing. Demand printing can be performed.

  However, if the image forming apparatus 111 is a device such as a printer that does not have a wide operation screen, it is difficult to operate the printer or the like to specify a print job and perform on-demand printing.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, a list of print jobs can be acquired from the spool server 113 using the information terminal 120 possessed by the user 121, and the selected print job can be printed on the image forming apparatus 111. However, it is not desirable in terms of security to connect the information terminal 120 possessed by the user 121 to the local network 116.

  For this reason, in this embodiment, the information terminal 120 possessed by the user 121 is used to connect to the web server 101 connected to the external network 102, and the print job list is acquired and selected via the web server 101. Registered print jobs.

  The web server 101 is a system including an information processing device such as a PC connected to an external network 102 such as the Internet, or a plurality of information processing devices. The web server 101 provides a web service for realizing on-demand printing using the image forming apparatus 111 to the user 121 who has logged in using the information terminal 120.

  For example, a two-dimensional code such as a QR code (registered trademark) including connection information for using a web service corresponding to the image forming apparatus 111 is pasted or displayed on the image forming apparatus 111.

  A user 121 who performs on-demand printing using the image forming apparatus 111 reads a two-dimensional code using the information terminal 120, and uses the extracted connection information to transfer to the image forming apparatus 111 provided by the web server 101. Log in to the corresponding web service.

  On the other hand, the image forming apparatus 111 periodically accesses (polling or long polling) a web service corresponding to the image forming apparatus 111 provided by the web server 101, and information on the user 121 who logs in to the web service ( User ID, etc.). Further, the image forming apparatus 111 acquires a list of print jobs of the user from the spool server 113 using the acquired information of the user 121 and registers it in the web service.

  Accordingly, the information terminal 120 can acquire a list of print jobs of the user 121 from the web service.

  Furthermore, the information terminal 120 displays a list of acquired print jobs on the display screen, and registers information on the print job selected by the user 121 in the web service.

  On the other hand, the image forming apparatus 111 periodically accesses (polling or long polling) a web service corresponding to the image forming apparatus 111 provided by the web server 101, and receives information on the print job registered in the web service. get. Further, the image forming apparatus 111 acquires print data from the spool server 113 based on the acquired print job information, and executes printing.

  Thus, according to the present embodiment, in the printing system 100 that performs on-demand printing using the image forming apparatus 111 connected to the local network 116, printing is controlled using the information terminal 120 that is not connected to the local network. become able to.

  The above system configuration is an example. For example, the information terminal 120 may acquire connection information from the image forming apparatus 111 using short-range wireless communication or the like instead of the two-dimensional code.

  In addition, a process for registering a list of print jobs in a web service provided by the web server 101, a cell process for acquiring print job information from the web service and printing the image on the image forming apparatus 111, It may be executed by another different information processing apparatus. Further, the printing system 100 may include a plurality of image forming apparatuses 111.

<Hardware configuration>
(Computer hardware configuration)
The client device 112 and the information terminal 120 illustrated in FIG. 1 have a hardware configuration of a general computer 200 as illustrated in FIG. 2, for example. Note that the information terminal 120 may include a camera, a short-range wireless communication unit, a microphone, a speaker, and the like in addition to the hardware configuration of the computer 200 as illustrated in FIG.

  Further, the web server 101, the spool server 113, and the authentication server 114 shown in FIG. 1 are realized by, for example, a computer 200 or a plurality of computers 200 having a hardware configuration as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a computer according to an embodiment. The computer 200 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 201, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 202, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 203, a storage device 204, a communication I / F (Interface) 205, an input device 206, and a display device 207. , An external connection I / F 208, a bus 209, and the like.

  The CPU 201 is an arithmetic device that implements each function of the computer 200 by reading a program or data stored in the ROM 203 or the storage device 204 onto the RAM 202 and executing the processing. The RAM 202 is a volatile memory used as a work area for the CPU 201. The ROM 203 is a non-volatile memory that retains programs and data even when the power is turned off.

  The storage device 204 is a large-capacity storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or an SSD (Solid State Drive), and stores an OS (Operating System), applications, various data, and the like. A communication I / F 205 is a communication interface for connecting the computer 200 to a network.

  When the computer 200 is the information terminal 120, the communication I / F 205 includes a wireless communication I / F for connecting to public wireless communication such as 3G or LTE.

  The input device 206 is, for example, a pointing device such as a mouse or an input device such as a keyboard, and is used to input each operation signal to the computer 200. The display device 207 is a display device such as a display, and displays a processing result by the computer 200 and the like.

  The external connection I / F 208 is an interface for connecting an external device to the computer 200. The external device may include a recording medium 210, for example. A bus 209 is connected to each of the above-described components and transmits an address signal, a data signal, various control signals, and the like.

(Hardware configuration of image forming apparatus)
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. The image forming apparatus 111 includes, for example, a controller 310, an operation panel 320, a communication I / F 330, a plotter 340, a scanner 350, a fax control unit (hereinafter referred to as FCU) 360, an external connection I / F 370, and the like.

  Preferably, a two-dimensional code 380 including connection information such as a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) for using a web service corresponding to the image forming apparatus 111 provided by the web server 101 is attached to the image forming apparatus 111. ing. Note that the two-dimensional code 380 may be displayed on the operation panel 320 or the like by a program executed by the CPU 311 or the like.

  The controller 310 has a general computer configuration, and includes, for example, a CPU 311, a RAM 312, a ROM 313, an NVRAM (Non-Volatile RAM) 314, and an HDD 315.

  The ROM 313 is a non-volatile storage device that stores various programs and data. The RAM 312 is a volatile storage device that temporarily stores programs and data. The NVRAM 314 is a writable nonvolatile storage device that stores setting information and the like, for example. The HDD 315 is a large-capacity storage device that stores various programs and data.

  The CPU 311 is an arithmetic device that realizes overall control and functions of the image forming apparatus 111 by reading programs, data, setting information, and the like from the ROM 313, the NVRAM 314, the HDD 315, and the like onto the RAM 312 and executing processing.

  The operation panel 320 includes an input unit that receives input from a user and a display unit that performs display. The communication I / F 330 is a communication interface for connecting the image forming apparatus 111 to a network.

  The plotter 340 is a printing device that prints print data. The scanner 350 is a reading device that reads a document or the like. The FCU 360 transmits and receives fax data.

  The external connection I / F 370 is an interface for connecting external devices such as an IC card reader 371 and a short-range wireless communication unit 372 to the image forming apparatus 111.

<Functional configuration>
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of functional configurations of the web server and the information terminal according to the first embodiment.

(Functional configuration of web server)
The web server (first information processing apparatus) 101 includes, for example, a communication unit 401, an authentication unit 402, a correspondence information management unit 403, a request reception unit 404, a job list provision unit 405, a job information notification unit 406, and a storage unit 407. Etc.

  The web server 101 realizes each functional configuration described above, for example, by executing a predetermined program by the CPU 201 in FIG. In addition, at least a part of each functional configuration described above may be realized by hardware.

  The communication unit 401 is realized by, for example, the program executed by the CPU 201 in FIG. 2 and the communication I / F 205 and the like, and the information terminal 120 and the like that connect the web server 101 to the external network 102 and connect to the external network 102. Communicate. The communication unit 401 communicates with the image forming apparatus 111 that accesses the web server 101 and other information processing apparatuses via the firewall 115.

  The authentication unit 402 authenticates the user 121 and the like who log in to the web service provided by the web server 101, and notifies the correspondence information management unit 403 and the like of a user ID for identifying the user 121 who has succeeded in the authentication.

  When the user 121 who owns the information terminal 120 uses the image forming apparatus 111, the correspondence information management unit (management unit) 403 and the user ID of the user 121 and the web service corresponding to the image forming apparatus 111 are displayed. URL information (destination information) is associated and managed. For example, the correspondence information management unit 403 stores correspondence information 501 as illustrated in FIG. 5A in the storage unit 407 for management.

  FIG. 5A shows an example of correspondence information 501 managed by the correspondence information management unit 403. In the example of FIG. 5A, the correspondence information 501 includes information such as “printer ID”, “destination URL”, and “user ID”.

  “Printer ID” is identification information for identifying the image forming apparatus 111. The destination URL is URL information of a web service corresponding to the image forming apparatus 111. The user ID is identification information for identifying the user 121 who is logged in to the web service corresponding to the image forming apparatus 111.

  Returning to FIG. 4, the description of the functional configuration of the web server 101 is continued.

  The request reception unit 404 receives request information transmitted from the information terminal 120, such as a job list acquisition request or an authentication request.

  The job list providing unit (providing unit) 405 provides the information terminal 120 possessed by the user 121 with a list of print jobs of the user 121 logged in to the web service corresponding to the image forming apparatus 111.

  As an example, the image forming apparatus 111 acquires the user ID of the user 121 who is logged in to the web service corresponding to the self apparatus by periodic polling or long polling such as Comet. Further, when the user 121 is logged in to a web service corresponding to the image forming apparatus 111, the image forming apparatus 111 acquires a list of print jobs of the user 121 from the spool server 113 and registers the list in the web service.

  Accordingly, the job list providing unit 405 can provide the information terminal 120 possessed by the user 121 with a list of print jobs of the user 121 logged in to the web service corresponding to the image forming apparatus 111. become.

  The job information notification unit 406 controls the print job information selected by the user 121 from the print job list provided to the information terminal 120, the image forming apparatus 111, or information for controlling printing by the image forming apparatus 111. Notify the processing device (second information processing device).

  For example, the job information notification unit 406 manages job information registered in a web service corresponding to the image forming apparatus 111 by the information terminal 120, and manages the job managed in response to a request from the image forming apparatus 111 or the like. Notify information.

  FIG. 5B shows an example of job information 502 managed by the job information notification unit 406. In the example of FIG. 5B, the job information 502 includes information such as “print job ID”, “print job name”, “date / time”, and “selection”.

  The “print job ID” is identification information given to each print job of the user 121. The “print job name” is a name (for example, a file name) of each print job. “Date and time” is information indicating the date and time when each print job is registered, for example. “Select” is information indicating whether each print job is a print job selected by the user 121. In the example of FIG. 5B, “True” indicates that the print job is selected by the user 121, and “False” indicates that the print job is not selected by the user 121. Show.

  The storage unit 407 is realized by, for example, the program executed by the CPU 201 in FIG. 2, the storage device 204, the RAM 202, and the like, and stores various information such as correspondence information 501 and job information 502, for example.

(Functional configuration of information terminal)
The information terminal 120 includes, for example, a communication unit 411, a connection information acquisition unit 412, a job list acquisition unit 413, a display control unit 414, an operation reception unit 415, a job information registration unit 416, a storage unit 417, and the like.

  For example, the information terminal 120 implements each functional configuration described above by executing an application program (hereinafter referred to as an application) corresponding to the printing system 100 by the CPU 201 in FIG. 2. In addition, at least a part of each functional configuration described above may be realized by hardware.

  The communication unit 411 is realized by, for example, a program executed by the CPU 201 in FIG. 2 and a communication I / F 205, and connects the information terminal 120 to the external network 102 to communicate with the web server 101 and the like.

  The connection information acquisition unit 412 acquires connection information (for example, URL information) for using a web service corresponding to the image forming apparatus 111 from the image forming apparatus 111 used by the user 121.

  As an example, the connection information acquisition unit 412 captures a two-dimensional code 380 provided in or near the image forming apparatus 111 used by the user 121 with a camera or the like provided in the information terminal 120, and generates the two-dimensional code 380. Extract the included connection information.

  As another example, the connection information acquisition unit 412 acquires connection information by performing short-range wireless communication with the image forming apparatus 111 used by the user 121 using the short-range wireless communication unit 372. There may be.

  The job list acquisition unit 413 uses the connection information acquired by the connection information acquisition unit 412 to connect to a web service provided by the web server 101 and acquires a list of print jobs of the user 121.

  For example, the job list acquisition unit 413 accesses the web service provided by the web server 101 by periodic polling or long polling such as Comet, and displays a list of print jobs of the user 121 registered in the web service. get.

  The display control unit 414 displays the print job list acquired by the job list acquisition unit 413 on the display unit of the information terminal 120 in a selectable manner.

  The operation receiving unit 415 receives a selection operation of the user 121 for the list of print jobs displayed by the display control unit 414.

  The job information registration unit 416 registers, in the web service provided by the web server 101, print job information that reflects the selection operation received by the operation reception unit 415 in the list of print jobs acquired by the job list acquisition unit 413. . For example, the job information registration unit 416 registers job information (an example of a print job) 502 as illustrated in FIG. 5B in the web service.

  The storage unit 407 is realized by, for example, the program executed by the CPU 201 in FIG. 2, the storage device 204, the RAM 202, and the like, and stores various information such as a list of print jobs and correspondence information 501, for example.

(Functional configuration of image forming apparatus)
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. The image forming apparatus 111 includes, for example, a communication unit 601, a service management unit 602, a user information acquisition unit 603, a job list registration unit 604, a job information acquisition unit 605, a print data acquisition unit 606, an image formation unit 607, and a storage unit. 608 etc.

  For example, the image forming apparatus 111 implements each functional configuration described above by executing a predetermined program with the CPU 311 in FIG. 3. In addition, at least a part of each functional configuration described above may be realized by hardware.

  The communication unit 601 is realized by, for example, a program executed by the CPU 311 in FIG. I do. In addition, the communication unit 601 communicates with the web server 101 via the firewall 115.

  The service management unit 602 communicates with the web server 101 and requests the web server 101 to start and end the web service corresponding to the image forming apparatus 111. For example, the service management unit 602 requests the web server 101 to start a web service corresponding to the image forming apparatus 111 when the image forming apparatus 111 is activated.

  The user information acquisition unit 603 accesses the web service provided by the web server 101 by periodic polling or long polling such as Comet, and the user ID of the user 121 who logs in to the web service (user An example of the information).

  The job list registration unit 604 acquires a list of print jobs of the user 121 from the spool server 113 using the user ID acquired by the user information acquisition unit 603, and acquires the list of print jobs of the acquired user 121. Is registered in a web service provided by the web server 101.

  The job information acquisition unit 605 accesses the web service provided by the web server 101 by periodic polling or long polling such as Comet, and acquires print job information such as job information 502 registered in the web service. To do.

  The print data acquisition unit 606 acquires the print job selected by the user 121 or print data corresponding to the print job based on the print job information acquired by the job information acquisition unit 605.

  The image forming unit 607 is realized by, for example, the program executed by the CPU 311 in FIG. 3 and the plotter 340, and prints the print data acquired by the print data acquisition unit 606.

  The storage unit 608 is realized by, for example, a program executed by the CPU 311 in FIG. 3, the HDD 315, the RAM 312, and the like, and various types of job information acquired by the job information acquisition unit 605, print data acquired by the print data acquisition unit 606, etc. Memorize information.

  Of the functional configuration of the image forming apparatus 111 illustrated in FIG. 6, the service management unit 602, the user information acquisition unit 603, the job list registration unit 604, the job information acquisition unit 605, the print data acquisition unit 606, etc. It may be realized by the information processing apparatus.

<Process flow>
[First Embodiment]
Next, a processing flow of the print control method according to the first embodiment will be described.

  7 to 9 are sequence diagrams illustrating an example of processing of the printing system according to the first embodiment. Note that the communication between the web server 101 and the image forming apparatus 111 is performed via the firewall 115 as described above. Since the processing of the firewall 115 only relays data, the description of the processing related to the firewall 115 is provided here. Is omitted.

(Print job registration process)
7 illustrates an example of a print job registration process in which the user 121 registers a print job in the spool server 113 using the client device 112. Note that the print job registration process in the present embodiment is the same as the print job registration process in the conventional on-demand printing, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted here.

  In step S701, the user 121 performs a login operation. For example, the user 121 inputs account information such as a user ID and a password to the client device.

  In step S <b> 702, the client device 112 requests the authentication server 114 to authenticate the account information of the user 121.

  In step S703, the authentication server 114 authenticates the account information requested from the client device 112. If the authentication is successful, the authentication server 114 notifies the client device 112 of an authentication result indicating that the authentication is successful.

  On the other hand, if the authentication fails, the authentication server 114 transmits an authentication result indicating that the authentication has failed to the client device 112, and the printing system 100 ends the process. Here, the following description is given on the assumption that the account information of the user 121 has been successfully authenticated.

  In step S704, the user 121 performs a printing operation for printing a document from, for example, an application program.

  In step S <b> 705, the client device 112 converts document data to be printed into print data by using a printer driver installed in the client device 112, for example, and generates a print job including the print data and management information. To do.

  In step S <b> 706, the client apparatus 112 transmits the generated print job to the spool server 113.

  In step S707, the spool server 113 stores the print job received from the client apparatus 112 in, for example, a storage unit such as the storage apparatus 204 in FIG.

  For example, the user 121 can register a print job printed by the image forming apparatus 111 in the spool server 113 by the above processing.

(Startup processing of image forming apparatus)
The processing in steps S <b> 711 to S <b> 715 in FIG. 7 shows an example of activation processing of the image forming apparatus 111 that is executed when the user 121 activates the image forming apparatus 111.

  In step S711, the user 121 performs an activation operation of the image forming apparatus 111 that the user wants to print. For example, the user 121 turns on the power of the image forming apparatus 111 that is turned off. Alternatively, the user 121 performs an operation of returning the image forming apparatus 111 in the sleep state from the sleep state.

  When the image forming apparatus 111 is activated in step S712, the service management unit 602 of the image forming apparatus 111 requests the web server 101 to start a web service corresponding to the image forming apparatus 111.

  In step S713, the web server 101 starts a web service corresponding to the image forming apparatus 111. Accordingly, the correspondence information management unit 403 of the web server 101 stores and manages the printer ID of the image forming apparatus 111 and the destination URL in the correspondence information 501 as illustrated in FIG.

  In step S714, the correspondence information management unit 403 of the web server 101 notifies the image forming apparatus 111 of access information (for example, a destination URL) for accessing a web service corresponding to the image forming apparatus 111.

  In step S715, the user information acquisition unit 603 of the image forming apparatus 111 accesses (polls) the web service at a predetermined time interval, for example, using the notified access information, and requests acquisition of the user ID. .

  Accordingly, the correspondence information management unit 403 of the web server 101 is registered when the user ID corresponding to the image forming apparatus 111 is registered in the correspondence information 501 as illustrated in FIG. The image forming apparatus 111 is notified of the existing user ID. On the other hand, when the user ID corresponding to the image forming apparatus 111 is not registered, the correspondence information management unit 403 notifies the image forming apparatus 111 of information indicating that the user ID is not registered, for example.

  As another example, the user information acquisition unit 603 may request the web server 101 to acquire a user ID using Comet (long polling) standardized by RFC6202. In Comet, data is pushed to the client when an event is updated on the server.

  For example, in step S721 in FIG. 7, the image forming apparatus 111 requests the web server 101 to notify the user ID using Comet.

  At this time, the web server 101 that has received the request holds the response for a predetermined time, and when the user ID is registered in the web service corresponding to the image forming apparatus 111 (step S722), the user ID is imaged. The device 111 is notified (step S723). Thus, when the user ID is registered in the web service corresponding to the image forming apparatus 111, the registered user ID is notified from the web server 101 to the image forming apparatus 111.

(Information terminal connection processing)
The processing shown in steps S801 to S810 of FIG. 8 shows an example of connection processing in which the user 121 connects to a web service corresponding to the image forming apparatus 111 that wants to perform printing using the information terminal 120. It is assumed that the print job registration process and the image forming apparatus 111 activation process illustrated in FIG. 7 have been completed at the start of the process illustrated in FIG.

  In step S <b> 801, the user 121 uses the information terminal 120 to perform an acquisition operation for acquiring connection information for connecting to a web service corresponding to the image forming apparatus 111.

  For example, the user 121 activates a photographing application or the like of the information terminal 120 and performs an operation of photographing the two-dimensional code 380 included in the image forming apparatus 111.

  As another example, the user 121 provides connection information by short-range wireless communication by bringing an NFC (Near Field Communication) communication unit or the like included in the information terminal 120 close to the IC card reader 371 of the image forming apparatus 111. You may perform operation to acquire.

  In step S <b> 802, the connection information acquisition unit 412 of the information terminal 120 acquires connection information for connecting to a web service corresponding to the image forming apparatus 111 from the image forming apparatus 111. For example, the connection information acquisition unit 412 analyzes a two-dimensional code captured using a camera included in the information terminal 120 and extracts connection information (for example, URL information) included in the two-dimensional code.

  In step S <b> 803, the user 121 uses the information terminal 120 to perform a print job list acquisition operation. For example, the user 121 activates a web browser included in the information terminal 120 and accesses a URL or the like acquired by the connection information acquisition unit 412.

  In step S804, the job list acquisition unit 413 of the information terminal 120 requests the web server 101 to acquire a list of print jobs based on the specified URL.

  In step S805, the authentication unit 402 of the web server 101 instructs the information terminal 120 to log in if the web service corresponding to the image forming apparatus 111 is not logged in with the account of the user 121.

  In step S <b> 806, the job list acquisition unit 413 of the information terminal 120 transmits the account information (for example, user ID, password, etc.) of the user 121 to the web server 101.

  In step S807, the authentication unit 402 of the web server 101 authenticates the user account. If the authentication of the account information is successful, the process proceeds to step S808. On the other hand, when the authentication of the account information fails, the authentication unit 402 transmits information indicating that the authentication of the account information has failed to the information terminal 120. Here, the following description is given on the assumption that the account information of the user 121 has been successfully authenticated.

  In step S808, the correspondence information management unit 403 of the web server 101 sets the user ID of the user 121 who has been successfully authenticated to the correspondence information 501 as illustrated in FIG. It is stored in association with the printer ID.

  In step S809, the web server 101 notifies the information terminal 120 of access information (for example, URL) for acquiring a list of print jobs.

  In step S810, the job list acquisition unit 413 of the information terminal 120 uses the notified access information to access (polling) the web service at a predetermined time interval, for example, and requests acquisition of a list of print jobs.

  As a result, when the list of print jobs of the user 121 is registered in the web service corresponding to the image forming apparatus 111, the job list providing unit 405 of the web server 101 displays the list of registered print jobs. Provide to the information terminal 120. On the other hand, when the print job list of the user 121 is not registered, the job list providing unit 405 notifies the information terminal 120 of information indicating that the print job list of the user 121 is not registered, for example. To do.

  At this time, the job list acquisition unit 413 of the information terminal 120 may request the web server 101 to acquire a print job list of the user 121 using the above-described Comet (long polling).

(Print job list registration process)
8 shows an example of a job list registration process in which the image forming apparatus 111 registers a list of print jobs of the user 121 in a web service corresponding to the image forming apparatus 111. Yes.

  For example, when the user ID of the user 121 is registered in the correspondence information 501 in association with the printer ID of the image forming apparatus 111 in step S808 of FIG. 8, the processing from step S811 is executed.

  In steps S <b> 811 and S <b> 812, the correspondence information management unit 403 of the web server 101 notifies the image forming apparatus 111 of the user ID of the user 121 logged in to the web service corresponding to the image forming apparatus 111. For example, the correspondence information management unit 403 notifies the image forming apparatus 111 of the user ID managed in association with the printer ID of the image forming apparatus 111 in the correspondence information 501 as shown in FIG. .

  In step S813, the job list registration unit 604 of the image forming apparatus 111 requests the authentication server 114 to authenticate the user ID notified from the web server 101.

  In step S814, the authentication server 114 authenticates the user ID transmitted from the image forming apparatus 111. For example, the authentication server 114 determines whether or not the user ID requested for authentication is registered in the authentication server 114. If the user ID is registered in the authentication server 114, the authentication result indicating that the authentication is successful. Is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 111. On the other hand, if the user ID is not registered in the authentication server 114, the authentication server 114 transmits an authentication result indicating that the authentication has failed to the image forming apparatus 111. Here, the following description will be given on the assumption that the user ID has been successfully authenticated.

  In step S815, the job list registration unit 604 of the image forming apparatus 111 acquires a list of print jobs of the user 121 from the spool server 113 using the user ID that has been successfully authenticated.

  In step S816, the job list registration unit 604 of the image forming apparatus 111 registers the acquired print job list of the user 121 in a web service corresponding to the image forming apparatus 111 provided by the web server 101.

  In step S817, the job list providing unit 405 of the web server 101 manages a list of print jobs of the user 121 registered from the image forming apparatus 111, and access information for accessing the list of print jobs of the user 121. Is sent to the image forming apparatus 111.

  In step S818, the job information acquisition unit 605 of the image forming apparatus 111 accesses (polls) the web service at a predetermined time interval, for example, using the notified access information, and requests acquisition of job information.

  At this time, the job information acquisition unit 605 of the image forming apparatus 111 may request the Web server 101 to acquire job information using the above-described Comet (long polling).

(Job information registration process)
In the processing shown in steps S901 to S905 of FIG. 9, the information terminal 120 acquires a list of print jobs of the user 121 from the web server 101 and registers information of the print job selected by the user 121 in the web server 101. An example of job information registration processing is shown.

  A list of print jobs of the user 121 is registered in the web service corresponding to the image forming apparatus 111 provided by the web server 101 by the process shown in FIG. 8 at the start of the process shown in FIG. And

  In steps S <b> 901 and S <b> 902, the job list providing unit 405 of the web server 10 provides the information terminal 120 with a list of print jobs of the user 121 registered in the web service corresponding to the image forming apparatus 111. FIG. 10A shows an example of a print job list provided by the job list providing unit 405 at this time.

  FIG. 10A is a diagram illustrating an example of a print job list. In the example of FIG. 10A, the print job list 1011 is an HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) page for displaying the print job list. Accordingly, the information terminal 120 can display a display screen 1021 for displaying a print job list as shown in FIG. 10B on the display screen of the information terminal 120, for example.

  The print job list 1011 illustrated in FIG. 10A is an example. The print job list 1011 may be in any other format as long as the information terminal 120 can display the print job list display screen 1021 as shown in FIG.

  Here, returning to FIG. 9, the description of the sequence diagram will be continued.

  In step S903, the display control unit 414 of the information terminal 120 causes the display unit of the information terminal 120 to display a print job list display screen 1021 as illustrated in FIG.

  In step S904, the user 121 performs a print job selection operation on the display screen 1021 of the print job list as shown in FIG. 10B, for example. For example, the user 121 selects a check box 1022 corresponding to the print job to be printed from the print jobs displayed on the print job list display screen 1021, and selects a “print start” button 1023.

  In step S <b> 905, the operation reception unit 415 of the information terminal 120 receives the selection operation of the user 121, and the job information registration unit 416 corresponds the print job information selected by the user to the image forming apparatus 111. Register for a web service. Thereby, for example, job information 502 as shown in FIG. 5B is registered in the web service corresponding to the image forming apparatus 111.

(Printing process)
The processing shown in steps S906 to S916 in FIG. 9 shows an example of printing processing in which the image forming apparatus 111 prints the print job selected by the user 121.

  For example, when the information of the print job selected by the user 121 is registered in the web service corresponding to the image forming apparatus 111 in step S905 in FIG. 9, the processing from step S906 is executed.

  In steps S906 and S907 of FIG. 9, the job information notification unit 406 of the web server 101 stores job information 502 registered in the web service corresponding to the image forming apparatus 111, for example, as shown in FIG. To the image forming apparatus 111.

  In step S <b> 908, the print data acquisition unit 606 of the image forming apparatus 111 transmits print data corresponding to the print job selected by the user 121 from the spool server 113 based on the job information 502 notified from the web server 101. get.

  In step S909, the image forming unit 607 of the image forming apparatus 111 prints the print data acquired by the print data acquisition unit 606.

  In step S910, the print data acquisition unit 606 of the image forming apparatus 111 notifies the spool server 113 of a print result indicating that printing of the acquired print job has been completed.

  In step S911, the spool server 113 deletes the print job that has been printed.

  In step S <b> 912, when the print processing is completed, the service management unit 602 of the image forming apparatus 111 requests the web server 101 to end the web service corresponding to the image forming apparatus 111.

  In step S <b> 913, the web server 101 ends the web service corresponding to the image forming apparatus 111. Accordingly, the correspondence information management unit 403 of the web server 101 deletes information corresponding to the printer ID of the image forming apparatus 111 from the correspondence information 501 as illustrated in FIG.

  In steps S914 to S916, the service management unit 602 of the image forming apparatus 111 causes the web server 101 to restart the web service corresponding to the image forming apparatus 111 in preparation for the next printing process.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, in the printing system 100 that performs on-demand printing using the image forming apparatus 111 connected to the local network 116, printing can be controlled using the information terminal 120 that is not connected to the local network. It becomes like this.

[Second Embodiment]
In the second embodiment, an example of processing when the printing system 100 performs user authentication using an IC card in which account information of the user 121 is stored will be described.

<Functional configuration>
The functional configurations of the web server 101 and the information terminal 120 according to the second embodiment may be the same as the functional configurations of the web server 101 and the information terminal 120 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG.

(Functional configuration of image forming apparatus)
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment. The image forming apparatus 111 according to the second embodiment includes an IC card processing unit 1101 in addition to the functional configuration of the image forming apparatus 111 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG.

  The IC card processing unit 1101 is realized by, for example, a program executed by the CPU 311 in FIG. 3, and acquires account information (authentication information) stored in an IC card possessed by the user 121 using the IC card reader 371. To do. Further, the IC card processing unit 1101 authenticates the acquired account information or a user ID included in the account information using the authentication server 114.

<Process flow>
Subsequently, a processing flow of the print control method according to the second embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 12 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of processing of the printing system according to the second embodiment. Here, a detailed description of the same processing as in the first embodiment is omitted.

  In step S <b> 1201, the user 121 using the image forming apparatus 111 reads, for example, an IC card reader 371 connected to the image forming apparatus 111 with an IC card storing account information of the user 121 including the user ID. The reading operation is performed.

  In steps S1202 and S1203, the IC card reader 371 reads account information stored in the IC card and notifies the image forming apparatus 111 of the account information.

  In step S1204, the IC card processing unit 1101 of the image forming apparatus 111 extracts the user ID of the user 121 from the account information notified from the IC card reader 371, and authenticates the extracted user ID with the authentication server 114. To request.

  As another example, the IC card processing unit 1101 stores the card ID stored in the IC card and the user ID of the user 121 in association with each other, and acquires the user ID corresponding to the card ID. It may be a thing.

  In step S1205, for example, the authentication server 114 determines whether or not the user ID requested for authentication is registered in the authentication server 114. If the user ID is registered in the authentication server 114, the authentication is successful. Is sent to the image forming apparatus 111. On the other hand, if the user ID is not registered in the authentication server 114, the authentication server 114 transmits an authentication result indicating that the authentication has failed to the image forming apparatus 111. Here, the following description will be given on the assumption that the user ID has been successfully authenticated.

  In step S <b> 1206, the job list registration unit 604 of the image forming apparatus 111 acquires a list of print jobs of the user 121 from the spool server 113 using the user ID that has been successfully authenticated.

  In step S <b> 1207, the job list registration unit 604 of the image forming apparatus 111 transmits a job list registration request including the user ID of the user 121 and the list of print jobs of the user 121 to the web server 101.

  In step S1208, the web server 101 starts a web service corresponding to the image forming apparatus 111. Accordingly, the correspondence information management unit 403 of the web server 101 adds, for example, the printer ID of the image forming apparatus 111, the destination URL, and the user ID of the user 121 to the correspondence information 501 as illustrated in FIG. Are stored in association with each other. A list of print jobs of the user 121 is registered in the web service provided by the web server 101 and corresponding to the image forming apparatus 111.

  In step S1209, the correspondence information management unit 403 of the web server 101 notifies the image forming apparatus 111 of access information for accessing a web service corresponding to the image forming apparatus 111.

  In step S1210, the user information acquisition unit 603 of the image forming apparatus 111 uses the notified access information to access (polling) a web service at a predetermined time interval, for example, and request acquisition of a user ID. .

  At this time, as described above, the user information acquisition unit 603 may request the web server 101 to acquire a user ID by using Comet (long polling).

  In steps S <b> 1211 and S <b> 1212, the user 121 uses the information terminal 120 to acquire connection information for using the web service corresponding to the image forming apparatus 111 in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

  In step S <b> 1213, the user 121 uses the information terminal 120 to perform a print job list acquisition operation.

  In step S <b> 1214, the job list acquisition unit 413 of the information terminal 120 transmits an acquisition request for requesting acquisition of a print job list to the web server 101 using the acquired connection information. This acquisition request includes the user ID of the user 121, for example.

  In step S <b> 1215, the web server 101 refers to correspondence information 501 as illustrated in FIG. 5A, for example, and the destination information of the web service corresponding to the image forming apparatus 111 and the user ID of the user 121 are obtained. Confirm that it is stored in association. When the web service destination information corresponding to the image forming apparatus 111 and the user ID of the user 121 are stored in association with each other, the web server 101 omits the authentication process and acquires a list of print jobs. To access information terminal 120 to access information.

  In step S1218, the job list acquisition unit 413 of the information terminal 120 accesses (polls) the web service using the notified access information and requests acquisition of a list of print jobs.

  In step S <b> 1219, the job list providing unit 405 of the web server 101 provides the information terminal 120 with a list of print jobs of the registered user 121.

  In step S1218, the display control unit 414 of the information terminal 120 causes the display unit of the information terminal 120 to display a print job list display screen 1021 as shown in FIG.

  The subsequent processing may be the same as the processing according to the first embodiment shown after step S904 in FIG.

  With the above processing, the authentication processing of the user 121 and the registration processing of the print job list of the user 121 are performed in response to the IC card reading operation by the user 121, so the processing load of the web server 101 is reduced. Can be reduced.

[Third Embodiment]
In the first and second embodiments, the service management unit 602, user information acquisition unit 603, job list registration unit 604, job information acquisition unit 605, print data acquisition unit 606, etc., which the image forming apparatus 111 has, An information processing apparatus different from the image forming apparatus 111 may be included.

  In the third embodiment, a print control apparatus connected to the local network 116 includes a service management unit 602, a user information acquisition unit 603, a job list registration unit 604, a job information acquisition unit 605, a print data acquisition unit 606, and the like. An example of processing in the case of having it will be described.

<System configuration>
FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system configuration of a printing system 100 according to the third embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 13, the printing system 100 according to the third embodiment includes a printing control apparatus 1301 in addition to the system configuration of the printing system 100 according to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1.

  The print control apparatus 1301 is an information processing apparatus such as a PC, for example, and executes processing related to on-demand printing among the processing executed by the image forming apparatus 111 in the first and second embodiments.

  Accordingly, the user 121 can perform on-demand printing using the information terminal 120 for the image forming apparatus 111 that does not have a function related to on-demand printing.

  Note that the print control apparatus 1301 is an example of a second information processing apparatus that controls printing by the image forming apparatus 111. The second information processing apparatus may be the client apparatus 112, the spool server 113, or the like. Here, the following description is given assuming that the second information processing apparatus is the print control apparatus 1301.

<Functional configuration>
FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the print control apparatus 1301 according to the third embodiment. The print control apparatus 1301 includes a service management unit 602, a user information acquisition unit 603, a job list registration unit 604, a job information acquisition unit 605, which the image forming apparatus 111 according to the first embodiment illustrated in FIG. A print data acquisition unit 606 and the like are included. Since the function of each functional configuration described above is the same as that of the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted here.

  The print control apparatus 1301 includes a communication unit 1401, a print control unit 1402, a storage unit 1403, and the like. The communication unit 1401, the print control unit 1402, and the storage unit 1403 are realized by, for example, a program executed by the CPU 201 in FIG.

  The communication unit 1401 is realized by, for example, the program executed by the CPU 311 in FIG. 3 and the communication I / F 330, and the like. The print control apparatus 1301 is connected to the local network 116, the image forming apparatus 111, the spool server 113, and the authentication. It communicates with the server 114 and the like. The communication unit 1401 communicates with the web server 101 via the firewall 115.

  The print control unit 1402 executes processing for causing the image forming apparatus 111 to print the print job based on the print job information selected by the user 121 acquired by the job information acquisition unit 605. For example, the print control unit 1402 transmits the print data acquired by the print data acquisition unit 606 to the image forming apparatus 111 for printing. Alternatively, the print information selected by the user 121 acquired by the job information acquisition unit 605 is notified to the spool server 113 to control printing on the image forming apparatus 111.

<Process flow>
Next, the flow of processing of the print control method according to the third embodiment will be described.

  15 to 17 are sequence diagrams illustrating an example of processing of the printing system according to the third embodiment. Note that the basic processing content is the same as the processing according to the first embodiment, and therefore, here, the description will focus on differences from the first embodiment.

(Startup processing of image forming apparatus)
In step S1501, the user 121 performs an activation operation of the image forming apparatus 111 used for printing.

  In steps S1502 and S1503, the spool server 113 detects the activation of the image forming apparatus 111 by using a cold start trap function of SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol), for example. Further, the spool server 113 notifies the print control apparatus 1301 that the image forming apparatus 111 has been activated. This notification includes, for example, a printer ID for identifying the activated image forming apparatus 111.

  When the image forming apparatus 111 is activated in step S1504, the service management unit 602 of the print control apparatus 1301 requests the web server 101 to start a web service corresponding to the image forming apparatus 111. This request includes, for example, the printer ID of the activated image forming apparatus 111.

  In step S <b> 1505, the web server 101 starts a web service corresponding to the image forming apparatus 111. Accordingly, the correspondence information management unit 403 of the web server 101 stores and manages the printer ID of the image forming apparatus 111 and the destination URL in the correspondence information 501 as illustrated in FIG.

  In step S1506, the correspondence information management unit 403 of the web server 101 notifies the print control apparatus 1301 of access information (for example, a destination URL) for accessing the web service corresponding to the image forming apparatus 111.

  In step S1507, the user information acquisition unit 603 of the print control apparatus 1301 uses the notified access information, for example, accesses (polls) the web service at a predetermined time interval and requests acquisition of the user ID. .

  At this time, as described above, the user information acquisition unit 603 may request acquisition of the user ID from the web service by Comet (long polling).

(Information terminal connection processing)
The connection process of the information terminal 120 shown in steps S801 to S810 of FIG. 16 is the same as the connection process of the information terminal 120 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG.

(Print job list registration process)
In the print job list registration process shown in steps S1601 to S1608 of FIG. 16, the print control apparatus 1301 executes the print job list registration process executed by the image forming apparatus 111 in steps S811 to S818 of FIG. Is.

  For example, when the user ID of the user 121 is registered in the correspondence information 501 in association with the printer ID of the image forming apparatus 111 in step S808 in FIG. 16, the processing from step S1601 is executed.

  In steps S <b> 1601 and S <b> 1602, the correspondence information management unit 403 of the web server 101 notifies the print control apparatus 1301 of the user ID of the user 121 who is logged in to the web service corresponding to the image forming apparatus 111.

  In step S <b> 1603, the job list registration unit 604 of the print control apparatus 1301 requests the authentication server 114 to authenticate the user ID notified from the web server 101.

  In step S1604, for example, the authentication server 114 determines whether or not the user ID requested for authentication is registered in the authentication server 114. If the user ID is registered in the authentication server 114, the authentication is successful. Is sent to the print control apparatus 1301. On the other hand, if the user ID is not registered in the authentication server 114, the authentication server 114 transmits an authentication result indicating that the authentication has failed to the print control apparatus 1301. Here, the following description will be given on the assumption that the user ID has been successfully authenticated.

  In step S <b> 1605, the job list registration unit 604 of the print control apparatus 1301 acquires a list of print jobs of the user 121 from the spool server 113 using the user ID that has been successfully authenticated.

  In step S <b> 1606, the job list registration unit 604 of the print control apparatus 1301 registers the acquired print job list of the user 121 in a web service corresponding to the image forming apparatus 111 provided by the web server 101.

  In step S <b> 1607, the job list providing unit 405 of the web server 101 manages a list of print jobs of the user 121 registered from the print control apparatus 1301. Further, the job list providing unit 405 notifies the print control apparatus 1301 of access information for accessing the list of print jobs of the user 121.

  In step S1608, the job information acquisition unit 605 of the print control apparatus 1301 uses the notified access information to access (polling) the web service at a predetermined time interval, for example, and requests acquisition of job information.

  At this time, the job information acquisition unit 605 of the print control apparatus 1301 may request the web server 101 to acquire job information using the above-described Comet (long polling).

(Job information registration process)
The job information registration process shown in steps S901 to S905 in FIG. 17 is the same as the job information registration process according to the first embodiment shown in FIG.

(Printing process)
For example, when the information of the print job selected by the user 121 is registered in the web service corresponding to the image forming apparatus 111 in step S905 in FIG. 17, the processing from step S1701 is executed.

  In steps S1701 and S1702 of FIG. 17, the job information notification unit 406 of the web server 101 stores job information 502 registered in the web service corresponding to the image forming apparatus 111, for example, as shown in FIG. To the print control apparatus 1301.

  In step S <b> 1703, the print control unit 1402 of the print control apparatus 1301 transmits a print request including the job information 502 notified from the web server 101 to the spool server 113.

  In step S <b> 1704, the spool server 113 acquires the print data of the print job selected by the user 121 based on the job information 502 included in the print request received from the print control apparatus 1301.

  In step S <b> 1705, the spool server 113 transmits the acquired print data to the image forming apparatus 111.

  In step S1706, the image forming apparatus 111 prints the print data transmitted from the spool server 113.

  In step S <b> 1707, the image forming apparatus 111 notifies the spool server 113 of a print result indicating that printing has been completed, for example.

  In step S1708, the spool server 113 deletes the print job that has been printed.

  In step S1709, the service management unit 602 of the print control apparatus 1301 requests the web server 101 to end the web service corresponding to the image forming apparatus 111 in parallel with the processes in steps S1704 to S1708.

  In step S <b> 1710, the web server 101 ends the web service corresponding to the image forming apparatus 111.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the user 121 can perform on-demand printing for the image forming apparatus 111 that does not have a function related to on-demand printing using the information terminal. .

  In step S 1703 in FIG. 17, the print control apparatus 1301 acquires print data corresponding to the print job selected by the user 121 from the spool server 113 instead of transmitting a print request to the spool server 113. It may be. In this case, the print control apparatus 1301 transmits the acquired print data to the image forming apparatus 111 to cause the image forming apparatus 111 to print the print job selected by the user 121.

[Fourth Embodiment]
In the fourth embodiment, in the same system configuration as in the third embodiment, the printing system 100 uses the IC card in which the account information of the user 121 is stored, as in the second embodiment. An example of processing for authenticating a person will be described.

<Process flow>
FIG. 18 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of processing of the printing system according to the fourth embodiment.

  In step S <b> 1801, the user 121 using the image forming apparatus 111 reads, for example, an IC card that stores the account information of the user 121 including the user ID with the IC card reader 371 connected to the image forming apparatus 111. The reading operation is performed.

  In steps S1802 and S1803, the IC card reader 371 reads account information stored in the IC card and notifies the image forming apparatus 111 of the account information.

  In step S1804, the IC card processing unit 1101 of the image forming apparatus 111 extracts the user ID of the user 121 from the account information notified from the IC card reader 371, and authenticates the extracted user ID with the authentication server 114. To request.

  In step S1805, for example, the authentication server 114 determines whether or not the user ID requested for authentication is registered in the authentication server 114. If the user ID is registered in the authentication server 114, the authentication is successful. Is sent to the image forming apparatus 111. On the other hand, if the user ID is not registered in the authentication server 114, the authentication server 114 transmits an authentication result indicating that the authentication has failed to the image forming apparatus 111. Here, the following description will be given on the assumption that the user ID has been successfully authenticated.

  In step S <b> 1806, the job list registration unit 604 of the image forming apparatus 111 transmits print preparation information including the user ID that has been successfully authenticated and the printer ID of the image forming apparatus 111 to the spool server 113.

  In step S1807, the spool server 113 acquires a list of print jobs of the user 121 based on the user ID included in the print preparation information.

  In step S1808, the spool server 113 transmits the acquired print job list of the user 121 together with the user ID of the user 121 and the printer ID of the image forming apparatus 111 to the print control apparatus 1301.

  In step S1809, the job list registration unit 604 of the print control apparatus 1301 causes the web server 101 to store a job list including the user ID of the user 121, the print job list of the user 121, and the printer ID of the image forming apparatus 111. Send a registration request.

  In step S <b> 1810, the web server 101 starts a web service corresponding to the image forming apparatus 111. Accordingly, the correspondence information management unit 403 of the web server 101 adds, for example, the printer ID of the image forming apparatus 111, the destination URL, and the user ID of the user 121 to the correspondence information 501 as illustrated in FIG. Are stored in association with each other. Also, a list of print jobs of the user 121 is registered in a web service provided by the web server 101 and corresponding to the image forming apparatus 111.

  In step S1811, the correspondence information management unit 403 of the web server 101 notifies the print control apparatus 1301 of access information for accessing a web service corresponding to the image forming apparatus 111.

  In step S1812, the user information acquisition unit 603 of the print control apparatus 1301 uses the notified access information, for example, accesses (polls) the web service at a predetermined time interval and requests acquisition of the user ID. .

  At this time, as described above, the user information acquisition unit 603 may request the web server 101 to acquire a user ID by using Comet (long polling).

  The processes shown in steps S1211 to S1218 of FIG. 18 are the same as the processes of steps S1211 to S1218 of the second embodiment shown in FIG. With this processing, the information terminal 120 can display a list of print jobs of the user 121 on the display unit of the information terminal 120.

  Further, following the process of step S1218 of FIG. 18, for example, the processes shown in steps S904, S905, and S1701 to S1710 shown in FIG. 17 are executed.

  Also in this embodiment, the authentication process of the user 121 and the registration process of the print job list of the user 121 are performed according to the reading operation of the IC card by the user 121. Therefore, the processing load of the web server 101 is increased. Can be reduced.

  As described above, according to each embodiment of the present invention, in the printing system 100 that performs on-demand printing using the image forming apparatus 111 connected to the local network 116, printing is performed using the information terminal 120 that is not connected to the local network. Can be controlled.

  Note that the system configuration and functional configuration of the printing system 100 shown in the first to fourth embodiments are examples, and the printing system 100 can apply various configurations.

  For example, the web server 101 illustrated in FIG. 4 includes a first server including an authentication unit 402 and a request reception unit 404, a second information including a correspondence information management unit 403, a job list providing unit 405, and a job information notification unit 406. It is also possible to have a configuration including these servers. Thereby, the load of the web server 101 can be distributed to a plurality of servers.

  Further, at least a part of the functional configuration of the print control apparatus 1301 illustrated in FIG. 14 may be included in the spool server 113.

100 Printing System 101 Web Server (First Information Processing Device)
102 External network (first network)
111 Image forming apparatus 113 Spool server (third information processing apparatus)
115 Firewall 116 Local network (second network)
120 Information terminal 402 Authentication unit 403 Corresponding information management unit (management unit)
405 Job list provider (provider)
406 Job information notification unit (notification unit)
412 Connection information acquisition unit 414 Display control unit 416 Job information registration unit 1301 Print control apparatus (second information processing apparatus)

JP 2013-186824 A

Claims (12)

An information terminal connectable to the first network, an image forming apparatus connected to a second network different from the first network, and the image forming apparatus connected to the first network and using the image forming apparatus A first information processing apparatus that provides the web service of the printing system,
The first information processing apparatus includes:
A management unit that associates and manages user information of the information terminal connected to the web service using connection information acquired from the image forming apparatus and destination information of the web service corresponding to the image forming apparatus When,
A providing unit that provides the information terminal with a list of print jobs of the user registered in the web service from within the second network based on the information of the user managed by the management unit;
A notification unit for notifying the image forming apparatus or a second information processing apparatus that controls printing by the image forming apparatus of information on the print job selected by the user from the list of print jobs;
Having a printing system. The information terminal
A connection information acquisition unit for acquiring connection information for connecting to the web service corresponding to the image forming apparatus from the image forming apparatus;
A display control unit for displaying a list of print jobs of the user provided from the web service on a display screen of the information terminal;
A job information registration unit for registering information of a print job selected by the user from the display screen in the web service;
The printing system according to claim 1, comprising: The image forming apparatus includes:
A user information acquisition unit that acquires, from the first information processing apparatus, information on the user managed in association with destination information of a web service corresponding to the image forming apparatus;
Using the user information acquired by the user information acquisition unit, a list of the user's print jobs is acquired from a third information processing apparatus that manages the user's print jobs, and the web service provides A job list registration section to be registered;
An image forming unit that executes a print job selected by the user from the list of print jobs based on the information of the print job notified from the notification unit;
The printing system according to claim 1, comprising: The second information processing apparatus
A user information acquisition unit that acquires, from the first information processing apparatus, information on the user managed in association with destination information of a web service corresponding to the image forming apparatus;
Using the user information acquired by the user information acquisition unit, a list of the user's print jobs is acquired from a third information processing apparatus that manages the user's print jobs, and the web service provides A job list registration section to be registered;
A print control unit that causes the image forming apparatus to execute a print job selected by the user from the list of print jobs based on the information of the print job notified from the notification unit;
The printing system according to claim 1, comprising:   5. The printing according to claim 4, wherein when the image forming apparatus is activated, the second information processing apparatus requests the first information processing apparatus to start the web service corresponding to the image forming apparatus. system.   6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an IC card processing unit that acquires authentication information from an IC card possessed by the user using an IC card reader and authenticates the user. The printing system according to item.   The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the first information processing apparatus provides information to the image forming apparatus or the second information processing apparatus by long polling by Comet. An information terminal connectable to the first network, an image forming apparatus connected to a second network different from the first network, and the image forming apparatus connected to the first network and using the image forming apparatus A first information processing apparatus for providing a web service of the first information processing apparatus of the printing system,
A management unit that associates and manages user information of the information terminal connected to the web service using connection information acquired from the image forming apparatus and destination information of the web service corresponding to the image forming apparatus When,
A providing unit that provides the information terminal with a list of print jobs of the user registered in the web service from within the second network based on the information of the user managed by the management unit;
A notification unit for notifying the image forming apparatus or a second information processing apparatus that controls printing by the image forming apparatus of information on the print job selected by the user from the list of print jobs;
An information processing apparatus. The management unit notifies the image forming apparatus or the second information processing apparatus of the user information managed in association with the destination information of the web service corresponding to the image forming apparatus;
The device that has received the notification
Using the user information, obtain a list of the user print jobs from a third information processing apparatus that manages the user print jobs;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the acquired list of print jobs of the user is registered in the web service corresponding to the image forming apparatus. An authentication unit that authenticates the user who logs in to the web service corresponding to the image forming apparatus using the information terminal;
10. The management unit manages information on the user who has logged in to the web service corresponding to the image forming apparatus in association with destination information of the web service corresponding to the image forming apparatus. The information processing apparatus described in 1. An information terminal connectable to the first network, an image forming apparatus connected to a second network different from the first network, and the image forming apparatus connected to the first network and using the image forming apparatus A printing control method in a printing system including: a first information processing apparatus that provides a web service of:
The first information processing apparatus is
Managing the information of the user of the information terminal connected to the web service using the connection information acquired from the image forming apparatus and the destination information of the web service corresponding to the image forming apparatus in association with each other; ,
The print job of the user registered in the web service from within the second network based on the user information managed in association with the destination information of the web service corresponding to the image forming apparatus Providing a list of information to the information terminal;
Notifying the image forming apparatus or a second information processing apparatus that controls printing by the image forming apparatus of the print job information selected by the user from the list of print jobs;
Execute the print control method.   A program for causing a first information processing apparatus to execute the print control method according to claim 11.

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