JP2020144786A - Information processing apparatus, method for controlling the same, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve convenience by eliminating the trouble of a user checking a file format capable of direct printing. SOLUTION: A control circuit 100 of a mobile terminal 10 responds to one or more external image forming devices 20 whether or not one document stored in a document filing system 30 can be printed. The document filing system 30 is instructed to send a document to the image forming apparatus 20 that has instructed and responded that the response instruction is printable and directly print the document. [Selection diagram] Fig. 4

Description

The present invention relates to an information processing device. The present invention further relates to a method of controlling an information processing device executed by this information processing device. The present invention further relates to a program for causing this information processing apparatus to execute.

An image forming system in which a client device such as a personal computer or a smartphone and an image forming device are connected via an intranet constructed in an office is conventionally known. In such an image forming system, when the client device transmits PDL (Page Description Language) data that is not supported by the image forming device to the image forming device, a print error occurs. Patent Document 1 attempts to solve this problem by inquiring the PDL format supported by the image forming apparatus before printing by the client apparatus.

Japanese Patent No. 3492069

However, Patent Document 1 is based on the premise that the client device uses a printer driver. Patent Document 1 does not mention the behavior when the image forming apparatus directly acquires a file from the document filing system and directly prints the acquired file (direct printing).

When the image forming apparatus acquires a document file from the document filing system and directly prints (direct printing) the acquired document file, the file format (hereinafter, "file format") is a format that can be printed by the image forming apparatus. There must be. In the past, it was necessary for the user to check the support status of the file format of the image forming apparatus. In this case, when there are a plurality of image forming devices, it takes time to find out which image forming device supports which file format.

When a document file is once downloaded from the document filing system to the client device and printed from the image forming device, the file may be converted and the so-called "WYSIWYG" (What You See Is What You Get) may not be guaranteed. .. In addition, the need to download itself is a burden on the user.

An object of the present invention is to improve convenience by eliminating the trouble of a user checking a file format capable of direct printing.

The information processing device according to one embodiment of the present invention is
A display unit that presents the user with a list of documents obtained from the document filing system,
One or more external images with response instructions instructing that when a document included in the presented document list is selected, the file format of the selected document is printable. Control to send to the forming device,
Based on the response to the response instruction received from the image forming apparatus, the display unit is controlled so that the user is presented with a list of image forming apparatus that responded that the selected document can be printed.
The document filing system gives a print instruction for transmitting and printing the selected document to the first image forming apparatus selected by the user from the list of the image forming apparatus. It is provided with a control unit that controls the document filing system to transmit a first direct print instruction instructing the forming apparatus to transmit the first direct print instruction.

(1) According to the present embodiment, the information processing station instructs an external image forming apparatus to respond whether or not one document stored in the document filing system is printable. Instruct the document filing system to send the document to the image forming apparatus that responded to the response instruction that it is printable and to print it directly. As a result, the user does not have to check the file format that can be directly printed, and the convenience can be improved.

In the above embodiment
The control unit
When it is determined that no image forming apparatus has responded that the selected document can be printed based on the response to the response instruction, one of the one or more external image forming apparatus is selected.
One of the file formats supported by the selected second image forming apparatus is selected based on the response to the response instruction.
The selected document is converted into the selected file format to the document filing system, the converted document is directly transmitted to the second image forming apparatus, and the converted document is directly transmitted to the second image forming apparatus. A second direct print instruction instructing the document to be printed may be controlled to be transmitted to the document filing system.

(2) According to the present embodiment, when there is no image forming apparatus that responds that the document can be printed, the information processing apparatus converts the file format of the document into the document filing system and then directly prints the document. Instruct. As a result, even if there is no image forming apparatus capable of direct printing, the print output desired by the user can be obtained, and the convenience can be improved.

The above object can also be achieved by the following embodiments.
The control method of the information processing device according to one embodiment of the present invention is
The display controls to present the document list obtained from the document filing system to the user.
One or more external images with response instructions instructing that when a document included in the presented document list is selected, the file format of the selected document is printable. Control to send to the forming device,
Based on the response to the response instruction received from the image forming apparatus, the display unit is controlled so that the user is presented with a list of image forming apparatus that responded that the selected document can be printed.
The document filing system gives a print instruction for transmitting and printing the selected document to the first image forming apparatus selected by the user from the list of the image forming apparatus. A first direct print instruction instructing the forming apparatus to be transmitted directly is controlled to be transmitted to the document filing system.

The program according to one embodiment of the present invention
For information processing equipment
The process of controlling the display to present the document list obtained from the document filing system to the user,
One or more external images with response instructions instructing that when a document included in the presented document list is selected, the file format of the selected document is printable. The process of controlling the transmission to the forming device,
A process of controlling the display unit so that a list of image forming devices that responded that the selected document can be printed is presented to the user based on the response to the response instruction received from the image forming device. ,
The document filing system gives a print instruction for transmitting and printing the selected document to the first image forming apparatus selected by the user from the list of the image forming apparatus. This is a program for executing a process of controlling the document filing system to transmit a first direct print instruction instructing the forming apparatus to directly transmit the first direct print instruction.

According to the present invention, it is possible to improve convenience by eliminating the trouble of the user checking a file format capable of direct printing.

The effects described here are not necessarily limited, and may be any of the effects described in the present invention.

An image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. The hardware configuration of the mobile terminal is shown. The hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus is shown. The hardware configuration of the document filing system is shown. The operation flow of the mobile terminal is shown. The operation flow of the image forming apparatus is shown. The operation flow of the document filing system is shown. An example of a document list is shown. An example of the response to the response instruction is shown.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

1. 1. Image formation system

FIG. 1 shows an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The image forming system 1 includes a mobile terminal 10, an image forming device 20-1, an image forming device 20-2, an image forming device 20-3, ..., And a document filing system 30. The plurality of image forming apparatus 20-1, the image forming apparatus 20-2, the image forming apparatus 20-3, ... Are referred to as "image forming apparatus 20" when it is not necessary to distinguish them thereafter. The image forming apparatus 20 is, for example, an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral). The mobile terminal 10, the image forming apparatus 20, and the document filing system 30 are connected so as to be able to communicate with each other via the network N.

In the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus 20 directly prints (direct prints) the file of the document filing system 30 without going through other electronic devices such as a user's personal computer.

The mobile terminal 10 is an example of an information processing device. The information processing device does not have to be portable, so-called mobile, but generally speaking, the mobile terminal 10 has a smaller screen and is inferior in operability as compared with a personal computer. Therefore, it tends to take more time for the user to find out which image forming apparatus 20 supports direct printing in which file format than in a personal computer. Further, when a document is downloaded from the document filing system 30 and printed, there is a high possibility that WYSIWYG cannot guarantee it.

2. 2. Mobile device hardware configuration

FIG. 2 shows the hardware configuration of the mobile terminal.

The mobile terminal 10 comprises a CPU 11, a ROM 12, a RAM 13, a large-capacity non-volatile storage device 14 such as an HDD or SSD, a network communication interface 15, an operation device 16, and a display device 17, and a bus 18 that connects them to each other. Have.

The CPU 11, ROM 12, and RAM 13 constitute the control circuit 100. The CPU 11 loads the information processing program stored in the ROM 12 into the RAM 13 and executes it. The ROM 12 fixedly stores programs, data, and the like executed by the CPU 11. The ROM 12 is an example of a non-transient computer-readable recording medium.

The information processing program includes an operating system that performs basic control and input / output of a mobile terminal, and a mobile application that operates on the operating system and provides a user interface for direct printing according to the present embodiment.

3. 3. Hardware configuration of image forming device

FIG. 3 shows the hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus.

The image forming apparatus 20 includes a control circuit 21. The control circuit 21 is composed of a CPU 21a (Central Processing Unit) which is a processor, a RAM 21b (Random Access Memory), a ROM 21c (Read Only Memory) which is a memory, a dedicated hardware circuit, and the like, and is an overall image forming apparatus 20. Controls motion control. The CPU 21a loads the information processing program stored in the ROM 21c into the RAM 21b and executes it. The ROM 21c fixedly stores programs, data, and the like executed by the CPU 21a. The ROM 21c is an example of a non-transient computer-readable recording medium.

The control circuit 21 includes an image reading unit 22 (image scanner), an image processing unit 24 (including a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit)), an image memory 25, an image forming unit 26 (printer), and an operation unit 27 (including a display unit 27a). It is connected to a large-capacity non-volatile storage device 28 such as a touch panel), an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or an SSD (Solid State Drive), a facsimile communication unit 29, a network communication interface 23, and the like. The control circuit 21 controls the operation of each of the connected parts and transmits / receives signals or data to / from each part. The operation unit 27 (touch panel) is a form of an input device, and a voice input device including a microphone may be provided as the input device.

In the control circuit 21 of the image forming apparatus 20, the CPU 21a loads the information processing program stored in the ROM 21c into the RAM 21b and executes it. The information processing program includes a firmware that is responsible for basic control and input / output of the image forming apparatus 20, and an application that provides a user interface and the direct printing.

4. Document filing system hardware configuration

FIG. 4 shows the hardware configuration of the document filing system.

The document filing system 30 includes a CPU 31, a ROM 32, a RAM 33, a large-capacity non-volatile storage device 34 such as an HDD or SSD, a network communication interface 35, an operating device 36, and a display device 37, and a bus 38 connecting these to each other. Has.

The CPU 31, ROM 32, and RAM 33 constitute the control circuit 300. The CPU 31 loads the information processing program stored in the ROM 32 into the RAM 33 and executes it. The ROM 32 fixedly stores programs, data, and the like executed by the CPU 31. The ROM 32 is an example of a non-transient computer-readable recording medium.

The document filing system 30 of the present embodiment is configured as a file server as described above, but may be configured as a computer system including a plurality of server groups. Further, in this case, each server may be configured as a computer system in which roles are divided for each function, such as a storage server, a document conversion server, and an authentication server.

5. Mobile device operation flow

FIG. 5 shows the operation flow of the mobile terminal.

When the control circuit 100 receives the user's login operation via the operation device 16, the control circuit 100 logs in to the document filing system 30 based on the content of the login operation, and is in the storage area allocated to the user. Request transmission of a document list (see FIG. 8) (step S101). If the network N has a user authentication server (not shown), the control circuit 100 may perform a login process for the user authentication server.

After that, the control circuit 100 receives the document list from the document filing system 30 and controls the display device 17 to display the received document list. The display device 17 displays the document list and presents it to the user (step S102).

Subsequently, the control circuit 100 accepts the user's operation input for the presented document list via the operation device 16, and accepts the user's selection of a document based on the operation input (step S103).

Subsequently, the control circuit 100 supports a file format of the selected document, and instructs each image forming apparatus 20 (response instruction) to respond whether or not the document can be printed (step S104). .. This response instruction is transmitted by a method of broadcasting to a host on the network N.

After that, the control circuit 100 receives the response to the response instruction from each image forming apparatus 20, displays the received response as a list on the display device 17, and presents it to the user (step S105). FIG. 9 shows an example of a response to a response instruction presented to the user.

In direct printing, the range of convenience varies depending on which file format the image forming apparatus 20 supports. The more file formats you support, the better, but usually limited support due to licensing costs. In some cases, the printable image forming apparatus 20 may not be within the range of the network.

Subsequently, the control circuit 100 determines whether or not there is a printable image forming apparatus 20 based on the response from the image forming apparatus 20 that can be collected within a predetermined time (step S106).

When there is a printable image forming apparatus 20 (step S106: yes), the control circuit 100 accepts the user's selection of one image forming apparatus 20 based on the user's operation input via the operating apparatus 16 (step S106: yes). S107). Here, it is assumed that the image forming apparatus 20-1 is selected as an example.

Subsequently, the control circuit 100 sends a command (first direct print instruction) instructing the document filing system 30 to directly print the selected document using the image forming apparatus 20-1. , Control the network communication interface 15 (step S108).

Here, the first direct print instruction is that, firstly, the document (selected document) stored in the document filing system 30 is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 20-1, and secondly, the transmitted document is transmitted. The printing instruction for printing on the image forming apparatus 20-1 includes the image forming apparatus 20-1. The mobile terminal 10 issues a first direct print instruction instructing the document filing system 30 to transmit the first transmission instruction and the second print instruction to the image forming apparatus 20-1. Send to 30.

On the other hand, when there is no printable image forming apparatus 20 (step S106: none), the control circuit 100 first selects one image forming apparatus 20 (step S109). Here, it is assumed that the image forming apparatus 20-2 is selected as an example.

Subsequently, the control circuit 100 converts the file format of the selected document, transmits the converted document to the image forming apparatus 20-2, and prints the transmitted converted document in the image forming apparatus 20-. The network communication interface 15 is controlled so as to transmit the second direct print instruction for instructing No. 2 to the document filing system 30 (step S110).

The information indicating the second direct print instruction includes information indicating the selected document file (URL, etc.), a list of file formats that can be printed by the image forming apparatus 20-2 (see FIG. 7), and file formats. Information indicating a conversion instruction and information indicating an instruction to transmit the converted document file to the image forming apparatus 20-2 are included.

6. Operation flow of image forming apparatus

FIG. 6 shows an operation flow of the image forming apparatus.

When the control circuit 21 of the image forming apparatus 20 receives the response instruction from the mobile terminal 10 (step S201), the control circuit 21 subsequently acquires a list of file formats supported by the image forming apparatus 20 (step S202).

There are various methods for acquiring a list of file formats supported by the image forming apparatus 20, but in the present embodiment, the application running on the image forming apparatus 20 is provided by the firmware of the image forming apparatus 20. Use the method of contacting the API and getting an answer.

Subsequently, the control circuit 21 determines whether or not the selected document has a printable file format based on the information regarding the file format of the selected document included in the response instruction (step S203). ..

Subsequently, the control circuit 21 responds to the response instruction regardless of whether it is printable or not (step S204). Specifically, the control circuit 21 controls the network communication interface 23 so as to transmit information indicating that it is printable or non-printable to the mobile terminal 10.

After that, when a print instruction comes from the document filing system 30 (step S205: Yes), the control circuit 21 converts the document included in the print instruction (this is also converted even if the file format is converted) according to the print instruction. (May not be done) is controlled so that the image forming unit 26 prints (step S206).

7. Document filing system operation flow

FIG. 7 shows the operation flow of the document filing system.

The control circuit 200 receives authentication information from the mobile terminal 10 together with information that the user has logged in, and controls the user's login process to the document filing system 30 (step S301). Below, it is assumed that the login was successful without any problems.

Subsequently, the control circuit 200 waits until the image forming apparatus 20 receives the transmission request of the document list (see FIG. 8) (step S302). When receiving the transmission request of the document list in which the directory is specified, the control circuit 200 transmits the document list corresponding to the directory (step S303).

However, the control circuit 200 may be configured to automatically send a document list of document files in the user's home directory when the user successfully logs in. Further, the process of receiving the document list transmission request and transmitting the document list may be repeated a plurality of times.

Subsequently, when a direct print instruction specifying one document in the document list transmitted in step S303 is received from the image forming apparatus 20 (step S304), the control circuit 200 contains the file format in the transmission instruction. It is determined whether or not there is a conversion instruction (step S305).

If the transmission instruction of this document does not include a file format conversion instruction and is simply instructed to print the document directly (step S305: none), the control circuit 200 prints with the specified document. The instruction is transmitted to the designated image forming apparatus 20 (step S307).

On the other hand, if the direct print instruction of the document includes an instruction to convert the file format (step S305: Yes), the control circuit 200 lists the printable file formats included in the document file transmission instruction. One or more file formats are selected from (see FIG. 9), and the file format of the document specified by the direct print instruction is converted to the selected file format (step S306).

Even when the file format is converted, the control circuit 200 transmits the converted document and the print instruction to the image forming apparatus 20 designated by the direct print instruction (step S307).

8. Document list

FIG. 8 shows an example of a document list.

The file icon 801 is an image that makes it possible to intuitively understand the file format of the document file. The file name 802 indicates the file name given to the document file together with the extension indicating the file format. The update date and time 803 indicates the last update date and time of the document file.

In FIG. 8, the “plan A draft.doc” is, for example, an example of a word (trademark) document file of Microsoft Corporation (registered trademark). "Plan B final version.pdf" and "Plan C final version.pdf" show examples of files in the Portable Document Format format, which is a file format proposed by Adobe Systems (registered trademark).

The document filing system 30 transmits a document list as shown in FIG. 8 to the mobile terminal 10.

9. Response to response instructions

FIG. 9 shows an example of a response to a response instruction.

The printer name 901 is information indicating the name of the image forming apparatus 20 that responded. The IP address 902 is information indicating the IP address of each image forming apparatus 20. The support status 903 is information indicating whether or not each image forming apparatus supports the file format of the document specified in the response instruction by the mobile terminal 10.

In FIG. 9, the “image forming apparatus 20-1” is assigned the IP address of “192.168.0.1” and “supports” the file format of the document specified in the response instruction by the mobile terminal 10. It is shown that it is. The "image forming apparatus 20-2" is assigned an IP address of "192.168.0.2", and is "not supported" for the document file format specified in the response instruction by the mobile terminal 10. That is, it is shown to be unsupported. The "image forming apparatus 20-3" is assigned an IP address of "192.168.0.3", and is "not supported" for the document file format specified in the response instruction by the mobile terminal 10. That is, it is shown to be unsupported.

The image forming apparatus 20 transmits information as shown in each line of FIG. 9 to the mobile terminal 10. The mobile terminal 10 collectively presents the responses to the response instructions received by the image forming apparatus 20 to the user as information as shown in FIG.

9. Modification example

In the present embodiment, an example is shown in which the mobile terminal 10 and each image forming apparatus 20 are connected via a local area network. Instead of this connection mode, a mode in which the mobile terminal 10 and each image forming apparatus 20 are connected by short-range wireless communication may be adopted.

In the present embodiment, when the control circuit 100 of the mobile terminal 10 determines that there is no printable image forming apparatus 20 based on the response to the response instruction (step S106: none), one image forming apparatus 20 Is selected (step S109). Although the selection method is not limited, the control circuit 100 selects and selects one of the file formats supported by each image forming apparatus 20 that gives the best print output. The image forming apparatus 20 may be selected by the method of selecting one image forming apparatus 20 that supports the file format.

Any of the configurations disclosed in the present embodiment can be implemented in combination.

6. Conclusion

(1) According to the present embodiment, the information processing station instructs an external image forming apparatus to respond whether or not one document stored in the document filing system is printable. Instruct the document filing system to send the document to the image forming apparatus that responded to the response instruction that it is printable and to print it directly. As a result, the user does not have to check the file format that can be directly printed, and the convenience can be improved.

(2) According to the present embodiment, when there is no image forming apparatus that responds that the document can be printed, the information processing apparatus converts the file format of the document into the document filing system and then directly prints the document. Instruct. As a result, even when there is no image forming apparatus capable of direct printing, the print output desired by the user can be obtained, and the convenience can be improved.

Although each embodiment and each modification of the present technology have been described above, the present technology is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various changes can be made without departing from the gist of the present technology. Of course.

1 ... Image formation system 10 ... Mobile terminal (information processing device)
100 ... Control circuit (control unit)
15 ... Network communication interface 17 ... Display device (display unit)
20 ... Image forming device 30 ... Document filing system

Claims (4)

A display unit that presents the user with a list of documents obtained from the document filing system,
One or more external images with response instructions instructing that when a document included in the presented document list is selected, the file format of the selected document is printable. Control to send to the forming device,
Based on the response to the response instruction received from the image forming apparatus, the display unit is controlled so that the user is presented with a list of image forming apparatus that responded that the selected document can be printed.
The document filing system gives a print instruction for transmitting and printing the selected document to the first image forming apparatus selected by the user from the list of the image forming apparatus. An information processing apparatus including a control unit that controls the document filing system to transmit a first direct print instruction instructing the forming apparatus to transmit the first direct print instruction. The information processing device according to claim 1.
The control unit
When it is determined that no image forming apparatus has responded that the selected document can be printed based on the response to the response instruction, one of the one or more external image forming apparatus is selected.
One of the file formats supported by the selected second image forming apparatus is selected based on the response to the response instruction.
The selected document is converted into the selected file format to the document filing system, the converted document is directly transmitted to the second image forming apparatus, and the converted document is directly transmitted to the second image forming apparatus. An information processing device that controls the document filing system to transmit a second direct print instruction instructing the document to be printed. The display controls to present the document list obtained from the document filing system to the user.
One or more external images with response instructions instructing that when a document included in the presented document list is selected, the file format of the selected document is printable. Control to send to the forming device,
Based on the response to the response instruction received from the image forming apparatus, the display unit is controlled so that the user is presented with a list of image forming apparatus that responded that the selected document can be printed.
The document filing system gives a print instruction for transmitting and printing the selected document to the first image forming apparatus selected by the user from the list of the image forming apparatus. A control method for an information processing apparatus that controls the document filing system to transmit a first direct print instruction instructing the forming apparatus to transmit the first direct print instruction. For information processing equipment
The process of controlling the display to present the document list obtained from the document filing system to the user,
One or more external images with response instructions instructing that when a document included in the presented document list is selected, the file format of the selected document is printable. The process of controlling the transmission to the forming device,
A process of controlling the display unit so that a list of image forming devices that responded that the selected document can be printed is presented to the user based on the response to the response instruction received from the image forming device. ,
The document filing system gives a print instruction for transmitting and printing the selected document to the first image forming apparatus selected by the user from the list of the image forming apparatus. A program for executing a process of controlling the document filing system to transmit a first direct print instruction instructing the forming apparatus to transmit the first direct print instruction.

Images