JP7004240B2 - Printing device, printing system, printing device control method, and printing system control method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a printing system, a method for controlling a printing device, and a method for controlling a printing system. More specifically, the present invention relates to a technique for issuing a security code to a print job when a print job is received from an external terminal.

Conventionally, in a printing device, a so-called storage printing technique is known in which a print job is stored in the printing device when a print job is received from an external terminal.

For example, in Patent Document 1, when a host computer connected to a printing device receives a print job from an external terminal and temporarily stores it, the host computer issues a security code corresponding to the print job and sends it to the external terminal. The technology is disclosed. In this technique, when a user inputs a security code from an operation unit such as a panel provided in a printing device, the printing device starts printing related to a print job.

Further, there is also known a technique in which a printing device executes a function of issuing and transmitting a security code of the above-mentioned host computer.

In any of the above-mentioned conventional techniques, printing related to the print job is started in response to the user performing a specific operation on the operation unit of the printing device. As a result, the confidentiality of the printed content can be ensured.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 10-235974

However, the above-mentioned conventional technique has the following problems.

That is, there are cases where it is desired to perform printing according to various print settings desired by the user when executing cumulative printing in the printing apparatus. In order for the user to make this print setting, it is usually necessary to display an appropriate setting screen on the operation unit and manually perform various complicated settings in addition to the above-mentioned specific operation. Is big.

The present invention has been made to solve the problems of the above-mentioned conventional techniques. That is, the subject is to provide a printing device, a printing system, a control method for the printing device, and a control method for the printing system, which make it possible to easily perform printing settings at the time of executing cumulative printing with a small labor burden. To do.

A printing device made for the purpose of solving this problem has a printing unit for printing, an operation unit for receiving an operation input, and a control unit, and the control unit receives a print job from an external terminal. In this case, the printing setting code is combined with the issuing process of issuing the security code corresponding to the printing job, the transmitting process of transmitting the security code issued by the issuing process to the external terminal, and the operation unit. When the operation input of the security code is received, the printing unit is characterized by executing a printing process of executing printing related to the printing job with the printing settings corresponding to the printing setting code. It is supposed to be.

In the printing apparatus disclosed in the present specification, when a print job is transmitted from an external terminal by a user, a security code corresponding to the print job is issued in the issuing process. The issued security code is transmitted to the external terminal in the transmission process. When the user operates and inputs the security code received by the external terminal in the operation unit of the printing device, the content transmitted by the print job is printed. Since the cumulative printing is executed in this way, the confidentiality of the printed contents can be ensured.

At this time, in the printing apparatus disclosed in the present specification, the print setting code is associated with various print settings in advance. The user can execute the print setting corresponding to the print setting code by combining the print setting code with the issued security code. That is, when the user inputs the operation to the operation unit, the user inputs the security code combined with the print setting code, so that printing is executed by the print setting corresponding to the print setting code in the print process. Will be done. As a result, the print setting can be easily performed by a simple method as compared with the conventional structure in which it is necessary to display an appropriate setting screen on the operation unit and manually perform various print settings. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the burden of operation labor on the user and improve convenience.

According to the present invention, it is possible to easily set the print setting at the time of executing the accumulated printing with a small labor burden.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the print processing system which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the appearance of the multifunction device (MFP) which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the screen which is displayed on the operation panel of a mobile device by an application. It is a sequence diagram which shows the flow which the PIN is generated by the MFP based on the mail transmission by the mobile device. It is a flowchart which shows the detailed procedure of step S30 of FIG. It is a figure which shows the user database which registered the profile which summarized the print setting of a plurality of items for each user. It is a figure which shows the example of the message which described the PIN sent from the MFP to the mobile device. It is a figure which shows an example of the print setting edit screen displayed on a mobile device by site access. It is a figure which shows the job database which associated the value of the job identification PIN with the e-mail address of a mobile device. It is a flowchart which shows the processing procedure which the MFP executes by the control of the CPU in the flow from PIN input to the MFP to printing. It is a figure which shows the example of various display screens in the operation panel of the MFP. It is a flowchart which shows the detailed procedure of step S200 of FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of various display screens in the operation panel of the MFP. It is a sequence diagram which shows the flow which the PIN is generated by the MFP based on the mail transmission by the mobile device which concerns on the modification of applying a password to the file of a print job. It is a figure which shows the job database which corresponded with the value of the job identification PIN and the e-mail address of a mobile device concerning the modification which issues a job identification PIN for each user. It is a flowchart which shows the processing procedure which the MFP executes by the control of the CPU in the flow from PIN input to the MFP to printing. It is a figure which shows an example of the display screen in the operation panel of the MFP. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the print processing system which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a sequence diagram which shows the flow that PIN is generated by a server based on mail transmission by a mobile device. It is a sequence diagram which shows the flow of printing in the MFP by the instruction from the server corresponding to the PIN input to the MFP.

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

<First Embodiment>
First, the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to a printing system including a multifunction device (MFP: Multifunction Peripheral) having a reading function and a printing function, and a mobile device that accepts a printing job for causing the MFP to execute printing.

<Overall configuration of printing system>
As shown in FIG. 1, the printing system 900 of this embodiment, which is an example of a printing system, has a mobile device 100, which is an example of an external terminal, and a print job thereof, which outputs a print job for causing a designated MFP to execute printing. It is provided with an MFP 200 which is an example of a printing device for executing the above. In the printing system 900 of this embodiment, various data can be exchanged between the mobile device 100 and the MFP 200 by wireless communication.

In addition to the mobile device 100, any number of external terminals for transmitting a print job for causing the MFP 200 to execute printing may be connected. Further, the printing system 900 includes a server or an access point, and may communicate with the MFP 200 from the mobile device 100 via the server or the access point.

<Configuration of MFP>
Next, the schematic configuration of the MFP 200 will be described. In this example, as shown in FIG. 1, the MFP 200 includes a CPU 31 as an example of a control unit and a device control unit, a ROM 32 as an example of a storage unit, a RAM 33, and an NVRAM (Non Volatile RAM) 34. ing. The CPU 31, ROM 32, RAM 33, and NVRAM 34 include an image forming unit 10 which is an example of a printing unit that prints an image on paper, an image reading unit 11 that reads an image of a document, an operation status display, and a user's display. An operation panel 40 for receiving an input operation by a user, which is an example, an NFC interface 37, and a wireless LAN interface 38 are electrically connected to each other.

The image forming unit 10 may be capable of color printing or only monochrome printing. Further, the printing method may be an electrophotographic method or an inkjet method. The image reading unit 11 may be capable of color scanning or only monochrome scanning. Further, the reading mechanism may be a CCD or a CIS.

The ROM 32 is a recording medium in which various programs such as firmware for controlling the MFP 200, various settings, initial values, and the like are stored. The various programs include a print processing program that executes each procedure shown in the sequence diagrams and flows of FIGS. 4, 5, 10, 12, 14, 16, and 20, which will be described later. .. The RAM 33 and NVRAM 34 are used as a work area for reading the various programs or as a storage area for temporarily storing data.

The CPU 31 controls each component of the MFP 200 while storing the processing result in the RAM 33 or the NVRAM 34 according to the signals transmitted from the above program and various sensors read from the ROM 32.

The NFC interface 37 is an interface that enables NFC-type wireless communication based on an appropriate international standard. The MFP 200 receives data transmitted from an external device including the mobile device 100 via the NFC interface 37. Further, the MFP 200 transmits data to the external device via the NFC interface 37.

The wireless LAN interface 38 is an interface that enables wireless communication of, for example, a WiFi direct system (WFD system) based on an appropriate standard. The MFP 200 receives data transmitted from the external device via the wireless LAN interface 38. Further, the MFP 200 transmits data to the external device via the wireless LAN interface 38.

As shown in FIG. 2, the operation panel 40 is provided on the exterior of the MFP 200 in this example, and includes a manual input unit 41, which is an example of an operation unit and is composed of various buttons, keys, and the like that accept user input. It has a display unit 42, which is an example of an operation unit, which displays messages and setting contents, for example, which is configured as a touch panel also having an input function. The various buttons include, for example, an OK button for instructing the start of printing, a cancel button for instructing the cancellation of printing, and the like.

Further, the operation panel 40 has an NFC reading unit 43 which is an example of a communication input unit or an operation unit that accepts wireless communication by the NFC method. The NFC reading unit 43 is provided with the above-mentioned NFC interface 37. Then, while the power is turned on, the MFP 200 is in a state of detecting a device capable of executing NFC-type wireless communication by a signal emitted from the NFC interface 37. Therefore, for example, when the user holds the mobile device 100 over the NFC reading unit 43, the MFP 200 detects the mobile device 100, and wireless communication by the NFC method is automatically enabled between the mobile device 100 and the MFP 200. “Holding” the mobile device 100 over the NFC reading unit 43 is an operation of arranging the mobile device 100 within the communication range of the NFC interface 37, and the mobile device 100 and the NFC reading unit 43 may be in contact with each other. It does not have to be.

Further, instead of the wireless communication by the NFC method between the mobile device 100 and the MFP 200 by "holding" the above, the wireless communication by the WFD method is performed between the mobile device 100 and the MFP 200 via the wireless LAN interface 38 described above. You may do it. In this case, the wireless LAN interface 38 corresponds to an example of the communication input unit and an example of the operation unit described in each claim.

<Mobile device configuration>
Returning to FIG. 1, the schematic configuration of the mobile device 100 will be described next. In FIG. 1, the mobile device 100 includes, in this example, a CPU 51, a ROM 52, a RAM 53, and a flash memory 54. Further, the mobile device 100 has an operation panel 55 having a touch panel having both a display function and an input function, and an NFC interface 57 and a wireless LAN interface 58 as communication interfaces that enable communication with an external device. The operation panel 55, the NFC interface 57, and the wireless LAN interface 58 are controlled by the CPU 51.

The flash memory 54 incorporates an OS, a browser for browsing files on the Internet, device drivers for controlling various devices, and the like. Further, the flash memory 54 also stores an application program 20 that receives a print job that instructs the MFP 200 to print, scan, and the like, and transfers a file accompanying printing to the MFP 200. The application program is abbreviated as "application" below as appropriate.

The CPU 51 performs various processes while storing the calculation results in the RAM 53 or the flash memory 54 according to various programs read from the ROM 52 and the flash memory 54. The various programs include a print processing program that executes each procedure shown in the sequence diagrams and flows of FIGS. 4, 14, and 19 described later. The operation of the application 20 described above is also processed by the CPU 51.

The NFC interface 57 is an interface that enables NFC-type wireless communication, similar to the NFC interface 37 of the MFP 200. Further, the wireless LAN interface 58 is an interface that enables WFD wireless communication, similar to the wireless LAN interface 38 of the MFP 200. The mobile device 100 receives data transmitted from the MFP 200 or the like via the NFC interface 57 or the wireless LAN interface 58. Further, the mobile device 100 transmits data to the MFP 200 or the like via the NFC interface 57 or the wireless LAN interface 58.

The MFP 200 may be provided with a Bluetooth (registered trademark) interface for performing Bluetooth (registered trademark) wireless communication, and data may be transmitted / received to / from the external device. In that case, the MFP 200 is provided with a Bluetooth (registered trademark) reading unit that functions in the same manner as the NFC reading unit 43, and the mobile device 100 is provided with a Bluetooth (registered trademark) interface for performing Bluetooth (registered trademark) wireless communication. It may be provided. In this case, as described above, when the user holds the mobile device 100 over the Bluetooth (registered trademark) reading unit, wireless communication by the Bluetooth (registered trademark) method is automatically enabled between the mobile device 100 and the MFP 200. In this case, the Bluetooth (registered trademark) interface corresponds to an example of the communication input unit and an example of the operation unit described in each claim.

<Outline of print job transmission / reception operation>
Next, FIG. 3 outlines the transmission operation of the print job from the mobile device 100 and the reception operation of the transmitted print job in the MFP 200, which are the premise of the present invention in the print system 900 having the above configuration. It will be explained using.

For example, when the mobile device 100 receives a start instruction from the user, the application 20 is started by the CPU 51. The activated application 20 displays, for example, the mail composition screen 21 shown in FIG. 3 on the operation panel 55.

As shown in the enlarged view in FIG. 3, in this example, the mail composition screen 21 has an “inbox” button 211 for opening the inbox and a transmission, similar to the screen display of a normal known mailer application. A "send tray" button 212 for opening a tray, a "send" button 213, a destination input field 214, an attached file display field 215, and a text entry field 216 are provided.

The user describes the e-mail address of the MFP 200 in the destination input field 214 by an appropriate operation of the operation panel 55, and then attaches a file to be printed. In this example, the address printer @ xxx. Of the MFP200 is displayed in the destination input field 214. yy is entered, and as shown in the attached file display field 215, a PDF format file with the file name “xyz” is attached. After that, when the "send" button 216 is pressed, the CPU 51 establishes wireless communication with the MFP 200 by the WFD method by a known method, and sends an email to which the file is attached by the WFD method to the MFP 200. As a result, the print job has been sent, that is, the job has been registered.

Here, the MFP 200 according to the present embodiment receives the print job transmitted by e-mail attachment as described above. The print job to be received includes the above file in detail, and the same applies hereinafter. After that, the received print job is temporarily stored in an appropriate place, for example, the RAM 33 or NVRAM 34. Then, in response to the user performing a specific operation described later, printing related to the accumulated print job, so-called accumulated printing, is started. The details will be described below in order.

<Job reception and PIN generation>
In this embodiment, when the MFP 200 receives the mail to which the print job is attached, the MFP 200 issues a PIN (Personal Identification Number) for user authentication and transmits the PIN (Personal Identification Number) to the mobile device 100. Then, when the user inputs the PIN into the MFP 200 as the specific operation, printing related to the accumulated print job is started. FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing the flow of receiving the job and generating the PIN among them, and is a processing procedure executed by the mobile device 100 under the control of the CPU 51 and a processing procedure executed by the MFP 200 under the control of the CPU 31. And represents.

In FIG. 4, first, in step S5, the mobile device 100 sends an e-mail to which the print job file is attached, which is generated as described above. The MFP 200 receives the transmitted mail in step S10. The process executed in step S10 corresponds to an example of the reception process described in each claim. After that, in the MFP 200, in step S15, whether or not the mail received in step S10 has an attached file is determined by the CPU 31. If the file is not attached to the mail, the determination in step S15 is not satisfied, and the process proceeds to step S20 described later. If the print job file is attached to the e-mail as described above, the determination in step S15 is satisfied, and the process proceeds to step S25.

In step S25, it is determined whether or not the attached file is a file to be printed. If the attached file is not the file to be printed, the determination is not satisfied and the process proceeds to step S20. After the CPU 31 generates a predetermined error message indicating that the print job has not been correctly sent by e-mail, the step described later is performed. Move to S45. On the other hand, in step S25, if the file attached to the e-mail is a print job file as described above, the determination is satisfied and the process proceeds to step S30.

In step S30, the PIN generation process for the user authentication is performed. In this embodiment, the PIN is configured as a user-recognizable numeric string or character string. In this example, the PIN is configured as a number string. Further, in the present specification, the case of one number character is also included in the number string. The detailed procedure of step S30 is shown in FIG.

In FIG. 5, first, in step S32, the CPU 31 of the MFP 200 registers the file attached to the mail received in step S10 as a print job to be executed.

After that, in step S34, the CPU 31 first generates a job identification PIN, which is an example of a security code, for identifying the contents of the print job. Specifically, this job identification PIN is generated as a 4-digit number string, for example, "1111" according to a known appropriate rule including, for example, a random number. In addition, unlike the second embodiment described later, in this embodiment, the job identification PIN is issued for each print job. That is, for example, when the same user sends a print job a plurality of times from the mobile device 100, a different print job is issued for each print job.

Then, in step S36, the CPU 31 sets a numerical string or a character string, which is an example of the print setting code, which is predetermined for the print setting, with respect to the job identification PIN generated in the step S34. Synthesize as. In this example, the setting PIN is composed of a numeric string having the same character type as the job identification PIN, and is added at the end. For example, as the above setting PIN, in this example, "1" for performing Duplex printing, that is, double-sided printing, "2" for performing monochrome printing, and the user executes detailed print settings on the operation panel 40 of the MFP 200. "9", which is an example of a special code corresponding to the case where it is desired to be used, is prepared in advance. As a result, in step S36, according to the above example, "11111" for Duplex printing, "11112" for monochrome printing setting, and "11112" for executing print setting on the above screen, which consist of a 5-digit number string, are used. 11119 ”, ..., Etc. are generated as the PIN after synthesis. After that, the process proceeds to step S37.

In step S37, the CPU 31 determines whether or not the user of the mobile device 100 and the profile of the user have been registered for the mobile device 100 that has sent the mail. That is, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, for example, the user identification information is registered in the MFP 200 in advance, and a profile summarizing the print settings of a plurality of items is registered for each registered user in advance. It is stored in an appropriate place in the above, for example, in the above ROM as an example of a storage unit, in the form of a user database. As the user identification information, a user name is used in this example. However, it may be a user ID or the like assigned to each user as appropriate.

That is, in the example shown in FIG. 6, at least Mr. A and Mr. B are registered as users. Then, for these two users, the items described in each column shown in FIG. 6 are pre-registered by each user performing an appropriate operation input from the operation panel 40 or the like of the MFP 200. Alternatively, it may be registered by accessing the web from the mobile device 100 by a known method, for example, by accessing the URL "http: // aaa / bbb /" of the website described later.

That is, Mr. A has an e-mail address as an example of sender information of the mobile device 100 possessed by the user, "AA@XYZ.co.jp", and a password to be used is "0987". Mr. B has an e-mail address of "BB@XYZ.co.jp" which is an example of sender information of the above mobile device 100.

In this example, as the above profile, a default profile and user setting profiles 1, 2, 3, ... That the user can add / change as desired are registered in advance for each user.

That is, Mr. A has a profile that summarizes the print settings of two items, economy mode that can save consumables such as toner and ink, and Simplex printing, that is, single-sided printing, in other words, a profile that executes these two print settings together. Is registered as a default profile unique to Mr. A. It should be noted that this default profile corresponds to an example of the first print setting executed when no particular print setting is made. Further, a user default print setting consisting of a single item may be registered instead of such a profile format. Further, as appropriate below, these are collectively referred to simply as "user default settings". In addition, as the first profile, the contents to execute the print settings of three items of Duplex printing, 4in1 printing that prints four reduced images with the same contents together on one sheet, and monochrome printing are registered. There is. In addition, as the second profile, the contents to execute the printing settings of three items of Simplex printing, 2in1 printing that prints two reduced images with the same contents together on one sheet, and color printing are registered. There is.

Similarly, Mr. B has registered a profile that summarizes the print settings of the two items of Duplex printing and 2in1 printing, that is, a profile that executes these two print settings together as a default profile unique to Mr. B. It should be noted that this default profile corresponds to an example of the first print setting executed when no particular print setting is made. Further, as the first profile, the contents for executing the printing settings of three items of Simplex printing, 2in1 printing, and color printing are registered. Further, as the second profile, the contents for executing the print settings of three items of Duplex printing, 4in1 printing, and monochrome printing are registered.

In the user database of FIG. 6, as described above, the print settings of a plurality of corresponding items are described for each profile such as the first profile, the second profile, and the like. At this time, as will be described later, the profile setting PINs "01", "02", and so on are associated with each profile, specifically according to the order of each profile. Therefore, in the user database of FIG. 6, as a result, the correspondence between each of the profile setting PINs "01" and "02" ... and each of the printing settings of the plurality of items is indirectly registered. It will be.

In step S37, the mobile device 100 that has sent the e-mail is registered in the "user" and "e-mail address" fields of FIG. 6, and at least one profile field corresponds to them. That is, it is determined whether or not the registration is made in the above-mentioned "default profile", "user setting profile 1", "user setting profile 2", and so on. If these registrations are not made, the determination in step S37 is not satisfied, the subroutine shown in FIG. 5 is terminated, the flow returns to the flow shown in FIG. 4, and the process proceeds to step S40. If these registrations are made, the determination in step S37 is satisfied, and the process proceeds to step S38.

In step S38, the CPU 31 is generated in step S34 in correspondence with all the user setting profiles registered in FIG. 6 corresponding to the user name or email address of the mobile device 100 that has sent the email. The number string or character string corresponding to the user setting profile number in FIG. 6 is combined with the job identification PIN, and in this example, the number string having the same character type as the job identification PIN is synthesized as the profile setting PIN. The number string corresponds to an example of a composite print setting code and an example of a print setting code.

For example, according to the above example, if the mobile device 100 that has sent the above mail is owned by user A, the first profile of "Duplex printing, 4in1 printing, monochrome printing" is supported. "01" is the 6-digit number string "111101" added to the end of the above "1111", and "02" corresponding to the second profile of "Simplex printing, 2in1 printing, color printing" is the end of the above "1111". The 6-digit number string "111102" added to is generated as the above-mentioned combined PIN for Mr. A.

Similarly, when the mobile device 100 that has sent the above mail is owned by user B, "01" corresponding to the first profile of "Simplex printing, 2in1 printing, color printing" is the above "1111". The 6-digit number string "111101" added to the end of "11111" and "02" corresponding to the second profile of "Duplex printing, 4in1 printing, monochrome printing" are added to the end of "1111". The number string "111102" of is generated as the above-mentioned combined PIN for Mr. B.

When step S38 is completed as described above, this subroutine shown in FIG. 5 is terminated, the flow returns to FIG. 4, and the process proceeds to step S40. The step S30 described above corresponds to an example of the issuing step described in each claim, and the process executed in this step S30 corresponds to an example of the issuing process described in each claim.

In step S40, the CPU 31 is the PIN generated in step S30, specifically, the job identification PIN generated in step S34, the PIN after synthesizing the setting PIN in step S36, and the profile setting in step S38. Generates a message to be sent to the mobile device 100, which describes the PIN after synthesizing the PIN. In the above example, the number string "1111" is described as the job identification PIN, and the number strings "11111", "11112", and "11119" are described as the PIN after synthesizing the setting PIN, and the profile setting PIN is synthesized. The numerical strings "111101" and "111102" are described as the PIN after the PIN.

7 (a) to 7 (c) show an example of the message generated at this time. In each message, the content of each PIN generated in FIG. 5 is notified to each user, and the MFP 200 is urged to input the PIN corresponding to the printing mode desired by each user.

FIG. 7A shows the message MA for the user A. This user A has registered the user default profile in FIG. 6, and in this case, when the job identification PIN generated in step S34 is input to the MFP 200 as described later, step S155 described later. As shown in, printing is executed according to the registered user default profile unique to Mr. A. Therefore, in the message MA, first, "when printing with the user default setting: 1111" is written.

On the other hand, in response to the fact that "11111" for Duplex printing and "11112" for monochrome printing setting are generated in step S36 as described above, "When performing Duplex printing" after the above notation: The notation "11111" and "when printing in monochrome: 11112" is made.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, user A is registered with Duplex printing as the first profile, 4in1 printing, monochrome printing, and Simplex printing, 2in1 printing, and color printing as the second profile, which are set by the user. It has already been completed, and as described above, "111101" and "111102" are associated with each other. Correspondingly, the message MA is further described as "111101: Duplex, 4in1, mono" and "111102: Simplex, 2in1, color".

Further, in step S36, as described above, "11119" for executing the print setting on the operation panel 40 of the MFP 200 is generated. Correspondingly, in the above message MA, the notation "When making detailed settings on the printer screen: 11119" is further made.

In this embodiment, the registered contents shown in FIG. 5 for the user A, that is, the registered contents including the user default profile and the user setting profile can be edited separately by a known method by web access. In order to notify this, the message MA has the notation "Please access the following site to edit the user default profile and user setting profile. http: // aaa / bbb /". ..

FIG. 7B shows the message MB for the user B. Since the user default profile is registered in FIG. 6 for the user B as well as the user A, the message MB first describes "when printing with the user default settings: 1111". .. Further, as in the above message MA, the notation of "when performing Duplex printing: 11111" and "when performing monochrome printing: 11112" is also made.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6, as in the case of the user A, the user B has Simplex printing as the first profile, 2in1 printing, color printing, and Duplex printing as the second profile, 4in1 according to the user settings. Printing and monochrome printing are registered, and "111101" and "111102" are associated with each other as described above. Correspondingly, the message MB is further described as "111101: Simplex, 2in1, color" and "111102: Duplex, 4in1, mono". At the bottom of this notation, as with the above message MA, this message MB also has the notation "When making detailed settings on the printer screen: 11119".

Further, as with the above user A, the registered contents shown in FIG. 5 can be edited for the user B by web access, and the message MB also states "When editing the user default profile and the user setting profile, the following: Please access the site of. http: //aaa/bbb/ "is written.

In FIG. 7 (c), unlike the above-mentioned user A and B, the user has not been registered yet, or the user has been registered but the user default profile and the user setting profile have not been registered, and the user C has not been registered. Represents the message MC for. In this embodiment, in the case of a user such as user C who has not yet been registered as a user, or who has been registered as a user but has not registered a user default profile, the job identification PIN generated in step S34 above. Is input to the MFP 200 as described below, and printing is executed according to the device default profile specific to the MFP 200, which is an example of the predetermined second print setting, as shown in step S150 described later. It should be noted that a device default print setting consisting of a single item instead of such a profile format may be prepared in advance. Further, as appropriate below, these are collectively referred to simply as "device default settings". Therefore, the message MC is first described as "when printing with the device default settings: 1111".

Further, as in the case of the above messages MA and MB, the notation of "when performing Duplex printing: 11111" and "when performing monochrome printing: 11112" is also made. At the bottom of this notation, as with the above messages MA and MB, the notation "When making detailed settings on the printer screen: 11119" is made.

Also, like the above users A and B, in the message MC, the notation "Please access the following site to edit the user default profile and user setting profile. http: //aaa/bbb/" is displayed. It has been done. In this case, "editing" includes new user registration and new profile registration when user C has not yet registered the user or has registered the user but has not registered each profile.

Note that FIG. 8 shows the print setting edit screen displayed on the operation panel 55 of the mobile device 100 when the URL “http: // aaa / bbb /” in each of the messages MA, MB, and MC is accessed. An example is shown. As shown in FIG. 8, on the print setting edit screen 22, three radio button boxes 22A, 22B, 22C for selecting print settings and "(1) print settings prompting selection in each are input. Please. ”Message M1 is displayed. The radio button box 22A is provided with two radio buttons, "single-sided printing" and "double-sided printing", which can be selected and operated. By selecting one of them, the corresponding printing mode, that is, Simplex printing or Duplex printing. Or can be set. The radio button box 22B is provided with two radio buttons, "color printing" and "monochrome printing", which can be selected and operated. By selecting one of them, the corresponding printing mode, that is, color printing or monochrome printing Can be set. The radio button box 22C is provided with three radio buttons of "1in1", "2in1", and "4in1" so that they can be selected and operated. By selecting any one of them, the corresponding printing mode, that is, one sheet. Print the same image on one sheet, print two reduced images with the same content on one sheet, or print four reduced images with the same content on one sheet. Or can be set.

Further, the print setting edit screen 22 further prompts the radio button box 22D for selecting the save destination of the print settings by the above three radio button boxes 22A, 22B, 22C, and the selection in the radio button box 22D. 2) Select the area to save the settings. ”Message M2 is displayed. The radio button box 22D has "user default", "profile 1", and "2" corresponding to the user default profile described above using FIG. 6 and the first profile, the second profile, and the third profile set by the user. "3" radio buttons are provided so that they can be selected and operated. Then, by selecting any one of these four, the corresponding storage area can be set. Specifically, it is possible to set whether to save as the user default profile in FIG. 6, as a first profile, as a second profile, or as a third profile. After the selection of the radio button boxes 22A to 22D is completed, the "confirm" button 22E is pressed to confirm the contents of each and transmit the corresponding information to the MFP 200. Upon this reception, the content of the received information, in other words, the setting content of the print setting edit screen 22, is reflected and registered in the user database of FIG. 6 under the control of the CPU 31 of the MFP 200. At this time, even if an appropriate password for opening the print setting edit screen 22 is set and the print setting edit screen 22 is opened on the mobile device 100 when logging in by inputting the password. good. At that time, it is necessary to create a new user account when setting the password for the first time. The process executed for the user database by the CPU 31 of the MFP 200 as described above corresponds to an example of the registration process described in each claim.

When the message generation in step S40 is completed as described above, the process proceeds to step S45.

In step S45, the CPU 31 creates an email containing the message generated in step S40, that is, the message MA or MB or MC in the above example, or the error message generated in step S20. Then, the created mail is transmitted from the MFP 200 to the mobile device 100.

It should be noted that the value of the generated job identification PIN and the above-mentioned value of the generated job identification PIN and the above-mentioned at another timing as appropriate from the generation of the job identification PIN in the above-mentioned step S34 to this timing after the message is transmitted as described above. It is associated with the address of the mobile device 100 and is registered in an appropriate place in the MFP 200, for example, in the above ROM in the form of a job database. An example of the registered contents is shown in FIG. The address of the mobile device 100 is, in other words, a source address of a print job and a destination address of a message.

That is, in the example shown in FIG. 9, at least Mr. A and Mr. C have transmitted print jobs as users. Then, the destination address of each user, that is, the mobile device 100 of each of Mr. A and Mr. C corresponding to each print job, and the above-mentioned job identification PIN issued corresponding to the print job are registered. That is, in the example shown in FIG. 9, the e-mail address AA @ XYZ. co. The print job transmitted from the mobile device 100, which is jp, includes a PDF format file having the file name "aaa", and the print job is given a number string "1111" as a job identification PIN. ing. Also, the e-mail address CC @ XYZ. co. The print job transmitted from the mobile device 100, which is jp, includes a PDF format file with the file name "ccc", and the print job is given a numerical string "3333" as a job identification PIN. ing. As can be seen from the fact that such registration is made for user C, when the above-mentioned user registration and user default profile / user setting registration are not made in this job database, that is, the step in FIG. 5 above. Even if the determination of S37 is not satisfied, registration is performed.

The step S45 corresponds to an example of the transmission step described in each claim, and the process executed in this step S45 corresponds to an example of the transmission process described in each claim. The transmitted mail is received by the mobile device 100 in step S50.

<Printing execution based on PIN>
After receiving the mail as described above, the mobile device 100 displays the corresponding message, that is, the content of the message MA or MB or MC in the above example on the operation panel 55. Based on the displayed message content, the user inputs the PIN corresponding to the print mode desired by himself / herself, that is, the job identification PIN, the setting PIN, and the profile setting PIN into the MFP 200. Printing related to the image file of the print job can be executed. The flow from the PIN input to the MFP 200 to the printing will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 10 shows a processing procedure executed by the MFP 200 under the control of the CPU 31. First, in step S105, the MFP 200 displays the PIN input reception screen on the display unit 42 and accepts the PIN input manually by the user. FIG. 11A shows an example of the PIN input reception screen of the display unit 42 at this time. As shown in the figure, on this PIN input reception screen 91, the message Ma of "Enter PIN" and "1" "2" "3" "4" "5" "6" "7" "8" The "9" and "0" number keys and the "confirm" key are displayed. By operating each number key, the number string corresponding to the PIN display field 91A is displayed, and by pressing the "OK" key, the contents of the PIN are read into the CPU 31 of the MFP 200.

On the other hand, in step S105, the NFC reading unit 43 also accepts the input of the PIN by the "holding" operation of the mobile device 100 described above. That is, after the user inputs a PIN on an appropriate screen of the operation screen 55 of the mobile device 100 and then holds it over the NFC reading unit 43, the PIN is transmitted to the MFP 200 by NFC wireless communication.

In step S110 after step S105, it is determined whether or not the PIN input is performed by the manual operation on the PIN input reception screen 91. While there is no PIN input on the PIN input reception screen 91, the determination in step S110 is not satisfied, and the process proceeds to step S115 to determine whether or not there is a PIN input in the NFC wireless communication PIN by the "holding" operation. Will be done. While there is no PIN input by the "holding" operation, the determination in step S115 is not satisfied, and the process proceeds to step S110 until the PIN input on the PIN input reception screen 91 or the PIN input by the "holding" operation is performed. → The loop of step S115 → step S110 → ... is repeated.

During the above repetition, if there is a PIN input on the PIN input reception screen 91, the determination in step S110 is satisfied, and if there is a PIN input by the above "holding" operation, the determination in step S115 is satisfied. In either case, the process proceeds to step S120.

In step S120, the CPU 31 performs an extraction process on the PIN input in step S110 or step S115. Specifically, the part corresponding to the above-mentioned job identification PIN in the input PIN, that is, the first four-digit part of the PIN consisting of a 4-digit to 6-digit number string according to the above-mentioned example is extracted. do.

When the PIN is a 5-digit number string, the first 4 digits and the remaining 1 digit after that are divided, and only the first 4 digits are extracted. In the above example, when the PIN is "11111", "11112", and "11119", "1111" and "1", "2", and "9" are divided, and only "1111" is extracted. When the PIN is a 6-digit number string, the first 4 digits and the remaining 2 digits after that are divided, and only the first 4 digits are extracted. In the above example, when the PIN is "111101" and "111102", "111101" and "111102" and "01" and "02" are divided, and only "1111" is extracted. If the PIN is a 4-digit number string, the 4-digit number is extracted as it is, in other words, it is acquired. In the above example, when the PIN is "1111", the "1111" is acquired as it is. Then, the process proceeds to step S125.

In step S125, the CPU 31 identifies whether or not there is a print job corresponding to the PIN extraction portion in step S120, specifically, the job identification generated by the PIN extraction portion in step S34 of FIG. It is determined whether or not it matches the PIN. According to the above example, the job identification PIN generated in step S34 is "1111". Therefore, if the PIN input in step S110 or step S115 is any of "1111", "11111", "111112", "11119", "111101", and "111102" as described above, the PIN extraction in step S125 is performed. The portion becomes the "1111", the determination in step S125 is satisfied, it is considered that there is a print job corresponding to the PIN extraction portion, and the process proceeds to step S140 described later.

On the other hand, if the PIN extraction portion in step S125 is other than the "1111", the determination in step S125 is not satisfied, and it is considered that there is no print job corresponding to the PIN extraction portion in step S120, and step S130 is performed. Move. In step S130, the CPU 31 displays the corresponding error message on the display unit 42. An example of the error display screen of the display unit 42 at this time is shown in FIG. 11 (b). As shown in the figure, on this error display screen 92, the message Mb "Error corresponding job not found" is displayed. After that, this flow ends.

In step S140 in which the determination in step S125 is satisfied and transferred as described above, the CPU 31 is the setting synthesized for the job identification PIN in the step S36 in the portion not extracted by the extraction process in the step S120. It is determined whether or not the PIN is included. In the above example, the setting PIN combined with the job identification PIN "1111" is "1", "2", "9", "01", and "02". Therefore, if the PIN input in step S110 or step S115 is any of the above "11111", "11112", "11119", "111101", and "111102", the setting PIN is included in the unextracted portion. As a result, the determination in step S140 is satisfied, and the process proceeds to step S160 described later.

On the other hand, if the PIN input in step S110 or step S115 is the above "1111", the setting PIN is not included in the unextracted portion, the determination in step S140 is not satisfied, and the process proceeds to step S145.

In step S145, the CPU 31 has registered the corresponding user default setting for the user of the print job corresponding to the PIN input in step S110 or step S115, in other words, the mobile device 100 which is the source of the print job. , Is determined. The user default setting is not the user default profile or the profile format but the user default print setting consisting of a single item. Specifically, the CPU 31 acquires the corresponding sender's e-mail address with reference to the previously registered job database shown in FIG. 9 for the PIN input in step S110 or step S115. .. After that, the CPU 31 refers to the user database shown in FIG. 6 to search for whether or not the user registration corresponding to the acquired e-mail address has been performed and the user default profile has been registered, and makes a determination. The search executed in step S145 corresponds to an example of the first search process described in each claim.

According to the above example, if the user who sent the print job and entered the PIN is Mr. A or Mr. B, the user default profile is already set as shown in the user database of FIG. Since it has already been registered, the determination in step S145 is satisfied, and the process proceeds to step S155. Then, in step S155, the CPU 31 displays a confirmation of the user default setting as shown in FIG. 11 (c) described later, and then executes printing related to the corresponding print job. According to the above example, in the case of Mr. A, printing is performed by the print setting of "economy mode, Simplex printing", and in the case of Mr. B, printing is performed by the printing setting of "Duplex printing, 2in1 printing".

At this time, an example of the confirmation screen of the user default setting displayed on the display unit 42 in the case of Mr. A is shown in FIG. 11 (c). As shown in the figure, on the user default setting confirmation screen 93, the message Mc of "Start printing the corresponding job with the user default setting" and the print setting display 93A are displayed. In the print setting display 93A, "aaa.pdf" representing the file name of Mr. A's print job, and "economy mode: ON" representing the economy mode and Simplex printing, which are the user default profiles set in advance by Mr. A. "Double-sided setting: OFF" is written. When step S155 is completed in this way, this flow ends.

On the other hand, when the user who sent the print job and entered the PIN is, for example, Mr. C, the user default profile is not registered as shown in the user database of FIG. 6, so step S145. The determination of is not satisfied, and the process proceeds to step S150. Then, in step S150, the CPU 31 displays a confirmation of the device default setting as shown in FIG. 11D described later, and then executes printing related to the corresponding print job. In this example, the print setting of "2in1 printing, Duplex printing" is set and stored in advance as the device default profile, and printing is performed by this setting.

FIG. 11D shows an example of the above device default setting confirmation screen displayed on the display unit 42 in the case of the user C. As shown in the figure, on the device default setting confirmation screen 94, the message Md of "Start printing the corresponding job with the device default settings" and the print setting display 94A are displayed. In the print setting display 94A, "ccc.pdf" indicating the file name of Mr. C's print job and the preset device default settings, that is, "layout: 2in1" and "double-sided setting: ON" indicating 2in1 printing and Duplex printing. Is written. When step S150 is completed in this way, this flow ends.

Further, in step S160 in which the determination in step S140 is satisfied and the movement is performed, the CPU 31 uses the setting PIN included in the unextracted portion to execute detailed print settings on the operation panel 40 of the MFP 200. It is determined whether or not it is what is desired to be done, that is, whether or not it is the number string "9" in the above example. If the PIN input in step S110 or step S115 is "11119", the setting PIN is "9", so that the determination in step S140 is satisfied, and the process proceeds to step S200 described later. If the PIN input in step S110 or step S115 is any of the above "11111", "11112", "111101", and "111102", the setting PIN is "1", "2", "01", and "02". Therefore, the determination in step S140 is not satisfied, and the process proceeds to step S165.

In step S165, the CPU 31 determines whether or not there is a print setting that matches the setting PIN. In the above example, there are four types of the above setting PINs other than "9" combined with the job identification PIN "1111", "1", "2", "01", and "02", and "Duplex printing" is used for each. "Simplex printing", "first profile set by user", and "second profile set by user" are associated with each other. Therefore, if the PIN input in step S110 or step S115 is any of the above "11111", "11112", "111101", and "111102", the setting PIN included in the unextracted portion is The determination of step S165 is satisfied with "1", "2", "01", and "02", and it is considered that there is a setting corresponding to the above setting PIN, and the process proceeds to step S170 described later.

On the other hand, if the PIN input in step S110 or step S115 is other than the above "11111", "11112", "111101", and "111102", the determination in step S165 is not satisfied, and there is no setting corresponding to the setting PIN. It is regarded and the process proceeds to step S175. In step S175, the CPU 31 displays the corresponding error message on the display unit 42. An example of the error display screen of the display unit 42 at this time is shown in FIG. 11 (e). As shown in the figure, on this error display screen 95, the message Mb "No corresponding setting is found" is displayed. After that, this flow ends.

In step S170 in which the determination in step S165 is satisfied and transferred as described above, the CPU 31 is found to match the setting PIN as shown in FIGS. 11 (f) and 11 (g) described later. After displaying the confirmation of the print settings, the print related to the corresponding print job is executed according to the print settings. According to the above example, when the PIN input in step S110 or step S115 is the above "11111", that is, when the setting PIN is "1", printing is performed and input according to the print setting of "Duplex printing". When the PIN is "11112", that is, the setting PIN is "2", printing is performed according to the print setting of "monochrome printing".

When the PIN input in step S110 or step S115 is "111101", that is, the setting PIN is "01", the first profile set by the user, that is, Mr. A is "Duplex printing, 4in1 printing, monochrome". Printing is performed by the print setting of "print", and Mr. B prints by the print setting of "Simplex printing, 2in1 printing, color printing". When the input PIN is the above "111102", that is, the setting PIN is "02", the second profile set by the user, that is, Mr. A prints according to the print setting of "Simplex printing, 2in1 printing, color printing". We, Mr. B, prints according to the print settings of "Duplex printing, 4in1 printing, monochrome printing".

At this time, an example of the setting confirmation screen displayed on the display unit 42 when the PIN input by Mr. A is the above "11111", that is, the setting PIN is "1" is shown in FIG. 11 (f). .. As shown in the figure, on the setting confirmation screen 96, the message Mf of "Start printing the corresponding job with the setting PIN" 1 "" and the print setting display 96A are displayed. In the print setting display 96A, "aaa.pdf" representing the file name of Mr. A's print job and "double-sided setting: ON" representing the setting corresponding to the above setting PIN "1", that is, Duplex, are described. Further, FIG. 11 (g) shows an example of a setting confirmation screen displayed on the display unit 42 when the PIN input by Mr. A is the above "111101", that is, the setting PIN is "01". As shown in the figure, on the setting confirmation screen 97, the message Mg of "Start printing the corresponding job with the user profile" 1 "" and the print setting display 97A are displayed. In the print setting display 97A, "aaa.pdf" indicating the file name of Mr. A's print job, the setting of Mr. A's first profile, that is, Duplex, 4in1, "double-sided setting: ON" and "color setting: mono" indicating monochrome. "Layout: 4in1" is written. When step S170 is completed as described above, this flow ends.

On the other hand, in step S200 in which the setting PIN is "9" and the determination in step S160 is satisfied and the process proceeds, the CPU 31 corresponds to the user's request for the detailed print setting on the operation panel 40 of the MFP 200. , Screen setting Print processing is performed. The detailed procedure of this step S200 is shown in FIG.

In FIG. 12, first, in step S205, the CPU 31 of the MFP 200 displays a screen for detailed print settings on the display unit 42. In the above example, FIG. 13A shows an example of a screen for detailed print setting displayed on the display unit 42 when the user is Mr. A. In the detailed setting screen 81, which is an example of the print setting screen in FIG. 13 (a), the message Mp of "Please make detailed print settings" and the print setting fields 81A to 81D are displayed. In this example, "aaa.pdf" indicating the file name of Mr. A's print job is also displayed for the message Mp.

In the print setting field 81A, double-sided setting of Simplex printing or Duplex printing can be performed by switching the "ON" and "OFF" buttons of the double-sided setting. In the illustrated example, "ON" indicating the execution of Duplex printing is selected. In the print setting field 81B, the color setting of color printing or monochrome printing can be performed by switching between "color" and "monochrome". In the illustrated example, "color" indicating color printing execution is selected.

In the print setting field 81C, the above-mentioned one image is printed on one sheet, two reduced images having the same content are printed together on one sheet, or four reduced images having the same content are printed together. The layout setting for printing images on one sheet at a time can be set by switching between "1in1", "2in1", and "4in1". In the illustrated example, "1in1" representing a layout for printing one image on one sheet of paper is selected. In the print setting field 81D, the number of copies to be printed can be set by selecting a numerical value or inputting a numerical value. In the illustrated example, "1 copy" indicating that only one copy is to be printed is selected.

After the selection of the print setting fields 81A to D on the detailed setting screen 81 of FIG. 13A is completed, the "confirmation" button 82A is pressed to confirm the respective selection contents. As a result, the determination of step S210 after the above step S205 shown in FIG. 12 is satisfied, and the process proceeds to step S215. The process executed in step S205 corresponds to an example of the first display process described in each claim.

In step S215, the CPU 31 displays the confirmation of print execution with the print settings as shown in FIG. 13 (b) described later, which was confirmed in step S210, and then responds according to the confirmed print settings. Executes printing related to the print job to be performed. According to the example shown in FIG. 13A, one copy is printed according to the print settings of "Duplex printing", "color printing", and "1in1 printing".

At this time, an example of the print execution confirmation screen displayed on the display unit 42 is shown in FIG. 13 (b). As shown in the figure, on the print execution confirmation screen 82, the message Mq of "Start printing" and the print setting display 82A are displayed. In the print setting display 82A, "aaa.pdf" indicating the file name of Mr. A's print job and "double-sided setting: ON", "color setting: mono", and "layout: 1in1" indicating the confirmed setting as described above are displayed. Is written. When step S215 is completed as described above, the process proceeds to step S220.

In step S220, the CPU 31 displays on the display unit 42 an inquiry screen as to whether or not to save the print settings determined in step S210 and printed in step S215. An example of the inquiry screen displayed on the display unit 42 at this time is shown in FIG. 13 (c). As shown in the figure, on this inquiry screen 83, the message Mr of "Do you want to save this setting?", The "YES" button 83A, and the "NO" button 83B are displayed. When the user presses the "NO" button 83B with the intention of not saving the above settings, the determination of step S225 after the above step S220 shown in FIG. 12 is not satisfied, the subroutine is terminated, and the process returns to FIG. The flow of FIG. 10 is terminated. When the user presses the “YES” button 83A with the intention of saving the above settings, the determination in step S225 is satisfied, and the process proceeds to step S230.

In step S230, the CPU 31 saves the print setting to be saved in which area of the user database shown in FIG. 6, in other words, saves it as a user default profile in the user database, or first to first user settings. The area selection screen of whether to save as one of the three profiles is displayed on the display unit 42. An example of the area selection screen displayed on the display unit 42 at this time is shown in FIG. 13 (d). As shown in the figure, on this area selection screen 84, the message Ms of "Which area do you want to set?" And the area buttons 84A to 84D are displayed.

The "user default" area button 84A is a button for setting the print setting contents to be saved as the user default profile in the user database of FIG. If the user default profile is a single item setting, the user default print setting is used.

The area button 84B of the "user profile 1" is a button for setting the print setting contents to be saved as the first user setting profile in the user database of FIG. The first profile is the first user setting when it is a single item setting.

The area button 84C of the "user profile 2" is a button for setting the print setting contents to be saved as the second profile of the user setting in the user database of FIG. The second profile is the second user setting when it is a single item setting.

The area button 84D of the "user profile 3" is a button for setting the print setting contents to be saved as the third profile of the user setting in the user database of FIG. The third profile is the third user setting when it is a single item setting.

When the user presses any of the area buttons 84A to 84D, the determination in step S235 after the step S230 shown in FIG. 12 is satisfied, and the process proceeds to step S240.

In step S240, the CPU 31 displays on the display unit 42 a screen prompting the input of the web setting password, which is used when reading and editing the printed settings after saving from the corresponding website. At this time, an example of the web setting password input screen displayed on the display unit 42 is shown in FIG. 13 (e). As shown in the figure, on the web setting password input screen 85, the message Mt of "Enter the password for web editing" and the password input area 85A are displayed. On the password input screen 85A, the characters constituting the password, in the illustrated example, six characters "a", "b", "c", "d", "e", and "f" are displayed by an appropriate operation on the operation panel 40. You can enter it. When the user finishes inputting the password in the password input area 85A and presses the "confirm" button 85B, the password content is confirmed, the determination in step S245 after the step S240 shown in FIG. 12 is satisfied, and step S250. Move to.

In step S250, the CPU 31 saves the print settings to be saved in the area of the user database selected in steps S230 and S235. The process of step S250 executed when the user presses the area button 84A of the "user default" corresponds to an example of the storage process described in each claim. After that, this subroutine is terminated, the process returns to FIG. 10, and the flow of FIG. 10 is terminated.

It should be noted that step S150, step S155, step S170, and step S215 described above correspond to an example of the printing step described in each claim, and the process executed in these steps corresponds to an example of the printing process described in each claim. is doing.

<Effect of the first embodiment>
As described above, according to the present embodiment, when a print job is transmitted from the mobile device 100 by the user, a job identification PIN corresponding to the print job is issued by the CPU 31, and at least the job identification PIN is the mobile device 100. Will be sent to. Based on the reception result, the user manually inputs a PIN including the contents of the job identification PIN to the operation panel 40 of the MFP 200, or inputs by wireless communication via a "holding" operation or the like to print the print. The contents sent by the job are printed. Since the cumulative printing is executed in this way, the confidentiality of the printed contents can be ensured.

At this time, in the MFP 200 of the present embodiment, the setting PIN, that is, the numerical strings "1", "2", "9", etc. in the above example are associated with various print settings in advance, or the profile is described. The setting PIN, that is, the numerical strings "01", "02", etc. are associated with each other in the above example. By combining this setting PIN or profile setting PIN with the issued job identification PIN at the time of inputting an operation to the MFP 200, the user can set the print setting corresponding to the setting PIN or the profile setting PIN. Can be executed. In this case, it is not always necessary to transmit the contents of the setting PIN and the profile setting PIN. That is, it is not necessary to transmit the PIN including the above-mentioned setting PIN / profile setting PIN or the single transmission of only the setting PIN / profile setting PIN from the above MFP 200 to the mobile device 100. That is, only the PIN that does not include the above-mentioned setting PIN and profile setting PIN, for example, the job identification PIN may be transmitted from the MFP 200 to the mobile device 100. In this case, for example, the user remembers the correspondence between various print settings and the above-mentioned setting PIN or profile setting PIN, or the correspondence is recorded on an appropriate medium such as a document or an electronic medium. It suffices for the user to combine the stored or recorded setting PIN or profile setting PIN with the transmitted job identification PIN and input it to the operation panel 40.

As described above, in the present embodiment, when the operation is input to the operation panel 40, the user operates and inputs the job identification PIN to which the above-mentioned setting PIN or profile setting PIN is combined, so that the setting PIN or profile is used. Printing is executed according to the print settings corresponding to the setting PIN. As a result, for example, the print setting can be easily set by a simple method as compared with the conventional structure in which an appropriate setting screen needs to be displayed on the display unit 42 and various print settings need to be set manually. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the burden of operation labor on the user and improve convenience.

Further, in this embodiment, in particular, in addition to the job identification PIN, the setting PIN or the profile setting PIN that can be combined with the job identification PIN is transmitted from the MFP 200 to the mobile device 100 in the form of an email in the above example. .. As a result, the user sees the above-mentioned setting PIN or profile setting PIN received by the mobile device 100, and combines the above-mentioned setting PIN or profile setting PIN corresponding to his / her desired print setting with the job identification PIN. , Operation can be input. As a result, the user can intuitively and easily recognize what kind of print setting is actually used for printing after the operation input.

Further, in the present embodiment, in particular, when the job identification PIN to which the above setting PIN or the profile setting PIN is not combined is input to the MFP 200 in an operation, for example, the sender information of the print job such as the user ID and the e-mail address is previously entered. The associated user default profile or user default print settings are searched. In the above example, as shown in step S155 of FIG. 10, when the number string “1111” is manually input, the user default profile or the user default print setting associated with the e-mail address in advance is searched. Then, if the user default profile or the user default print setting is found, printing is executed based on those settings. As a result, even if the user inadvertently or intentionally inputs the job identification PIN without combining the setting PIN or the profile setting PIN, the user prefers the user ID, the e-mail address, or the like. The print settings that you normally use are automatically realized. As a result, this can also improve convenience for the user.

Further, in this embodiment, in particular, when the above-mentioned user default profile or user default print setting is not found, printing is executed based on the device default profile or device default print setting that is fixedly set in advance for the MFP 200. To. As a result, even if the user default profile or the user default print setting is not found, the setting unique to the MFP 200 ensures that printing is executed without causing an error or the like. Can be done.

Further, in the present embodiment, in particular, a job identification PIN to which a profile setting PIN corresponding to a profile that summarizes print settings of a plurality of items is combined can be operation-input to the operation panel 40. As a result, even a special print setting mode that requires setting for each of a plurality of items can be easily realized in the form of one profile.

Further, in this embodiment, in particular, the correspondence between each of the profile setting PINs and each of the print settings of a plurality of items is registered in the form of a user database in the above example, for example. This makes it possible to easily realize the print settings preferred by the user and perform so-called customization.

Further, in this embodiment, in particular, when the PIN for setting the special code and the job identification PIN in which the number "9" is combined in the above example are input by operation, as shown in FIG. 13A, the display unit 42 is used. , The detailed setting screen 81 capable of executing the print setting of a plurality of items is displayed. As a result, the user can freely set print settings for a plurality of items on the displayed detailed setting screen 81.

Further, in this embodiment, as shown in step S250 of FIG. 12, the print settings of a plurality of items received corresponding to the display of the detailed setting screen 81 are set to the source information of the print job, that is, the e-mail address in the above example. Can be saved as a user default setting associated with. As a result, the user can easily call and use the print settings of a plurality of items freely set on the detailed setting screen 81 as the default settings of the user from the next time onward.

Further, in this embodiment, in particular, the job identification PIN, the setting PIN, and the profile setting PIN have the same character type. For example, in the above example, the job identification PIN, the setting PIN, and the profile setting PIN are both numerical values. In addition to the above, for example, alphabets and alphabets, katakana and katakana, hiragana and hiragana, etc. may be used. As a result, when the user manually inputs an operation on the operation panel 40, it is not necessary to press a key of another genre or a shift key, for example, and the input is easy.

Further, in this embodiment, in particular, a PIN including at least the content of the job identification PIN from the user's mobile device 100 can be accepted by input via wireless communication using the NFC method, Bluetooth (registered trademark), WFD method, or the like. be. As a result, the user can, for example, position the mobile device 100 relatively close to the MFP 200 and operate and input the PIN by wireless communication. As a result, the burden of operation labor can be greatly reduced and the convenience can be further improved as compared with the case where the PIN is manually operated and input by using, for example, a button or a key on the operation panel 40.

<Modification example using password>
In the first embodiment, a password may be applied to the print job file. The processing in such a modification is shown in FIG. 14 corresponding to FIG. 4 above.

In FIG. 14, in this modification, the processes of steps S61 to S68 are newly performed as the processes between steps S25 and S30 of FIG. That is, through the same steps S5, S10, and S15 as in FIG. 4, when the attached file is a file to be printed and the determination is satisfied in step S25, the process proceeds to the newly provided step S61.

In step S61, the CPU 31 of the MFP 200 determines whether or not the print job file received in step S10 has a password. The process executed in step S61 corresponds to an example of the determination process described in each claim. If the password is not attached, the determination is not satisfied, the process proceeds to step S30 similar to FIG. 4, and thereafter, the same procedure as in FIG. 4 is executed. If the password is attached, the determination in step S61 is not satisfied, and the process proceeds to step S62.

In step S62, the CPU 31 creates an email requesting a password. Then, the created mail is transmitted from the MFP 200 to the mobile device 100. The process executed in step S62 corresponds to an example of the request process described in each claim. The transmitted mail is received by the mobile device 100 in step S63.

In response to the reception of the e-mail, when the user creates an e-mail describing the password for opening the file by an appropriate operation on the mobile device 100, the e-mail is transmitted from the mobile device 100 to the MFP 200 in step S64. To. The transmitted mail is received by the MFP 200 in step S65.

After that, the CPU 31 of the MFP 200 determines in step S66 whether or not the file can be opened by using the password included in the mail received in step S65. If the file is opened, the determination is satisfied, the process proceeds to step S30 similar to FIG. 4, and then the same procedure as in FIG. 4 is executed. If the file cannot be opened, the determination in step S66 is not satisfied, and the process proceeds to step S67.

In step S67, the CPU 31 creates an error mail indicating that the file could not be opened with the password received in step S65. Then, the created error mail is transmitted from the MFP 200 to the mobile device 100. The transmitted error mail is received by the mobile device 100 in step S68.

The processes other than the above are the same as those in FIGS. 4 and 5, and the description thereof will be omitted.

In this modification, in step S61, it is determined whether or not the file included in the received print job has a password. Then, in the case of a file with a password, the mobile device 100 is requested to send the password, and the mobile device 100 sends an e-mail in which the corresponding password is entered, and the above is described in step S30. A PIN is generated.

As described above, in this modification, when the file to be printed is a file to which a password is attached, printing can be performed by inputting the password on the mobile device 100. This has the following significance.

That is, usually, the operation panel 40 provided in the MFP 200 or the like often has a low operation input function due to space restrictions or the like, and when trying to input a password consisting of complicated characters, the operation becomes troublesome and the user The labor burden is extremely large.

On the other hand, in this modification, a password is input by a mobile device 100, which is usually provided with a high operation input function, for example, a smartphone, a mobile communication terminal, or the like, and an e-mail containing the password is sent to the mobile device 100. It is enough to send from. Therefore, the burden of operation labor on the user can be reduced, and the convenience can be improved. Further, in the case of the mobile device 100 such as the smartphone or the mobile communication terminal, when the password is input, the input content is relatively difficult to be seen by others other than the user, and there is an effect that the confidentiality of the password can be improved.

Further, as described above, a print job can be sent from the mobile device 100 to the MFP 200 in the form of an email with a file attached, and for password input, if an email containing the password is sent from the end of the mobile device 100 to the MFP 200. Sufficient. Since both the print job and the password transmission can be processed by e-mail in this way, it is easy for the user to input and is highly convenient.

<Modification example of job identification PIN for each user>
Further, in the first embodiment, the job identification PIN is issued for each print job, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, by issuing a job identification PIN for each user, the same job identification PIN may be used for different print jobs if they are the same user.

The flow in job reception and PIN generation in this modification is the same as the processing shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 described above. However, in the generation of the job identification PIN in step S34 of FIG. 5, the same user is issued with the same contents. Whether or not they are the same user is identified by, for example, the e-mail address of the mobile device 100 that is the sender. As a result, in the job database in this modification, as shown in FIG. 15 corresponding to FIG. 9, the same job identification PIN is recorded for the same user.

That is, in the example shown in FIG. 15, the e-mail address of the owned mobile device 100 is AA @ XYZ. co. Mr. A, a user who is a jp, sends a print job three times. The first print job includes a PDF file with the file name "aaa". The second print job includes a PDF file with the file name "ab". Furthermore, the third print job includes a PDF file with the file name "aac". The same number string "1111" is assigned as the job identification PIN to each of these three print jobs.

Similarly, the e-mail address of the mobile device 100 owned by CC @ XYZ. co. Mr. C, a user who is a jp, sends a print job twice. The first print job includes a PDF file with the file name "ccc". The second print job includes a PDF file with the file name "ccd". The same number string "3333" is assigned as the job identification PIN to each of these two print jobs.

The flow from the PIN input to the MFP 200 to the printing in the present modification in which the job identification PIN is assigned as described above is shown in FIG. 16 corresponding to FIG. 10. In FIG. 16, in this modification, step S166, step S167, and step S168 are newly provided between step S165 and step S170 in FIG. 10, and between step S160 and step S200 in FIG. Is newly provided with step S196, step S197, and step S198. That is, the determination of step S160 is not satisfied through the same steps S105 to S140 as in FIG. 10, and in step S165, for example, the PIN input in step S110 or step S115 is the above "11111" "11112" "111101". In the case of any of "111102", since there is a print setting corresponding to the setting PIN, the determination in step S165 is satisfied, and the process proceeds to the newly provided step S166.

In step S166, the CPU 31 of the MFP 200, for example, by referring to the job database of FIG. 15, determines whether or not two or more print jobs including the current print job are registered for the user who sent the print job. Is searched and judged. The process executed in step S166 corresponds to an example of the second search process described in each claim. If only one print job is found, that is, if this print job is registered for the first time in the job database of FIG. 15, the determination is not satisfied, and the process proceeds to step S170 similar to FIG. It becomes. When two or more print jobs are found including the current print job, that is, when two or more print jobs are registered, the determination in step S166 is satisfied, and the process proceeds to step S167.

In step S167, the CPU 31 displays a file selection screen for which of the files of the plurality of print jobs registered in the job database shown in FIG. 15 for the user related to the print job is to be printed. It is displayed in the unit 42. The process executed in step S167 corresponds to an example of the second display process described in each claim. FIG. 17 shows an example of the file selection screen displayed on the display unit 42 at this time. As shown in the figure, this file area selection screen 71 takes the case of user A described above as an example using FIG. 15, and describes the message Mx of "Please select a file to be printed" and Mr. A. Three file selection fields 71A to 71C are displayed corresponding to the above three registered print jobs. In the file selection field 71A, the name "aaa.pdf" of the file of the first registered print job is displayed, and the "print" and "do not print" buttons on the right side indicate whether or not to print the file. It can be done by switching. The figure shows an example of a print target. Similarly, in the file selection field 71B, the name "ab.pdf" of the file of the second registered print job is displayed, and "print" and "print" on the right side indicate whether or not the file is to be printed. It can be done by switching the "No" button. In addition, the figure shows an example in the case of printing. In the file selection field 71C, the name "aac.pdf" of the file of the third registered print job is displayed, and the "print" and "do not print" buttons on the right side indicate whether or not to print the file. It can be done by switching. The illustration is an example when it is not printed. After switching the buttons in the file selection fields 71A to C, the "confirm" button 72A is pressed to confirm the selection contents of each area. As a result, the determination in step S168 after the step S167 shown in FIG. 16 is satisfied, the process proceeds to step S170, and the same procedure as in FIG. 10 is subsequently executed.

On the other hand, when the determination in step S160 is satisfied, steps S196, S197, and S198, which are the same processing contents as those in steps S166, S167, and S168, are performed.

That is, in step S196, the CPU 31 of the MFP 200 searches for and determines whether or not two or more print jobs are registered for the user who sent the print job, and determines if the current print job is registered for the first time. Is not satisfied, and the process proceeds to step S200. When two or more print jobs are registered, the determination in step S196 is satisfied, and in step S197, the CPU 31 prints which file among the files of the plurality of print jobs registered for the user related to the print job. The above file selection screen is displayed. After that, when the selection content of each area is confirmed in the same manner as described above, the determination of step S188 after step S197 is satisfied and the process proceeds to step S200, and thereafter, the same procedure as described above is executed.

The processing other than the above is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

The same effect as that of the first embodiment is obtained by this modification as well.

<Second Embodiment>
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In this embodiment, in addition to the above-mentioned MFP 200 and the mobile device 100, a server connected to the MFP 200 and the mobile device 100 so as to be able to send and receive information is provided. The same reference numerals are given to the same parts as those of the first embodiment and its modifications, and the description thereof will be omitted or simplified as appropriate.

<Overall configuration of printing system>
As shown in FIG. 18 corresponding to FIG. 1, the printing system 900 of the present embodiment, which is an example of a printing system, has the mobile device 100 as an example of an external terminal, the MFP 200 as an example of a printing device, and a server 300. And have. In the printing system 900 of this embodiment, as shown in the figure, data can be exchanged between the server 300 and the mobile device 100 and between the server 300 and the MFP 200 by wireless communication.

In this example, as shown in FIG. 18, the server 300 has a CPU 351 which is an example of a server-side control unit, a ROM 352, a RAM 353, an HDD 354, and a large-capacity storage device 355. The CPU 351 and ROM 352, RAM 353, HDD 354, and the large-capacity storage device 355 are electrically connected to the communication control unit 358.

The communication control unit 358 is an interface for performing wireless communication. The server 300 transmits / receives data to / from the wireless LAN interface 38 of the MFP 200 and the wireless LAN interface 58 of the mobile device 100 via the communication control unit 358 by a known method.

<Job reception and PIN generation>
In this embodiment, instead of the MFP 200, the server 300 receives an email with a print job attached from the mobile device 100, issues a PIN for user authentication, and sends the email to the mobile device 100. After that, as in the first embodiment, when the user inputs the PIN into the MFP 200, printing related to the accumulated print job is started. FIG. 19 is a sequence diagram showing the flow of receiving the job and generating the PIN, among which is a processing procedure executed by the mobile device 100 under the control of the CPU 51 and a process executed by the server 300 under the control of the CPU 351. Represents the procedure.

In FIG. 19, first, in step S5 similar to the first embodiment, the mobile device 100 sends an e-mail to which a print job file is attached. The server 300 receives the transmitted mail in step S10'corresponding to the above step S10. After that, in the server 300, in step S15', the CPU 351 determines whether or not the received mail has an attached file, as in the step S15. If the file is not attached to the mail, the determination in step S15'is not satisfied, and the process proceeds to step S20'described later. If the file is attached to the mail, the determination in step S15'is satisfied, and the process proceeds to step S25' corresponding to the above step S25.

In step S25', the CPU 351 of the server 300 determines whether or not the attached file is a file to be printed, as in step S25. If the attached file is not the file to be printed, the determination is not satisfied and the process proceeds to step S20'similar to step S20. After the error message is generated by the CPU 351, the process proceeds to step S45'described later. On the other hand, if the file is a print job file in step S25', the determination is satisfied, and the process proceeds to step S30'.

In step S30', the CPU 351 performs a PIN generation process for user authentication, as in step S30. The detailed procedure is the same as in step S30, and the same processing as in steps S32 to S38 shown in FIG. 5 is sufficient, and thus the description thereof will be omitted. However, in this case, the subject is not the CPU 31 of the MFP 200 but the CPU 351 of the server 300. At that time, the user database shown in FIG. 6 is stored not in the MFP 200 but in an appropriate place in the server 300, for example, in the large-capacity storage device 355. When step S30'is completed, the process proceeds to step S40'. Note that step S30'corresponds to an example of the server-side issuing step described in each claim, and the process executed in this step S30'corresponds to an example of the issuing process described in each claim.

In step S40', similarly to step S40, the CPU 351 generates a message for sending to the mobile device 100, which describes the PIN generated in step S30'. As for the content of this message, as in the first embodiment, for example, those illustrated in FIGS. 7A to 7C are sufficient, and thus the description thereof will be omitted. Further, also in this embodiment, when the URL “http://aaa/bbb/” in each of the above-mentioned messages MA, MB, and MC is accessed, the above-mentioned print setting edit screen is displayed on the above-mentioned operation panel 55 of the mobile device 100. 22 is displayed, and print settings can be made in the same procedure. When step S40'is completed, the process proceeds to step S45'.

In step S45', as in step S45, the CPU 351 creates an email containing the message generated in step S40'or step S20'. Then, the created mail is transmitted from the server 300 to the mobile device 100. In this embodiment, the job database described above with reference to FIG. 9 is registered in an appropriate place in the server 300, for example, in the large-capacity storage device 355 in the form of a job database. The step S45'corresponds to an example of the server-side transmission step described in each claim, and the process executed in this step S45'corresponds to an example of the server-side transmission process described in each claim. The transmitted mail is received by the mobile device 100 in the same step S50 as described above.

<Printing execution based on PIN>
Similar to the first embodiment, the mobile device 100 displays the content of the corresponding message on the operation panel 55 after receiving the mail as described above. Based on the displayed message content, the user inputs the PIN corresponding to the print mode desired by himself / herself, that is, the job identification PIN, the setting PIN, and the profile setting PIN into the MFP 200. Printing related to the image file of the print job can be executed. The flow from the PIN input to the MFP 200 to the printing will be described with reference to FIG. 20 corresponding to FIG. 10.

FIG. 20 shows a processing procedure executed by the mobile device 100 and the server 300 under the control of the CPU 51 and the CPU 351. Steps S105 to S115 are the same as those in FIG. 10, and the MFP 200 accepts a PIN input by a user's manual operation on the operation panel 40 or NFC wireless communication on the NFC reading unit 43. When displaying the PIN input reception screen in step S105, the server 300 is inquired about the mode of the display screen, and the PIN input reception screen corresponding to the inquiry result is displayed. You may. As an example of the PIN input reception screen, for example, the PIN input reception screen 91 shown in FIG. 11A may be used. After that, the process proceeds to step S122.

In step S122, the CPU 51 of the mobile device 100 transmits the PIN received in step S110 or step S115 to the server 300. Note that step S122 corresponds to an example of the device-side transmission step described in each claim, and the process executed in step S122 corresponds to an example of the device-side transmission process described in each claim. The server 300 receives the transmitted PIN in step S123.

After that, the CPU 351 of the server 300 moves to the step S120'corresponding to the step S120, and like the step S120, the portion of the PIN received in the step S123 corresponding to the job identification PIN, the first in the above example. Extract the 4-digit part of.

After that, the process proceeds to step S125', and the CPU 351 of the server 300 has the PIN extraction portion extracted in step S120'as in step S125, which is the PIN generation process in step S30' described above. It is determined whether or not it matches the job identification PIN generated in step S34. If there is no corresponding print job in the PIN extraction portion, the determination is not satisfied, and the process proceeds to step S130'corresponding to step S130. In step S130', the CPU 351 generates an instruction for displaying the corresponding error message on the display unit 42 of the MFP 200, and transmits the instruction to the MFP 200. The error message may be, for example, the message Mb of "Error corresponding job not found" shown in FIG. 11B described above. On the other hand, in step S125', if there is a corresponding print job in the PIN extraction portion, the determination is satisfied and the process proceeds to step S140'.

In step S140', the CPU 351 is the same as in step S140, and the portion not extracted by the extraction process in step S120'is the PIN generation process in step S30', specifically in step S36 of FIG. It is determined whether or not the above-mentioned setting PIN synthesized for the job identification PIN is included.

If the non-extracted portion includes the setting PIN, the determination in step S140'is satisfied, and the process proceeds to step S160'described later. If the non-extracted portion does not include the setting PIN, the determination in step S140'is not satisfied, and the process proceeds to step S145'.

In step S145', similarly to step S145, the CPU 351 refers to the job database shown in FIG. 9, and the print job corresponding to the PIN input in step S110 or step S115, in other words, the mobile that is the source thereof. It is determined whether or not the user of the device 100 has the corresponding user default setting registered. The user default setting is the user default profile or the user default print setting.

If there is a corresponding user default setting, the determination in step S145'is satisfied, and the process proceeds to step S155' corresponding to step S155. In step S155', the CPU 351 generates an instruction for executing printing related to the print job with the registered user default settings, and sends the instruction to the MFP 200. On the other hand, if there is no corresponding user default setting, the determination in step S145'is not satisfied, and the process proceeds to step S150' corresponding to the above step S150. In step S150', the CPU 351 generates an instruction for executing printing related to the print job with the above-mentioned device default settings, and sends the instruction to the MFP 200.

On the other hand, in step S160'where the determination in step S140'is satisfied and the user moves to the operation panel 40 of the MFP 200, the CPU 351 has the setting PIN included in the unextracted portion, as in the step S160. In the above-mentioned special code for executing detailed print settings, that is, in the above-mentioned example, it is determined whether or not the number string is "9". If the setting PIN is the special code, the determination is satisfied, and the process proceeds to step S200'described later. If the setting PIN is not the special code, the determination in step S160'is not satisfied, and the process proceeds to step S165'.

In step S165', similarly to step S165, the CPU 351 determines whether or not there is a print setting that matches the setting PIN. If there is no setting corresponding to the setting PIN, the determination is not satisfied, and the process proceeds to step S175'corresponding to step S175. In step S175', the CPU 351 generates an instruction for displaying the corresponding error message on the display unit 42 of the MFP 200, and transmits the instruction to the MFP 200. The error message may be the message Me or the like of "No applicable setting found" shown in FIG. 11 (e) above. On the other hand, if there is a setting corresponding to the setting PIN, the determination in step S165'is satisfied, and the process proceeds to step S170' corresponding to the step S170. In step S170', the CPU 351 generates an instruction for executing printing related to the print job with the print settings corresponding to the setting PIN, and transmits the instruction to the MFP 200.

On the other hand, in step S200'corresponding to step S200, where the setting PIN is the special code and the determination in step S160'is satisfied and the process is performed, the CPU 351 sets the screen for the MFP 200 as described in FIG. An instruction for executing the print process and executing the print related to the print job with the print settings selected and input by the user in the screen setting print process is generated and transmitted to the MFP 200. It should be noted that step S150', step S155', step S170', and step S200' described above correspond to an example of the instruction steps described in each claim, and the process executed in these steps is the instruction described in each claim. It corresponds to an example of processing.

The MFP200 receives the instruction transmitted in any one of step S130', step S150', step S155', step S170', step S175', and step S200 in step S180.

After that, in step S185, the MFP 200 prints the print job under the control of the CPU 31 with the print settings corresponding to the received instructions. When the instruction in step S200'is received in step S180, the CPU 31 of the MFP 200 executes each procedure of steps S205 to S250 shown in FIG. 12 as the step S185 as described above. Then, printing related to the above print job is performed.

Also in this embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment is obtained.

In the above, the arrows shown in FIGS. 1 and 18 indicate an example of signal flow, and do not limit the signal flow direction.

Further, the sequence diagrams and flowcharts shown in FIGS. 4, 5, 10, 12, 12, 14, 16, 19, and 20 do not limit the present invention to the procedure shown therein, and are the gist of the invention. And, the procedure may be added / deleted or the order may be changed within the range not deviating from the technical idea.

In addition to the above-mentioned above, the methods according to the above-described embodiment and each modification may be appropriately combined and used.

In addition, although not illustrated one by one, the present invention is carried out with various modifications within a range not deviating from the gist thereof.

10 Image forming part (printing part)
31 CPU (control unit, device control unit)
32 ROM (storage unit)
37 NFC interface 38 Wireless LAN interface (communication input unit, operation unit)
40 Operation panel 41 Manual input section (operation section)
42 Display unit (operation unit)
43 NFC reading unit (communication input unit, operation unit)
100 mobile devices (external terminals)
200 MFP (printing equipment)
300 Server 351 CPU (Server side control unit)
900 printing system

Claims (15)

The printing department that prints and
The operation unit that accepts operation input and
Control unit and
Have,
The control unit
When a print job is received from an external terminal, a security code corresponding to the print job is issued and an issuance process is performed.
A transmission process for transmitting a plurality of specific codes to the external terminal , wherein the plurality of specific codes are a plurality of print settings that can be set in the printing related to the print job to the security code issued by the issuance process. The first code to which the first print setting code, which is the print setting code corresponding to the print setting, is combined with the security code, and the print of the one of the plurality of print settings. The transmission process including a second code to which a second print setting code, which is the print setting code corresponding to the print setting different from the setting, is combined .
When the operation unit receives the operation input of the specific code of one of the plurality of specific codes transmitted by the transmission process, the specific code that receives the operation input to the printing unit. The print process for executing printing related to the print job with the print settings corresponding to
A printing device characterized by performing. In the printing apparatus according to claim 1 ,
The control unit further
When the operation unit receives the operation input of the specific code in which the print setting code is not combined with the security code, the specific first print setting previously associated with the source information of the print job is set. Execute the first search process to search,
In the printing process,
A printing apparatus characterized in that when the specific first print setting is found by the first search process, the printing unit is made to perform printing based on the first print setting. In the printing apparatus according to claim 2 ,
In the printing process,
When the specific first print setting is not found by the first search process, the printing unit is made to execute printing based on the specific second print setting fixedly set in advance for the printing device. A printing device characterized by. In the printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 .
The operation unit is
A printing apparatus characterized by receiving the operation input of the specific code , in which a composite print setting code in which a plurality of print settings related to each of a plurality of items are combined into one is combined with the security code as the print setting code. In the printing apparatus according to claim 4 ,
Has a storage unit
The control unit further
A registration process is executed in which the correspondence between each of the compound print setting codes and each of the print settings of the plurality of items is registered in the storage unit.
A printing device characterized by that. In the printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5 .
The control unit further
When the operation unit receives the operation input of the specific code in which a predetermined special code is combined with the security code as the print setting code, the operation unit can execute printing settings of a plurality of items. First display process to display the setting screen
A printing device characterized by performing. The printing department that prints and
The operation unit that accepts operation input and
Control unit and
Have,
The control unit
When a print job is received from an external terminal, a security code corresponding to the print job is issued and an issuance process is performed.
A transmission process for transmitting the security code issued by the issue process to the external terminal, and a transmission process.
When the operation unit receives the operation input of the security code to which the print setting code is combined, the printing unit is made to execute printing related to the print job with the print settings corresponding to the print setting code. Printing process and
When the operation unit receives the operation input of the security code in which a predetermined special code is combined as the print setting code, the operation unit displays a print setting screen capable of executing print settings of a plurality of items. The first display process to be performed and
A saving process in which the operation unit saves the print settings of the plurality of items received in response to the display of the print setting screen as specific first print settings associated with the sender information of the print job in advance. ,
To run
A printing device characterized by that. In the printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7 .
The security code and the print setting code combined with the security code have the same character type.
A printing device characterized by that. In the printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6 .
The operation unit is
A printing apparatus including a communication input unit that accepts the specific code by the operation input via wireless communication. In the printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9 .
The control unit further
Receiving process to receive an email with a file to be printed attached as the print job from the external terminal.
A printing device characterized by performing. The printing department that prints and
The operation unit that accepts operation input and
Control unit and
Have,
The control unit
When a print job is received from an external terminal, a security code corresponding to the print job is issued and an issuance process is performed.
A transmission process for transmitting the security code issued by the issue process to the external terminal, and a transmission process.
When the operation unit receives the operation input of the security code to which the print setting code is combined, the printing unit is made to execute printing related to the print job with the print settings corresponding to the print setting code. Printing process and
The reception process of receiving an e-mail with a file to be printed attached as the print job from the external terminal.
When the e-mail is received by the reception process, a determination process for determining whether or not the file attached to the e-mail has a password is used.
And run
If it is determined by the determination process that the file has a password,
Request processing for requesting the transmission of a password to the external terminal that is the sender of the email
And run
In the issuance process,
After requesting the transmission of the password by the request processing, when the mail in which the password is entered sent from the external terminal is received, the security code corresponding to the print job is issued.
A printing device characterized by that. The printing department that prints and
The operation unit that accepts operation input and
Control unit and
Have,
The control unit
When a print job is received from an external terminal, a security code corresponding to the print job is issued and an issuance process is performed.
A transmission process for transmitting the security code issued by the issue process to the external terminal, and a transmission process.
When the operation unit receives the operation input of the security code to which the print setting code is combined, the printing unit is made to execute printing related to the print job with the print settings corresponding to the print setting code. Printing process and
Regarding the first print job When the operation unit receives the security code to which the print setting code is combined, the second print different from the first print job associated with the sender information of the first print job in advance. The second search process to search for the presence of a job,
When the second print job is found in the second search process, the first print job and the above are listed as a list of jobs that can be printed with the print setting code combined with the security code accepted for the first print job. The second display process that displays the second print job in a selectable manner,
A printing device characterized by performing. A printing system including a server and a printing device that communicates with the server.
The printing device is
The printing department that prints and
The operation unit that accepts operation input and
Equipped with a device control unit
The server includes a server control unit.
The server control unit
When a print job is received from an external terminal, a security code corresponding to the print job is issued and an issuance process is performed.
A server-side transmission process for transmitting a plurality of specific codes to the external terminal , wherein the plurality of specific codes can be set in the security code issued by the issuance process in printing related to the print job. The first code to which the first print setting code, which is the print setting code corresponding to the print setting, is combined with one of the print settings, and the security code and the one of the plurality of print settings. The server-side transmission process including a second code to which a second print setting code, which is the print setting code corresponding to the print setting different from the print setting of the above, is combined .
And run
The device control unit
When the operation unit receives the operation input of the specific code of one of the plurality of specific codes transmitted by the server-side transmission process, the device side that transmits the specific code to the server control unit. Execute the transmission process and
The server control unit further
When the specific code transmitted by the device-side transmission process is received, the device issues a print instruction to cause the printing unit to execute printing related to the print job with the print settings corresponding to the received specific code . A printing system characterized by executing instruction processing to be transmitted to a control unit. It is a control method in a printing device having a printing unit for printing and an operation unit for receiving operation input.
When a print job is received from an external terminal, the issue step of issuing the security code corresponding to the print job and the issue step.
A transmission step of transmitting a plurality of specific codes to the external terminal , wherein the plurality of specific codes are a plurality of print settings that can be set in the printing related to the print job to the security code issued in the issuance step. The first code to which the first print setting code, which is the print setting code corresponding to the print setting, is combined with the security code, and the print of the one of the plurality of print settings. The transmission step comprising a second code to which a second print setting code, which is the print setting code corresponding to the print setting different from the setting, is combined .
When the operation unit receives the operation input of the specific code of one of the plurality of specific codes transmitted in the transmission step, the specific code that receives the operation input to the printing unit. A print step for executing printing related to the print job with the print settings corresponding to
A method of controlling a printing apparatus, which comprises. A control method in a printing system including a server and a printing device that communicates with the server.
A server-side issuing step in which the server issues a security code corresponding to the print job when a print job is received from an external terminal.
A server-side transmission step in which a plurality of specific codes are transmitted from the server to the external terminal, and the plurality of specific codes can be set in the security code issued in the issuance step by printing related to the print job. The first code to which the first print setting code, which is the print setting code corresponding to the print setting, is combined with one of the plurality of print settings, and the security code, among the plurality of print settings. A server-side transmission step comprising a second code to which a second print setting code, which is a print setting code corresponding to the print setting different from the one print setting, is combined .
When the operation unit included in the printing device receives the operation input of the specific code of one of the plurality of specific codes transmitted in the server-side transmission step, the specific code is transmitted from the printing device to the server. Device-side transmission step to transmit to
When the server receives the specific code transmitted in the device-side transmission step, the server issues a print instruction to execute printing related to the print job with the print settings corresponding to the received specific code . Instruction steps to send to the printer and
A method of controlling a printing system, characterized in that it comprises.

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