JP6007658B2 - Information processing apparatus, information processing system, information processing method, program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Description

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

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a printing form in which, after print data is registered in a predetermined server, the image forming apparatus downloads the print data and executes printing in response to a user operation on the image forming apparatus.

  When using such a printing mode, for example, a user A who has registered print data of a document in a predetermined server notifies each user who needs the document of registration of the document in the predetermined server. Thus, each user can print the document.

  However, it is inefficient to perform printing by operating the image forming apparatus. In other words, it is efficient if any one of the users substitutes printing for the other person.

  However, when printing is performed up to others, the printing agent cannot perform printing unless he / she knows who other than himself needs the document. In addition, there is a possibility that printing is repeated for each other, and printing paper and toner are wasted.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to improve the efficiency of printing work of print data distributed to a plurality of people.

Therefore, in order to solve the above-described problem, the information processing apparatus includes a receiving unit that receives a print request via a network, and print data specified in the print request as one or more users specified in the print request. A first storage unit that stores information associated with the identification information; a first transmission unit that transmits a print instruction for the print data to address information corresponding to the user identification information; and print data from the image forming apparatus In response to an acquisition request for a list of identification information, a list of identification information of print data stored in the first storage unit is returned in association with the first user identification information specified in the acquisition request. In response to receiving the identification information of the first print data selected from the list from the first reply unit and the image forming apparatus, the first storage unit converts the first print data into the first print data. Mapping Among the user identification information stored, and a second return section for returning a list of user identification information print result with respect to said first print data has not been recorded, from the image forming apparatus, before Kiyu over The identification And a recording unit that records a print record of the first print data regarding the second user identification information in response to a print completion notification regarding any second user identification information included in the list of information.

  It is possible to improve the efficiency of printing work for print data distributed to a plurality of people.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a print management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of a print management apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of functional configurations of a print management apparatus and an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram for explaining an example of a processing procedure when a print job is registered by a user A. It is a figure which shows the structural example of a user information storage part. It is a figure which shows the structural example of a job information storage part. It is a figure which shows the structural example of a job status management table. It is a sequence diagram for explaining an example of a processing procedure at the time of printing execution. 6 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a job list screen relating to a user C. FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the candidate list screen regarding the user C. FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of an update of a job status management table. FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram for explaining an example of a processing procedure of a printing time limit management process.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a print management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the print management system 1 of FIG. 1, a print management apparatus 10 is communicably connected to a network such as a LAN of each of the offices A and B via a LAN (Local Area Network) or a network such as the Internet. ing.

  The print management apparatus 10 is a computer that executes management of print jobs generated at the business office A or the business office B. For example, the print management apparatus 10 receives a print request from each user terminal 30 and accumulates a print job related to the print request. In response to the print job acquisition request from the image forming apparatus 20, the print management apparatus 10 replies to the print job image forming apparatus 20 related to the acquisition request. In the present embodiment, a print job refers to print data itself or information including print data and attribute information associated therewith. The print data refers to electronic data to be printed, and the data format is not limited to a predetermined one.

  In the offices A and B, the one or more image forming apparatuses 20 and the one or more user terminals 30 are communicably connected via a network such as a LAN.

  The image forming apparatus 20 is a multifunction machine that realizes two or more functions of printing, scanning, copying, FAX transmission / reception, and the like with a single casing. However, in the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus 20 may have a printing function. Therefore, a printer may be used as the image forming apparatus 20.

  The user terminal 30 is a computer that includes input means such as a mouse and a keyboard and display means such as a liquid crystal display and functions as a remote user interface for the image forming apparatus 2020. A mobile communication device such as a mobile phone, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistance) may be used as the user terminal 30.

  In order to facilitate understanding of the present embodiment, situation setting is performed for convenience. Specifically, the user of the user terminal 30a (hereinafter referred to as “user A”) is the creator of the electronic document of the conference material (hereinafter simply referred to as “conference material A”). The user A registers the print job for the conference material A in the print management apparatus 10. User A expects that users B, C, and D, who are users of user terminals 30b, 30c, or 30d, have printed and prepared a paper document of conference material A before the meeting. . Note that the conference is performed remotely between the business office A and the business office B using, for example, a video conference system. That is, the users A and B attend the meeting while being in the office A, and the users C and D attend the meeting while being in the office B.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the print management apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. The print management apparatus 10 in FIG. 2 includes a drive device 100, an auxiliary storage device 102, a memory device 103, a CPU 104, an interface device 105, and the like that are mutually connected by a bus B.

  A program for realizing processing in the print management apparatus 10 is provided by a recording medium 101 such as a CD-ROM. When the recording medium 101 storing the program is set in the drive device 100, the program is installed from the recording medium 101 to the auxiliary storage device 102 via the drive device 100. However, the program need not be installed from the recording medium 101 and may be downloaded from another computer via a network. The auxiliary storage device 102 stores the installed program and also stores necessary files and data.

  The memory device 103 reads the program from the auxiliary storage device 102 and stores it when there is an instruction to start the program. The CPU 104 executes functions related to the print management apparatus 10 in accordance with a program stored in the memory device 103. The interface device 105 is used as an interface for connecting to a network.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. 3, the image forming apparatus 20 includes hardware such as a controller 21, a scanner 22, a printer 23, a modem 24, an operation panel 25, a network interface 26, and an SD card slot 27.

  The controller 21 includes a CPU 211, RAM 212, ROM 213, HDD 214, NVRAM 215, and the like. The ROM 213 stores various programs and data used by the programs. The RAM 212 is used as a storage area for loading a program, a work area for the loaded program, and the like. The CPU 211 realizes various functions by processing a program loaded in the RAM 212. The HDD 214 stores a program and various data used by the program. The NVRAM 215 stores various setting information and the like.

  The scanner 22 is hardware (image reading means) for reading image data from a document. The printer 23 is hardware (printing means) for printing print data on printing paper. The modem 24 is hardware for connecting to a telephone line, and is used to execute transmission / reception of image data by FAX communication. The operation panel 25 is hardware including input means such as buttons for accepting input from a user, display means such as a liquid crystal panel, and the like. The liquid crystal panel may have a touch panel function. In this case, the liquid crystal panel also functions as an input unit. The network interface 26 is hardware for connecting to a network such as a LAN (whether wired or wireless). The SD card slot 17 is used for reading a program stored in the SD card 80. That is, in the image forming apparatus 20, not only the program stored in the ROM 213 but also the program stored in the SD card 80 can be loaded into the RAM 212 and executed. The SD card 80 may be replaced by another recording medium (for example, a CD-ROM or a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory). That is, the type of recording medium corresponding to the positioning of the SD card 80 is not limited to a predetermined one. In this case, the SD card slot 27 may be replaced by hardware corresponding to the type of recording medium.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the print management apparatus and the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  4, the print management apparatus 10 includes a user list providing unit 11, a print request receiving unit 12, a print request notifying unit 13, a job list providing unit 14, a candidate list providing unit 15, a job status updating unit 16, and a proxy notification unit. 17 and a term management unit 18 and the like. Each of these units is realized by processing executed by the CPU 104 by one or more programs installed in the print management apparatus 10.

  The print management apparatus 10 also uses a user information storage unit 111, a job information storage unit 112, a job status storage unit 113, and the like. Each of these storage units can be realized using the auxiliary storage device 102 or a storage device that can communicate with the print management apparatus 10 via a network.

  The user list providing unit 11 provides the user list to the user terminal 30 that is the print request source. The user list is a list of user names of users registered as users of the print management system 1. The list of user names is acquired from the user information storage unit 111. The user information storage unit 111 stores attribute information and the like for each user of the print management system 1.

  The print request receiving unit 12 receives a print request from the user terminal 30. In addition to the print job, the print request includes (designated) information indicating the distribution destination of the print job, the printing deadline of the print job, and the like. The distribution destination of a print job refers to a user to whom a document related to a print job is distributed. Information included in the print request is stored in the job information storage unit 112.

  The print request notification unit 13 transmits a notification that the print request specified as the distribution destination has been received to the address information associated with the user specified as the distribution destination in the print request. In this embodiment, a mail address is used as the address information. However, other information may be used as the address information as long as the information is different for each user, such as the IP address and port number of the specific user terminal 30 and is used as identification information in communication.

  The job list providing unit 14 provides a job list in response to a request from the image forming apparatus 20. The job list is a list of print job information stored in the job information storage unit 112. The candidate list providing unit 15 provides the candidate list to the image forming apparatus 20 regarding the print job selected from the job list in the image forming apparatus 20. The candidate list is a user name other than the operator of the image forming apparatus 20 among user names designated as distribution destinations for the print job, and a user whose print record is not recorded for the print job. A list of names. “Candidate” is an abbreviation for “substitute candidate”. The “substitute candidate” refers to a user who can receive a proxy for printing by the operator of the image forming apparatus 20.

  The job status update unit 16 stores the printing results in the job status storage unit 113 in accordance with the execution of the printing process in the image forming apparatus 20. For each print job, the job status storage unit 113 stores the print results of each user designated as a distribution destination for the print job.

  The proxy notification unit 17 notifies the proxy that printing has been performed.

  The term management unit 18 performs term management for each print job. Specifically, for each print job, the time limit management unit 18 prompts a user who has not performed printing even when the time limit has expired to execute printing related to the print job.

  On the other hand, the image forming apparatus 20 includes a job list acquisition unit 221, a candidate list acquisition unit 222, a print control unit 223, a print completion notification unit 224, and the like. Each of these units is realized by processing executed by the CPU 211 by one or more programs installed in the image forming apparatus 20.

  The job list acquisition unit 221 acquires a job list from the print management apparatus 10 in response to an instruction from the operator of the image forming apparatus 20. The job list acquisition unit 221 displays the acquired job list on the operation panel 25.

  The candidate list acquisition unit 222 acquires a candidate list from the print management apparatus 10 for a print job selected from the job list. The candidate list acquisition unit 222 causes the operation panel 25 to display the acquired candidate list.

  The print control unit 223 causes the image forming apparatus 20 to execute print processing for a print job selected from the job list. At this time, if any substitute candidate is selected in the candidate list, the print control unit 223 causes the image forming apparatus 20 to execute print processing for the substitute candidate.

  The print completion notification unit 224 notifies the print management apparatus 10 of the completion of the print processing related to the print job.

  Hereinafter, a processing procedure executed in the print management system 1 will be described. FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram for explaining an example of a processing procedure when a user A registers a print job.

  In step S <b> 101, the user terminal 30 a transmits a user list acquisition request to the print management apparatus 10 in response to a print instruction for the conference material A input by the user A. In response to receiving the acquisition request, the user list providing unit 11 of the print management apparatus 10 extracts the user list from the user information storage unit 111. The user list providing unit 11 returns the extracted user list to the user terminal 30a (S102).

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the user information storage unit. In FIG. 6, the user information storage unit 111 stores a user name, an affiliated office, an e-mail address, and the like for each user registered with respect to the print management system 1.

  The user name is an example of user identification information. The affiliated office is identification information of the office to which the user belongs. The mail address is a mail address addressed to the user. The affiliated office is an example of location identification information, and is information used to determine whether or not each user has a relationship in which printed materials can be easily handed to each other. Therefore, as long as the information can achieve the same purpose, the affiliated office may be replaced with other information such as a floor name, a building name, or an department name.

  In step S102, at least a list of user names may be extracted as a user list.

  Upon receiving the user list, the user terminal 30a displays each user name in the user list so that it can be selected. The user A selects the users B, C, and D as user names to which the conference material A is to be distributed from the displayed user list. User A also inputs a time limit for printing conference material A. As the deadline, for example, the date before the meeting or the date and time indicating 30 minutes before the meeting starts is designated.

  Subsequently, the user terminal 30a prints the print job including the print job of the conference material A, the user name (user A) of the print request source of the print job, a list of user names designated as distribution destinations, and a time limit. The request is transmitted to the print management apparatus 10 (S103). When receiving the print request, the print request receiving unit 12 of the print management apparatus 10 stores information included in the print request in the job information storage unit 112.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the job information storage unit. In FIG. 7, the job information storage unit 112 stores a job name, a request source, a distribution destination, a time limit, a job entity, and the like for each print job. The job name is print job identification information. The request source is the user name of the print request source user of the print job. The distribution destination is a list of user names designated as distribution destinations in the print request. The deadline is a deadline specified in the print request. The job entity is a print job entity. The job entity may be separately managed in association with the job name, for example. Hereinafter, the information stored in each record in the job information storage unit 112 is referred to as “job information”.

  The print request receiving unit 12 also generates a job status management table 113T in the job status storage unit 113 for the job information (print job) newly stored in the job information storage unit 112.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the job status management table. The job status management table 113T is generated for each print job, and stores the print results related to the print job in association with the user name of the distribution destination of the print job. At the time when the job status management table 113T is generated, since no print processing has been executed for any of the distribution destination users, “none” indicating that the print processing has not been completed is displayed in the print results. Remembered.

  Subsequently, the print request notification unit 13 transmits a print request notification mail to the mail address corresponding to each user name specified as the distribution destination in the print request received by the print request reception unit 12 (S104, S105, S106). In the present embodiment, a print request notification mail is transmitted to the mail addresses of the users B, C, and D, respectively. The print request notification e-mail is an e-mail notifying that a print request designated as a distribution destination is received by the recipient of the e-mail. For example, the print request notification mail describes the job name and time limit of the print job related to the print request. That is, it can be said that the print request notification mail is a mail that notifies the recipient of an instruction to print the print job related to the job name by the deadline.

  Users B, C, and D view the print request notification mail and recognize that the conference material A should be printed.

  Next, a processing procedure executed in response to an operation of the image forming apparatus 20b by the user C who has browsed the print request notification mail will be described.

  FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram for explaining an example of a processing procedure when executing printing. At the start of FIG. 9, the user C operates the operation panel 25 of the image forming apparatus 20b in the office B, inputs the user name of the user C and the like, and has logged in to the image forming apparatus 20b. To do.

  In response to an instruction input by the user C, the job list acquisition unit 221 of the image forming apparatus 20b transmits a job list acquisition request for the user C to the print management apparatus 10 (S201). The user name of user C is specified in the acquisition request. In response to receiving the acquisition request, the job list providing unit 14 of the print management apparatus 10 refers to the job information storage unit 112 and generates a job list related to the user C (S202). Specifically, the job list providing unit 14 generates, as a job list, a list of job information in the job information storage unit 112 that includes the user name (user C) specified in the acquisition request in “distribution destination”. To do. In consideration of the case where the user A of the print requester wants to print his / her own portion regarding the conference material A, job information including the user name of the request source of the acquisition request in “request source” is generated. May be included in the selected job list. The job entity may not be included in the job list.

  Subsequently, the job list providing unit 14 returns the generated job list to the image forming apparatus 20b (S203). The job list acquisition unit 221 of the image forming apparatus 20 b displays a screen including the returned job list (hereinafter referred to as “job list screen”) on the operation panel 25.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a job list screen relating to the user C. In FIG. 10, the job list screen 510 displays a list of job information including the user name of the user C as a distribution destination. Note that the distribution destination does not necessarily have to be displayed on the job list screen 510.

  When the user C selects one or more pieces of job information on the job list screen 510 and presses or touches an OK button 511, the candidate list acquisition unit 222 of the image forming apparatus 20b displays the candidate list related to the selected job information. The acquisition request is transmitted to the print management apparatus 10 (S204). For example, a job name included in the selected job information is specified in the acquisition request. Here, it is assumed that the job information related to the conference material A is selected.

  Subsequently, the candidate list providing unit 15 of the print management apparatus 10 generates a candidate list for the print job related to the job name based on the job information related to the job name specified in the acquisition request (S205). ). Specifically, first, in the job information, a user name included in the distribution destination and a user name other than the user C who is the operator of the image forming apparatus 20b is specified. Further, from the identified user name, a user name having the same user C and the affiliated office is extracted. However, the complete match of the identification information of the affiliated business place, that is, the place may not be a condition included in the candidate list. It is only necessary that the identification information of the two places to be compared satisfies a predetermined condition indicating that the user C can easily hand it over. Examples of the predetermined condition include being in the same building or being in the same floor. When such a condition is applied, the concept of assigning to a subdivided space is preferable as place identification information rather than a space limited by a building or a floor, such as a department to which the user belongs. The predetermined condition may be stored in the auxiliary storage device 102, for example. Further, from the extracted user names, user names with a print record “None” stored in the job status management table 113T (FIG. 8) relating to the job information are extracted. A list of extracted user names is a candidate list. That is, among the users to whom the conference material A is distributed and the user C can easily hand over, a list of user names of users who have not yet printed the conference material A becomes the candidate list. In addition, the difference of the office to which the user C belongs can be determined with reference to the user information storage unit 111 (FIG. 6).

  Subsequently, the candidate list providing unit 15 returns the generated candidate list to the image forming apparatus 20b (S206). The candidate list acquisition unit 222 of the image forming apparatus 20b causes the operation panel 25 to display a screen including the returned candidate list (hereinafter referred to as “candidate list screen”).

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a candidate list screen relating to the user C. In FIG. 11, the candidate list screen 520 includes a check button for selecting whether or not to perform printing for each substitute candidate for the substitute candidate. With respect to the conference material A, the substitute candidate of the user C is the user D, and therefore the user name of the user D is shown as the substitute candidate in FIG.

  The user C can recognize that the user D needs to print the conference material A by browsing the candidate list screen 520. User C checks the check button for user D on candidate list screen 520 when printing is performed for user D.

  When any job information is selected on the job list screen 510, a candidate list screen may be displayed in the processing on the image forming apparatus 20b side. In this case, the job list only needs to include the substitution candidate for user C for each piece of job information.

  When the user C selects whether or not to perform printing on the candidate list screen 520 and presses or touches the OK button 520, the print control unit 223 performs print processing regarding the print job of the conference material A as image formation. The apparatus 20b is executed (S207). At this time, the print control unit 223 adds the number of copies as many as the number of substitute candidates whose check buttons on the candidate list screen 520 are checked. In the present embodiment, two copies are printed, one for user C and one for user D who is a delegate. Note that the job entity of the print job to be printed may be returned from the print management apparatus 10 in step S206, for example, or may be downloaded from the print management apparatus 10 before execution of step S207.

  Subsequently, the print completion notification unit 224 designates the job name of the conference material A, the user name of the user C who is the print executor, and the user name of the user D who is the substitute, and sends a print completion notification. The data is transmitted to the print management apparatus 10 (S208).

  Upon receiving the print completion notification, the job status update unit 16 of the print management apparatus 10 relates to the print job of the conference material A with respect to the user name designated as the print performer or the delegate in the print completion notification. The printing results stored in the job status management table 113T are updated (S209).

  FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an update example of the job status management table. In FIG. 12, the printing results are updated to “Yes” for the user C who has printed his / her own user and the user D who has been printed by the user C. In addition, the fact that the printing is completed by the substitution is also recorded for the user D who has the substitution. However, it is not always necessary to record that printing has been performed.

  Note that, for example, a record of printing results may be realized by deleting a row (record) including a user name designated as a print performer or a delegate from the job status management table 113T. In this case, a user whose user name is included in the job status management table 113T can be specified as a user who has no print record. Therefore, in this case, the print result column is not essential.

  Further, the record of printing results may be realized by deleting the user name designated as the print executor or the delegate from the request source or the distribution destination in the job information storage unit 112.

  In this way, recording of printing results is realized not only by an aggressive method such as updating the printing result column of the job status management table 113T but also by a passive method such as removal from the distribution destination. May be.

  Subsequently, the proxy notification unit 17 transmits a mail (proxy notification mail) notifying that the printing is performed by the user C regarding the print job of the conference material A to the mail address of the user D who is the substitute. (S210). In the proxy notification mail, for example, the job name of the proxy print job, the user name of the print proxy (user C), and the like are described.

  The user D can recognize the fact that he / she does not need to print the conference material A, can receive the paper document of the conference material A from the user C, etc. by viewing the proxy notification mail. Accordingly, it is possible to avoid duplicate printing in which the user D prints it again even though it is printed by the user C.

  In addition, on the candidate list screen 520 (FIG. 11), the user name of a user other than the substitution candidate may be selectable as a proxy for printing. Such a configuration is convenient, for example, when the user B has traveled to the office B and the user C can hand it to the user B.

  By the way, after receiving the print request notification mail, some users may have forgotten about the execution of printing related to the print job related to the print request notification mail. In addition, there was a case where no one was printing on behalf of other users who were expecting to print on their behalf. Considering such a case, the print management apparatus 10 executes processing as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram for explaining an example of the processing procedure of the printing time limit management processing.

  The deadline management unit 18 of the print management apparatus 10 periodically checks, for example, whether there is a print job whose deadline has been reached among the print jobs whose deadlines are stored in the job information storage unit 112 (S301). . Alternatively, the time limit management unit 18 may monitor, for example, a timer (not shown) of the print management apparatus 10 and detect that the time limit of any print job has arrived. Further, instead of the date and time indicated by the time limit, the arrival of a date and time that is a predetermined time before the date and time may be detected.

  When the deadline management unit 18 detects the deadline or the arrival of a predetermined time before the deadline for any print job, the deadline management unit 18 refers to the job status management table 113T for the print job and whether there is a user who has no print record for the print job. Is confirmed (S302). Specifically, in the job status management table 113T, it is confirmed whether or not there is a user whose print job record is “none”. For example, when the time limit for the conference material A is reached, if the contents of the job status management table 113T are as shown in FIG. 12, the user B is determined to be a user who has no print record.

  When there is a user who has no print record, the time limit management unit 18 transmits a print reminder mail to the mail address of the user (S303). For example, a print reminder email for conference material A is sent to the email address of user B. In the print reminder mail, for example, the job name and deadline of the print job to be reminded are described.

  User B recognizes again that conference material A should be printed by browsing the print reminder mail, and performs the printing operation.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the presence of another user (substitute candidate) who needs the same document (for example, conference material A) is notified to the user who is going to print the document. Can do. Therefore, it is possible to allow the user to perform printing work for other users. In addition, since a user who has completed printing of the document (a user who has a record of printing with respect to the document) is not included in the substitution candidate, for example, two users can share the same user. It is possible to avoid the occurrence of a situation where printing is repeated. As a result, it is possible to improve the efficiency of printing work for print data distributed to a plurality of people.

  In addition, a print surrogate is notified that printing has been performed. Therefore, it is possible to avoid duplicate printing by the surrogate.

  In addition, users who are candidates for substitution are limited to users who belong to the same office as the user performing the printing operation. That is, it is limited to a user who is highly likely to be handed over easily by a user performing a printing operation. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the occurrence of a situation in which even the user who is actually difficult to hand over prints wastefully.

  In addition, a printing reminder mail is transmitted to a user who has no record of printing even when the time limit is reached. Therefore, it is possible to increase the possibility that a paper document is printed for each user at the distribution destination. In addition, it is possible to avoid a situation in which no one prints in the hope that another person will print.

  In the present embodiment, the print request receiving unit 12 is an example of a receiving unit. The job information storage unit 112 is an example of a first storage unit. The print request notification unit 13 is an example of a first transmission unit. The job list providing unit 14 is an example of a first reply unit. The candidate list providing unit 15 is an example of a second reply unit. The job status update unit 16 is an example of a recording unit. The proxy notification unit 17 is an example of a second transmission unit. The user information storage unit 111 is an example of a second storage unit. The time limit management unit 18 is an example of a third transmission unit.

  As mentioned above, although the Example of this invention was explained in full detail, this invention is not limited to such specific embodiment, In the range of the summary of this invention described in the claim, various deformation | transformation・ Change is possible.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Print management system 10 Print management apparatus 11 User list provision part 12 Print request reception part 13 Print request notification part 14 Job list provision part 15 Candidate list provision part 16 Job status update part 17 Proxy notification part 18 Time limit management part 20 Image formation Device 21 Controller 22 Scanner 23 Printer 24 Modem 25 Operation panel 26 Network interface 27 SD card slot 30 User terminal 80 SD card 100 Drive device 101 Recording medium 102 Auxiliary storage device 103 Memory device 104 CPU
105 Interface Device 111 User Information Storage Unit 112 Job Information Storage Unit 113 Job Status Storage Unit 211 CPU
212 RAM
213 ROM
214 HDD
215 NVRAM
221 Job list acquisition unit 222 Candidate list acquisition unit 223 Print control unit 224 Print completion notification unit B bus

JP 2010-240913 A

Claims (9)

A receiving unit for receiving a print request via a network;
A first storage unit that stores the print data specified in the print request in association with one or more pieces of user identification information specified in the print request;
A first transmission unit that transmits a print instruction for the print data to address information corresponding to the user identification information;
In response to an acquisition request for a list of print data identification information from the image forming apparatus, the print data stored in the first storage unit in association with the first user identification information specified in the acquisition request A first reply unit that replies with a list of identification information of
User identification information that the first storage unit stores in association with the first print data in response to receiving the identification information of the first print data selected from the list from the image forming apparatus Among them, a second reply unit for replying a list of user identification information for which no print record is recorded with respect to the first print data;
Wherein from the image forming apparatus, before being included in the list of Kiyu over The identification information according to the print completion notification of one of the second user identification information, the second of said first print data with respect to the user identification information An information processing apparatus having a recording unit for recording the printing results of the printer.   2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second transmission unit configured to transmit information indicating completion of printing of the first print data to address information corresponding to the second user identification information in response to the notification of completion of printing. Information processing device. For each user identification information, a second storage unit that stores location identification information is provided.
The second reply unit is user identification information for which no print record is recorded with respect to the first print data, and in the second storage unit, identification of a location for the first user identification information The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein user identification information associated with identification information of a place that satisfies a predetermined condition with the information is returned. The first storage unit associates the print data specified in the print request with one or more user identification information specified in the print request and deadline information specified in the print request. Remember,
When the time indicated by the time limit information or a time before the predetermined time arrives, a print instruction for the print data is transmitted to the address information corresponding to the user identification information associated with the time limit information. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a third transmission unit. An information processing system including an information processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus,
The information processing apparatus includes:
A receiving unit for receiving a print request via a network;
A first storage unit that stores the print data specified in the print request in association with one or more pieces of user identification information specified in the print request;
A first transmission unit that transmits a print instruction for the print data to address information corresponding to the user identification information;
In response to a print data identification information acquisition request from the image forming apparatus, the print stored in the first storage unit in association with the first user identification information specified in the acquisition request A first reply unit that returns a list of identification information of the data;
User identification information that the first storage unit stores in association with the first print data in response to receiving the identification information of the first print data selected from the list from the image forming apparatus Among them, a second reply unit for replying a list of user identification information for which no print record is recorded with respect to the first print data;
Wherein from the image forming apparatus, before being included in the list of Kiyu over The identification information according to the print completion notification of one of the second user identification information, the second of said first print data with respect to the user identification information And an information processing system having a recording unit for recording the actual printing results. A receiving procedure for receiving a print request via a network;
A storage procedure for storing the print data specified in the print request in the first storage unit in association with one or more pieces of user identification information specified in the print request;
A first transmission procedure for transmitting a print instruction for the print data to address information corresponding to the user identification information;
In response to an acquisition request for a list of print data identification information from the image forming apparatus, the print data stored in the first storage unit in association with the first user identification information specified in the acquisition request A first reply procedure to reply with a list of identification information for
User identification information that the first storage unit stores in association with the first print data in response to receiving the identification information of the first print data selected from the list from the image forming apparatus Among them, a second reply procedure for replying a list of user identification information in which no print record is recorded with respect to the first print data;
Wherein from the image forming apparatus, before being included in the list of Kiyu over The identification information according to the print completion notification of one of the second user identification information, the second of said first print data with respect to the user identification information Information processing method in which a computer executes a recording procedure for recording the actual printing results. In an information processing system including an information processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus,
The information processing apparatus is
A receiving procedure for receiving a print request via a network;
A storage procedure for storing the print data specified in the print request in the first storage unit in association with one or more pieces of user identification information specified in the print request;
A first transmission procedure for transmitting a print instruction for the print data to address information corresponding to the user identification information;
In response to an acquisition request for a list of print data identification information from the image forming apparatus, the print data stored in the first storage unit in association with the first user identification information specified in the acquisition request A first reply procedure to reply with a list of identification information for
User identification information that the first storage unit stores in association with the first print data in response to receiving the identification information of the first print data selected from the list from the image forming apparatus Among them, a second reply procedure for replying a list of user identification information in which no print record is recorded with respect to the first print data;
Wherein from the image forming apparatus, before being included in the list of Kiyu over The identification information according to the print completion notification of one of the second user identification information, the second of said first print data with respect to the user identification information And an information processing method for executing a recording procedure for recording the actual printing results. A receiving procedure for receiving a print request via a network;
A storage procedure for storing the print data specified in the print request in the first storage unit in association with one or more pieces of user identification information specified in the print request;
A first transmission procedure for transmitting a print instruction for the print data to address information corresponding to the user identification information;
In response to an acquisition request for a list of print data identification information from the image forming apparatus, the print data stored in the first storage unit in association with the first user identification information specified in the acquisition request A first reply procedure to reply with a list of identification information for
User identification information that the first storage unit stores in association with the first print data in response to receiving the identification information of the first print data selected from the list from the image forming apparatus Among them, a second reply procedure for replying a list of user identification information in which no print record is recorded with respect to the first print data;
Wherein from the image forming apparatus, before being included in the list of Kiyu over The identification information according to the print completion notification of one of the second user identification information, the second of said first print data with respect to the user identification information A program for causing a computer to execute a recording procedure for recording the printing results of the computer.   A computer-readable recording medium on which the program according to claim 8 is recorded.

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