JP6142679B2 - Image forming system and image forming method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming system and an image forming method in which a terminal device and a server are connected via a first network, and the terminal device and the image forming device are connected via a second network.

  With the rapid spread of network infrastructure, there are more opportunities to use in-house documents that are centrally managed by in-house servers on the network. Therefore, in recent years, a document acquisition system has been proposed that uses a portable terminal device such as a mobile phone and also makes it possible to obtain a document document stored on an in-house server even outside the company using an external multifunction device connected to a network. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

  In the technology described in Patent Document 1, when a document is selected from a screen displayed on a touch panel in a multifunction device outside the office, the selected document is a small-capacity document stored in a mobile terminal device. Prints directly from the mobile terminal device and performs print processing. For large-capacity documents that cannot be stored in the mobile terminal device, the print server acquires directly from the internal server on the network and performs print processing. It is possible to print a document in

  However, in the conventional system, a password for user authentication in the mobile terminal device is displayed on the screen of the multifunction device so that a multifunction device that performs image formation other than the user's affiliation can access the server to which the user belongs. In some cases, multifunction devices other than the affiliation may directly refer to the document information and destination of the affiliation server and mobile terminal device for printing, and confidential information such as access information and document information may be leaked. was there.

  Also, when requesting printing directly from a mobile terminal device to a multifunction device other than the affiliation, complicated processing must be performed for a reservation job search or setting change operation due to restrictions on the screen size of the mobile terminal device. In some cases, the user may feel inconvenienced because the operation may be different between the multifunction device other than the affiliation and the multifunction device of the affiliation.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and even when an image forming apparatus other than the user's affiliation is used, leakage of confidential information is prevented and the user can smoothly perform without inconvenience. An object is to provide an image forming system and an image forming method capable of executing an image forming process.

In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the present invention connects a terminal device and a server via a first network, and connects the terminal device and an image forming apparatus that forms an image to a second. In an image forming system connected via a network, the terminal device transmits user information of a user who uses the terminal device to the server and uses the terminal device via the first network. User authentication requesting means for requesting authentication as to whether or not the user is a registered user, connection permission determining means for determining whether or not to permit connection between the terminal device and the image forming apparatus, Screen information requesting means for requesting the server to transmit screen information displayed on the image forming apparatus in response to a screen operation of the image forming apparatus permitted to be connected by a connection permission determining means, The server includes user authentication means for authenticating whether or not the user of the terminal device is a registered user based on user information transmitted from the terminal device, and the user authentication means by the user authentication means. When the terminal device used by the user who is authenticated as a registered user is requested to transmit screen information to be displayed on the image forming device, at least the screen information to be displayed on the image forming device is displayed on the terminal. Screen information generating means for generating a document format that can be displayed by the image forming apparatus and the image forming apparatus, and screen information transmitting means for transmitting the screen information generated by the screen information generating means to the terminal device. It is characterized by.

  According to the present invention, since authentication of a user in an image forming apparatus other than the user's affiliation is not required, security information and confidential information are not transmitted. At least the terminal device and the image forming apparatus can display the screen information of the image forming apparatus on the server so that the image forming apparatus other than the user belonging to the user can operate with the same user interface as the image forming apparatus to which the user belongs. Since it is generated in the document format, the difference in screen operation due to the difference in devices is eliminated, and the convenience of the user is improved.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image forming system according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration of a server applicable to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram illustrating functions of an example of the server illustrated in FIG. FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing functions of an example of the mobile terminal device shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an example of a multifunction peripheral as an image forming apparatus applicable to the embodiment. FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram illustrating functions of an example of the multifunction peripheral illustrated in FIG. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of image forming processing in the image forming system shown in FIG. FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the flow of the access authentication processing procedure shown in FIG. FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the flow of the processing procedure of steps S6 to S8 shown in FIG.

  Exemplary embodiments of an image forming system will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(Embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image forming system according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, in the image forming system 1 according to the embodiment, a server 10 to which a user belongs and a registered mobile terminal device 30 that is used in a place other than the user's destination communicate via a network 20. Various information such as information for user authentication, screen information for displaying job information, and document information to be printed is transmitted and received between the server 10 and the portable terminal device 30. In the image forming system 1, the portable terminal device 30 and the multi-function device 50, which is an image forming device installed in a place other than the user's affiliation, are connected to be communicable via a network 40 different from the network 20. Authentication information for the multi-function device 50 to access the mobile terminal device 30, screen information generated by the server 10, and document information as a job execution target are transmitted and received between the mobile terminal device 30 and the multi-function device 50. . In the image forming system 1, the registered mobile terminal device 30 and the server 10 are connected to the network, and the MFP 50 permitted to access the mobile terminal device 30 displays the screen information acquired via the mobile terminal device 30. As a result, it is possible to execute a job with the same user interface as that of the MFP 70 to which the user belongs, connected via the network 60.

(Server configuration example)
FIG. 2 shows an exemplary configuration of the server 10 applicable to the embodiment. In the server 10 illustrated in FIG. 2, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 110, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 111, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 112, and a display control unit 113 are connected via a bus 100. A communication unit 115, an input unit 116, and an HDD (hard disk drive) 117 are connected to the bus 100.

  The CPU 110 controls the entire server 10 using the RAM 112 as a work memory in accordance with programs stored in the ROM 111 and the HDD 117. The display control unit 113 converts the display control signal generated by the CPU 110 into a signal that can be displayed by the display unit 114 and outputs the signal.

  The HDD 117 stores a program to be executed by the CPU 110 and various data. The input unit 116 includes a data I / F such as USB (Universal Serial Bus) and IEEE 1394 (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 1394) for inputting data from the outside, and an input device that accepts user input such as a keyboard. The communication unit 115 performs communication via the network 20 using a predetermined protocol.

  FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram illustrating functions of an example of the server 10 illustrated in FIG. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the server 10 includes a database 120 that holds various types of information, a remote communication unit 131, an access device determination unit 132, a user authentication unit 133, a screen information generation unit 134, and a confidential information determination unit 135. It manages the user list information 121 of the portable terminal device 30 held in the database 120, the registered device list information 122, the document information 123 held by the user, and the job information 124 registered and registered by the user.

  The remote communication unit 131 transmits and receives various types of information related to user authentication and print processing with the mobile terminal device 30 registered in advance via the network 20. The remote communication unit 131 includes information required for user authentication processing performed for a user who uses the mobile terminal device 30, screen information such as a job list displayed on the screen of the multi-function device 50, and a print processing execution target. Document information is transmitted and received.

  The access device determination unit 132 refers to the registered device list information 122 in the database 120 and connects the mobile terminal device 30 and the mobile terminal device 30 based on the authentication data transmitted from the mobile terminal device 30. It is determined whether a device such as the multi-function device 50 is a device that has been permitted access and has already been registered in the server 10.

  The user authentication unit 133 refers to the user list information 121, and based on the user information transmitted from the mobile terminal device 30 via the network 20, the user of the mobile terminal device 30 that transmitted the user information is a registered user. Authenticate whether or not there is.

  The screen information generation unit 134 displays screen information displayed on the screen of the multi-function device 50 connected to the mobile terminal device 30 from the mobile terminal device 30 used by the user who is authenticated as a registered user by the user authentication unit 133. Is generated, screen information to be displayed on the screen of the multi-function device 50 is generated. The screen information generation unit 134 generates a document format in which at least the mobile terminal device 30 and the multi-function device 50 can be displayed so that the job list screen can be operated with the same user interface as the multi-function device operation to which the user belongs. . The screen information generation unit 134 generates screen information in a general-purpose document format. Further, the screen information generation unit 134 generates screen information with a size corresponding to the screen size displayed on the display unit of the multi-function device 50. The remote communication unit 131 transmits the screen information generated by the screen information generation unit 134 to the mobile terminal device 30 via the network 20.

  The screen information generation unit 134 performs a camouflaging process for camouflaging this information on information determined by a confidential information determination unit 135, which will be described later, that the confidentiality is higher than a predetermined threshold. When there is a screen element for which the screen information generation unit 134 has performed the camouflage process, the remote communication unit 131 transmits both the original information and the camouflaged information to the mobile terminal device 30.

  The confidential information determination unit 135 has confidentiality determination information in which the confidentiality is numerically assigned for each URL (Uniform Resource Locator) or link information included in the screen, and the screen information generated by the screen information generation unit 134 The sensitivity of each piece of information that constitutes is determined. The confidential information determination unit 135 sets, as a predetermined threshold value, a confidentiality value that must be prevented from being leaked to other than the user's affiliation, and based on this threshold value, the confidentiality information of each information constituting the screen information Determine the size of.

(Configuration example of mobile terminal device)
FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing functions of the mobile terminal device 30 shown in FIG. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the mobile terminal device 30 includes a control unit 311, a first remote communication unit 312, a second remote communication unit 313, a display unit 314, a screen information conversion unit 315, an access device control unit 316, and a storage unit 317. And an input unit 318. The control unit 311 controls the processing operation of each component of the mobile terminal device 30.

  The first remote communication unit 312 transmits / receives information required for user authentication to / from the server 10 and transmits / receives screen information such as a job list and document information to / from the server 10 in response to a request from the multi-function device 50. Between. The mobile terminal device 30 transmits user information using the mobile terminal device 30 to the server 10 via the first remote communication unit 312, and whether or not the user using the mobile terminal device 30 is a registered user. A signal for requesting such authentication is transmitted to the server 10. The first remote communication unit 312 controls the screen information to be displayed on the multi-function device 50 in accordance with the screen operation of the multi-function device 50 permitted to be connected by the access device control unit 316 described below under the control of the control unit 311. A signal requesting transmission is transmitted to the server 10.

  The second remote communication unit 313 receives information required for access authentication with the multi-function device 50, screen information to be displayed on the screen of the multi-function device 50, and document information to be subjected to print processing in the multi-function device 50. Send and receive. Note that the first remote communication unit 312 may also serve as the second remote communication unit 313.

  The display unit 314 has a screen for displaying various information, and a user authentication operation menu performed with the server 10 and a one-time password for controlling access to the multi-function device 50 are displayed on the screen.

  When the screen information sent from the server 10 includes a screen element in which the original information and the camouflaged information are paired, the screen information conversion unit 315 will store the original information about the screen element. The screen information is converted so that only the disguised information is displayed instead of the information, and the converted screen information is transmitted to the multi-function device 50 via the second remote communication unit 313. The screen information conversion unit 315, when requested to send document information for printing execution from the multi-function device 50, and when the request destination of the document information is forged information, the forged document The information requested by the information is converted into information requested by the original document information. Therefore, the first remote communication unit 312 is not impersonated, converted by the screen information conversion unit 315 with respect to the server 10 even when the request destination of the document information by the multi-function device 50 is impersonation information. A request for transmission of document information for print execution is transmitted by designating a request destination of original document information.

  The access device control unit 316 is a device that generates a one-time password and displays it on the screen of the display unit 314 when connecting to the multi-function device 50 for the first time, and also allows the multi-function device 50 to be connected to permit access authentication. Whether the subsequent connection with the portable terminal device 30 is permitted or not is determined.

  The storage unit 317 is used for primary storage of screen information acquired from the server 10 and document information to be transmitted and received. The input unit 318 includes input devices such as various buttons and various switches, and receives an instruction signal for instructing the operation of the mobile terminal device 30 by detecting operations of the various buttons and various switches. The display unit 314 and the input unit 318 may be configured by a touch panel display that can display information or input an operation from a user. In this case, the input unit 318 includes a touch sensor and receives an input of an instruction signal instructing the operation of the mobile terminal device 30 by detecting contact at a position corresponding to the soft key displayed on the screen.

(Configuration example of image forming apparatus)
FIG. 5 shows a configuration of an example of a multi-function device 50 as an image forming apparatus applicable to the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, the multi-function device 50 has a configuration in which a controller 510 and an engine unit (Engine) 560 are connected by a PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) bus. The controller 510 is a controller that controls the entire MFP 50 and controls drawing, communication, and input from an operation unit (not shown). The engine unit 560 is a printer engine that can be connected to a PCI bus, and is, for example, a monochrome plotter, a 1-drum color plotter, a 4-drum color plotter, a scanner, or a fax unit. The engine unit 560 includes an image processing part such as error diffusion and gamma conversion in addition to a so-called engine part such as a plotter.

  The controller 510 includes a CPU 511, a north bridge (NB) 513, a system memory (MEM-P) 512, a south bridge (SB) 514, a local memory (MEM-C) 517, and an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit). 516 and a hard disk drive (HDD) 518, and the North Bridge (NB) 513 and the ASIC 516 are connected by an AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) bus 515. The MEM-P 512 further includes a ROM (Read Only Memory) 512a and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 512b.

  The CPU 511 performs overall control of the multi-function device 50 and is connected to other devices via a chip set including the NB 513, the MEM-P 512, and the SB 514.

  The NB 513 is a bridge for connecting the CPU 511 to the MEM-P 512, the SB 514, and the AGP bus 515, and includes a memory controller that controls reading and writing of the MEM-P 512, a PCI master, and an AGP target.

  The MEM-P 512 is a system memory used as a memory for storing programs and data, a memory for developing programs and data, a memory for drawing a printer, and the like, and includes a ROM 512a and a RAM 512b. The ROM 512a is a read-only memory used as a program / data storage memory, and the RAM 512b is a writable / readable memory used as a program / data development memory, a printer drawing memory, or the like.

  The SB 514 is a bridge for connecting the NB 513 to a PCI device and peripheral devices. The SB 514 is connected to the NB 513 via a PCI bus, and a network interface (I / F) unit and the like are also connected to the PCI bus.

  The ASIC 516 is an image processing application IC (Integrated Circuit) having hardware elements for image processing, and has a role of a bridge for connecting the AGP bus 515, the PCI bus, the HDD 518, and the MEM-C 17. The ASIC 516 includes a PCI target and an AGP master, an arbiter (ARB) that is the core of the ASIC 516, a memory controller that controls the MEM-C 517, and a plurality of DMACs (Direct Memory) that perform image data rotation by hardware logic and the like. Access Controller) and a PCI unit for transferring data between the engine unit 560 via the PCI bus. An FCU (Fax Control Unit) 530, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) 540, and an IEEE 1394 interface 550 are connected to the ASIC 516 via a PCI bus. The operation display unit 520 is directly connected to the ASIC 516.

  A MEM-C 517 is a local memory used as a copy image buffer and a code buffer, and an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 518 is a storage for storing image data, programs, font data, and forms. It is.

  The AGP bus 515 is a bus interface for a graphics accelerator card proposed for speeding up graphics processing. The AGP bus 515 speeds up the graphics accelerator card by directly accessing the MEM-P 512 with high throughput. It is.

  FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram showing functions of the multi-function device 50 shown in FIG. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the multi-function device 50 controls the display on the screen of the operation display unit 520 to notify the user of a message and perform processing for receiving an input operation on the operation display unit 520, An image from a remote communication unit 572 that communicates with the mobile terminal device 30 via the network 40, an access authentication control unit 573 that issues an access authentication request to the connected mobile terminal device 30, document information received from the mobile terminal device 30, etc. A print processing unit 576 that prints image data formed by forming data from the engine unit 560, an input control unit 577 that performs the input control when the user makes a request for input to the multi-function device 50, The output control unit 5 performs the output control according to the setting when the user makes an output request to the multi-function device 50. Having eight.

(Specific procedure of processing according to the embodiment)
Next, image forming processing in the image forming system 1 shown in FIG. 1 will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of image forming processing in the image forming system 1 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 7, first, the mobile terminal device 30 and the server 10 are connected by the network 20 by a user operation on the mobile terminal device 30 (step S1). Subsequently, the server 10 refers to the registered device list information 122 to authenticate whether the mobile terminal device 30 is a registered device, and refers to the user list information 121 so that the user of the mobile terminal device 30 A user authentication process for authenticating whether or not the user is a registered user is performed (step S2). The mobile terminal device 30 transmits the user ID input to the mobile terminal device 30 by the user's operation and the corresponding password to the server 10 via the network 20, and the user who uses the mobile terminal device 30 has already been registered. A signal requesting authentication of whether or not the user is a user is transmitted to the server 10. Based on the received user ID and password, the server 10 authenticates whether the user of the mobile terminal device 30 is a registered user registered in the user list information 121. Only when the mobile terminal device 30 is a registered device and the user of the mobile terminal device 30 authenticates that it is a registered user registered in the user list information 121, the server 10 performs subsequent mobile terminal devices. Communication with 30 continues.

  The mobile terminal device 30 and the multifunction device 50 to be used are connected by the network 40 by a user operation on the mobile terminal device 30 (step S3). Subsequently, the mobile terminal device 30 performs an access authentication process for authenticating whether the multi-function device 50 permits the connection with the mobile terminal device 30 (step S4). Subsequently, the mobile terminal device 30 determines whether or not the result of the access authentication process is a result of permitting access (step S5). If the result of the access authentication process is not the result of permitting access (step S5: No), the image forming process in the image forming system ends.

  On the other hand, when the result of the access authentication process is a result of permitting access (step S5: Yes), since the connection of the multi-function device 50 is permitted, it is possible to proceed to the next process for the multi-function device 50. First, a job list screen for print processing reserved by the user of the mobile terminal device 30 is displayed on the screen of the multi-function device 50 by a user operation (step S5). The user who sees this screen refers to the displayed job list screen and selects a job to be executed. As a result, in the multi-function device 50, a job to be executed is selected (step S7), and the job is executed on the multi-function device 50 (step S8), so that the print job reserved by the user is executed in the multi-function device 50. To do. Note that either of steps S1 to S2 and steps S3 to S4 shown in FIG. 7 may be performed first.

  Next, the access authentication process shown in FIG. 7 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the flow of the access authentication processing procedure shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 8, in the access authentication process, the multi-function device 50 transmits a signal requesting display of an access screen to the mobile terminal device 30 connected via the network 40 (step S11).

  When the mobile terminal device 30 receives the access screen display request, the access device control unit 316 determines whether the other multifunction device has already been authenticated by performing access authentication with the other multifunction device. (Step S12). If the mobile terminal device 30 determines that another multifunction device has already been authenticated (step S12: Yes), it displays an access error message on the display unit 314 and responds with an access error (step S13). Access to the portable terminal device 30 of the multi-function device 50 is not permitted.

  If the portable terminal device 30 determines that the other multifunction device has not been authenticated (step S12: No), the portable terminal device 30 generates a temporarily valid one-time password generated based on the connected device information such as the IP address, It displays on the screen of the display part 314 of the terminal device 30 (step S14).

  Further, the mobile terminal device 30 generates a password input screen for access authentication and transmits it to the multi-function device 50 (step S15). In the multi-function device 50, the password display screen transmitted from the mobile terminal device 30 is displayed on the operation display unit 520 (step S16). In the multi-function device 50, a password is input by accepting an operation from the user (step S17). The multi-function device 50 transmits a signal requesting access authentication to the mobile terminal device 30 based on the input password (step S18).

  Subsequently, the mobile terminal device 30 determines whether or not the input password matches the information of the connected multi-function device 50 (step S19). When the access device control unit 316 determines that the input password does not match the information of the connected multi-function device 50 (step S19: No), the multi-function device 50 is not a registered device that is permitted to access. In response, an access error is returned (step S13), and the connection between the multi-function device 50 and the portable terminal device 30 is not permitted.

  On the other hand, if the access device control unit 316 determines that the input password matches the information of the connected multi-function device 50 (step S19: Yes), the multi-function device 50 is a registered device that is permitted to access. And a signal for notifying the multi-function device 50 of access permission is transmitted (step S20). The multi-function device 50 receives access permission from the mobile terminal device 30 and displays on the screen that the access has been authenticated (step S21). In step S19, the case where the mobile terminal device 30 itself has determined permission to access the multi-function device 50 has been described. However, the server 10 may determine permission to access the multi-function device 50. In this case, the mobile terminal device 30 transmits identification information of the multi-function device 50 to the server 10, and in the server 10, the access device determination unit 132 refers to the device list information 122 to connect to the mobile terminal device 30. It is determined whether or not the device 50 is a registered multifunction device for which access is permitted, and the determination result is transmitted to the mobile terminal device 30. The mobile terminal device 30 performs either continuation of access to the multi-function device 50 or an access error response according to the transmitted determination result from the server 10.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 9, the processing procedure of step S6 to step S8 shown in FIG. 7 will be described. FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the flow of the processing procedure shown in steps S6 to S8 shown in FIG.

  As illustrated in FIG. 9, the multi-function device 50 transmits a signal requesting acquisition of a job list necessary for screen display to the mobile terminal device 30 (step S <b> 31), and the mobile terminal device 30 receives the signal to the server 10. A signal requesting acquisition of job list information is transmitted (step S32). In the server 10, the screen information generation unit 134 creates screen information of the job list screen (step S33), and transmits the generated screen information of the job list screen to the mobile terminal device 30 (step S34). In this case, the screen information generation unit 134 also considers the screen size of the multi-function device 50 so that the multi-function device 50 can operate the job list screen with the same user interface as the multi-function device operation of the user's affiliation. A job list screen is generated in a general-purpose document format that can be displayed by the mobile terminal device 30 and the multi-function device 50. The portable terminal device 30 transmits the screen information of the job list screen transmitted from the server 10 to the connected multi-function device 50 (step S35).

  The multi-function device 50 receives the screen information of the job list screen transmitted from the mobile terminal device 30, and displays it on the screen of the operation display unit 520 (step S36). Since the screen information of the job list screen is generated in a general-purpose document format, it can be displayed on any multifunction device 50. Further, on the screen of the multi-function device 50, the job list generated so that the job list screen can be operated with the same user interface as the operation of the multi-function device to which the user belongs is accommodated in the screen of the multi-function device 50. Is displayed. For this reason, the user can operate the multifunction device 50 in the same manner as the multifunction device to which the user belongs.

  When an arbitrary job is selected from the job list displayed on the screen by the user's operation (step S37), the multi-function device 50 carries a signal for requesting acquisition of detailed job information necessary for screen display. It transmits to the terminal device 30 (step S38). The portable terminal device 30 transmits a signal requesting acquisition of detailed job information to the server 10 (step S39).

  As a result, the server 10 receives the job detailed information acquisition request, and the screen information generation unit 134 generates screen information for the job detailed information (step S40). In this case, the confidential information determination unit 135 determines the sensitivity of the screen information for the job detailed information by comparing it with a predetermined threshold based on the URL or link information in the job detailed information. To do. When the confidential information determination unit 135 determines that an element with high confidentiality that the user does not want to leak to the outside is included in the job detailed information, the screen information generation unit 134 creates impersonation information for the element with high confidentiality. . As with the screen information for job list, the screen size of the MFP 50 is also taken into consideration so that the job list screen can be operated with the same user interface as the MFP to which the user belongs. However, it is generated in a general-purpose document format that can be displayed by the portable terminal device 30 and the multi-function device 50. The server 10 transmits the screen information for the detailed job information generated by the screen information generation unit 134 to the mobile terminal device 30 (step S41). When there is a screen element that has been subjected to a camouflage process, the screen information generation unit 134 transmits both the original information and the camouflaged information as a pair.

  In the mobile terminal device 30, when the screen information for job detailed information sent from the server 10 includes a screen element in which the original information and the disguised information are paired, the screen information conversion unit 315 The screen information for job details is converted so that only the disguised information is included for this screen element (step S42), and the converted screen information for job details is transmitted to the multi-function device 50 (step S43).

  The multi-function device 50 displays the received screen details for job details on the screen of the operation display unit 520 (step S44). A part of the screen information for job details is displayed on the display screen of the multi-function device 50 in a disguised state. Subsequently, in the multi-function device 50, when print execution of the job is selected by the user's operation (step S45), the mobile terminal device 30 executes print execution together with the document information selected by the user, request destination information of the document, and setting information. (Step S46).

  In the portable terminal device 30, when the request destination of the document information such as the document link destination by the multi-function device 50 is impersonation information, the information of the request destination of the impersonated document information is converted into original information (step S47). ), A signal for requesting the server 10 to acquire document information necessary for printing is transmitted (step S48). Thus, even if the request destination of the document information by the multi-function device 50 is impersonation information, the mobile terminal device 30 shows the information of the original request destination converted to the original state to the server 10, Since the server 10 is requested to send and receive documents, the multi-function device 50 can correctly print the target document without mistakes. The server 10 receives a request for document information from the mobile terminal device 30, acquires the document information to be printed (step S49), and transmits the acquired document information to the request to the mobile terminal device 30 (step S49). Step S50).

  When the document transmission from the server 10 is completed, the portable terminal device 30 transmits a signal requesting execution of printing of the document information to the multi-function device 50 (step S51). The multi-function device 50 that has received the print request executes print processing for the designated document (step S52).

  As described above, in the image forming system 1 according to the embodiment, the user authentication is not performed on the multi-function device 50 but the user authentication is performed on the mobile terminal device 30 registered in the server 10. Authentication data is not input to the multi-function device 50. In the image forming system 1, the multi-function device 50 does not directly refer to the document information in the server 10 or the mobile terminal device 30 on the network, and further, such as a document to be executed by a job, an item on a setting screen, and the like. Information other than the layout information is not transmitted from the server 10 to the multi-function device 50. Furthermore, in the image forming system 1, since the screen information is generated after the impersonation process is performed in advance by the server 10 for the information determined to have high confidentiality, confidential information is transmitted to the multi-function device 50. Nor. Therefore, in the image forming system 1, since security information and confidential information are not transmitted to the multi-function device 50 installed in a place other than the user's affiliation, it is possible to reliably prevent information leakage.

  In the image forming system 1, the mobile terminal device 30 also takes into account the screen size of the multifunction device 50 so that the server 10 can operate the job list screen with the same user interface as the multifunction device operation to which the user belongs. And the multi-function device 50 generate screen information in a general-purpose document format that can be displayed. For this reason, in the image forming system 1, even in the multi-function device 50 other than the user's affiliation destination, it is possible to search the job list and execute the job with the same screen and the same operation as the multi-function device to which the user belongs. Therefore, the difference in screen operation due to the difference in equipment is eliminated, and the convenience for the user is improved.

  In the above embodiment, the image forming system of the present invention has been described by taking an example in which the image forming system is applied to a multifunction machine having at least two functions among a copy function, a printer function, a scanner function, and a facsimile function. The present invention can be applied to any image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a scanner device, and a facsimile device.

  An execution program for each process executed by the server 10 and the portable terminal device 30 of the image forming system 1 according to the present embodiment is an installable format or an executable format file, such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk ( FD), CD-R, DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) and the like may be provided by being recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet, You may comprise so that it may provide by downloading via a network. Further, it may be configured to be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming system 10 Server 20, 40 Network 30 Portable terminal device 50 Multifunction machine 100 Bus 113 Display control part 114 Display part 115 Communication part 116,318 Input part 120 Database 121 User list information 122 Equipment list information 123 Document information 124 Job information 131, 572 Remote communication unit 132 Access device determination unit 133 User authentication unit 134 Screen information generation unit 135 Confidential information determination unit 311 Control unit 312 First remote communication unit 313 Second remote communication unit 314 Display unit 315 Screen information conversion unit 316 Access Device control unit 317 Storage unit 510 Controller 515 AGP bus 520 Operation display unit 550 IEEE1394 interface 560 Engine unit 571 UI control unit 573 Access authentication control unit 576 Printing processing unit 577 inputs the control unit 578 outputs control unit

JP 2009-070240 A

Claims (7)

In an image forming system in which a terminal device and a server are connected via a first network, and the terminal device and an image forming device that forms an image are connected via a second network.
The terminal device
Via the first network, the user information of the user who uses the terminal device is transmitted to the server to request authentication of whether or not the user who uses the terminal device is a registered user. User authentication request means;
Connection permission determining means for determining whether to permit connection between the terminal device and the image forming apparatus;
Screen information requesting means for requesting the server to transmit screen information displayed on the image forming apparatus in response to a screen operation of the image forming apparatus permitted to be connected by the connection permission determining means;
With
The server
User authentication means for authenticating whether the user of the terminal device is a registered user based on the user information transmitted from the terminal device;
When the terminal device used by the user who is authenticated as the registered user by the user authentication means is requested to transmit screen information to be displayed on the image forming device, the image forming device displays Screen information generating means for generating screen information to be generated in a document format that can be displayed at least by the terminal device and the image forming device;
Screen information transmitting means for transmitting the screen information generated by the screen information generating means to the terminal device;
An image forming system comprising: In the server,
The screen information generation unit generates screen information to be displayed on the image forming apparatus in a general-purpose document format when the transmission of the screen information is requested from the terminal device. Image forming system.   The screen information generating unit is sized according to the screen size displayed on the display unit of the image forming apparatus permitted to be connected by the connection permission determining unit when the terminal device is requested to transmit the screen information. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the screen information is generated. The screen information includes confidential information,
The server
It further comprises confidential information determination means for determining the level of sensitivity of each information constituting the screen information,
The screen information generating means creates information that is camouflaged in addition to the original information for information determined by the confidential information determination means among the screen information that the confidentiality is greater than a predetermined threshold,
The terminal device
When the screen information including the original information and the camouflaged information is transmitted from the server, the screen information converting unit further converts the screen information into screen information including only the camouflaged information. 4. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the screen information converted by the means is transmitted to the image forming apparatus. The terminal device requests the server to send document information of a document on which image formation is to be performed by the image forming apparatus in response to a screen operation of the image forming apparatus permitted to be connected by the connection permission determining means. Further comprising request means,
5. The image forming system according to claim 4 , wherein the server transmits document information in response to a request from the document information request unit. The screen information conversion means, when the request destination of the document information requested from the image forming apparatus is forged information, the request information of the forged document information is changed to the request destination of the original document information. To the information of
6. The image forming system according to claim 5, wherein the document information request unit requests transmission of document information by designating a request destination of the original document information converted by the screen information conversion unit. Connecting the terminal and the server via the first network, in the terminal apparatus and an image forming method to perform an image forming process and an image forming apparatus in images forming system that connects via a second network ,
In the terminal device, whether or not the user who uses the terminal device by transmitting user information of the user who uses the terminal device to the server via the first network is a registered user. A user authentication request step for requesting such authentication,
In the server, a user authentication step for authenticating whether or not the user of the terminal device is a registered user based on the user information transmitted in the user authentication request step;
In the terminal device, a connection permission determining step for determining whether or not to permit connection between the terminal device and the image forming device;
In the terminal device, a screen information requesting step for requesting the server to transmit screen information to be displayed on the image forming device in response to a screen operation of the image forming device permitted to be connected in the connection permission determining step;
A screen information generating step for generating, in the server, screen information to be displayed on the image forming apparatus in a predetermined document format when transmission of screen information to be displayed on the image forming apparatus is requested in the screen information requesting step;
A screen information transmission step of transmitting the screen information generated in the screen information generation step from the server to the terminal device;
An image forming method comprising:

Images