JP6932309B2 - Image formation system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to the field imaging systems, and is preferably applied to an image forming system that performs a print request from the portable terminal to the image forming apparatus that requires authentication during printing.

Conventionally, in order to use the function provided by the image forming apparatus, a user is made to input pre-registered authentication information from the operation panel of the image forming apparatus, and the input authentication information is registered authentication information. There is an image forming system that allows the operation if it matches. In such an image forming system, it is necessary for the user to input authentication information into the information processing terminal in advance and then make a printing request before making a printing request from the information processing terminal capable of communicating with the image forming device to the image forming device. (See, for example, Patent Document 1).

On the other hand, it is conceivable to bring the mobile terminal close to the image forming device and transmit the authentication information from the mobile terminal to the image forming device by short-range wireless communication to simplify the user's operation.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2008-44264

In an image forming system that authenticates using such short-range wireless communication, it is expected that the user often makes a print request without setting the authentication information in the mobile terminal in advance because of the simplicity of the operation. If the image forming device is set to require authentication information for printing, if the authentication information is not transmitted from the mobile terminal, the image forming device behaves to discard the print request as an authentication failure, so that the user performs the printing operation. It was difficult to understand the reason why printing was not possible even though I went there, and as a result, there was a possibility that the original purpose of being able to print with simple operations could not be achieved.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to propose an image forming system capable of improving functionality.

In order to solve such a problem, in the mobile terminal device of the present invention, in the mobile terminal device that can be connected to the image forming device, the storage unit in which the user information of the mobile terminal device is registered and the information to the user via the display screen. The image forming device is in the authentication mode in which the user information is required from the mobile terminal device for which the connection is requested, and the user information is registered in the storage unit of the mobile terminal device. If not, the control unit displays the user information registration screen for registering user information on the display screen.

Further, in the information processing program of the present invention, the image forming apparatus is in the authentication mode in which the image forming apparatus requires the user information from the mobile terminal apparatus requested to be connected to the computer, and the user information is registered in the storage unit of the portable terminal apparatus. If not, a user information registration screen display step is provided to display the user information registration screen for registering user information.

Further, in the image forming system of the present invention, in the image forming system having the image forming device and the portable terminal device connectable to the image forming device, the mobile terminal device is a storage in which the user information of the mobile terminal device is registered. A unit and a control unit that controls the user to notify the information via the display screen are provided, and the image forming device is an authentication mode that requires user information from the mobile terminal device requested to be connected and is portable. When the user information is not registered in the storage unit of the terminal device, the control unit displays the user information registration screen for registering the user information on the display screen of the mobile terminal device, and the image forming device is the mobile device for which the connection is requested. When the receiving unit receives user information from the terminal device, the authentication unit executes authentication based on the user information received by the receiving unit, and the authentication unit determines that the user information received from the mobile terminal device is incorrect. However, if it is the same mobile terminal device, has a history of printing with the same user name, and is within a certain number of times permitted by the administrator, a special image forming device control unit that prints a print job is provided. I tried to provide it.

Further, in the image forming system of the present invention, in the image forming system having the image forming device and the portable terminal device connectable to the image forming device, the terminal ID and the user information of the mobile terminal device are registered in the mobile terminal device. A mobile terminal device storage unit is provided, and the image forming device stores a receiving unit that receives terminal ID and user information from the mobile terminal device requested to be connected, and an image forming device storage unit that stores the terminal ID received by the receiving unit. Even if the unit, the authentication unit that executes authentication based on the terminal ID and user information received by the receiving unit, and the authentication unit determines that the user information received from the mobile terminal device is incorrect, the mobile terminal If the terminal ID received from the device is a terminal ID that has been successfully authenticated in the past and is stored in the image forming device storage unit, an image forming device control unit for printing a print job is provided as a special case .

As a result, according to the present invention, when the mobile terminal device is brought close to the image forming device in the mode requiring authentication using the user information for printing, and the user information is not registered in the mobile terminal device, the user information is printed. It is possible to promptly set the user, and the user's prior knowledge and operational skill that the print job sent by the mobile terminal device is discarded by the image forming device due to omission or input error of the authentication information of the mobile terminal device. It can be prevented regardless of the degree.

According to the present invention, it is possible to realize a picture imaging system capable of improving the functionality.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the image formation system. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware structure of an image forming apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the software structure of an image forming apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware configuration of a mobile terminal. It is a block diagram which shows the software structure of a mobile terminal. It is a figure which shows the user management information of an image forming apparatus. It is a figure which shows the manager authentication screen of an image forming apparatus. It is a figure which shows the administrator setting menu screen of an image forming apparatus. It is a figure which shows the authentication setting screen of an image forming apparatus. It is a figure which shows the user management screen of an image forming apparatus. It is a figure which shows the user information edit screen of an image forming apparatus. It is a figure which shows the NFC tag information of an image forming apparatus. It is a figure which shows the home screen of the application of a mobile terminal. It is a figure which shows the print preview screen in the application of a mobile terminal. It is a figure which shows the terminal ID display screen in the application of a mobile terminal. It is a figure which shows the user information setting screen in the application of a mobile terminal. It is a flowchart which shows the print job transmission processing procedure (1) by a mobile terminal. It is a flowchart which shows the print job transmission processing procedure (2) by a mobile terminal. It is a figure which shows the special print screen of a mobile terminal. It is a figure which shows the print job. It is a flowchart which shows the authentication processing procedure by an image forming apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the printing process procedure by an image forming apparatus.

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the invention (hereinafter referred to as embodiments) will be described with reference to the drawings.

[1. Embodiment]
[1-1. Image formation system configuration]
As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming system 1 is composed of an image forming device 2, a mobile terminal 3, and an information processing terminal 4.

The image forming apparatus 2 is, for example, an electrophotographic color printer, and communicates with the information processing terminal 4 via a wired network WDN which is a wired LAN (Local Area Network). Further, the image forming apparatus 2 has a Wi-Fi unit 13 and performs wireless communication with the mobile terminal 3 via a wireless LAN wireless network WLN such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark). Further, the image forming apparatus 2 has an NFC (Near Field Communication) tag 14, and wirelessly communicates with the mobile terminal 3 by the NFC 5 which is a short-range wireless communication. In such a configuration, the image forming apparatus 2 receives a print job from the information processing terminal 4 and the mobile terminal 3, and prints based on the print job.

The mobile terminal 3 is composed of a portable mobile terminal such as a so-called smartphone or PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) that is easily carried by a user. Further, the mobile terminal 3 has a Wi-Fi unit 37, performs wireless communication with the image forming apparatus 2 via the wireless network WLN, and transmits a print job or the like to the image forming apparatus 2. Further, the mobile terminal 3 has an NFC unit 38, and wirelessly communicates with the image forming apparatus 2 by the NFC 5, and information provided by the image forming apparatus 2 when the mobile terminal 3 is brought close to the image forming apparatus 2. Is obtained from the NFC tag 14 of the image forming apparatus 2.

The information processing terminal 4 is composed of a PC (Personal Computer), communicates with the image forming apparatus 2 via the wired network WDN, and transmits a print job or the like to the image forming apparatus 2.

[1-2. Hardware configuration of image forming device]
As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 2 is configured around a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 7, and the CPU 7 is connected to each part via a bus. The CPU 7 as an image forming apparatus control unit reads a predetermined program from the ROM (Read Only Memory) 8 and performs various calculations using the RAM (Random Access Memory) 9 as a work memory to control and control the image forming apparatus 2. Perform various processes. The ROM 8 stores programs such as device control, communication control, and print control. The RAM 9 is a volatile storage device, functions as a work area for the CPU 7 to execute various programs, and stores image-formed data. The storage 10 is a non-volatile storage device, and stores various setting information and user management information described later. The operation panel 11 is an input / output device, displays the device status of the image forming device 2, and receives an input instruction from the user. The wired NIC 12 is a NIC (Network Interface Card) and controls the connection with the wired network WDN (FIG. 1). The Wi-Fi unit 13 controls the connection with the wireless network WLN (FIG. 1). The NFC tag 14 writes predetermined information from the program in the image forming apparatus 2, and transmits the written predetermined information to the NFC unit 38 when the mobile terminal 3 having the NFC unit 38 is brought close to the NFC tag 14. .. The printing device 15 stores the print medium and fixes the image data created by the predetermined image formation control program and stored in the RAM 9 on the print medium.

[1-3. Image forming device software configuration]
The TCP / IP wired communication unit 17 of the image forming apparatus 2 shown in FIG. 3 transmits / receives data in the wired network WDN. The TCP / IP wired setting unit 18 sets and manages the information of the wired network WDN in the image forming apparatus 2. The Wi-Fi communication unit 19 transmits / receives data in the wireless network WLN. The Wi-Fi setting unit 20 sets and manages the information of the wireless network WLN in the image forming apparatus 2. The TCP / IP communication unit 21 collects the transmission / reception contents of the TCP / IP wired communication unit 17 or the Wi-Fi communication unit 19 and manages the transmission / reception between the program inside the image forming apparatus 2 and the external device.

The operation panel control unit 22 instructs the content to be displayed on the operation panel 11 and transmits the content input by the user to the operation panel 11 to the program in response to a request from the program in the image forming apparatus 2. The NFC tag control unit 23 controls to write predetermined information to the NFC tag 14. The Web server unit 24 provides a Web page for setting information of the image forming apparatus 2 by HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol). The device information setting unit 25 is a group of Web pages registered in the Web server unit 24, authenticates whether or not the user is the administrator of the image forming device 2, and if the administrator is involved in the operation of the image forming device 2. Set to.

The authentication unit 26 has an authentication execution unit 27 and a user information management unit 28, and performs authentication processing. The authentication execution unit 27 compares the authentication information input from the outside with the registered authentication information, and determines whether the authentication is successful or not. The user information management unit 28 manages user information as authentication information.

The print job receiving unit 29 takes over the print job received from outside the image forming apparatus 2 from the TCP / IP communication unit 21, analyzes the contents of the print job, and extracts the authentication information included in the print job if necessary. The authentication request is made to the authentication unit 26, and if the authentication is successful, various data necessary for printing are handed over to the print execution unit 30, which will be described later. The print execution unit 30 forms an image of the data inherited from the print job reception unit 29 and fixes it on the designated print medium. The log output unit 31 records as a log that the print job received is discarded because printing is performed by the print execution unit 30 or the authentication unit 26 receives a negative determination.

[1-4. Mobile terminal hardware configuration]
As shown in FIG. 4, the mobile terminal 3 is configured around a CPU 33, and the CPU 33 is connected to each part via a bus. The CPU 33 reads a predetermined program from the storage 35, performs various calculations using the RAM 34 as a work memory, controls the mobile terminal 3, and executes various processes. The RAM 34 is a volatile storage device, and has an area for reading and storing various programs from the storage 35 and a work area for the CPU 33 to execute various programs. The storage 35 is a non-volatile storage device, and stores an OS (Operating System), various control programs, various application programs (applications), user information, a terminal ID, and the like. The touch panel 36 is an input / output device, displays various information of the mobile terminal 3, and receives an input operation from the user. The Wi-Fi unit 37 controls the connection with the wireless network WLN (FIG. 1). When the mobile terminal 3 is physically brought close to the image forming device 2 which is a communication target device, the NFC unit 38 acquires information from the NFC tag 14 of the image forming device 2 according to the NFC standard.

[1-5. Mobile terminal software configuration]
As shown in FIG. 5, the Wi-Fi communication unit 40 of the mobile terminal 3 transmits / receives data in the wireless network WLN. The Wi-Fi setting unit 41 sets and manages the information of the wireless network WLN in the mobile terminal 3. The NFC communication unit 42 as a short-range wireless communication unit performs transmission / reception by NFC5 (FIG. 1). The touch panel control unit 43 instructs the content to be displayed on the touch panel 36 in response to a request from various programs in the mobile terminal 3, and transmits the content input to the touch panel 36 by the user to the program.

The general-purpose image display application 44 displays image data. The dedicated application 45 transmits the image data of the mobile terminal 3 to the image forming device 2 and requests printing. The dedicated application 45 has an NFC tag data acquisition unit 46, an authentication information setting unit 47, a print preview display unit 48, a print job generation unit 49, a print job transmission unit 50, and a terminal ID display unit 51.

The NFC tag data acquisition unit 46 receives and analyzes the information acquired by the NFC communication unit 42 via the NFC 5, and acquires the contents of each record. The authentication information setting unit 47 sets and manages the authentication information to be transmitted together with the image data when making a print request to the image forming apparatus 2 based on the contents input from the user to the touch panel 36. The print preview display unit 48 previews the image specified by the user on the touch panel 36 or the image shared by the general-purpose image display application 44 as print target data, and displays a screen on which various print parameters can be input. The print job generation unit 49 generates a print job to be transmitted to the image forming apparatus 2 from the image being previewed, the print parameters, and the terminal ID. The print job transmission unit 50 transmits the print job generated by the print job generation unit 49 using the network information acquired by the NFC tag data acquisition unit 46. The terminal ID display unit 51 displays the terminal ID, which is unique information for each mobile terminal 3, according to an instruction from the user.

[1-6. Concept of the present invention]
In recent years, as the performance of the mobile terminal 3 has improved and the purpose has increased, there is an increasing desire for the mobile terminal 3 to request printing from the image forming apparatus 2. Conventionally, an information processing terminal 4 such as a PC inputs network information of the image forming apparatus 2 manually or by using a search protocol, registers the information of the image forming apparatus 2 in the information processing terminal 4, and then makes a print request. Although it was necessary, in the case of the mobile terminal 3, the user can take advantage of the feature that the mobile terminal 3 itself can be carried around, and print by bringing the mobile terminal 3 in a state where the image desired to be printed is displayed closer to the image forming apparatus 2. The mechanism that can be done is realized. Since the number of operations related to the print request is small and no advance preparation is required in principle, even a user who is not familiar with the operation of the mobile terminal 3 or a user who does not read the operation manual can easily obtain the desired print result. It has the advantage of being able to.

However, in order to use the image forming apparatus 2, it is necessary to input the authentication information and the authentication request (login), and the device providing function is provided only when the authentication result matches the authentication information registered in the image forming apparatus 2 in advance. When printing is to be performed from the mobile terminal 3 on the image forming apparatus 2 configured to perform the execution instruction operation, the mobile terminal 3 as described above is brought close to the image forming apparatus 2 to make a printing request. However, the user needs to input and set the same authentication information as the authentication information such as the user name and password registered in the image forming apparatus 2 in advance in the mobile terminal 3. Therefore, if the same authentication information as the authentication information such as the user name and password registered in the image forming apparatus 2 in advance is not set in the mobile terminal 3, the print job sent to the image forming apparatus 2 is processed as an authentication failure. It is abandoned without being printed as a result. In this case, the above-mentioned simple operability that no advance preparation is required becomes a problem, and if the user is not familiar with the operation of the mobile terminal 3 or does not read the operation manual, printing cannot be performed until the authentication information is preset. There is a problem that it may take time to obtain a desired print result without noticing the above.

Furthermore, the operation of changing the password of the authentication information at regular intervals is generally recommended as an operation measure to improve the security to prevent spoofing. However, even if the authentication information of the image forming apparatus 2 is updated, it is not automatically reflected in the information of the mobile terminal 3, and even if the printing operation is performed until the authentication information is manually updated in the mobile terminal 3, the authentication is performed. It fails and is not printed. In this case, the user has to reset the authentication information and then perform the print operation again, but the print operation must be performed again, the print job must be recreated and sent, and until the desired print result is obtained. There was also the problem that it took time.

In order to deal with these problems, the present invention promptly prompts the input of the authentication information of the mobile terminal 3 when the image forming apparatus 2 requests the transmission of the authentication information at the time of printing, and even if the passwords do not match. Only when a predetermined condition is satisfied and it can be estimated that the user is the same user, printing can be performed as a special case.

The above-mentioned predetermined conditions will be described. In the case where the user or owner of the mobile terminal 3 is limited to a specific person, that is, in the operation where the person and the mobile terminal 3 have a one-to-one relationship, even if the authentication fails due to a password mismatch, the same mobile terminal 3 is used in the past. If the authentication-printed record can be confirmed by the same user, it is presumed that the same user but the password on the image forming apparatus 2 has been changed but is not reflected in the mobile terminal 3. When it can be estimated that the users are the same in this way, after obtaining the desired print result in advance, printing is performed by calling only the warning that the user needs to update the authentication information as a special print. It is possible to take measures such as inputting the correct password into the mobile terminal 3 and updating it to prepare for the next printing. On the other hand, since one mobile terminal 3 may be shared by a plurality of people or the mobile terminal 3 may be lost, the above-mentioned special printing is not permitted based on the operation policy, or the number of special printings is performed. Should be restricted, and they should be preset by the administrator based on the operational policy.

[1-7. Operation of image forming device]
First, the registration of authentication information in the image forming apparatus 2 will be described. As shown in FIG. 6 showing the user management information IUM stored in the image forming apparatus 2, the user management information IUM is a user name UN1 that guarantees that the primary key is unique to each user and the user. The password does not match the password PS1 that proves the password, the user type UT that indicates whether the user is an administrator or a general user, and the terminal IDDID when the user prints with the authentication information attached from the mobile terminal 3. However, the special print count SPC that permits printing when a predetermined condition is satisfied is registered as attribute information. The terminal IDDID and the special print count SPC are not information manually input by the administrator, but information stored by a program, and the timing and contents thereof will be described later. In order to allow only the administrator to edit (register, change and delete) user information, at least one administrator user is always registered in the user management information IUM in the initial state, and the default password is set. Is given. Here, the administrator user registered in the initial state will be described below as "admin". Incidentally, regarding the password PS1, the encrypted result or the hash value of the password may be saved instead of saving the password itself entered by the user.

When the URI (Uniform Resource Identifier) provided by the Web server unit 24 of the image forming apparatus 2 is input to the Web browser of the information processing terminal 4, the administrator authentication screen SCAA shown in FIG. 7 is displayed on the information processing terminal 4. Is displayed in. The administrator inputs the name of the user registered as the administrator in the image forming apparatus 2 into the user name input unit IAUN1 and the password into the password input unit IAPS1, and presses the login button BTLI. As a result, the input information is notified to the device information setting unit 25 via the TCP / IP communication unit 21, and the administrator authentication request is made to the authentication execution unit 27. The authentication execution unit 27 confirms whether a record in which the notified user name and password match exists in the user management information IUM, and whether the user type UT is information indicating the administrator, and sets the result as device information. Return to Part 25.

When the device information setting unit 25 receives a response from the authentication execution unit 27 that the result of the administrator authentication is good, the transition to the administrator setting menu screen SCMS shown in FIG. 8 is performed. The administrator setting menu screen SCMS displays items that can be set only by the administrator of the image forming apparatus 2 in the form of a menu button, and records in the authentication setting button BTAS that sets the necessity of authentication accompanying printing and the image forming apparatus 2. Display the user management button BTUM that manages user information.

When the administrator selects the authentication setting button BTAS, the screen transitions to the authentication setting screen SCAS shown in FIG. 9, while when the user management button BTUM is selected, the screen transitions to the user management screen SCUM shown in FIG. On the authentication setting screen SCAS, the necessity of authentication when a print job is received is set. The print authentication selection unit SLPA is an alternative radio button that switches between disabling and enabling the authentication function during printing. When the print authentication selection unit SLPA is effectively set, the image forming apparatus 2 matches the authentication information in the print job with the authentication information registered in advance when the print job is received. It is a mode that requires authentication at the time of printing, in which only printing is performed and if they do not match, the print job is discarded. On the other hand, when the print-time authentication selection unit SLPA is set to invalid, the image forming apparatus 2 enters a print-time authentication-free mode in which when a print job is received, it prints as it is without performing authentication. The special print permission number input unit IASPC is a parameter that is meaningful when the print authentication selection unit SLPA is enabled, and the user name and password, which are authentication information, are extracted from the print jobs received by the image forming apparatus 2 for authentication. If the above-mentioned predetermined conditions are satisfied even if the authentication fails, the number of times of special permission for printing is set as the password change period. If the operating environment is such that printing cannot be permitted even if the predetermined conditions are met because one mobile terminal 3 is used by a plurality of people, the special print permission count input unit IASPC is set to 0. The function can be disabled with. When the execute button BTR1 is selected, the input contents are saved and activated in the image forming apparatus 2, and when the stop button BTS1 is selected, the screen returns to the administrator setting menu screen SCMS shown in FIG.

The user management screen SCUM (FIG. 10) displays a list of user information currently registered in the image forming apparatus 2, and if necessary, adds a user or changes or deletes the information of a specified user. This is the intended screen. The user name UN1 of the user management information IUM shown in FIG. 6 is displayed on the user name display unit DAT, and the user type UT of the user indicated by the user name UN1 is displayed on the type display unit DAT. In the terminal ID display unit DADID, the terminal ID of the mobile terminal 3 that generated the print job that was finally successfully authenticated is displayed, and if the user has never printed from the mobile terminal 3, the terminal ID display unit DADID Is blank. The special print count display unit DASPC displays the remaining number of times to print if it is a print job generated by the mobile terminal 3 indicated by the terminal ID display unit DADID even if the authentication fails. This number of times is updated to the special print permission number input unit IASPC, which is a value set by the administrator when the authentication is successful and printing is performed, and is updated to a value subtracted by 1 when performing special printing. Further, in the special print count display unit DASPC, 0 is displayed as a fixed value in the case of a user whose terminal ID is not recorded.

The case of adding a user will be described. When the administrator presses the add button BTAD on the user management screen SCUM, the screen transitions to the user information editing screen SCUIE shown in FIG. When the user information edit screen SCUIE is displayed by pressing the add button BTAD, the user name input unit IAUN2 and the password input unit IAPS2 are displayed in a non-input state, and the administrator inputs the user information to be added and the user. The type selection unit SLUT specifies whether the user is an administrator or a user. As for the password, it is desirable to mask the entered contents with hidden characters (* etc.) instead of displaying them as they are. When the administrator presses the execute button BTR2, the input user name input unit IAUN1 is registered in the user management information IUM after it is confirmed whether it is already registered in the user management information IUM, and the user management screen SCUM is redisplayed. NS. On the other hand, when the administrator presses the stop button BTS2, the user management information IUM is not updated and the transition source user management screen SCUM is displayed.

Next, a case of changing the user information registered in the user management information IUM will be described. When the administrator presses the change button BTCH while the line of the user to be changed to the selection section SL1 of the user management screen SCUM (Fig. 10) is checked, the user information edit screen SCUIE (Fig. 11) is displayed and the user name is displayed. Information on the user selected on the user management screen SCUM is initially displayed on the input unit IAUN2, the password input unit IAPS2, and the user type selection unit SLUT. However, it is desirable that the password input unit IAPS2 is masked and displayed with hidden characters (*, etc.) as described above. The behavior when the execute button BTR2 and the stop button BTS2 are pressed is the same as described above. However, as described above, since at least one user is required as the administrator of the image forming apparatus 2, the user name and user type of the "admin" user cannot be changed, and the user information of the "admin" user is changed. If the case is controlled to be an error.

Next, a case where the user information registered in the user management information IUM is deleted will be described. When the administrator presses the delete button BTDL while the line of the user to be deleted is checked in the selection section SL1 of the user management screen SCUM (FIG. 10), the selected user information is the user management information IUM (FIG. 6). It is deleted from and the user management screen SCUM is redisplayed. However, if an attempt is made to delete the "admin" user, an error is controlled.

Next, a case where the terminal ID information is deleted from the user management information IUM will be described. This function provides a function of erasing the terminal ID of a user who has been designated and designated as a user in order to prevent spoofing printing by an administrator who has received a report that the user has lost the mobile terminal 3. When the administrator presses the terminal ID clear button BTIDCL in the situation where the user's line for erasing the terminal ID is checked in the selection section SL1 of the user management screen SCUM (FIG. 10), the user management information IUM (FIG. 6) is displayed. Of the user information in the selected state, the terminal IDDID is deleted, and the special print count SPC is updated to 0.

Next, the contents of the NFC tag 14 contained in the image forming apparatus 2 will be described. The NFC tag 14 is connected to the image forming apparatus 2 by wire, and when the mobile terminal 3 having the NFC unit 38 is brought close to a short distance, the NFC tag 14 is preliminarily in the NDEF format (Nfc Data Exchange Format) according to the NFC standard. It is a component that allows the mobile terminal 3 to read the contents stored in the inside. The image forming apparatus 2 writes the NFC tag information INT shown in FIG. 12 to the NFC tag 14 at the time of starting the apparatus in order to provide the information of the own device to the mobile terminal 3, and when the written information is changed, the image forming apparatus 2 writes the NFC tag information INT to the NFC tag 14. The contents of the NFC tag 14 are updated.

As shown in FIG. 12, the NFC tag information INT stores the device name DN, the wireless access point information WLAP, the IP address information IPAD, the authentication setting information AS, and the application information AP.

The device name DN stores the name of the image forming apparatus 2 and is used by a person to identify the image forming apparatus 2. The wireless access point information WLAP stores information necessary for connecting to the access point when the image forming apparatus 2 itself becomes an access point. Specifically, SSID (Service Set Identifier), password and security type (WEP, WPA2, etc.) are stored. When the access point function is not provided or the image forming apparatus 2 does not have the Wi-Fi unit 13, the wireless access point information WLAP stores an empty record (Null). IP address information as connection destination information IPAD stores the IP address information of the target to be connected from the mobile terminal 3. The authentication setting information AS stores an invalid or valid setting value set by the print-time authentication selection unit SLPA in the above-mentioned authentication setting screen SCAS (FIG. 9).

The application information AP stores the package name of the dedicated application 45 (FIG. 5). When the mobile terminal 3 equipped with the NFC unit 38 is held over the NFC tag 14 that stores the application information AP, the specified application is automatically started, or if the application is not installed, it is published in the store. You will be directed to the installation screen of the app.

[1-8. Basic operation of the app]
Next, the basic operation of the dedicated application 45 installed on the mobile terminal 3 will be described. FIG. 13 is an image diagram of the home screen SCAH displayed on the touch panel 36 after activating the dedicated application 45 installed on the mobile terminal 3. The home screen SCAH is displayed in a menu format, and the file menu MNFL, the Web menu MNWB, and the camera menu MNCM are functions for designating an image to be printed. For example, when the file menu MNFL is specified to the user, the mobile terminal 3 displays a screen (not shown) for selecting an image file inside the mobile terminal 3, and when the image file is specified on that screen, the figure is shown. A print preview screen SCPP in which an image image is displayed is displayed on the image display unit DAI as shown in 14. On the other hand, when the Web menu MNWB (FIG. 13) is selected by the user, the mobile terminal 3 displays a URI input screen (not shown), and when the URI is specified on the URI input screen, the designated URI is specified. The Web screen after being connected to the image display unit DAI (FIG. 14) is displayed. On the other hand, when the camera menu MNCM (FIG. 13) is selected by the user, the mobile terminal 3 activates the internal camera application, and when the shooting operation is performed by the camera application, the captured image is displayed on the image display unit DAI (DAI). It is displayed in FIG. 14). Another method of displaying the print preview screen SCPP is to perform a sharing operation from another general-purpose image display application 44 and specify the dedicated application 45 as the sharing destination to start the dedicated application 45 and display the displayed image as an image. It may be displayed in the part DAI.

After displaying the print preview screen SCPP (FIG. 14) by such an operation, the user manually operates the print color classification designation section SACT, the print paper size designation section SAPS, and the print copy number designation section SANC as necessary. By designating and bringing the portable terminal 3 in that state closer to the NFC tag 14 of the image forming apparatus 2, a printing request is made to the desired image forming apparatus 2. Incidentally, when the user selects the back button BTBK1 of the title TTL1, the mobile terminal 3 returns to the home screen SCAH shown in FIG.

On the other hand, when the terminal ID display menu MNID is selected by the user on the home screen SCAH, the mobile terminal 3 transitions to the terminal ID display screen SCID shown in FIG. The terminal ID is information that uniquely identifies the mobile terminal 3, and as an example, it may be information obtained by hashing the MAC (Media Access Control address) address of the Wi-Fi unit 37 of the mobile terminal 3, or the Internet. It may be information that can access the cloud server that generates individual IDs through. The displayed terminal IDDID2 is registered as information accompanying the user information when printing is performed with authentication, and can be confirmed on the terminal ID display unit DADID of the user management screen SCUM (FIG. 10). This terminal ID display menu MNID (FIG. 13) is assumed to be used by the administrator when confirming with the user based on the terminal ID display unit DADID displayed on the user management screen SCUM (FIG. 10). The user is not aware of the terminal ID in normal operation. Incidentally, when the user selects the back button BTBK2 of the title TTL2 of the terminal ID display screen SCID (FIG. 15), the mobile terminal 3 returns to the home screen SCAH (FIG. 13).

On the other hand, when the user information setting menu MNUS is selected by the user on the home screen SCAH, the mobile terminal 3 transitions to the user information setting screen SCUIS as the user information registration screen shown in FIG. When the image forming apparatus 2 requires authentication for printing, it is necessary to include user information that can be authenticated by the image forming apparatus 2 in the print job transmitted from all the information processing devices including the mobile terminal 3. be. Therefore, the mobile terminal 3 sets the user information to be included in the print job when the image forming apparatus 2 requires authentication on the user information setting screen SCUIS.

When the user inputs the user information registered in the image forming apparatus 2 into the user name input unit IAUN2 and the password input unit IAPS2 and selects the OK button BTOK1 indicating the setting execution, the mobile terminal 3 inputs the user information to the inside of the mobile terminal 3. It is saved in the storage 35 of. Incidentally, when the user selects the Cancel button BTCL or the back button BTBK3 of the title TTL3, the mobile terminal 3 returns to the home screen SCAH (FIG. 13). The initial state of the user name input unit IAUN2 and the password input unit IAPS2 (FIG. 13) is not set, and the user who installed the application is informed by the device administrator that the image forming device 2 is in a state of requesting authentication. At the same time, conventionally, the user information setting screen SCUIS could be opened only when the operation manual was read or the device administrator instructed in advance. In the present embodiment, when the mobile terminal 3 is brought close to the NFC tag 14 of the image forming apparatus 2 while the user information is not set in the mobile terminal 3, the image is displayed in the above-mentioned authentication setting information AS (FIG. 12). When the forming device 2 requires authentication for printing, it is controlled by the contents described later to automatically display the user information setting screen SCUIS (FIG. 10).

[1-9. Print job transmission processing procedure]
Next, a specific processing procedure of the print job transmission process by the mobile terminal 3 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 17 and 18. When the power of the mobile terminal 3 is turned on, the CPU 33 starts the print job transmission processing procedure RT1 by reading and executing the print job transmission processing program from the storage 35. When the NFC unit 38 of the mobile terminal 3 in the image preview display state described above is brought close to the NFC tag 14 of the image forming apparatus 2, the CPU 33 proceeds to step SP1.

In step SP1, the CPU 33 reads the NFC tag information INT (FIG. 12), specifically, the device name DN, the wireless access point information WLAP, the IP address information IPAD, the authentication setting information AS, and the application information AP by the NFC communication unit 42. When all the contents are read, the process proceeds to step SP2. At this time, the CPU 33 starts the designated application based on the application information AP. Here, when the designated application is not installed on the mobile terminal 3, the CPU 33 displays the application installation screen (not shown) published on the store on the touch panel 36. In step SP2, the CPU 33 notifies the user that the mobile terminal 3 may be moved away from the NFC tag 14 by vibrating once, and proceeds to step SP3.

In step SP3, the CPU 33 analyzes the acquired wireless access point information WLAP and determines whether or not the wireless access point information WLAP is effectively set. If an affirmative result is obtained here, this means that the image forming apparatus 2 provides the access point function because the content of the wireless access point information WLAP is not NULL, and at this time, the CPU 33 moves to step SP4. In step SP4, the CPU 33 temporarily saves the current Wi-Fi setting information by the Wi-Fi setting unit 41, and moves to step SP5. In step SP5, the CPU 33 changes the Wi-Fi setting information of the mobile terminal 3 by the Wi-Fi setting unit 41 so that it can connect to the access point indicated by the acquired wireless access point information WLAP, and proceeds to step SP6.

On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP3, this means that the image forming apparatus 2 does not provide the access point function because the content of the wireless access point information WLAP is NULL, and at this time, the CPU 33 is in step SP4. And by skipping SP5, the process proceeds to step SP6 without temporarily saving the current Wi-Fi setting information of the mobile terminal 3.

In step SP6, the CPU 33 connects to the image forming apparatus 2 by the Wi-Fi communication unit 40 based on the acquired IP address information IPAD, and proceeds to step SP7. In step SP7, the CPU 33 determines whether or not the connection from the mobile terminal 3 to the image forming apparatus 2 is successful. If an affirmative result is obtained here, this means that it is possible to transmit a print job from the mobile terminal 3 to the image forming apparatus 2 via the wireless network WLN, and at this time, the CPU 33 moves to step SP8.

In step SP8, the CPU 33 confirms the acquired authentication setting information AS, and determines whether or not the authentication setting information AS is effectively set. If an affirmative result is obtained here, this means that the image forming apparatus 2 requires authentication for printing, so that an authentication printing job including valid authentication information is generated and transmitted from the mobile terminal 3 to the image forming apparatus 2. It indicates that it is necessary, and at this time, the CPU 33 moves to step SP9.

In step SP9, the CPU 33 determines whether or not the user of the mobile terminal 3 has already set the user information on the user information setting screen SCUIS (FIG. 16). If a negative result is obtained here, this means that even if the authentication print job is generated as it is and transmitted to the image forming apparatus 2, it is clear that the authentication fails and the CPU 33 is discarded. At this time, the CPU 33 performs step SP10. Move to. On the other hand, if an affirmative result is obtained in step SP9, this means that it is not necessary to set it from now on because the user information has been set in advance. At this time, the CPU 33 skips steps SP10 to SP12 and steps SP13 (FIG. Move on to 18).

In step SP10, the CPU 33 notifies the user that the user information setting error has occurred by performing the vibration three times, and proceeds to step SP11. In this way, by vibrating the mobile terminal 3, even when the mobile terminal 3 is brought close to the image forming apparatus 2 with the touch panel 36 facing downward, the user can immediately notice it.

In step SP11, the CPU 33 prompts the user to set the user information by displaying the user information setting screen SCUIS (FIG. 16) on the touch panel 36, and proceeds to step SP12 (FIG. 18).

In step SP12, the CPU 33 determines on the user information setting screen SCUIS whether the user information is input and the OK button BTOK1 is pressed, or the Candle button BTCL is pressed. When the user information is input and the OK button BTOK1 is pressed, this means that the user wants to print even if the user information is input, and at this time, the CPU 33 moves to step SP13. On the other hand, when the Cancel button BTCL is pressed in step SP12, this means that the user does not want to print enough to input the user information and wants to stop printing. At this time, the CPU 33 Skips steps SP13 to SP17 to move to step SP18 without transmitting the print job to the image forming apparatus 2.

In step SP13, the CPU 33 is "authenticated and printed" indicating that the authentication information (user name and password) which is the input user information, the terminal ID, and the printing are performed according to the authentication result, or the correctness of the authentication information. The Wi-Fi communication unit 40 transmits an authentication request request to the image forming apparatus 2 via the wireless network WLN together with an authentication request classification indicating "authentication only" indicating that only is determined. Request authentication and move to step SP14. At this time, the CPU 33 designates "authentication only" as the authentication request category. The image forming apparatus 2 that has received the authentication request request determines whether or not printing with the input authentication information is permitted in the authentication processing procedure RT2 described later, and returns the result as an authentication response to the mobile terminal 3. There are three types of authentication responses: an NG response that does not allow printing, an OK response that allows printing, and a special OK response that allows printing as a special case because the authentication information is incorrect but the predetermined conditions are satisfied.

In step SP14, the CPU 33 determines what the authentication response received from the image forming apparatus 2 by the Wi-Fi communication unit 40 via the wireless network WLN. If an NG response is obtained here, this means that printing was not permitted with the authentication information currently set in the mobile terminal 3, so even if an authentication print job is generated as it is and sent to the image forming apparatus 2, the authentication fails. At this time, the CPU 33 returns to step SP10 (FIG. 17) and repeats the above-described processing.

On the other hand, when the special OK response is obtained in step SP14, this means that it is necessary to notify the user that the user information needs to be reset although printing is performed in the special case. At this time, the CPU 33 performs step SP15. Move to. In step SP15, the CPU 33 notifies the user that the user information needs to be reset by performing the vibration once, and proceeds to step SP16. In step SP16, the CPU 33 notifies the user of the resetting of user information by displaying the special print screen SCSP shown in FIG. 19 on the touch panel 36. When the user presses the OK button BTOK2 indicating that the message content has been confirmed on the special print screen SCSP, the CPU 33 closes the special print screen SCSP and proceeds to step SP17. In step SP17, the CPU 33 generates an authentication print job by the print job generation unit 49, transmits it to the image forming apparatus 2 via the wireless network WLN by the Wi-Fi communication unit 40, and proceeds to step SP18.

On the other hand, when an OK response is obtained in step SP14, this means that printing is normally performed because printing is permitted with the authentication information currently set in the mobile terminal 3, and at this time, the CPU 33 performs steps SP15 and Skip SP16 and move to step SP17.

On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP8 (FIG. 17), this means that the authentication setting information AS is set to be invalid and the image forming apparatus 2 does not require authentication for printing. Therefore, the current mobile terminal 3 It means that a normal print job that does not include the authentication information may be generated and transmitted to the image forming apparatus 2 regardless of whether or not the user information is set in the image forming apparatus 2. At this time, the CPU 33 moves to step SP20 (FIG. 18). In step SP20, the CPU 33 generates a normal print job by the print job generation unit 49, transmits it to the image forming apparatus 2 via the wireless network WLN by the Wi-Fi communication unit 40, and proceeds to step SP18.

On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP7 (FIG. 17), this means that the print job cannot be transmitted from the mobile terminal 3 to the image forming apparatus 2 via the wireless network WLN, and at this time, the CPU 33 steps. Move to SP21 (Fig. 18). In step SP21, the CPU 33 displays a connection error screen (not shown) on the touch panel 36, and proceeds to step SP18.

In step SP18, the CPU 33 determines whether or not the Wi-Fi setting information has been temporarily saved in step SP3 (FIG. 17) described above. If an affirmative result is obtained here, the CPU 33 moves to step SP19 at this time. In step SP19, the CPU 33 returns the Wi-Fi setting information to the temporarily saved setting information, that is, the original setting information by the Wi-Fi setting unit 41, moves to step SP22, and ends the print job transmission processing procedure RT1. On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP18, the CPU 33 skips step SP19, moves to step SP22, and ends the print job transmission processing procedure RT1.

In this way, the mobile terminal 3 generates an authentication print job including the valid authentication information because the authentication setting information AS is effectively set, that is, the image forming apparatus 2 requires authentication at the time of printing, and the mobile terminal 3 is the mobile terminal. When it is necessary to transmit from 3 to the image forming apparatus 2, if the user has not set the user information in advance on the user information setting screen SCUIS (FIG. 16), the user information setting screen SCUIS (FIG. 16) is displayed on the touch panel 36. By doing so, the user is urged to set the user information.

Therefore, when the image forming system 1 prints by bringing the mobile terminal 3 close to the image forming device 2 that requires input of the authentication information at the time of printing, the print job created and transmitted by the mobile terminal 3 is the authentication information of the mobile terminal 3. It is possible to prevent the image forming apparatus 2 from being abandoned due to input omission or input error regardless of the user's prior knowledge and operational skill level.

[1-10. About print jobs]
Next, the contents of the print job created by the print job generation unit 49 in SP17 or SP20 in the print job transmission processing procedure RT1 will be described. As shown in FIG. 20, the print job PJ stores the job type JT, the authentication information AI, the terminal IDDID3, the job name JN, the paper size PS, the number of copies PN, and the print image data PID.

The job type JT indicates whether it is a normal print job that does not include the authentication information or an authentication print job that includes the authentication information of the user name / password. A normal print job is printed only when it is sent to the image forming apparatus 2 which does not require authentication, and when it is sent to the image forming apparatus 2 which requires authentication, it is received without being printed by the image forming apparatus 2. Abandoned. On the other hand, the authentication print job PJ is printed only when the authentication information AI included in the print job matches the user information of the image forming apparatus 2, and if they do not match, the authentication information AI is discarded without being printed by the image forming apparatus 2.

The content to be stored in the authentication information AI changes according to the job type JT, and is used for a log recorded after printing is completed by the image forming apparatus 2. This authentication information AI stores only the user name when the job type JT is a normal print job. On the other hand, the authentication information AI stores the user name / password registered in advance in the image forming apparatus 2 when the job type JT is an authentication print job including the authentication information of the user name / password. Since the authentication print job is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 2 via the wireless network or the wired network WDN, it is desirable that the password is encrypted by a predetermined method from the viewpoint of confidentiality.

The terminal IDDID3 stores a terminal ID which is unique information for each mobile terminal 3. The job name JN stores the print job name generated from the file name of the print source and the date information. The information of the job name JN is used for the log recorded after the printing is completed by the image forming apparatus 2. The paper size PS stores the paper size of the print medium to be printed. The number of print copies PN stores the number of copies of the print medium to be printed. The print image data PID stores the image information to be printed.

Specifically, in the present embodiment, in the case of the normal print job, the print job PJ is the normal print job for the job type JT, and the user information is set for the authentication information AI on the user information setting screen SCUIS (FIG. 16). If is set, the set user name is set, if the user name is not set, the user name acquired from the OS of the mobile terminal 3 is set, and the terminal IDDID3 is internally generated and the terminal ID display screen SCID (Fig. The terminal ID displayed in 15) is specified in the job name JN, the file name of the image to be printed is specified in the paper size PS, and the print paper size specification unit SAPS of the print preview screen SCPP (FIG. 14) of the application specifies the paper size PS. The printed paper size is the number of prints specified in the print preview screen SCPP (FIG. 14) of the application, the number of prints specified by the SANC, and the print image data PID is the print-designated image data. The print preview screen of the application was converted into color or monochrome data by the print color classification specification unit SACT specified by SCPP, and the scale was changed according to the print paper size specified by the paper size PS. Store each image data.

On the other hand, in the case of the authentication print job, the print job PJ uses the authentication print job for the job type JT and the user name set on the user information setting screen SCUIS (FIG. 16) for the authentication information AI by a predetermined method. The encrypted password is stored in the terminal IDDID3, the job name JN, the paper size PS, the number of copies PN, and the print image data PID, which are the same as those of the normal print job.

[1-11. Authentication processing procedure]
Next, a specific processing procedure of the authentication process by the image forming apparatus 2 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The CPU 7 starts the authentication processing procedure RT2 by reading and executing the authentication processing program from the storage 10, and when the mobile terminal 3 receives the authentication request request transmitted in step SP13 of the print job transmission processing procedure RT1 (FIG. 18). , Step SP31. As described above, the image forming apparatus 2 receives the authentication request request from the mobile terminal 3, and specifies the authentication information, which is the user information, the terminal ID, and the authentication request classification from the mobile terminal 3.

In step SP31, the CPU 7 authenticates the input user name and password by the authentication unit 26 based on the user management information IUM (FIG. 6), and proceeds to step SP32. In step SP32, the CPU 7 determines the success or failure of the authentication result. If the authentication is successful here, the CPU 7 moves to step SP40 at this time.

In step SP40, the CPU 7 determines what the authentication request category is. If the user authenticates and prints are obtained here, this means that the user desires to authenticate and print, and at this time, the CPU 7 moves to step SP41. Here, although the authentication response to be returned to the mobile terminal 3 is confirmed by an OK response, when the authentication request category is authenticated and printing is performed, it is necessary to leave the history of the authentication printing performed by the mobile terminal 3 in the image forming apparatus 2. Therefore, the CPU 7 processes SP41 and SP42. In step SP41, the CPU 7 stores the input terminal ID in the terminal IDDID which is the attribute information of the authentication target user who is the user who is currently authenticating in the user management information IUM (FIG. 6), and proceeds to step SP42. .. In step SP42, the CPU 7 has the same value as the special print permission count input unit IASPC (FIG. 9), which is an administrator setting item, for the special print count SPC which is the attribute information of the user to be authenticated in the user management information IUM (FIG. 6). Is stored, the special printing count is reset, and the process proceeds to step SP43.

On the other hand, if only authentication is obtained in step SP40, this means that the user only wants to determine whether the authentication is correct or not, and at this time, the CPU 7 skips steps SP41 and SP42 and proceeds to step SP43. In step SP43, the CPU 7 sets the authentication response as an OK response and proceeds to step SP44.

On the other hand, if an authentication failure is obtained in step SP32, the CPU 7 moves to step SP33 at this time. In step SP33, the CPU 7 acquires the user name UN1, the terminal IDDID, and the attribute information of the special print count SPC from the user management information IUM (FIG. 6) using the input user name as a key, and proceeds to step SP34. In step SP34, the CPU 7 determines the success or failure of the acquisition result. If an acquisition failure is obtained here, this means that the user information has not been registered, and at this time, the CPU 7 moves to step SP39. In step SP39, the CPU 7 sets the authentication response as an NG response and proceeds to step SP44.

On the other hand, if the acquisition is successful in step SP34, this means that it is considered that the authentication has failed because the user information is registered but the passwords do not match. At this time, the CPU 7 moves to step SP35. In step SP35, the CPU 7 determines whether or not the input terminal ID has been printed in the past and the number of special printings is 1 or more, that is, whether or not special printing is permitted. If a negative result is obtained here, this means that it does not correspond to special printing because it does not satisfy the condition for permitting special printing. At this time, the CPU 7 moves to step SP39, and the authentication response is set as an NG response. Move to step SP44.

On the other hand, if an affirmative result is obtained in step SP35, this indicates that it corresponds to special printing in order to satisfy the condition for permitting special printing, and at this time, the CPU 7 moves to step SP36. In step SP36, the CPU 7 determines what the authentication request category is. If the user authenticates and prints are obtained here, this means that the user desires to authenticate and print, and at this time, the CPU 7 moves to step SP37. In step SP37, the CPU 7 updates the special print count SPC of the authentication target user by 1 in the user management information IUM (FIG. 6) in order to permit the special print, and proceeds to step SP38.

On the other hand, if only the authentication is obtained in step SP36, this means that the user to be authenticated only wants to determine whether the authentication is correct or not, and at this time, the CPU 7 skips step SP37 and proceeds to step SP38. In step SP38, the CPU 7 sets the authentication response as a special OK response and proceeds to step SP44.

In step SP44, the CPU 7 transmits an authentication response consisting of an NG response, an OK response, or a special OK response to the mobile terminal 3 via the wireless network WLN by the Wi-Fi communication unit 19, proceeds to step SP45, and ends the authentication processing procedure RT2. .. In this way, even if the authentication result is authentication failure, the image forming apparatus 2 is a special case of the user to be authenticated if the condition for permitting special printing is satisfied and the input authentication request category is authenticated and printed. The number of prints SPC was decremented by 1 to update, and printing was executed.

[1-12. Print processing procedure]
Next, a specific processing procedure of the printing process by the image forming apparatus 2 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The CPU 7 starts the print processing procedure RT3 by reading and executing the print processing program from the storage 10, and the normal print job or step SP20 transmitted by the mobile terminal 3 in step SP17 of the print job transmission processing procedure RT1 (FIG. 18). When the authentication print job transmitted in is received, the process proceeds to step SP51. In step SP51, the CPU 7 determines what is the set value of the print authentication selection unit SLPA (FIG. 9), which is an administrator setting item of the image forming apparatus 2.

If invalidity is obtained here, this means that printing is permitted regardless of the type of print job received (that is, whether the print job is either an authenticated print job or a normal print job). At this time, the CPU 7 moves to step SP58. In step SP58, the CPU 7 prints the image data on the print medium by the print execution unit 30, and proceeds to step SP59. In step SP59, the CPU 7 extracts information such as the authentication information AI and the job name JN (FIG. 20) from the print job by the print execution unit 30, records the print log by the log output unit 31, and moves to step SP60 to perform printing processing. The procedure RT3 is terminated.

On the other hand, when the validity is obtained in step SP51, this means that it is necessary to confirm the job type JT of the print job (FIG. 20), and at this time, the CPU 7 moves to step SP52. In step SP52, the CPU 7 determines what the job type of the print job is. If authentication printing is obtained here, this means that authentication needs to be performed. At this time, the CPU 7 moves to step SP53, and the user name, password, terminal ID, and " By performing the above-mentioned authentication processing procedure RT2 (FIG. 21) by designating the authentication request category in which "Authenticate and print" is specified, the authentication process is performed and the process proceeds to step SP54.

In step SP54, the CPU 7 determines what the authentication response is. If an OK response or a special OK response is obtained here, this indicates that printing is performed. At this time, the CPU 7 moves to step SP58, and the print execution unit 30 prints the image data on the print medium.

On the other hand, if an NG response is obtained in step SP54, this means that the received data needs to be discarded because the authentication fails and the special printing is not applied. At this time, the CPU 7 moves to step SP55. On the other hand, if other than authentication printing is obtained in step SP52, this means that if the setting of authentication at the time of printing is valid, printing is not permitted except for the authentication print job, so it is necessary to discard the received data. At this time, the CPU 7 skips steps SP53 and SP54 and moves to step SP55.

In step SP55, the CPU 7 displays an error message on the operation panel 11 for a certain period of time, and proceeds to step SP56. In step SP56, the CPU 7 extracts the result of discarding the received data by the log output unit 31 and information such as the authentication information AI and the job name JN from the print job, records the print log, and proceeds to step SP57. In step SP57, the CPU 7 discards the received data, moves to step SP60, and ends the print processing procedure RT3.

[1-13. Effect, etc.]
In the above configuration, the mobile terminal 3 is portable by generating an authentication print job including the valid authentication information because the authentication setting information AS is effectively set, that is, the image forming apparatus 2 requires authentication at the time of printing. When it is necessary to transmit from the terminal 3 to the image forming apparatus 2, when the user has not set the user information in advance on the user information setting screen SCUIS (FIG. 16) and the user information has not been set, the user information setting screen SCUIS ( By displaying FIG. 16) on the touch panel 36, the user is urged to set the authentication information.

Therefore, in the image forming system 1, when a printing request is made by bringing the mobile terminal 3 displaying the image to be printed close to the image forming device 2, the image forming device 2 to be printed requires authentication. In this case, the mobile terminal 3 displays the authentication information input screen without sending the print job and prompts the user to input the authentication information. Therefore, the situation that the user cannot print because the authentication information is not set is displayed. Can be eliminated.

As a result, the image forming system 1 can easily make a print request from the mobile terminal 3 even for a user who is not good at operating the mobile terminal 3 or a user who does not read the operation manual before the operation. When the image forming apparatus 2 requires authentication, it is possible to induce the mobile terminal 3 to input the authentication information.

Further, in the conventional mobile terminal 3, the user information setting screen SCUIS (FIG. 16) often exists deep in the menu hierarchy. Therefore, in the case where the user information is not set, if the user simply displays on the touch panel 36 of the mobile terminal 3 that the authentication information has not been set, the user operates the mobile terminal 3 to deepen the menu hierarchy. The convenience was low because it was necessary to reach the existing user information setting screen SCUIS (FIG. 16).

On the other hand, in the mobile terminal 3, the user information setting screen SCUIS (FIG. 16) itself is displayed on the touch panel 36 when the user information is not set. As a result, the mobile terminal 3 can eliminate the complicated operation of operating the mobile terminal 3 to reach the user information setting screen SCUIS (FIG. 16), and can prompt the user to input the authentication information, which is convenient. Can improve sex.

Here, if the authentication information has not been set, it is conceivable to display the user information setting screen SCUIS (FIG. 16) on the operation panel 11 of the image forming apparatus 2 instead of the mobile terminal 3. However, in that case, since the operation panel 11 of the image forming apparatus 2 which is generally used has a lower function than the touch panel 36 of the mobile terminal 3 such as a smartphone, the operation panel 11 of the image forming apparatus 2 is often used. However, it is necessary to improve the resolution, drawing ability, etc., which increases the cost. Further, in that case, since the user may temporarily move away from the vicinity of the image forming device 2 after holding the mobile terminal 3 over the image forming device 2, the user information displayed on the operation panel 11 of the image forming device 2 is displayed. You may not notice the setting screen SCUIS (Fig. 16). In that case, even if the user returns to the vicinity of the image forming apparatus 2 thinking that the printing is completed, the printing is not completed.

On the other hand, the mobile terminal 3 displays the user information setting screen SCUIS (FIG. 16) on its own touch panel 36. Therefore, the image forming system 1 urges the user to set the authentication information by using the popular mobile terminal 3 while keeping the configuration of the image forming apparatus 2 as before and suppressing the cost increase. Can be done. Therefore, in the image forming system 1, even if the user temporarily moves away from the vicinity of the image forming device 2 after holding the mobile terminal 3 over the image forming device 2, the user information setting screen is displayed on the mobile terminal 3 owned by the user. The SCUIS (FIG. 16) can be displayed, the user information setting screen SCUIS can be noticed, and the authentication information can be surely set.

Further, even if the authentication result is authentication failure, the image forming apparatus 2 executes printing when the condition for permitting special printing is satisfied and when the input authentication request category is authenticated and printing is performed. bottom. As a result, the image forming apparatus 2 performs authentication printing in the past by the owner of the mobile terminal 3 even if the password change is not updated in the authentication information of the mobile terminal 3 according to the operation rule for periodically changing the password. If it can be estimated that the user is the same as the user, the desired printed matter can be obtained as soon as possible as a password change grace within a certain number of times set by the administrator, and convenience can be maintained.

According to the above configuration, the image forming system 1 is an image forming system 1 having an image forming device 2 and a mobile terminal 3 connectable to the image forming device 2, and the mobile terminal 3 is a user information of the mobile terminal 3. The storage 35 in which the system is registered and the CPU 33 that controls the user to notify the information via the touch panel 36 as a display screen are provided, and the image forming apparatus 2 needs the user information from the mobile terminal 3 for which the connection is requested. When the user information is not registered in the storage 35 of the mobile terminal 3, the CPU 33 sets the user information setting screen SCUIS as the user information registration screen for registering the user information to the touch panel 36 of the mobile terminal 3. The image forming apparatus 2 displays on the Wi-Fi communication unit 19 that receives user information from the mobile terminal 3 that has been requested to connect, and the authentication unit that executes authentication based on the user information received by the Wi-Fi communication unit 19. 26 is provided.

Further, the image forming system 1 is an image forming system 1 having an image forming device 2 and a mobile terminal 3 that can be connected to the image forming device 2. In the image forming system 1, the mobile terminal 3 is a terminal ID as terminal device information of the mobile terminal 3. And a storage 35 in which user information is registered is provided, and the image forming apparatus 2 receives the terminal ID and user information from the mobile terminal 3 requested to be connected by the Wi-Fi communication unit 19 and the Wi-Fi communication unit 19. A storage 10 for storing the stored terminal ID and an authentication unit 26 for executing authentication based on the terminal ID and user information received by the Wi-Fi communication unit 19 are provided, and the authentication unit 26 receives the received user information. When it is determined that authentication is not possible and the received terminal ID is stored in the storage 10, the connection of the mobile terminal 3 is permitted.

As a result, the image forming system 1 prints the user information when the mobile terminal 3 is brought close to the image forming device 2 that requires the input of the authentication information, that is, the image forming device 2 in the mode that requires the authentication using the user information. Is not registered in the mobile terminal 3, that is, if it is not set, the user can be promptly set the user information, and the print job transmitted by the mobile terminal 3 fails to input the authentication information of the mobile terminal 3. It is possible to prevent the image forming apparatus 2 from being abandoned due to an input error or an input error, regardless of the user's prior knowledge and operational skill level.

[2. Other embodiments]
In the above-described embodiment, the case where the user information setting screen SCUIS (FIG. 16) is displayed on the touch panel 36 of the mobile terminal 3 when the user information is not set has been described. The present invention is not limited to this, and when the user information is not set, the touch panel 36 may display a user information unset notification screen for notifying the user that the user information has not been set. Further, the OK button may be displayed on the touch panel 36 together with the user information unset notification screen, and when the user presses the OK button, the screen may transition to the user information setting screen SCUIS (FIG. 16).

Further, in the above-described embodiment, when the authentication response is an NG response, the user information is input to the user information setting screen SCUIS (FIG. 16) until an OK response or a special OK response is obtained from the image forming apparatus 2. The case where a print job is created and transmitted from the mobile terminal 3 to the image forming apparatus 2 when an OK response or a special OK response is obtained from the image forming apparatus 2 has been described. The present invention is not limited to this, and when the authentication response is an NG response, the print job is accumulated in the mobile terminal 3, and when the OK response is obtained from the image forming apparatus 2, the accumulated print job is stored. It may be transmitted from the mobile terminal 3 to the image forming apparatus 2. As a result, if the administrator centrally manages the password, the administrator forcibly resets it, or the user forgets the password, time-consuming work such as inquiring to the administrator will occur, so it can be solved immediately. It is possible to prevent a state in which the correct user information cannot be input to the mobile terminal 3 but the print job cannot be printed until the authentication response becomes an OK response. In that case, it is preferable that the mobile terminal 3 stores the connection destination information and the print job in the mobile terminal 3 only for a certain period of time, and discards the connection destination information and the print job after a certain period of time elapses.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, for example, a case where the administrator authentication screen SCAA or the like is displayed as a Web page on a predetermined display of the information processing terminal 4 has been described. The present invention is not limited to this, for example, an administrator authentication screen SCAA or the like is displayed on the operation panel 11 of the image forming apparatus 2 and information is input, or an external dedicated utility of the image forming apparatus 2 and a TCP / IP communication unit are used. By communicating via 21, the display or the information may be input.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the image forming apparatus 2 has the user management information IUM in the image forming apparatus 2 and the image forming apparatus 2 itself authenticates is described. The present invention is not limited to this, and each time the LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) server outside the image forming apparatus 2 has the user management information IUM and the authentication execution unit 27 of the image forming apparatus 2 performs the authentication process, The TCP / IP communication unit 21 may inquire the LDAP server about the success or failure of the authentication result. When using the LDAP server, even if the authentication response from the LDAP server is an NG response, the user management information IUM is searched using the user name requested from the mobile terminal 3 as a key, and each attribute information excluding the password is the image forming apparatus 2 Can be obtained from the LDAP server.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the print job including the authentication information is transmitted from the mobile terminal 3 to the image forming apparatus 2 has been described. The present invention is not limited to this, for example, a print job that does not include authentication information is transmitted from the information processing terminal 4 other than the mobile terminal 3 to the image forming apparatus 2, and the authentication information is transmitted from the mobile terminal 3 to the image forming apparatus 2. Is also good.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, a case where the user information is composed of a user name and a password has been described. The present invention is not limited to this, and various personally identifiable information such as IC card information and biological information may be used as user information.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the image forming apparatus 2 and the information processing terminal 4 are connected by the wired network WDN has been described. The present invention is not limited to this, and the image forming apparatus 2 and the information processing terminal 4 may be connected by a wireless network.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, a case where wireless communication is performed by the Wi-Fi unit 13 of the image forming apparatus 2 and the Wi-Fi unit 37 of the mobile terminal 3 has been described. The present invention is not limited to this, and an image is obtained by omitting the Wi-Fi unit 13 from the image forming apparatus 2 and connecting a wireless router to the wired network WDN and connecting the mobile terminal 3 and the wireless router via the wireless network. Wireless communication may be performed between the forming device 2 and the mobile terminal 3.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to the image forming apparatus 2 which is an electrophotographic color printer has been described. The present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention may be applied to various devices such as copiers and fax machines that form images by inputting print data, scanned image data, and the like from the outside.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the mobile terminal 3 as a mobile terminal device and the image forming device 2 as an image forming device constitute an image forming system 1 as an image forming system, and the mobile terminal device stores. The case where the image forming apparatus has a storage 35 as a unit and a CPU 33 as a control unit, and the image forming apparatus has a Wi-Fi communication unit 19 as a receiving unit and an authentication unit 26 as an authentication unit has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and an image forming system may be configured by a portable terminal device having a storage unit and a control unit having various other configurations, and an image forming device having a receiving unit and an authentication unit. ..

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the mobile terminal 3 as a mobile terminal device and the image forming device 2 as an image forming device constitute an image forming system 1 as an image forming system, and the mobile terminal device is portable. It has a storage 35 as a terminal device storage unit, and the image forming device has a Wi-Fi communication unit 19 as a receiving unit, a storage 10 as an image forming device storage unit, and an authentication unit 26 as an authentication unit. The case was mentioned. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and an image forming system is configured by a mobile terminal device having a mobile terminal storage unit having various other configurations, and an image forming device having a receiving unit, an image forming device storage unit, and an authentication unit. You may.

The present invention can be used not only in a computer for printing an image on a printer, but also in various electronic devices such as an image scanner, a facsimile machine, and a copier that perform various processes related to images.

1 ... Image forming system, 2 ... Image forming device, 3 ... Mobile terminal, 4 ... Information processing terminal, 5 ... NFC, WDN ... Wired network, WLN ... Wireless network, 7 ... CPU, 8 …… ROM, 9 …… RAM, 10 …… Storage, 11 …… Operation panel, 12 …… Wired NIC, 13 …… Wi-Fi unit, 14 …… NFC tag, 15 …… Printing device, 17 …… TCP / IP wired communication unit, 18 ... TCP / IP wired setting unit, 19 ... Wi-Fi communication unit, 20 ... Wi-Fi setting unit, 21 ... TCP / IP communication unit, 22 ... Operation panel control unit , 23 ... NFC tag control unit, 24 ... Web server unit, 25 ... Device information setting unit, 26 ... Authentication unit, 27 ... Authentication execution unit, 28 ... User information management unit, 29 ... Print job Receiver, 30 ... Print execution unit, 31 ... Log output unit, 33 ... CPU, 34 ... RAM, 35 ... Storage, 36 ... Touch panel, 37 ... Wi-Fi unit, 38 ... NFC unit , 40 ... Wi-Fi communication unit, 41 ... Wi-Fi setting unit, 42 ... NFC communication unit, 43 ... touch panel control unit, 44 ... general-purpose image display application, 45 ... dedicated application, 46 ... NFC tag data acquisition unit, 47 ... authentication information setting unit, 48 ... print preview display unit, 49 ... print job generation unit, 50 ... print job transmission unit, 51 ... terminal ID display unit, IUM ... user Management information, UN1 …… User name, PS1 …… Password, UT …… User type, DID …… Terminal ID, SPC …… Special print count, SCAA …… Administrator authentication screen, IAUN1 …… User name input section, IAPS1 …… Password input part, BTLI …… Login button, SCMS …… Administrator setting menu screen, BTAS …… Authentication setting button, BTUM …… User management button, SCAS …… Authentication setting screen, SLPA …… Authentication selection part at the time of printing , IASPC …… Special print permission count input section, BTR1 …… Execute button, BTS1 …… Cancel button, SCUM …… User management screen, SL1 …… Selection section, DAUN …… User name display section, DAT …… Type display section , DADID …… Terminal ID display, DASPC …… Special print count display, BTAD …… Add button, BTCH …… Change button, BTDL …… Delete button, BTIDCL …… Terminal ID clear button, SCUIE …… Edit user information Screen, IAUN2 …… User name input section, IAPS2 …… Password entry section , SLUT ... user type selection unit, BTR2 ... execute button, BTS2 ... stop button, INT ... NFC tag information, DN ... device name, WLAP ... wireless access point information, IPAD ... IP address information, AS …… Authentication setting information, AP …… App information, SCAH …… Home screen, MNFL …… File menu, MNWB …… Web menu, MNCM …… Camera menu, MNID …… Terminal ID display menu, MNUS …… User information setting Menu, SCPP …… Print preview screen, TTL1 …… Title, DAI …… Image display section, SACT …… Print color classification specification section, SAPS …… Print paper size, SANC …… Print copy number specification section, BTBK1 …… Back button , SCID …… Terminal ID display screen, TTL2 …… Title, DID …… Terminal ID, BTBK2 …… Back button, SCUIS …… User information setting screen, BTOK1 …… OK button, BTCL …… Cancel button, TTL3 …… Title , BTBK3 …… Back button, SCSP …… Special print screen, BTOK2 …… OK button, PJ …… Print job, JT …… Job type, AI …… Authentication information, DID …… Terminal ID, JN …… Job name, PS: Paper size, PN: Number of copies printed, PID: Printed image data.

Claims (5)

In an image forming system having an image forming device and a portable terminal device that can be connected to the image forming device,
The mobile terminal device is
A storage unit in which user information of the mobile terminal device is registered, and
It has a control unit that controls the user to notify information via the display screen.
If the image forming apparatus is a authentication mode requires the user information from connection requested the mobile terminal device, and that the user information in the storage unit of the portable terminal device is not registered, the control unit Displays the user information registration screen for registering the user information on the display screen of the mobile terminal device.
The image forming apparatus
A receiving unit that receives the user information from the mobile terminal device requested to be connected, and
An authentication unit for performing authentication by the user information received by the receiving unit,
Even if the authentication unit determines that the user information received from the mobile terminal device is incorrect, there is a history of printing with the same mobile terminal device and the same user name, and management is performed. An image forming system having an image forming device control unit that prints a print job as a special case within a certain number of times permitted by the person. In an image forming system having an image forming device and a portable terminal device that can be connected to the image forming device,
The mobile terminal device is
It has a mobile terminal device storage unit in which the terminal ID and user information of the mobile terminal device are registered.
The image forming apparatus
A receiving unit that receives the terminal ID and the user information from the mobile terminal device requested to be connected, and
An image forming device storage unit that stores the terminal ID received by the reception unit, and
An authentication unit for performing authentication by the terminal ID and the user information received by the receiving unit,
Even when the authentication unit determines that the user information received from the mobile terminal device is incorrect, the terminal ID received from the mobile terminal device has succeeded in authentication in the past and is stored in the image forming device. if the terminal ID stored in the part, the image forming system to have a image forming apparatus control unit to print the print job in special. The image forming apparatus control unit is
When printing a print job as a special case, a warning of the change grace period of the user information is output to the mobile terminal device.
The image forming system according to claim 2. The image forming apparatus control unit is
When printing a print job as a special case, a warning for reviewing the user information is output to the mobile terminal device.
The image forming system according to claim 2 or 3. The image forming apparatus control unit is
A print job is printed as a special case during the period that meets the predetermined conditions set by the administrator.
The image forming system according to any one of claims 2 to 4.

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