JP7722074B2 - Information processing apparatus, image forming apparatus, information processing program, and image forming program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an information processing device, an image forming device, an information processing program, and an image forming program.

Patent Document 1 discloses a printed matter distribution system that uses the services of a printed matter distribution system provider to distribute printed matter to specific recipients without financial burden.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-197012

Previously, if you did not have an environment at home where you could print documents, you had to send a print job from home to a print server and then go to a convenience store, supermarket, or other location that had an image forming device connected to the print server to print the job.

One possible service is to go to a location where the image forming device is installed on behalf of the document recipient, print the document, and deliver the printed document to the recipient. In this case, if the sender and recipient of the document are different, even if the document is missing or incomplete due to intentional or negligent acts of the delivery person delivering the document, the recipient, who does not understand the contents of the document, will not be able to determine the legitimacy of the document they receive, and there is room for improvement.

The present invention aims to enable a document recipient to determine the legitimacy of a document received from a sender that has been printed on an image forming device without having to travel to the location where the image forming device is installed.

A first aspect of the information processing device includes a first processor, which acquires, from the terminal of the sender of a document, recipient information including the name or title and address of the recipient of the document, as well as document information on which the document is based; transmits the acquired document information to an image forming device that prints the document; provides printing information that enables the image forming device to print the document and the recipient information to a terminal of a delivery person who delivers the document to the recipient; and provides confirmation information that enables the document printed using the document information to the recipient's terminal or the image forming device.

The information processing device of the second aspect is the information processing device of the first aspect, in which multiple types of confirmation information are provided.

The information processing device of the third aspect is the information processing device of the second aspect, in which the first processor accepts, from the sender's terminal, a selection of the type of confirmation information to be provided to the recipient's terminal or the image forming device.

The information processing device of the fourth aspect is an information processing device of any one of the first to third aspects, in which multiple methods are provided for providing the confirmation information to the recipient's terminal or the image forming device.

The information processing device of the fifth aspect is the information processing device of the fourth aspect, in which the first processor accepts, from the sender's terminal, a selection of a method for providing the confirmation information to the recipient's terminal or the image forming device.

The sixth aspect of the information processing device is the fourth or fifth aspect of the information processing device, in which the first processor determines how to provide the confirmation information to the recipient's terminal or the image forming device depending on the content of the confirmation information.

The information processing device of the seventh aspect is the information processing device of the sixth aspect, in which, if the confirmation information includes personal information that can identify a specific individual, the first processor provides the recipient's terminal or the image forming device with information that enables the recipient to view the confirmation information stored in a predetermined storage area.

An eighth aspect of the information processing device is any one of the first to seventh aspects, in which the first processor accepts a selection from the sender's terminal as to whether or not to provide the confirmation information to the recipient's terminal or the image forming device.

The ninth aspect of the information processing device is the information processing device of any one of the first to eighth aspects, in which the first processor transmits the document information to the image forming device to which the print information has been input.

The information processing program of the tenth aspect causes a computer to execute the following processes: acquire recipient information, including the name or title and address of the recipient of the document, and document information on which the document is based, from the terminal of the sender of the document; send the acquired document information to an image forming device that prints the document; provide printing information that enables the image forming device to print the document and the recipient information to the terminal of a delivery person who delivers the document to the recipient; and provide confirmation information that enables the document printed using the document information to the recipient's terminal or the image forming device.

An eleventh aspect of the image forming device includes a second processor, which acquires, from the terminal of the sender of the document, recipient information including the name or title and address of the recipient of the document, as well as the document information that forms the basis of the document, from an information processing device, the document information and confirmation information that enables confirmation of the document printed using the document information, and provides the acquired confirmation information to the terminal of the recipient that receives the document from the delivery person who delivers the document.

The image forming device of the 12th aspect is the image forming device of the 11th aspect, in which the second processor sends the confirmation information to the recipient's terminal or prints it as the document together with the document information.

The image forming program of the thirteenth aspect causes a computer to execute a process of acquiring, from an information processing device that has acquired, from a terminal of a sender of a document, recipient information including the name or title and address of the recipient of the document, and the document information that is the basis of the document, the document information and confirmation information that enables confirmation of the document printed using the document information, and providing the acquired confirmation information to the terminal of the recipient that receives the document from the delivery person who delivers the document.

According to the first, tenth, eleventh, and thirteenth aspects, when a document recipient receives a document from a sender that has been printed on an image forming device, the recipient can determine the authenticity of the received document without having to go to the location where the image forming device is installed.

According to the second aspect, more types of confirmation information are provided to the recipient than when only one type of confirmation information is provided.

According to the third aspect, the recipient is provided with confirmation information of the type intended by the sender.

According to the fourth aspect, the methods for providing confirmation information to the recipient are more diverse than when there is only one method for providing confirmation information.

According to the fifth aspect, confirmation information is provided to the recipient in the manner intended by the sender.

According to the sixth aspect, confirmation information is provided to the recipient in a manner that is appropriate for the content of the confirmation information.

According to the seventh aspect, confirmation information is provided to the recipient in a manner that takes personal information into consideration.

According to the eighth aspect, the sender decides whether or not to provide confirmation information.

According to the ninth aspect, the document is printed on the image forming device to which the delivery person inputs the printing information.

According to the twelfth aspect, the confirmation information is provided to the recipient by electromagnetic means or by hand delivery.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a document delivery system. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of a sender terminal, an information processing device, a delivery person terminal, and a recipient terminal. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus. 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of a document delivery process by an information processing device. 10 is a display example displayed on the display unit of the sender terminal. 10 is a display example of table information. 10 is a display example of print image information. FIG. 1 is a first explanatory diagram showing the flow of a document delivery system. 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of a providing process performed by the image forming apparatus. FIG. 2 is a second explanatory diagram showing the flow of the document delivery system. FIG. 10 is a third explanatory diagram showing the flow of the document delivery system.

The document delivery system 20 according to this embodiment is described below.

(First embodiment)
1 is a diagram showing the schematic configuration of a document delivery system 20. The document delivery system 20 is a system that allows a document recipient to receive a document from a sender that has been printed by an image forming device without having to go to the location where the image forming device is installed.

As shown in FIG. 1, the document delivery system 20 includes a sender terminal 10, an information processing device 30, a delivery person terminal 50, a recipient terminal 70, and an image forming device 90. The sender terminal 10, the information processing device 30, the delivery person terminal 50, the recipient terminal 70, and the image forming device 90 are connected via a network N and can communicate with each other.

The sender terminal 10 is a terminal owned by the sender of the document.
The information processing device 30 is a terminal owned by a predetermined business operator.

The delivery person terminal 50 is a terminal held by a delivery person who delivers documents to a recipient. Delivery people are temporary delivery companies that are procured each time a delivery request is made by a sender in the document delivery system 20. Delivery people have the following characteristics: (1) they are unfamiliar with operating the image forming device 90 and may make operational errors that result in missing or incomplete documents, (2) they are less trustworthy than professional delivery companies and may commit fraud, and (3) because they are temporary delivery companies, they are unable to determine the legitimacy of the documents they deliver.

The recipient terminal 70 is a terminal owned by the recipient of the document.
As an example, the image forming device 90 is an image forming device installed in a place different from the address of the recipient, such as a convenience store, a supermarket, etc. Note that the image forming device 90 is not limited to being installed in an open place such as a convenience store or a supermarket, and may be installed in a place that is available only to a limited number of people, such as a company office.

Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the sender terminal 10, information processing device 30, delivery person terminal 50, and recipient terminal 70. The sender terminal 10, information processing device 30, delivery person terminal 50, and recipient terminal 70 may, for example, be a general-purpose computer device such as a server computer or personal computer (PC), a portable personal computer (notebook PC), a smartphone, or a tablet terminal. In the first embodiment, for example, the information processing device 30 is a server computer, and the sender terminal 10, delivery person terminal 50, and recipient terminal 70 are smartphones. Note that the sender terminal 10, information processing device 30, delivery person terminal 50, and recipient terminal 70 basically have a general computer configuration, so the information processing device 30 will be used as a representative for the explanation.

As shown in FIG. 2, the information processing device 30 includes a CPU 31 (Central Processing Unit), a ROM 32 (Read Only Memory), a RAM 33 (Random Access Memory), a storage unit 34, an input unit 35, a display unit 36, and a communication unit 37. Each component is connected to each other via a bus 38 so that they can communicate with each other.

CPU 31 is a central processing unit that executes various programs and controls each component. That is, CPU 31 reads programs from ROM 32 or storage unit 34 and executes the programs using RAM 33 as a work area. CPU 31 controls the above components and performs various arithmetic operations in accordance with the programs stored in ROM 32 or storage unit 34. CPU 31 is an example of a "first processor."

ROM 32 stores various programs and data. RAM 33 serves as a working area for temporarily storing programs or data.

The storage unit 34 is configured with a storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD), solid state drive (SSD), or flash memory, and stores various programs and data. In the first embodiment, the storage unit 34 stores at least an information processing program for executing the document delivery process described below. The information processing program may be pre-installed on the information processing device 30, or may be stored on a non-volatile storage medium or distributed via the network N and installed on the information processing device 30 as appropriate. Examples of non-volatile storage media include CD-ROMs, optical magnetic disks, HDDs, DVD-ROMs, flash memory, and memory cards.

The input unit 35 includes, for example, a pointing device such as a mouse, various buttons, a keyboard, a microphone, etc., and is used to enter various inputs.

The display unit 36 is, for example, a liquid crystal display that displays various information. The display unit 36 may also function as the input unit 35 by adopting a touch panel system.

The communication unit 37 is an interface for communicating with other devices. For this communication, for example, a wired communication standard such as Ethernet (registered trademark) or FDDI, or a wireless communication standard such as 4G, 5G, or Wi-Fi (registered trademark) is used.

When executing the above information processing program, the information processing device 30 uses the above hardware resources to perform processing based on the information processing program.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 90. As shown in FIG.
3, the image forming apparatus 90 includes a control unit 100 that controls the operation of the image forming apparatus 90. The control unit 100 includes a CPU 101, a ROM 102, a RAM 103, and an input/output interface (I/O) 104, which are connected via a bus 105 so as to be able to communicate with one another.

CPU 101 is a central processing unit that executes various programs and controls each component. That is, CPU 101 reads programs from ROM 102 or storage unit 106 (described later), and executes the programs using RAM 103 as a work area. CPU 101 controls the above components and performs various arithmetic processing in accordance with the programs recorded in ROM 102 or storage unit 106. CPU 101 is an example of a "second processor."

ROM 102 stores various programs and data. RAM 103 serves as a working area for temporarily storing programs or data.

Connected to the I/O 104 are a memory unit 106, a display unit 107, an operation unit 108, a document reading unit 109, an image forming unit 110, and a communication unit 111. Each of these units can communicate with the CPU 101 via the I/O 104.

The memory unit 106 is composed of a storage device such as an HDD, SSD, or flash memory, and stores various programs and data.

The display unit 107 may be, for example, a liquid crystal display or an organic EL (electroluminescence) display. The display unit 107 has an integrated touch panel.

The operation unit 108 is provided with various operation keys such as a numeric keypad and a start key.
The display unit 107 and the operation unit 108 receive various instructions from the user of the image forming apparatus 90. These various instructions include, for example, an instruction to start printing a document, an instruction to start copying a document, etc. The display unit 107 displays various information such as the results of processing executed in response to the instructions received from the user and notifications regarding the processing.

The document reading unit 109 takes in documents placed on a paper feed tray of an automatic document feeder (not shown) provided above the image forming device 90, one by one, and optically reads the documents to obtain image information. Alternatively, the document reading unit 109 optically reads documents placed on a document tray such as a platen glass to obtain image information.

The image forming unit 110 forms, on a recording medium such as paper, an image based on image information obtained by reading with the document reading unit 109, image information obtained from an external PC or the like connected via the network N, or document information (described below) corresponding to printing information (described below) input to the image forming device 90.

The communication unit 111 is an interface for communicating with other devices. For this communication, for example, a wired communication standard such as Ethernet (registered trademark) or FDDI, or a wireless communication standard such as 4G, 5G, or Wi-Fi (registered trademark) is used.

Figure 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of a document delivery process performed by information processing device 30, which enables a recipient who receives a document from a sender that has been printed by image forming device 90 to determine the legitimacy of the received document without having to go to the location where image forming device 90 is installed. The document delivery process is performed by CPU 31 reading an information processing program from storage unit 34, expanding it into RAM 33, and executing it.

In step S10 shown in FIG. 4, the CPU 31 acquires from the sender terminal 10 recipient information including the recipient's name or title and address, document information that forms the basis of the document, and setting information indicating settings related to the confirmation information described below. Then, the process proceeds to step S11.

In the first embodiment, as an example, the recipient information includes at least the recipient's name and address, and a predetermined email address as contact information for the recipient terminal 70 owned by the recipient.

In the first embodiment, as an example, the setting information includes at least whether confirmation information is to be provided, and if confirmation information is to be provided, the recipient, type, and method of providing the confirmation information.

Here, we will explain how to send recipient information, document information, and setting information from the sender terminal 10 to the information processing device 30.

Figure 5 is an example of a display displayed on the display unit 16 of the sender terminal 10. As an example, the display example shown in Figure 5 shows an input screen where the sender inputs various information in the document delivery system 20. The input screen shown in Figure 5 displays a first display unit 21, a second display unit 22, a third display unit 23, a send button 24, and a cancel button 25.

The first display unit 21 is a section that displays recipient information. The first display unit 21 is provided with a first reception unit 21A, a second reception unit 21B, and a third reception unit 21C as sections that accept recipient information input by the sender. As an example, the first display unit 21 shown in FIG. 5 shows the state after the sender has input various pieces of information into each of the first reception unit 21A, second reception unit 21B, and third reception unit 21C. As a result, the first reception unit 21A displays "○○" as the recipient's name, the second reception unit 21B displays "XX" as the recipient's address, and the third reception unit 21C displays "△△" as the recipient's contact information.

The second display section 22 is a section that displays document information. The second display section 22 is provided with a selection button 22A that accepts the sender's selection of document information. When the selection button 22A is operated, a document information selection screen (not shown) is displayed. The document information selected on the selection screen is then displayed on the second display section 22. As an example, the second display section 22 shown in Figure 5 displays "Document1.pdf" as the document information selected by the sender, and indicates the file name and file type of the document information.

The third display section 23 is a section that displays setting information. The third display section 23 is provided with buttons that accept the sender's selection of setting information: first button 23A, second button 23B, third button 23C, fourth button 23D, fifth button 23E, sixth button 23F, seventh button 23G, and eighth button 23H. Note that in Figure 5, the buttons selected by the sender (specifically, first button 23A, third button 23C, fifth button 23E, and seventh button 23G) are shown in black.

The first button 23A and the second button 23B are buttons that accept the sender's choice of whether or not to provide confirmation information. When the first button 23A is selected, the provision of confirmation information is set to "Yes," and when the second button 23B is selected, the provision of confirmation information is set to "No."

The third button 23C and the fourth button 23D are buttons that accept the sender's selection of the recipient of the confirmation information. When the third button 23C is selected, the recipient of the confirmation information is set to the "recipient terminal 70." When the fourth button 23D is selected, the recipient of the confirmation information is set to the "image forming device 90."

The fifth button 23E and sixth button 23F are buttons that accept the sender's selection of the type of confirmation information. When the fifth button 23E is selected, the type of confirmation information is set to "A," and when the sixth button 23F is selected, the type of confirmation information is set to "B." In the first embodiment, type A is table information that shows the confirmation information in a tabular format, and type B is print image information that shows the confirmation information as a print image of the document to be printed using document information.

Display examples of table information and print image information will be described below.
Fig. 6 is a display example of table information. In Fig. 6, items corresponding to records of the table information include "Document No.", "Number of Pages", "Number of Copies", "Color Mode", "N-UP", "Double-Sided/Single-Sided", and "Execution Result". Note that the items are not limited to the above types, and other types may be provided.

The "Document No." item displays a number that can uniquely identify each document printed using the document information.

The item "Number of Pages" displays the number of pages of each document to be printed according to the document information.
The item "copies" displays the number of copies of each document to be printed based on the document information.

The "Color Mode" item displays the color mode of each document to be printed based on the document information.

The "N-UP" item displays the N-UP setting for each document to be printed based on the document information. The N-UP setting determines whether or not multiple pages of a document are printed together on one page, and if so, how many pages of a document are printed together on one page, such as 2UP or 4UP, is set.

The "Double-Sided/Single-Sided" item displays whether each document being printed is double-sided or single-sided based on the document information.

The "Execution Result" item displays the execution result of the image forming device 90 that printed the document information. As an example, the "Execution Result" item displays "Normal" if printing completed successfully, and displays "Notice of abnormality and processing details after abnormality" if an error occurred during printing. As an example, in Figure 6, "Notice of abnormality and processing details after abnormality" displays "Reprint after abnormality stop." Here, in the document delivery system 20, if printing on the image forming device 90 fails, the delivery person will also deliver the document that failed to print to the recipient. In addition, the document delivery system 20 includes the "Execution Result" item in the table information, which is confirmation information obtained by the recipient, thereby preventing the delivery person from arbitrarily disposing of the document that failed to print.

Figure 7 is an example of print image information. Figure 7 displays the print image information of the document to be printed based on the document information, specifically, a print image of an invoice. The print image represents the state of the document printed on the recording medium, reflecting settings such as color mode, N-UP setting, and double-sided or single-sided printing. In other words, Figure 7 displays the print image information representing the state of the invoice that will actually be printed.

Returning to Figure 5, the seventh button 23G and the eighth button 23H are buttons that accept the sender's selection of the method for providing confirmation information. When the seventh button 23G is selected, the method for providing confirmation information is set to "email," and when the eighth button 23H is selected, the method for providing confirmation information is set to "web."

The send button 24 is a button for sending the input recipient information, document information, and setting information to the information processing device 30 when operated after the sender inputs recipient information, document information, and setting information into the first display unit 21, the second display unit 22, and the third display unit 23.

The cancel button 25 is a button that stops the sender from inputting recipient information, document information, and setting information into the first display unit 21, the second display unit 22, and the third display unit 23, and changes the screen of the display unit 16 to a predetermined display content.

In the following description, it is assumed that in step S10, the CPU 31 has acquired setting information in which the confirmation information shown in Figure 5 has been provided "Yes", the destination is "Recipient terminal 70", the type is "A", and the method of provision is "Email".

Returning to FIG. 4 , in step S11, the CPU 31 provides the delivery person terminal 50 with the recipient information acquired in step S10 and print information that enables the image forming device 90 to print a document. The process then proceeds to step S12. As an example, the recipient information and print information are provided via email, and the CPU 31 sends an email containing the recipient information and print information to the delivery person terminal 50. Specifically, the CPU 31 sends a delivery request to the delivery person terminals 50 of multiple delivery persons registered as delivery persons in the document delivery system 20, and sends an email containing the recipient information and print information to the delivery person terminal 50 that first notifies the delivery person 50 that it has accepted the delivery request. The print information is a multi-digit alphanumeric or numeric code associated with the document information. The delivery person can input the print information displayed on the delivery person terminal 50 into the image forming device 90, allowing the image forming device 90 to print the document indicated by the document information.

In step S12, the CPU 31 transmits the document information acquired in step S10 to the image forming device 90 to which the print information provided in step S11 was input. Then, the process proceeds to step S13.

In step S13, the CPU 31 provides the recipient terminal 70 with confirmation information that enables the recipient terminal 70 to confirm the document to be printed using the document information acquired in step S10. As an example, the CPU 31 sends an email to the recipient terminal 70 with the confirmation information attached. Then, the process proceeds to step S14.

In step S14, the CPU 31 determines whether the recipient has completed receipt of the document, and if it determines that receipt has been completed (step S14: YES), the process ends. On the other hand, if the CPU 31 determines that receipt has not been completed (step S14: NO), the process waits until receipt is complete. As an example, the CPU 31 determines that the recipient has completed receipt of the document when it obtains completion information from the recipient terminal 70 indicating that receipt of the document has been completed.

Figure 8 is a first explanatory diagram showing the flow of the document delivery system 20. As an example, the document delivery system 20 proceeds in the order (1) → (2) → (3) → (4) → (5) → (6).

First, in the document delivery system 20, as (1), recipient information, document information, and setting information are sent from the sender terminal 10 to the information processing device 30. Note that as a prerequisite for (1), the sender has input the recipient information, document information, and setting information into the sender terminal 10.

Next, in the document delivery system 20, as (2), the information processing device 30 provides the recipient information and print information to the delivery person terminal 50. The delivery person then inputs the print information displayed on the delivery person terminal 50 into the image forming device 90.

Next, in the document delivery system 20, as (3), the document information acquired in (1) above is sent to the image forming device 90 to which the printing information has been input from the information processing device 30. The delivery person then acquires the document indicated by the document information printed by the image forming device 90.

Next, in the document delivery system 20, as (4), the image forming device 90 transmits the execution result of the image forming device 90 printing the document information to the information processing device 30.

Next, in the document delivery system 20, confirmation information is provided from the information processing device 30 to the recipient terminal 70 as (5). The recipient then compares the document delivered by the delivery person with the confirmation information acquired by the recipient terminal 70.

Finally, in the document delivery system 20, as (6), completion information is provided from the recipient terminal 70 to the information processing device 30. When the information processing device 30 acquires the completion information, it deletes the print job for printing the document indicated by the document information. Note that if the recipient compares the document delivered by the delivery person with the confirmation information and discovers that the document is missing or incomplete, the recipient may operate the recipient terminal 70 to send incomplete information to the information processing device 30, indicating that the received document is incomplete, rather than completion information.

As described above, in the first embodiment, the CPU 31 acquires recipient information and document information from the sender terminal 10. The CPU 31 then transmits the acquired document information to the image forming device 90, which prints the document. The CPU 31 also provides the print information and recipient information to the delivery person terminal 50. The CPU 31 then provides confirmation information to the recipient terminal 70. As a result, in the first embodiment, the recipient can compare the document delivered by the delivery person with the confirmation information acquired by the recipient terminal 70. Therefore, according to the first embodiment, when the document recipient receives a document from the sender that has been printed by the image forming device 90 without having to go to the location where the image forming device 90 is installed, the recipient can determine the legitimacy of the received document.

Furthermore, in the first embodiment, multiple types of confirmation information are provided. As a result, according to the first embodiment, more types of confirmation information are provided to the recipient than when there is only one type of confirmation information.

Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the CPU 31 accepts a selection from the sender terminal 10 of the type of confirmation information to be provided to the recipient terminal 70. As a result, according to the first embodiment, the type of confirmation information intended by the sender is provided to the recipient.

Furthermore, in the first embodiment, multiple methods are provided for providing confirmation information to the recipient terminal 70. As a result, according to the first embodiment, the methods for providing confirmation information to the recipient are more diverse than when there is only one method for providing confirmation information.

In addition, in the first embodiment, the CPU 31 accepts a selection of a method for providing confirmation information to the recipient terminal 70 from the sender terminal 10. As a result, according to the first embodiment, confirmation information is provided to the recipient using the method intended by the sender.

In addition, in the first embodiment, the CPU 31 accepts a selection from the sender terminal 10 as to whether or not to provide confirmation information to the recipient terminal 70. As a result, according to the first embodiment, whether or not to provide confirmation information is determined at the sender's discretion.

Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the CPU 31 sends document information to the image forming device 90 to which the printing information has been input. As a result, according to the first embodiment, the document is printed on the image forming device 90 to which the delivery person has input the printing information.

Second Embodiment
Next, a second embodiment will be described while omitting or simplifying portions that overlap with other embodiments.

In the second embodiment, the CPU 31 determines the method for providing the confirmation information to the recipient terminal 70 based on the content of the confirmation information. As an example, if the confirmation information includes personal information that can identify a specific individual, the CPU 31 provides the recipient terminal 70 with a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) that can connect to a predetermined website as information that enables viewing of the confirmation information stored in the memory unit 34. The memory unit 34 is an example of a "predetermined storage area." By connecting to the website from the recipient terminal 70, the confirmation information can be viewed on the website. Note that the method for viewing the confirmation information on the website corresponds to the "Web" method of providing confirmation information when the eighth button 23H shown in FIG. 5 is selected. In the above case, the CPU 31 may provide a QR code (registered trademark) that can connect to the website instead of or in addition to providing a URL.

Furthermore, if the confirmation information does not contain personal information, the CPU 31 sets the method for providing the confirmation information to "email" and sends an email with the confirmation information attached to the recipient terminal 70.

With the above configuration, according to the second embodiment, confirmation information is provided to the recipient using a method that corresponds to the content of the confirmation information. Furthermore, according to the second embodiment, confirmation information is provided to the recipient using a method that takes personal information into consideration.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment will be described while omitting or simplifying portions that overlap with other embodiments.

In the third embodiment, unlike the above embodiments, confirmation information is provided from the information processing device 30 to the image forming device 90, and the confirmation information is provided from the image forming device 90 to the recipient terminal 70. In the third embodiment, the ROM 102 or storage unit 106 of the image forming device 90 stores at least an image forming program for executing the provision process described below. The image forming program may be pre-installed in the image forming device 90, or may be stored in a non-volatile storage medium or distributed via the network N and installed in the image forming device 90 as needed.

Figure 9 is a flowchart showing the flow of the provision process by the image forming device 90 to provide confirmation information to the recipient terminal 70. The provision process is performed by the CPU 101 reading the image forming program from the ROM 102 or the storage unit 106, expanding it into the RAM 103, and executing it.

In step S20 shown in FIG. 9, the CPU 101 acquires recipient information, document information, and confirmation information from the information processing device 30. Then, the process proceeds to step S21. Note that in the third embodiment, in the document delivery process shown in FIG. 4, the information processing device 30 transmits recipient information to the delivery person terminal 50 and the image forming device 90 in step S11, and transmits confirmation information to the image forming device 90 in step S13.

In step S21, CPU 101 provides confirmation information to recipient terminal 70. As an example, the confirmation information is provided via email, and CPU 101 sends the email with the confirmation information attached to it to recipient terminal 70. Then, the process ends. Note that CPU 101 may send the confirmation information acquired in step S20 directly to recipient terminal 70, or may send confirmation information acquired in step S20 plus the execution results of the image forming device 90 that printed the document information to recipient terminal 70. In other words, the image forming device 90 may send the confirmation information to recipient terminal 70 before printing the document information, or may send the confirmation information to recipient terminal 70 after printing the document information. Furthermore, instead of sending an email with the confirmation information attached to recipient terminal 70, CPU 101 may print the confirmation information as a document together with the document information. In this way, in the third embodiment, confirmation information is provided to the recipient by electromagnetic means or by hand delivery.

Figure 10 is a second explanatory diagram showing the flow of the document delivery system 20. As an example, the document delivery system 20 proceeds in the order (1) → (2) → (3) → (4) → (5).

First, in the document delivery system 20, as (1), recipient information, document information, and setting information are sent from the sender terminal 10 to the information processing device 30. Note that as a prerequisite for (1), the sender has input the recipient information, document information, and setting information into the sender terminal 10.

Next, in the document delivery system 20, as (2), the information processing device 30 provides recipient information and print information to the delivery person terminal 50. The delivery person then inputs the print information displayed on the delivery person terminal 50 into the image forming device 90. Although not shown in the figure, in (2) above, recipient information is also provided from the information processing device 30 to the image forming device 90.

Next, in the document delivery system 20, as (3), the document information acquired in (1) above and confirmation information are sent to the image forming device 90 to which the printing information has been input from the information processing device 30. The delivery person then acquires the document indicated by the document information printed by the image forming device 90.

Next, in the document delivery system 20, confirmation information is provided from the image forming device 90 to the recipient terminal 70 as (4). The recipient then compares the document delivered by the delivery person with the confirmation information acquired by the recipient terminal 70.

Finally, in the document delivery system 20, as (5), completion information or incomplete information is provided from the recipient terminal 70 to the information processing device 30.

Figure 11 is a third explanatory diagram showing the flow of the document delivery system 20. As an example, the document delivery system 20 proceeds in the order (1) → (2) → (3) → (4).

First, in the document delivery system 20, as (1), recipient information, document information, and setting information are sent from the sender terminal 10 to the information processing device 30. Note that as a prerequisite for (1), the sender has input the recipient information, document information, and setting information into the sender terminal 10.

Next, in the document delivery system 20, as (2), the information processing device 30 provides the recipient information and print information to the delivery person terminal 50. The delivery person then inputs the print information displayed on the delivery person terminal 50 into the image forming device 90.

Next, in the document delivery system 20, as (3), the document information acquired in (1) above and confirmation information are sent to the image forming device 90 to which the printing information has been input from the information processing device 30. The delivery person then acquires the document indicated by the document information printed by the image forming device 90 and the document indicated by the confirmation information.

Finally, in the document delivery system 20, as (4), the recipient compares the document indicated by the document information delivered by the delivery person with the document indicated by the confirmation information, and the recipient terminal 70 provides completion information or incomplete information to the information processing device 30.

(others)
In the above embodiment, the sender and recipient may be natural persons or legal entities.

In the above embodiment, the sender decides whether or not to provide confirmation information. In this case, the fees borne by the sender in the document delivery system 20 may be differentiated depending on whether or not confirmation information is provided. As an example, the fees borne by the sender may be higher when confirmation information is provided than when it is not provided.

In the above embodiment, the CPU 31 sent document information to the image forming device 90 to which the print information was input. However, this is not limited to this. If the image forming device 90 to be used by the delivery person is predetermined, the CPU 31 may send document information to the predetermined image forming device 90 before the print information is input. In other words, the timing at which the document information is sent from the information processing device 30 to the image forming device 90 may be before or after the print information is input to the image forming device 90.

In the above embodiment, the confirmation information was sent once, but this is not limited to this. The confirmation information may be sent multiple times with different content.

In the above embodiments, the term "processor" refers to a processor in a broad sense, including general-purpose processors (e.g., CPU: Central Processing Unit, etc.) and dedicated processors (e.g., GPU: Graphics Processing Unit, ASIC: Application Specific Integrated Circuit, FPGA: Field Programmable Gate Array, programmable logic device, etc.).

Furthermore, the processor operations in each of the above embodiments may not only be performed by a single processor, but may also be performed by multiple processors located in physically separate locations working together. Furthermore, the order of the processor operations is not limited to the order described in each of the above embodiments, and may be changed as appropriate.

30 Information processing device 31 CPU (an example of a first processor)
90 Image forming apparatus 101 CPU (an example of a second processor)

Claims (8)

a first processor;
The first processor
Acquire recipient information including the name or title and address of the recipient of the document, as well as document information on which the document is based, from the terminal of the sender of the document;
transmitting the acquired document information to an image forming device that prints the document;
providing print information that enables printing of the document on the image forming device and the recipient information to a terminal of a delivery person who delivers the document to the recipient;
providing confirmation information to the recipient's terminal or the image forming device, the confirmation information enabling confirmation of the document printed based on the document information;
The confirmation information is provided in a plurality of types,
The first processor
accepting, from the sender's terminal, a selection of the type of confirmation information to be provided to the recipient's terminal or the image forming apparatus;
Information processing device. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a plurality of methods are provided for providing the confirmation information to the recipient's terminal or the image forming apparatus. The first processor
3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising: a terminal of the sender, which accepts a selection of a method for providing the confirmation information to the terminal of the recipient or the image forming apparatus. The first processor
4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein a method of providing the confirmation information to the recipient's terminal or the image forming apparatus is determined depending on the content of the confirmation information. The first processor
5. The information processing device according to claim 4, wherein, if the confirmation information includes personal information that can identify a specific individual, information is provided to the recipient's terminal or the image forming device that enables the recipient to view the confirmation information stored in a predetermined memory area. The first processor
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising: a terminal of the sender, which accepts a selection as to whether or not the confirmation information is to be provided to the terminal of the recipient or the image forming apparatus. The first processor
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the document information is transmitted to the image forming apparatus to which the print information is input. On the computer,
Acquire recipient information including the name or title and address of the recipient of the document, as well as document information on which the document is based, from the terminal of the sender of the document;
transmitting the acquired document information to an image forming device that prints the document;
providing print information that enables printing of the document on the image forming device and the recipient information to a terminal of a delivery person who delivers the document to the recipient;
providing confirmation information to the recipient's terminal or the image forming device, the confirmation information enabling confirmation of the document printed based on the document information;
Execute the process ,
The confirmation information is provided in a plurality of types,
The computer,
accepting, from the sender's terminal, a selection of the type of confirmation information to be provided to the recipient's terminal or the image forming apparatus;
An information processing program for executing processing .