Image forming system, user terminal, image forming apparatus, computer readable medium, and computer program product

Abstract

An image forming system, a user terminal, an image forming apparatus, and a computer-readable medium are provided. The image forming system includes a user terminal having a terminal-side processor, and an image forming apparatus having an apparatus-side processor. When an instruction to transmit a print request to the image forming apparatus is accepted from a user, the terminal-side processor does not transmit the print request to the image forming apparatus, but holds the print request, and transmits user information indicating the user to the image forming apparatus. When the user is detected to approach the image forming apparatus based on the user information, the apparatus-side processor transmits a transmission request signal to the user terminal. When the transmission request signal is received, the terminal-side processor transmits the held print request to the image forming apparatus.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to image forming systems, user terminals, image forming apparatuses, and computer-readable media. Background Technology

[0002] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2011-65369 discloses a printing system in which, when a wireless terminal enters within a predetermined login distance of an image forming apparatus, the user holding the wireless terminal logs into the image forming apparatus, and the login distance of the user who inputs a processing request to the image forming apparatus is set to a wider range than the login distance of the user who does not input a processing request to the image forming apparatus.

[0003] Furthermore, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-150778 discloses an image processing apparatus that processes a processing request received from a user. If the user leaves the image processing apparatus during the processing of the processing request, a notification is output to the information processing terminal used by the user when the processing related to the processing request is completed.

[0004] In addition, there is a known image forming system in which a user sends a print request to an image forming apparatus from a user terminal, and then the user moves until reaching the image forming apparatus and inputs an instruction to the image processing apparatus to perform processing related to the print request.

[0005] In conventional image forming systems, there is a problem where, after a print request is sent from a user terminal to an image forming apparatus, the user cannot track the status of that print request. This problem can prevent users from confidently using the image forming system. For example, consider the following scenario: a user who has entered a print request instruction into their user terminal moves to the image forming apparatus they believe has sent the request, only to discover that the apparatus has not maintained the print request. In such cases, various reasons could explain why the print request might not be maintained: the user may have mistakenly sent the print request to another image forming apparatus; someone else may have improperly entered their own print request execution instruction, causing the image forming apparatus to perform processing related to the print request and remove the printed material; or the print request may have disappeared due to a malfunction in the image forming system. Because these causes are difficult to determine, some companies, especially when image forming apparatuses are located in public places, prohibit their use. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of this disclosure is to enable users to monitor the status of print requests sent from user terminals to image processing devices.

[0007] According to a first aspect of the present invention, an image forming system is provided, comprising: a user terminal having a terminal-side processor; and an image forming apparatus having a device-side processor, wherein when the terminal-side processor receives an instruction from the user to send a print request to the image forming apparatus, it does not send the print request to the image forming apparatus but holds the print request and sends user information representing the user to the image forming apparatus; when the device-side processor detects that the user is approaching the image forming apparatus based on the user information, it sends a send request signal to the user terminal; and upon receiving the send request signal, the terminal-side processor sends the held print request to the image forming apparatus.

[0008] According to a second aspect of the present invention, an image forming system is provided, comprising: a user terminal having a terminal-side processor; and an image forming apparatus having a device-side processor, wherein the terminal-side processor, upon receiving an instruction from a user to send a print request to the image forming apparatus, sends a print request and user information to the image forming apparatus, wherein the user information is user information indicating the user who sent the instruction to send the print request, and the device-side processor, upon detecting that the user has approached the image forming apparatus based on the user information, notifies the user of status information indicating content related to the status of the print request.

[0009] According to a third aspect of the present invention, after the device-side processor detects that the user has approached the image forming apparatus, it outputs information related to the user from the image forming apparatus before authenticating the user.

[0010] According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the device-side processor outputs information from the image forming apparatus representing the storage area of ​​the object data involved in the received print request, independent of the user's operation.

[0011] According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, when the device-side processor is configured to retain the object data involved in a print request that has been processed by the image forming apparatus without deleting it, the device-side processor notifies the user that the object data involved in the print request is retained after the print processing involved in the print request is completed.

[0012] According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the image forming system includes a first image forming apparatus and a second image forming apparatus. When the terminal-side processor receives an instruction from the user to send a print request to the first image forming apparatus, it sends the user information to the first image forming apparatus. The apparatus-side processor of the first image forming apparatus transmits the user information received from the user terminal to the second image forming apparatus. When the apparatus-side processor of the second image forming apparatus detects that the user has approached the second image forming apparatus based on the user information, it notifies the user that the print request has been sent to the first image forming apparatus.

[0013] According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, a user terminal is provided, which includes a terminal-side processor. When the terminal-side processor receives an instruction from the user to send a print request to an image forming apparatus, it does not send the print request to the image forming apparatus, but instead holds the print request and sends user information representing the user to the image forming apparatus. If the device-side processor of the image forming apparatus detects that the user has approached the image forming apparatus based on the user information, the terminal-side processor sends the held print request to the image forming apparatus.

[0014] According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, an image forming apparatus is provided, comprising an apparatus-side processor, wherein the apparatus-side processor receives user information representing a user from a user terminal, wherein the user terminal receives an instruction from the user to send a print request to the image forming apparatus, and the apparatus-side processor, upon detecting that the user has approached the image forming apparatus based on the user information, sends a send request signal to the user terminal, and in response to the send request signal, the apparatus-side processor receives the print request held in the user terminal from the user terminal.

[0015] According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, an image forming apparatus is provided, comprising an apparatus-side processor, wherein the apparatus-side processor receives a print request and user information from a user terminal, wherein the user information is user information indicating a user who has sent an instruction to print the request, and the apparatus-side processor, upon detecting that the user has approached the image forming apparatus based on the user information, notifies the user of status information indicating the status of the print request.

[0016] According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, a computer-readable medium is provided, which stores a program for causing a computer to perform processing, wherein the processing includes the steps of: upon receiving an instruction from a user to send a print request to an image forming apparatus, not sending the print request to the image forming apparatus, but holding the print request, and sending user information representing the user to the image forming apparatus; and if the device-side processor of the image forming apparatus detects, based on the user information, that the user has approached the image forming apparatus, sending the held print request to the image forming apparatus.

[0017] According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, a computer-readable medium is provided, which stores a program for causing a computer to perform processing, wherein the processing includes the steps of: receiving user information representing a user from a user terminal, wherein the user terminal receives an instruction from the user to send a print request to the computer; sending a send request signal to the user terminal if it is detected based on the user information that the user is near the computer; and receiving the print request held in the user terminal in response to the send request signal.

[0018] According to a 12th aspect of the present invention, a computer-readable medium is provided, which stores a program that causes a computer to perform processing, wherein the processing includes the steps of: receiving a print request and user information from a user terminal, wherein the user information is user information indicating a user who has sent an instruction to print the request; and, if it is detected based on the user information that the user has approached the computer, notifying the user of status information indicating the status of the print request.

[0019] (Effect)

[0020] According to the above schemes 1, 2, 7 to 12, the user can keep track of the status of the print request sent from the user terminal to the image processing device.

[0021] According to the third scheme, the user can confirm that the image forming device, which is the object of the printing request sending instruction, has received their printing request.

[0022] According to the fourth aspect, the user can confirm that the image forming apparatus containing the object that is the sending instruction for the print request stores object data related to their print request.

[0023] According to the fifth scheme described above, it is possible to prevent object data from being retained in the image forming apparatus after the printing process involved in the print request has been completed.

[0024] According to the sixth scheme described above, the user can understand the situation of a second image forming apparatus that is different from the first image forming apparatus that is the object of the sending instruction for printing request. Attached Figure Description

[0025] Figure 1 A structural schematic diagram of the image forming system according to the first embodiment is shown.

[0026] Figure 2 This is a structural schematic diagram of the user terminal in the first embodiment.

[0027] Figure 3 This is a structural schematic diagram of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment.

[0028] Figure 4 This is a flowchart illustrating the processing flow of the image forming system according to the first embodiment.

[0029] Figure 5 This diagram illustrates the situation where user information or operation and user information are sent from the user terminal to the first image forming apparatus.

[0030] Figure 6 This is a diagram showing the user terminal approaching the second image forming apparatus.

[0031] Figure 7 This is a flowchart illustrating the processing flow of the image forming system according to the second embodiment. Detailed Implementation

[0032] <First Embodiment>

[0033] Figure 1 This is a structural schematic diagram of the image forming system 10 according to the first embodiment. The image forming system 10 includes a user terminal 12, which serves as one or more user terminals, and one or more image forming apparatuses 14. The user terminal 12 and the image forming apparatus 14 are communicatively connected to each other via a communication line 16 such as a LAN. Furthermore, as described later, in this embodiment, the user terminal 12 and the image forming apparatus 14 can also communicate via short-range wireless communication. In the image forming system 10, in response to an instruction from a user, a print job as a print request is sent from the user terminal 12 to the image forming apparatus 14. Then, when the user moves to the image forming apparatus 14, operates the image forming apparatus 14, and inputs an instruction to execute the print job, the image forming apparatus 14 executes the print job and outputs a print medium containing the object data of the print job.

[0034] Image forming system 10 is used, for example, in a shared office where multiple users belonging to various companies share an office floor for business. In such a shared office, each user has their own user terminal 12, but image forming apparatus 14 is sometimes shared by multiple users belonging to various companies. In a shared office, because there are users from other companies using image forming apparatus 14, the anxiety of users who are unaware of the status of print jobs sent to image forming apparatus 14 may become greater.

[0035] Of course, the image forming system 10 can also be used in various environments outside of shared offices.

[0036] Figure 2 This is a structural schematic diagram of the user terminal 12. In this embodiment, the user terminal 12 is, for example, a portable terminal such as a smartphone or tablet terminal. However, as long as the user terminal 12 can perform the functions described below, it can be any device, or it can be a non-portable terminal such as a fixed personal computer. Furthermore, when the image forming system 10 has multiple user terminals 12, each user terminal 12 has the same structure.

[0037] The communication interface 30 includes, for example, a network adapter. The communication interface 30 performs the function of communicating with the image forming apparatus 14 via the communication line 16. When the user terminal 12 is a portable terminal, the communication interface 30 is configured to include a short-range wireless communication adapter and performs the function of communicating with the image forming apparatus 14 via short-range wireless communication such as BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) and Wi-Fi.

[0038] The display 32 includes, for example, a liquid crystal panel. Various screens are displayed on the display 32. In particular, the display 32 displays a print job sending screen for sending print jobs from the user terminal 12, or various notification screens from the notification processing unit 42 described later.

[0039] Input interface 34 may include, for example, a touch panel, buttons, etc. Input interface 34 is used to input various instructions from the user, especially instructions for sending print jobs.

[0040] The memory 36 may include, for example, an HDD (hard disk drive), an SSD (solid state drive), ROM (read-only memory), RAM (random access memory), etc. The memory 36 may be disposed separately from the processor 38 (described later), or at least partially disposed within the processor 38. The memory 36 stores print request sending programs used to activate various parts of the user terminal 12. Furthermore, the memory 36 stores a terminal ID that uniquely identifies the user terminal 12.

[0041] The processor 38, serving as a terminal-side processor, refers to a processing device in a broad sense, including at least one general-purpose processing device (such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit)) and a dedicated processing device (such as a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or programmable logic device). The processor 38 may also not be a single processing device, but rather constituted through the collaboration of multiple processing devices located in physically separate positions. Figure 2 As shown, the processor 38 performs the functions of a transmission processing unit 40 and a notification processing unit 42 through the program stored in the memory 36.

[0042] The transmission processing unit 40 sends a print job, intended to enable the image forming apparatus 14 to perform print processing, to the image forming apparatus 14 via the communication line 16. The print job includes object data that is the subject of the print processing. That is, by performing the print processing involved in the print job in the image forming apparatus 14, the object data contained in the print job is printed onto a printing medium (e.g., paper). The object data may be, for example, a document file (e.g., a price list, order form, etc.) or image data.

[0043] Additionally, the transmission processing unit 40 transmits user information, which is user information, to the image forming apparatus 14 via the communication line 16. This user information indicates that the user has inputted an instruction to the image forming apparatus 14 to send a print job to the user terminal 12. The user information can be information representing the user themselves or information representing the user terminal 12 used by the user. Information representing the user themselves could be, for example, a user ID that uniquely identifies the user. The user terminal 12 can obtain the user ID by performing user authentication processing. Furthermore, information representing the user terminal 12 could be, for example, a terminal ID stored in the memory 36.

[0044] As will be explained in detail later, in the first embodiment, at the moment the user accepts the instruction to send a print job, the sending processing unit 40 does not send the print job to the image forming apparatus 14 but holds the print job and only sends user information to the image forming apparatus 14. Then, when the user approaches the image forming apparatus 14, the sending processing unit 40 sends the print job to the image forming apparatus 14.

[0045] Furthermore, under the conditions described later, the transmission processing unit 40 transmits a message to the terminal ID stored in the memory 36 via near-field wireless communication.

[0046] The notification processing unit 42 performs processing for various notifications output to the user. The notification processing unit 42 can output notifications either after determining the conditions for outputting a notification itself, or according to a notification instruction from the image forming apparatus 14. In this embodiment, various notifications are output by displaying them on the display 32, but they can also be output as sound from a speaker (not shown) provided in the user terminal 12, or alternatively.

[0047] Details regarding the processing of each unit of processor 38, or the timing of processing by each unit of processor 38, are provided according to... Figure 4 The flowchart shown is described later.

[0048] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the structure of the image forming apparatus 14 is shown. In this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 14 is a multifunction printer with functions such as printing, copying, scanning, faxing, or saving electronic documents. However, the image forming apparatus 14 can be any device as long as it can perform the functions described below. Furthermore, when the image forming system 10 has multiple image forming apparatuses 14, each image forming apparatus 14 has the same structure.

[0049] The communication interface 50 includes, for example, a network adapter. The communication interface 50 functions to communicate with the user terminal 12 via the communication line 16. Additionally, the communication interface 50 is configured to include a short-range wireless communication adapter, enabling communication with the user terminal 12 via short-range wireless communication such as BLE or Wi-Fi.

[0050] The display 52 includes, for example, a liquid crystal panel. Various screens are displayed on the display 52. ​​In particular, the display 52 displays print processing screens related to the processing of print jobs sent from the user terminal 12, or various notification screens from the notification control unit 70, which will be described later.

[0051] Input interface 54 may include, for example, a touch panel, buttons, etc. Input interface 54 is used to input various instructions from the user, especially instructions for executing print processes involved in a print job.

[0052] Printer 56 includes, for example, a paper feed mechanism, a photosensitive drum, and an ink cartridge. Printer 56 is a job processing unit that executes print jobs received from user terminal 12. Through printer 56, object data that is the subject of the print job is printed onto a print medium such as paper, and the printed media is output.

[0053] The memory 58 includes, for example, HDD, SSD, ROM, or RAM. The memory 58 may be disposed separately from the processor 64 (described later), or at least partially disposed within the processor 64. The memory 58 stores image forming programs used to operate the various parts of the image forming apparatus 14. Additionally, as... Figure 3 As shown, user DB (database) 60 and object data DB62 are stored in memory 58.

[0054] User DB60 is a database that stores information related to users of the image forming apparatus 14. For the image forming apparatus 14, user registration is performed by the administrator of the image forming apparatus 14 (e.g., the administrator of a shared office), and various information entered during user registration is stored in user DB60. User DB60 stores, in association, user ID, username, and the terminal ID of the user terminal 12 used by that user.

[0055] Object data DB62 is a database that stores object data that is part of a print job. When a print job is received from user terminal 12, the object data contained in that print job is stored in object data DB62.

[0056] Multiple storage areas (e.g., folders) are defined in the object data DB62. The object data contained in the received print job is stored in the storage area selected according to the prescribed rules. Typically, after sending the print job to the image forming apparatus 14, the user operates the image forming apparatus 14 to select the object data corresponding to their print job from the multiple storage areas, and then enters the print job execution instructions.

[0057] In the image forming apparatus 14, after a print job is completed, it is possible to preset whether to delete the object data related to the processed print job from the object data DB62 or to retain the object data in the object data DB62. If the setting is to delete the object data, the object data related to the print job is automatically deleted from the object data DB62 after the print job is completed. If the setting is to retain the object data, the object data related to the print job is retained in the object data DB62 after the print job is completed. Even in this case, the object data can be deleted from the object data DB62 according to user instructions.

[0058] The processor 64, acting as a device-side processor, refers to a processing device in a broad sense, including at least one of general-purpose processing devices (such as CPUs) and special-purpose processing devices (such as GPUs, ASICs, FPGAs, or programmable logic devices). The processor 64 may also not be a single processing device, but rather constituted through the cooperation of multiple processing devices located in physically separate locations. Figure 3 As shown, the processor 64 executes the functions of the user detection unit 66, the job request processing unit 68, the notification control unit 70, the authentication unit 72, the processing execution unit 74, and the shared processing unit 76 according to the image forming program stored in the memory 36.

[0059] The user detection unit 66 detects, based on user information sent from the user terminal 12, that a user who sent a print job instruction to the image forming apparatus 14 has approached its own apparatus, namely the image forming apparatus 14. In this embodiment, the user detection unit 66 determines that a user who sent the print job instruction to the user terminal 12 has approached the image forming apparatus 14 based on the fact that the user terminal 12 that sent the print job has approached the image forming apparatus 14. Furthermore, "the user (or user terminal 12) has approached the image forming apparatus 14" means that the user (or user terminal 12) is within a predetermined distance from the image forming apparatus 14.

[0060] In this embodiment, the user detection unit 66 detects the approach of the user terminal 12 to the image forming apparatus 14 via short-range wireless communication between the user terminal 12 and the image forming apparatus 14. Specifically, firstly, when the transmission processing unit 40 of the user terminal 12 sends a print job to the image forming apparatus 14 according to a transmission instruction from the user, it begins short-range wireless communication based on the terminal ID stored in the memory 36. In response to the user inputting a print job transmission instruction to the user terminal 12, the image forming apparatus 14 receives user information (i.e., the user's user ID or the terminal ID of the user terminal 12) from the user terminal 12. Then, the user detection unit 66 determines the terminal ID associated with the received user ID by referring to the user DB 60. This determination process is not required when the terminal ID is received from the user terminal 12 as user information. Then, the user detection unit 66 determines that the user terminal 12 has approached the image forming apparatus 14 based on the fact that the terminal ID is received from the user terminal 12 via short-range wireless communication through the communication interface 50. In short-range wireless communication, where the communication strength is greater the closer the distance, the user detection unit 66 can also determine that the user terminal 12 is close to the image forming apparatus 14 if the communication interface 50 receives the terminal ID from the user terminal 12 with a communication strength of more than a specified communication strength.

[0061] The user detection unit 66 can also detect the user's approach to the image forming apparatus 14 using methods other than short-range wireless communication between the user terminal 12 and the image forming apparatus 14. For example, if the user is carrying a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver, the user detection unit 66 can also detect the user's approach to the image forming apparatus 14 based on location information indicating the location of the GPS receiver transmitted from the GPS receiver via the communication line 16, and known location information indicating the location of its own device (pre-stored in the memory 58). This method is effective when the user terminal 12 is a non-portable terminal.

[0062] Furthermore, the user detection unit 66 can detect a user's approach to the image forming apparatus 14 based on whether the user has performed an operation on the image forming apparatus 14 (e.g., an authentication operation). However, in the first embodiment, as described later, a print job is only sent from the user terminal 12 after the user detection unit 66 detects that a user has approached the image forming apparatus 14. If this method is adopted, the image forming apparatus 14 will only receive the print job after the user has already arrived at the image forming apparatus 14. Therefore, the user needs to wait slightly while the image forming apparatus 14 receives the print job and performs the processing of storing the object data contained in the print job into the object data DB 62. In this regard, when the user's approach to the image forming apparatus 14 is detected by near-field wireless communication or the like, the image forming apparatus 14 can receive the print job before the user arrives at the image forming apparatus 14, so object data storage processing can be performed during the period before the user arrives at the image forming apparatus 14. As a result, the user can smoothly input the execution instruction for the print job. That is, the user's waiting time can be reduced.

[0063] Furthermore, if the user detection unit 66 detects the proximity of a user (i.e., user terminal 12), the transmission processing unit 40 of user terminal 12 may stop transmitting short-range wireless communication based on the terminal ID.

[0064] When the user detection unit 66 detects a user approaching the image forming apparatus 14, the job request processing unit 68 sends a job request signal to the user terminal 12 used by the user. This job request signal serves as a request to send a print job. When the user terminal 12 receives the job request signal, the sending processing unit 40 of the user terminal 12 sends the held print job to the image forming apparatus 14, and the image forming apparatus 14 receives the print job.

[0065] The notification control unit 70 processes various notifications to be output to the user. The notification control unit 70 can output notifications by displaying them on the display 52, or alternatively, by outputting sound from a speaker (not shown) provided on the image forming apparatus 14. Furthermore, the notification control unit 70 can send a notification indication signal to the user terminal 12, causing the notification processing unit 42 of the user terminal 12 to output a notification. In other words, through the control of the notification control unit 70, notifications can be output from the user terminal 12 to the user.

[0066] The authentication unit 72 performs authentication processing for the user. For example, the image forming apparatus 14 includes a card reader (not shown), which obtains the user ID by reading a card with a recorded user ID held up to the card reader. The authentication unit 72 performs authentication processing by comparing the user ID obtained from the card reader with the information stored in the user DB60. Of course, other methods can also be used to authenticate the user (biometric authentication, or manual input of the user ID and password, etc.).

[0067] The processing execution unit 74 performs the processing related to the print job received from the user terminal 12. Specifically, the processing execution unit 74 controls the printer 56 according to the instructions of the print job to print the object data contained in the print job onto the print medium and output the printed media.

[0068] When the image forming system 10 includes multiple image forming apparatuses 14, the sharing processing unit 76 shares information received by the image forming apparatus 14 from the user terminal 12 with the other image forming apparatuses 14. Specifically, the sharing processing unit 76 forwards the user information received from the user terminal 12 to the other image forming apparatuses 14. When multiple other image forming apparatuses 14 exist, the sharing processing unit 76 broadcasts the user information received from the user terminal 12. By receiving user information from the image forming apparatus 14 through other image forming apparatuses 14, the image forming apparatus 14, as the source of the user information, can determine that it has received a print job sent from the user terminal 12, which indicates that the user represented by the user information has made a print job request. In addition, the image forming apparatus 14 can broadcast its uniquely identifying device ID along with the user information to the other image forming apparatuses 14. At this time, the device ID is pre-stored in the memory 58.

[0069] Detailed information about the processing of each part of the processor 64, or the timing of processing by each part of the processor 64, etc., according to... Figure 4 The flowchart shown is described later.

[0070] Below, according to Figure 4The flowchart shown details the processing flow of the image forming system 10 in the first embodiment, as well as the processing of the user terminal 12 and the image forming apparatus 14.

[0071] In step S10, the input interface 34 of the user terminal 12 receives a print job sending instruction containing object data specified by the user, and a designation of the image forming apparatus 14 as the destination of the print job. After the user inputs the print job sending instruction, in order to input the print job execution instruction to the designated image forming apparatus 14, the user begins to move toward the image forming apparatus 14.

[0072] In step S12, the sending processing unit 40 does not send the print job related to the sending instruction from the user to the image forming apparatus 14. Instead, it keeps the print job in the memory 36 and sends user information representing the user to the designated image forming apparatus 14. As described above, the user information is at least one of a user ID and a terminal ID.

[0073] After sending user information to the image forming apparatus 14, the transmission processing unit 40 begins transmitting the terminal ID stored in the memory 36 via near-field wireless communication.

[0074] In step S14, when the user detection unit 66 of the image forming apparatus 14 receives user information from the user terminal 12, it begins detection processing based on this user information to detect the approach of the user who issued the print job instruction to its own device. As described above, in this embodiment, when the communication interface 50 receives a terminal ID determined based on the user information received in step S12 from the user terminal 12 via near-field wireless communication, the user detection unit 66 detects that the user has approached its own device. When the user detection unit 66 detects that a user who issued the print job instruction has approached its own device, it proceeds to step S16.

[0075] In step S16, the job request processing unit 68 sends a job request signal to the user terminal 12 to request the transmission of a print job. In step S14, short-range wireless communication can be established between the user terminal 12 and the image forming apparatus 14, thus enabling the job request processing unit 68 to transmit the job request signal via short-range wireless communication. Furthermore, especially in cases where the user terminal 12 is a non-portable terminal, the job request processing unit 68 can also transmit the job request signal via the communication line 16 based on the IP address of the source of the user information received in step S12 (i.e., the IP address of the user terminal 12).

[0076] In step S18, the transmission processing unit 40 of the user terminal 12 sends the print job held in step S12 to the image forming apparatus 14 based on the job request signal received from the image forming apparatus 14. At this time, the transmission processing unit 40 can send the print job in association with the user's user information to clarify that the print job is related to the user detected to have approached the image forming apparatus 14 in step S14. The image forming apparatus 14 receives the print job sent from the user terminal 12 and performs the process of storing the object data contained in the print job in a specified storage location (e.g., a folder) of the object data DB62.

[0077] In step S20, the notification control unit 70 of the image forming apparatus 14 notifies the user of the authentication request. At the time of step S20, since there is a possibility that the user has not yet arrived at the image forming apparatus 14, in this embodiment, the notification control unit 70 sends a notification indication signal related to the authentication request to the user terminal 12. If the user terminal 12 is a non-portable terminal, the notification control unit 70 can output the authentication request notification from the image forming apparatus 14 (for example, by displaying the notification message on the display 52).

[0078] In step S22, the notification processing unit 42 of the user terminal 12 outputs a notification to the user urging authentication to the image forming apparatus 14 based on the notification instruction signal received in step S20. For example, the notification processing unit 42 displays a message on the display 32 such as "A document has been stored in the designated printer. Please log in to the printer."

[0079] In step S24, the notification control unit 70 of the image forming apparatus 14, based on the user information and user DB60 received in step S12 or S18, notifies the user by outputting information related to the user from the image forming apparatus 14 before the user authenticates in the image forming apparatus 14. For example, the notification control unit 70 determines the user's username based on the user information and user DB60 received in step S12 and displays the determined username on the display 52.

[0080] In step S26, when a user arrives at the image forming apparatus 14, for example, when the card reader of the image forming apparatus 14 reads the card containing the user ID, the authentication unit 72 performs authentication processing for the user based on the obtained user ID.

[0081] In step S28, the notification control unit 70, independent of the user's operation, notifies the user of the location in object data DB62 where the object data related to the print job received in step S18 is saved. For example, the notification control unit 70 displays a message such as "Please confirm folder 'AAA'" on the display 52. ​​Furthermore, the notification control unit 70 can not only notify the user of the location of the object data, but also provide information indicating where the object data is saved. For example, the notification control unit 70 can display a message on the display 52 such as "The document for the previously received print job is document 'BBB' in folder 'AAA'. Please select document 'BBB'."

[0082] In step S30, after selecting the object data involved in their print job, the user inputs the execution instruction for the print job through the input interface 54. The processing execution unit 74 then instructs the printer 56 to perform the printing processing involved in the print job according to the execution instruction.

[0083] In step S32, the control unit 70 is notified to determine whether the setting of the image forming apparatus 14 is set to retain the object data involved in the print job in the object data DB62 after the print job is completed. If the setting is to retain the object data, the process proceeds to step S34; if the setting is not to retain the object data, the process bypasses steps S34 and S36 and proceeds to step S38.

[0084] In step S34, after the printing process involved in the print job is completed, the notification control unit 70 notifies the user that the object data involved in the print job has been stored in the object data DB62. For example, the notification control unit 70 may display a message such as "After printing document 'BBB' is completed, the document 'BBB' is stored in the printer." on the display 52. ​​Furthermore, since there is a possibility that the user has left the image forming apparatus 14 at this time, the notification control unit 70 may send a notification indication signal to the user terminal 12 and output a notification from the user terminal 12.

[0085] In step S36, the processing execution unit 74 determines whether it has received a deletion instruction for the object data from the user. If a deletion instruction is received, the process proceeds to step S38, whereby the processing execution unit 74 deletes the object data from the object data DB62. If no deletion instruction is received, the processing execution unit 74 terminates the process without deleting the object data from the object data DB62.

[0086] In step S40, the notification control unit 70 notifies the user that the object data has been deleted from the object data DB62. In this embodiment, the notification control unit 70 sends a notification indication signal related to the deletion of the object data to the user terminal 12. Alternatively, the notification control unit 70 may also output a notification that the object data has been deleted from the image forming apparatus 14.

[0087] In step S42, the notification processing unit 42 of the user terminal 12 outputs a notification to the user that the object data has been deleted, based on the notification indication signal received in step S40. For example, the notification processing unit 42 displays a message such as "Document 'BBB' has been safely deleted from the printer" on the display 32.

[0088] The above is the processing flow of the image forming system 10 in the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, in the user terminal 12, when the user inputs a print job sending instruction, the print job is not sent to the image forming apparatus 14 (step S12). Instead, the print job is sent from the user terminal 12 to the image forming apparatus 14 only when the user approaches the image forming apparatus 14 (step S18). That is, the print job is not sent from the user terminal 12 unless the user approaches the image forming apparatus 14, and it is always sent to the image forming apparatus 14 located near the user. Therefore, the user can at least know that a print job has been sent to the image forming apparatus 14 located near them. That is, they can know the status of the print job after it has been sent (in this case, the location of the print job).

[0089] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the print job is sent from the user terminal 12 to the image forming apparatus 14 only when the user approaches the image forming apparatus 14. Therefore, compared to the case where the print job is sent to the image forming apparatus 14 at the moment the user inputs the print job sending instruction, the time the print job is held in the image forming apparatus 14 is shortened, thus improving security related to print job leakage. For example, it reduces the possibility of someone else improperly inputting the execution instruction of their own print request.

[0090] Furthermore, since user-related information (such as username) is displayed on the display 52 before the user authenticates the image forming apparatus 14 (step S24), the user is able to know that the image forming apparatus 14, which is designated as the destination of the print job, has received the print job.

[0091] Furthermore, without relying on user operation, the system notifies the user of the location where the object data involved in the print job is stored in the object data DB62 (step S28), so the user can confirm that the object data involved in their print job is stored in the image forming apparatus 14. In addition, when the user inputs the execution instruction for the print job, they can easily ascertain the location where the object data involved in the print job is stored.

[0092] Furthermore, if the image forming apparatus 14 is set to retain the object data involved in the print job in the object data DB62 after the print job is completed, the user is notified (step S34), thus preventing the object data from remaining in the image forming apparatus 14 after the print processing involved in the print job is completed.

[0093] Next, we will refer to Figure 5 and Figure 6 The processing of the shared processing unit 76 of the image forming apparatus 14 will be described in detail. Here, we consider the case where the image forming system 10 includes a first image forming apparatus 14A and a second image forming apparatus 14B.

[0094] First, when the user receives an instruction to send a print job to the first image forming apparatus 14A, such as Figure 5 As shown, the transmission processing unit 40 of the user terminal 12 sends the user's user information to the first image forming apparatus 14A. Then, as... Figure 5 As shown, the sharing processing unit 76 of the first image forming apparatus 14A transmits user information received from the user terminal 12 to the second image forming apparatus 14B. As described above, when the image forming system 10 includes multiple image forming apparatuses 14 other than the first image forming apparatus 14A, the sharing processing unit 76 of the first image forming apparatus 14A can broadcast user information to the other image forming apparatuses 14. Therefore, the second image forming apparatus 14B knows that the first image forming apparatus 14A, as the source of the user information, has received a print job sent from the user terminal 12, which indicates that the user has sent a print job.

[0095] Here, as Figure 6 As shown, suppose a user mistakenly approaches the second image forming apparatus 14B instead of the first image forming apparatus 14A, which is the object of the print job delivery instruction. Then, the user detection unit 66 of the second image forming apparatus 14B detects that a user has approached the second image forming apparatus 14B during the aforementioned process.

[0096] In this case, the notification control unit 70 of the second image forming apparatus 14B, based on user information received from the first image forming apparatus 14A, notifies the user approaching the second image forming apparatus 14B that the instruction to send the print job is sent to the first image forming apparatus 14A. Specifically, the notification control unit 70 of the second image forming apparatus 14B displays a message such as "The print job is for the first image forming apparatus" on the display 52 of the second image forming apparatus 14B. Alternatively, the notification control unit 70 may also send a notification instruction signal to the user terminal 12, and output a notification from the user terminal 12.

[0097] Therefore, the user can easily know that he has approached an image forming apparatus 14 that is different from the image forming apparatus 14 designated as the destination for the print job.

[0098] <Second Implementation>

[0099] The structures of the image forming system 10, user terminal 12, and image forming apparatus 14 in the second embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment, so descriptions are omitted here. Furthermore, in the second embodiment, the processor 64 of the image forming apparatus 14 may not have the function of serving as a job request processing unit 68.

[0100] In the first embodiment, the transmission processing unit 40 of the user terminal 12 sends user information to the image forming apparatus 14 without sending the print job when the user receives the instruction to send a print job. However, in the second embodiment, the transmission processing unit 40 of the user terminal 12 sends the print job and user information representing the user to the image forming apparatus 14 when the user receives the instruction to send a print job to the image forming apparatus 14. Based on this, the notification control unit 70 of the image forming apparatus 14 notifies the user of status information indicating the status of the print job when the user detection unit 66 detects that the user is approaching its own apparatus (i.e., the image forming apparatus 14). Hereinafter, according to... Figure 7 The flowchart shown details the processing flow of the image forming system 10 in the second embodiment, as well as the processing of the user terminal 12 and the image forming apparatus 14.

[0101] In step S50, similar to step S10 in the first embodiment, the input interface 34 of the user terminal 12 accepts a print job sending instruction containing object data specified by the user, and a designation of the image forming apparatus 14 as the destination of the print job. After the user inputs the print job sending instruction, in order to input the print job execution instruction to the designated image forming apparatus 14, the user begins to move toward the image forming apparatus 14.

[0102] In step S52, the sending processing unit 40 sends the print job related to the sending instruction from the user, along with user information representing the user, to the designated image forming apparatus 14. The image forming apparatus 14 stores the received print job and the user information associated with the print job in the memory 58, and stores the object data contained in the print job in the storage area of ​​the object data DB62.

[0103] In step S54, the notification processing unit 42 of the user terminal 12 performs a print job with a sending instruction for the user and notifies the user that "preparation for sending is complete." Note that the notification processing unit 42 does not notify the user that the print job has been "sent." That is, in step S52, the print job, along with user information, has actually been sent to the image forming apparatus 14, but in step S54, contrary to this fact, the user is notified that preparation for sending the print job is complete. Specifically, at the moment of step S54, the notification processing unit 42 provides a notification such as indicating that the user terminal 12 still holds the contents of the print job. For example, the notification processing unit 42 displays a message on the display 32 such as "Preparation for sending the document to the printer to be used is complete."

[0104] In step S56, similar to step S14 in the first embodiment, the user detection unit 66 of the image forming apparatus 14 begins detection processing of the approach of the user who has issued the print job sending instruction to its own device based on the user information received from the user terminal 12. When the user detection unit 66 detects that the user who has issued the print job sending instruction is approaching its own device, it proceeds to step S58.

[0105] In step S58, the processing execution unit 74 refers to the user DB60 to determine the user ID, etc. of the user detected in step S56, and determines the print job of the user detected in step S56 from one or more print jobs stored in the memory 58.

[0106] In step S60, the notification control unit 70 notifies the user of status information indicating the status of the print job determined in step S58, i.e., the print job involved in the sending instruction from the user detected to be near the image forming apparatus 14. The status of the print job indicates the location of the print job, whether the print job can be executed, etc. In this embodiment, the notification control unit 70 sends a notification indication signal related to the status information to the user terminal 12, and in step S62, the notification, i.e., the status information of the print job, is output from the user terminal 12. For example, the notification control unit 70 causes the notification processing unit 42 of the user terminal 12 to display a message such as "The printer has received a print job" on the display 32 to indicate the location of the print job (within the image forming apparatus 14).

[0107] If, although the image forming apparatus 14 receives the print job and user information in step S52, it detects that the print job cannot be executed due to a malfunction of the image forming system 10, the notification control unit 70 can also notify that the print job is unprintable. For example, the notification control unit 70 displays a message such as "The print job cannot be executed due to a malfunction" on the display 32. Furthermore, if, before the image forming apparatus 14 receives the print job and user information in step S52, the user's approach is detected in step S56, and the print job is instructed to be executed by a third party (i.e., a user other than the user indicated by the user information sent in step S52), the notification control unit 70 can also notify that the print job has been completed. For example, the notification control unit 70 displays a message such as "The print job you sent has been completed" on the display 32.

[0108] Furthermore, the status of the print job notified to the user by the notification control unit 70 may differ from the actual job status, provided it does not disadvantage the user. For example, in step S54, if the user is notified that preparation for sending the print job is complete (even though the print job has already been sent), the notification control unit 70 may also notify that a document is currently being sent from the user terminal 12 to the image forming apparatus 14. For example, the notification control unit 70 may display a message such as "Document is being sent to the printer" on the display 32.

[0109] In addition, especially when the user terminal 12 is a non-portable terminal, the notification control unit 70 can also output notifications containing this content from the image forming apparatus 14.

[0110] The subsequent processing of the user terminal 12 is the same as the processing after step S22 in the first embodiment, and the subsequent processing of the image forming apparatus 14 is the same as the processing after step S20 in the first embodiment.

[0111] As described above, in the second embodiment, after a print job is sent from the user terminal 12 according to the user's sending instruction, if the user detection unit 66 of the image forming apparatus 14 detects the user's approach (step S56), the notification control unit 70 of the image forming apparatus 14 notifies the user of the status information of the print job. In particular, in the second embodiment, the detection of the user's approach and the notification processing to the user are performed on the image forming apparatus 14 side. Therefore, the user can easily grasp the status of the print job sent from the user terminal 12 to the image forming apparatus 14.

[0112] Furthermore, in the second embodiment, after a print job is sent from the user terminal 12 according to the user's sending instruction, the user is notified by the notification processing unit 42 of the user terminal 12 that preparation for sending the print job is complete (step S54). Based on this, when the user approaches the image forming apparatus 14, it is possible to notify that the print job is currently being sent from the user terminal 12 to the image forming apparatus 14 (steps S60, S62). Thus, from the user's perspective, it appears as if the print job is not immediately sent from the user terminal 12 to the image forming apparatus 14 according to the sending instruction, but rather that the print job only begins to be sent to the image forming apparatus 14 when the user approaches it. This gives the user the feeling that the print job moves in accordance with the user's actions, providing a sense of reassurance.

[0113] The above describes the implementation methods of this disclosure, but this disclosure is not limited to the above implementation methods. Various changes can be made as long as they do not depart from the spirit of this disclosure.

[0114] For example, in the first and second embodiments, the user DB60 is stored in the memory 58 of the image forming apparatus 14. However, the user DB60 may also be stored in other devices (such as servers) that can communicate with the image forming apparatus 14.

Claims

1. An image forming system comprising: User terminals with terminal-side processors; and An image forming apparatus having a device-side processor, When the terminal-side processor receives an instruction from the user to send a print request to the image forming apparatus, it does not send the print request to the image forming apparatus, but instead retains the print request and sends user information representing the user to the image forming apparatus. When the device-side processor detects that the user has approached the image forming apparatus based on the user information, it will send a request signal to the user terminal. Upon receiving the send request signal, the terminal-side processor sends the held print request to the image forming apparatus.

2. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein, The device-side processor, independent of the user's operation, outputs information from the image forming apparatus indicating the storage area of ​​the object data involved in the received print request.

3. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein, When the device-side processor is configured to retain the object data involved in a print request that has been processed by the image forming apparatus without deleting it, the device-side processor notifies the user that the object data involved in the print request is retained after the print processing involved in the print request is completed.

4. An image forming system comprising: User terminals with terminal-side processors; and An image forming apparatus having a device-side processor, When the terminal-side processor receives an instruction from the user to send a print request to the image forming apparatus, it sends the print request and user information to the image forming apparatus, wherein the user information represents the user who gave the instruction to send the print request. When the device-side processor detects that the user has approached the image forming apparatus based on the user information, it notifies the user of status information relating to the status of the print request.

5. The image forming system according to claim 1 or 4, wherein, After detecting that the user has approached the image forming apparatus, the device-side processor outputs information related to the user from the image forming apparatus before authenticating the user.

6. The image forming system according to claim 1 or 4, wherein, The image forming system includes a first image forming apparatus and a second image forming apparatus. When the terminal-side processor receives an instruction from the user to send a print request to the first image forming apparatus, it sends the user information to the first image forming apparatus. The device-side processor of the first image forming apparatus transmits the user information received from the user terminal to the second image forming apparatus. When the device-side processor of the second image forming apparatus detects that the user has approached the second image forming apparatus based on the user information, it notifies the user that the print request has been sent to the first image forming apparatus.

7. A user terminal, comprising a terminal-side processor, When the terminal-side processor receives an instruction from the user to send a print request to the image forming apparatus, it does not send the print request to the image forming apparatus, but instead retains the print request and sends user information representing the user to the image forming apparatus. When the device-side processor of the image forming apparatus detects that the user has approached the image forming apparatus based on the user information, the terminal-side processor sends the held print request to the image forming apparatus.

8. An image forming apparatus comprising an apparatus-side processor, wherein, The device-side processor receives user information representing a user from a user terminal, wherein the user terminal receives an instruction from the user to send a print request to the image forming apparatus. When the device-side processor detects that the user has approached the image forming apparatus based on the user information, it will send a request signal to the user terminal. In response to the send request signal, the device-side processor receives the print request held in the user terminal from the user terminal.

9. An image forming apparatus comprising an apparatus-side processor, wherein, The device-side processor receives a print request and user information from the user terminal, wherein the user information represents the user who issued the instruction to send the print request. When the device-side processor detects that the user has approached the image forming apparatus based on the user information, it notifies the user of status information indicating the status of the print request.

10. A computer-readable medium storing a program that causes a computer to perform processing, wherein... The process includes the following steps: When the user receives an instruction to send a print request to the image forming apparatus, the print request is not sent to the image forming apparatus, but is instead retained, and user information representing the user is sent to the image forming apparatus. as well as When the device-side processor of the image forming apparatus detects that the user has approached the image forming apparatus based on the user information, it sends the held print request to the image forming apparatus.

11. A computer-readable medium storing a program that causes a computer to perform processing, wherein, The process includes the following steps: Receive user information representing a user from a user terminal, wherein the user terminal receives an instruction from the user to send a print request to the computer; If the user is detected to be near the computer based on the user information, a sending request signal is sent to the user terminal; as well as In response to the send request signal, the print request held in the user terminal is received from the user terminal.

12. A computer-readable medium storing a program that causes a computer to perform processing, wherein, The process includes the following steps: Receive a print request and user information from the user terminal, wherein the user information is user information indicating the user who sent the print request; as well as If the user is detected to be near the computer based on the user information, the user is notified of status information indicating the status of the print request.

13. A computer program product comprising a program that causes a computer to perform processing, wherein, The process includes the following steps: When the user receives an instruction to send a print request to the image forming apparatus, the print request is not sent to the image forming apparatus, but is instead retained, and user information representing the user is sent to the image forming apparatus. as well as When the device-side processor of the image forming apparatus detects that the user has approached the image forming apparatus based on the user information, it sends the held print request to the image forming apparatus.

14. A computer program product comprising a program that causes a computer to perform processing, wherein, The process includes the following steps: Receive user information representing a user from a user terminal, wherein the user terminal receives an instruction from the user to send a print request to the computer; If the user is detected to be near the computer based on the user information, a sending request signal is sent to the user terminal; as well as In response to the send request signal, the print request held in the user terminal is received from the user terminal.

15. A computer program product comprising a program that causes a computer to perform processing, wherein, The process includes the following steps: Receive a print request and user information from the user terminal, wherein the user information is user information indicating the user who sent the print request; as well as If the user is detected to be near the computer based on the user information, the user is notified of status information indicating the status of the print request.

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