Information processing system and schedule management method

Abstract

To provide an information processing system that allows a user to surely confirm or print a schedule added or modified in a schedule management application on an electronic terminal in an image forming apparatus.SOLUTION: In an information processing system, when log-in to a schedule management application from an image forming apparatus is performed, a server transmits schedule information to the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus reads a reservation slip set by a user on a scanner of the image forming apparatus to acquire image data (S13). An application execution unit extracts keywords such as date, time, and flight information from the image data using optical character recognition technology (S14) and creates the schedule information on the basis of the extracted keywords (S15). Subsequently, the image forming apparatus transmits the schedule information to the server (S16) and transmits a message notifying that the schedule information has been added from the image forming apparatus to the electronic terminal (S23).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing system including an image forming apparatus and an electronic terminal that execute a schedule management application, and a schedule management method. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Literature 1 describes a technology for generating schedule information by recognizing dates and times contained in documents, while Patent Literature 2 describes a computer-implemented method, data processing system, and computer program product for scheduling calendar entries within the context of an instant messaging client. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] CA2570859A1 [Patent Document 2] JP 2007-193794 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, Patent Documents 1 and 2 do not disclose linking the schedules stored in the schedule management applications of an image forming device and an electronic terminal, nor do they disclose technology for reliably checking or printing a schedule that has been added or changed in a schedule management application of an electronic terminal on an image forming device.

[0005] The present invention aims to link schedules stored in respective schedule management applications between an image forming device and an electronic terminal, and to enable a schedule added or changed in the schedule management application of the electronic terminal to be reliably confirmed or printed on the image forming device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The information processing system of the present invention is an information processing system comprising an image forming apparatus and an electronic terminal which execute a schedule management application, and an application server which communicates with the schedule management application running on the image forming apparatus and the electronic terminal via a network, the application server comprising a schedule information storage unit which stores schedule information transmitted from the image forming apparatus and the electronic terminal, the image forming apparatus comprising a device-side application execution unit which executes the schedule management application and, during the execution of the schedule management application, converts character areas within an image into text, creates new schedule information based on keywords related to the schedule extracted from the text, and transmits the new schedule information to the application server, and the electronic terminal and the image forming apparatus comprise a device-side application execution unit which executes the schedule management application and, during the execution of the schedule management application, converts character areas within an image into text, creates new schedule information based on keywords related to the schedule extracted from the text, and transmits the new schedule information to the application server, The terminal executes the schedule management application and, during execution, has a terminal-side application execution unit that performs a process of sending schedule information to the application server when schedule information is created or changed by user input, and the application server has a server-side application execution unit that notifies the image forming device that it has received the schedule information created or changed on the electronic terminal, and the image forming device has a display unit and an image forming unit that prints on paper the schedule information created or changed on the electronic terminal, and when the device-side application execution unit receives the notification from the application server, it causes the display unit to display a message encouraging the user to confirm or print the schedule information created or changed on the electronic terminal.

[0007] The schedule management method of the present invention is a schedule management method executed by an image forming device and an electronic terminal that execute a schedule management application, and an application server that communicates with the schedule management application running on the image forming device and the electronic terminal via a network, wherein the application server has a schedule information storage unit that stores schedule information transmitted from the image forming device and the electronic terminal, and includes the steps of: the image forming device converting a character area within an image into text while the schedule management application is being executed, creating new schedule information based on schedule-related keywords extracted from the text, and transmitting the new schedule information to the application server; when the electronic terminal creates or changes schedule information through user input while the schedule management application is being executed, transmitting the schedule information to the application server; the application server notifying the image forming device that it has received the schedule information created or changed on the electronic terminal; and when the image forming device receives the notification from the application server, displaying a message on a display unit prompting the user to confirm or print the schedule information created or changed on the electronic terminal. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to link schedules stored in respective schedule management applications between an image forming device and an electronic terminal, and it becomes possible to reliably confirm or print a schedule added or changed in the schedule management application of the electronic terminal on the image forming device. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration and an electrical configuration of an information processing system. [Diagram 2] 13 is a flowchart showing the flow of a schedule management process. [Diagram 3]FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of display content of a display unit. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of display content of a display unit. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of display content of a display unit. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of display content of a display unit. [Figure 7] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of display content of a display unit. [Figure 8] 13 is a flowchart showing the flow of a schedule management process. [Figure 9] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of display content of a display unit. [Figure 10] 13 is a flowchart showing the flow of a schedule management process. [Figure 11] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of display content of a display unit. [Figure 12] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of display content of a display unit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] An information processing system and a schedule management method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration and electrical configuration of an information processing system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The information processing system 100 includes an application server 1, an image forming device 2, and an electronic terminal 3. The application server 1, the image forming device 2, and the electronic terminal 3 are connected to a network N such as the Internet, and are capable of transmitting and receiving data to and from each other.

[0011] An application server 1 (hereinafter simply referred to as "server 1") provides websites and the like linked to applications on a network N. Websites include news sites, reservation sites, SNS (Social Networking Service), etc., and in this embodiment, a schedule management application will be described as an example of an application. An image forming device 2 and an electronic terminal 3 on which a schedule management application is installed share schedule information by performing login authentication.

[0012] The server 1 is configured to include a control unit 11, a storage unit 12, and a communication unit 13. The control unit 11 is configured to include a processor, a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), etc. The processor is a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an MPU (Micro Processing Unit), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), or the like.

[0013] The control unit 11 functions as a control unit 111 by the processor executing a control program stored in a ROM or the like, and functions as an application execution unit 112 by executing a schedule management application. Note that each of the above-mentioned parts of the control unit 11 may be configured by a hardware circuit, regardless of the operation based on the control program.

[0014] The control unit 111 is responsible for controlling the overall operation of the server 1. The application execution unit 112 executes a schedule management application 121 stored in the storage unit 12.

[0015] The storage unit 12 is a large-capacity storage device consisting of an SSD (Solid State Drive) or HDD (Hard Disk Drive) that stores various programs and the like, and stores a schedule management application 121, a schedule information storage unit 122, etc. The schedule management application 121 is an application for managing schedules using data, and the contents of the schedule are shared between the image forming device 2 and multiple electronic terminals 3 on which an application having the same function is installed. The schedule information storage unit 122 stores schedule information set in the image forming device 2 and the electronic terminal 3 via the schedule management application.

[0016] The communication unit 13 is composed of a communication module and the like, and transmits and receives various data to and from external devices via the network N.

[0017] The image forming device 2 will be described. The image forming device 2 is a printer or a multifunction device having at least a printing function and a scanner function. The image forming device 2 includes a control unit 21, an input receiving unit 22, an image reading unit 23, an image forming unit 24, a communication unit 25, a storage unit 26, and the like.

[0018] The control unit 21 functions as a control unit 211 by the processor executing a control program stored in a ROM or the like, and functions as an application execution unit 212 by executing a schedule management application 261. Note that each of the above-mentioned parts of the control unit 11 may be configured by a hardware circuit, regardless of the operation based on the control program.

[0019] The control unit 211 is responsible for controlling the overall operation of the image forming apparatus 2. The application execution unit 212 operates according to the application programs stored in the storage unit .

[0020] The input reception unit 22 includes hard keys such as a decision key for confirming various operations and settings and a start key, and a display unit 221. The display unit 221 is made up of an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or the like, displays an operation screen, messages, etc., and may be configured integrally with a touch panel.

[0021] The image reading unit 23 includes a scanner and the like, and reads an image of a document to obtain the document image. The image forming unit 24 prints the image on paper. The communication unit 25 includes a communication module and the like, and transmits and receives various data to and from external devices via the network N.

[0022] The storage unit 26 is a large-capacity storage device consisting of an SSD or HDD that stores image data, various programs, data tables, etc., and stores a schedule management application 261, a schedule information storage unit 262, etc. The schedule management application 261 is an application for managing schedules using data. The schedule information storage unit 262 stores schedule information related to the schedule management application.

[0023] The image forming apparatus 2 also includes an external memory connector 28 that connects to an external memory and writes and reads data to and from the external memory.

[0024] The electronic terminal 3 will be described. The electronic terminal 3 is, for example, a smartphone, a tablet, or a PC (Personal Computer). The electronic terminal 3 is configured to include a control unit 31, an input receiving unit 32, a display unit 33, a storage unit 34, and a communication unit 35. The control unit 31 functions as a control unit 311 by the processor executing a control program stored in a ROM or the like, and functions as an application execution unit 312 by executing a schedule management application 341. Note that each of the above-mentioned parts of the control unit 31 may be configured by a hardware circuit, regardless of the operation based on the control program.

[0025] The control unit 311 is responsible for controlling the overall operation of the electronic terminal 3. The application execution unit 312 operates in accordance with a schedule management application 341 and the like.

[0026] The input reception unit 32 is a keyboard, a touch panel, etc. The display unit 33 is composed of an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or the like, and displays an operation screen, messages, etc. The communication unit 35 is composed of a communication module, etc., and transmits and receives various data to and from external devices via the network N.

[0027] The storage unit 34 is a large-capacity storage device consisting of an SSD or HDD that stores image data, various programs, data tables, etc., and stores a schedule management application 341, a schedule information storage unit 342, etc. The schedule management application 341 is an application for managing schedules using data. The schedule information storage unit 342 stores schedule information related to the schedule management application.

[0028] Next, a case where new schedule information is registered from the image forming device 2 via a schedule management application will be described. In this embodiment, flight information will be taken as an example of schedule information. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of schedule management processing when adding schedule information. When the input receiving unit 22 of the image forming device 2 receives an instruction to start the schedule management application based on an operation by a user, the control unit 211 causes the display unit 221 to display an operation screen SC1 as shown in FIG. 3.

[0029] When the operation screen SC1 is displayed, the input acceptance unit 22 accepts, through a user operation, input of authentication information required for logging in to the schedule management application, and input of an instruction to execute keyword extraction from schedule information based on a touch operation of a radio button 90. When the user selects the connection button 91, an instruction to transmit the authentication information is received by the input acceptance unit 22, and the application execution unit 212 causes the communication unit 25 to transmit the received authentication information to the server 1 (S11).

[0030] The application execution unit 112 of the server 1 performs login authentication using the received authentication information. If the authentication is successful, the control unit 111 of the server 1 reads out the schedule information from the schedule information storage unit 122, and transmits it to the image forming device 2 via the communication unit 13 (S21). Note that the authentication process may be performed by the application execution unit 212 of the image forming device 2. In this case, the control unit 211 of the image forming device 2 transmits a request to transmit the schedule information to the server 1 via the communication unit 25.

[0031] The application execution unit 212 of the image forming device 2 stores the schedule information received from the server 1 via the communication unit 25 in the schedule information storage unit 262, and also displays the home screen of the schedule management application on the display unit 221 (S12). Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the home screen. When the user wants to acquire flight information stored in an external memory or the like, he or she connects the external memory to the external memory connector 28 and then operates button 92, when scanning a paper reservation slip, he or she operates button 93, and when displaying the schedule information registered in the schedule management application on the display unit 221, he or she operates button 94.

[0032] When the input acceptance unit 22 accepts an information acquisition instruction in response to the operation of the button 92, the application execution unit 212 acquires the acquisition target data (image data of the reservation ticket) in the external memory through the external memory connector 28 in accordance with an instruction specifying the acquisition target data (image data of the reservation ticket) in the external memory that is further accepted by the input acceptance unit 22 (S13). Alternatively, when the input acceptance unit 22 accepts a scan instruction in response to the operation of the button 93, the application execution unit 212 causes the image reading unit 23 to read the reservation ticket placed on the scanner of the image forming apparatus 1 by the user (S13).

[0033] Then, the application execution unit 212 extracts keywords related to date, time, and flight information (departure point, arrival point, flight number, passenger names, etc.) from characters converted using OCR (optical character recognition technology) from the data to be acquired from the external memory (image data of the reservation slip) or image data acquired by the image reading unit 23 by reading the reservation slip (S14). A known method for extracting itinerary information such as date, time, and location from the characters is used, such as extracting specific characters and characters before and after the specific characters based on predetermined specific characters indicating date, time, and flight information as keywords indicating the date, time, and flight information.

[0034] 5 is a diagram showing an example of a reservation ticket printed on a recording paper. For example, the application execution unit 212 detects four dates, "23.Dec.2023 3:30PM", "23.Dec.2023 6:30PM", "04.Jan.2024 9:45AM", and "04.Jan.2024 12:45PM", from a group of characters obtained by converting image data obtained by reading the reservation ticket P.

[0035] The application execution unit 212 recognizes that the reservation ticket P is a reservation ticket containing flight information based on a known recognition method, for example, based on the fact that the group of characters contains specific characters (e.g., "Flight Detail") that indicate a predetermined flight reservation table. Furthermore, based on a known recognition method, for example, based on specific characters (e.g., "Route", "Airline", "Flight No.", "Departure", "Arrival", etc.) that indicate a route, airline, flight, departure time, and arrival time, the application execution unit 212 extracts the specific characters and the characters before and after them as keywords that indicate the route (departure and arrival), airline, flight, departure time, and arrival time. When the application execution unit 212 recognizes that the reservation ticket P is a flight reservation ticket containing flight information, the date included in the departure time (Departure) is set as the flight date, and the departure time (Departure) and arrival time (Arrival) of the flight are associated in the order of date.

[0036] Then, the application execution unit 212 creates schedule information by treating the departure point "Cebu", arrival point "Hong Kong", flight number "5J236", departure date and time "23.Dec.2023 3:30PM", and arrival time "23.Dec.2023 6:30PM" as one event. Furthermore, the application execution unit 212 creates schedule information by treating the departure point "Hong Kong", arrival point "Cebu", flight number "5J241", departure time "04.Jan.2024 9:45AM", and arrival time "04.Jan.2024 12:45PM" as one event.

[0037] 6 and 7 are diagrams showing an example of a display screen showing schedule information created by the application execution unit 212. After creating the schedule information, the application execution unit 212 causes the display unit 221 to display a display screen SC2 showing the schedule information. If there is an error or addition to the contents of the schedule information, the user operates the input acceptance unit 22 while this display screen SC2 is displayed to correct or add to the schedule information. When the input acceptance unit 213 accepts an instruction to correct or add to the schedule information and a save instruction based on the operation of the save button 95 while the display screen SC2 is displayed, the application execution unit 212 corrects or adds to the schedule information according to the instructions, stores the schedule information in the schedule information storage unit 262 (S16), and causes the communication unit 25 to transmit the stored schedule information to the server 1 (S17).

[0038] When the communication unit 13 of the server 1 receives the schedule information from the image forming apparatus 1, the application execution unit 112 updates and stores the schedule information in the schedule information storage unit 122 (S22), and also transmits a message (such as a short message or e-mail) notifying the electronic terminal 3 that the schedule information has been added from the image forming apparatus 2 (S23). The control unit 311 of the electronic terminal 3 causes the display unit 33 to display the message received via the communication unit 35 (S31).

[0039] In this way, the application execution unit 212 extracts schedule-related keywords (in this embodiment, keywords related to the itinerary) from the image data of the reservation ticket or scanned image data, and creates new schedule information based on those keywords, eliminating the need for the user to manually input schedule information, thereby saving time and effort.

[0040] Next, a description will be given of a case where the registered schedule information is changed via a schedule management application from the image forming apparatus 2. Fig. 8 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of the schedule management process when the schedule information is changed.

[0041] When the input receiving unit 22 of the image forming apparatus 2 receives an instruction to start a schedule management application based on an operation by a user, the control unit 211 causes the display unit 221 to display an operation screen SC1 as shown in FIG.

[0042] When the operation screen SC1 is displayed, the input acceptance unit 22 accepts, through user operation, input of authentication information required for logging in to the schedule management application, and input of an instruction to execute keyword extraction from schedule information based on a touch operation of a radio button 90. When the user selects the connection button 91, an instruction to transmit the authentication information is received by the input acceptance unit 22, and the application execution unit 212 causes the communication unit 25 to transmit the received authentication information to the server 1 (S41).

[0043] The application execution unit 112 of the server 1 performs login authentication using the received authentication information. If the authentication is successful, the control unit 111 of the server 1 reads out the schedule information from the schedule information storage unit 122 and causes the communication unit 13 to transmit the schedule information to the image forming device 2 (S51).

[0044] The application execution unit 212 of the image forming device 2 stores the schedule information received from the server 1 via the communication unit 25 in the schedule information storage unit 262, and displays the home screen HSC (Figure 4) of the schedule management application on the display unit 221 (S43).

[0045] Here, when the input receiving unit 22 receives an instruction to display schedule information based on the operation of the edit button 96, the application execution unit 212 causes the display unit 221 to display the schedule information stored in the schedule information storage unit 262 on a schedule information display screen SC4, an example of which is shown in Fig. 9 (S43). Fig. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the schedule information display screen.

[0046] When the schedule information display screen SC4 is displayed, and the user operates the edit button 96 to input a change target designation instruction to the input receiving unit 22 to designate the schedule information to be changed, the application execution unit 212 causes the display unit 221 to display a display screen (an example is shown in FIG. 7) showing the flight information indicated by the change target designation instruction. When the schedule information is changed by the user's operation of the input receiving unit 22 while this display screen is displayed (S44), the application execution unit 212 updates the schedule storage contents of the schedule information storage unit 262 based on the changed schedule information (S45). The application execution unit 212 causes the communication unit 25 to transmit the updated schedule information to the server 1 (S46).

[0047] When the communication unit 13 of the server 1 receives the updated schedule information from the image forming apparatus 1, the application execution unit 112 updates the schedule information stored in the schedule information storage unit 122 based on the updated schedule information (S52), and transmits update information notifying that the schedule information has been updated to the electronic terminal 3 via the communication unit 13 (S53). The application execution unit 312 of the electronic terminal 3 updates the stored contents of the schedule information storage unit 342 based on the update information received via the communication unit 35, and causes the display unit 33 to display the updated contents or a message indicating that the update has been performed (S61).

[0048] In this way, when the schedule information is changed in the image forming apparatus 2, the update information is sent to the electronic terminal 3, so that the user can immediately check the change in the schedule information on the electronic terminal 3.

[0049] Next, a description will be given of a case where schedule information is created or changed via a schedule management application from the electronic terminal 3. Fig. 10 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of schedule management processing when schedule information is created or changed from the electronic terminal 3.

[0050] When the input receiving unit 32 of the electronic terminal 3 receives an instruction to start a schedule management application based on an operation by a user, the control unit 311 starts the schedule management application (S91).

[0051] When the electronic terminal 3 starts a schedule management application, the application execution unit 312 may perform login authentication by requesting the user to input an email address and password each time the application is started, or may perform login authentication automatically using a preset email address and password. In this embodiment, the login authentication in the electronic terminal 3 will be omitted from the description.

[0052] When an instruction to create or change schedule information is received by the input receiving unit 32 through a user's operation of the input receiving unit 32, the application executing unit 312 updates and stores the schedule information stored in the schedule information storage unit 342 (S92). Furthermore, the application executing unit 312 transmits the created or changed schedule information from the communication unit 35 to the server 1 (S93).

[0053] When the communication unit 13 of the server 1 receives the schedule information from the image forming device 1, the application execution unit 112 updates the stored contents of the schedule information storage unit 122 based on the received schedule information (S81). Then, the communication unit 13 transmits update information indicating the contents of the schedule information created or changed on the electronic terminal 3 from the communication unit 13 to the image forming device 2 (S82).

[0054] Next, the control unit 211 inputs an instruction to start the schedule management application based on the user's operation of the input reception unit 22 of the image forming device 2, and transmits authentication information from the communication unit 25 to the server 1 for login authentication in the same manner as described above (S71). When the login authentication by the application execution unit 112 of the server 1 is successful (S83), the communication unit 13 of the server 1 reads out the updated schedule information from the schedule information storage unit 122 and transmits it to the image forming device 2 (S83). The application execution unit 212 of the image forming device 2 stores the schedule information received from the server 1 via the communication unit 25 in the schedule information storage unit 262 to update it, and also displays a notification that the schedule information has been created or changed on the electronic terminal 3 (i.e., a notification that prompts the user to check the created or changed schedule information) and a message 97 that prompts the user to print the created or changed schedule information on the display unit 221, as shown in the example in FIG. 11 (S72). FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the home screen HSC at this time.

[0055] When the input receiving unit 22 receives an instruction to display schedule information based on a user's operation on the display portion of the message 97, the application execution unit 212 causes the display unit 221 to display the schedule information created or changed on the electronic terminal 3 (S73), as shown in an example in Fig. 12. Fig. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a schedule information display screen SC5 that displays the schedule information created or changed on the electronic terminal 3.

[0056] When the input receiving unit 22 receives an instruction to print schedule information based on a user's operation on the print button 98 while the schedule information display screen SC5 is displayed, the application execution unit 212 causes the image forming unit 24 to print the schedule information created or changed on the electronic terminal 3 (the schedule information displayed on the schedule information display screen SC5) (S74). Then, the application execution unit 212 notifies the server 1 via the communication unit 25 that the image forming device 2 has printed the schedule information (S75).

[0057] When the server 1 receives the notification from the image forming device 1 via the communication unit 13, it causes the communication unit 13 to transmit a message indicating that the schedule information created or changed on the electronic terminal 3 has been printed by the image forming device 2 to the electronic terminal 3 (S84). When the control unit 311 of the electronic terminal 3 receives the message via the communication unit 35, it causes the display unit 33 to display the message, i.e., the fact that the created or changed schedule information has been printed by the image forming device 2 (S94).

[0058] According to this embodiment, the schedules stored in the schedule management applications of the image forming device 2 and the electronic terminal 3 are linked, and schedules added or changed in the schedule management application of the electronic terminal 3 can be reliably confirmed or printed on the image forming device 2.

[0059] Therefore, when schedule information is created or changed on the electronic terminal 3, the server 1 notifies the image forming device 2 of this, so the user can easily know that schedule information has been created or changed on the display unit 221 of the image forming device 2. Furthermore, the schedule information created or changed on the electronic terminal 3 can be instantly printed on the image forming device 2, and the latest reservation ticket can be obtained immediately.

[0060] The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible. In addition, in the above embodiment, the configuration and processing shown in the above embodiment using Figures 1 to 12 are merely one embodiment of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the configuration and processing. [Explanation of symbols]

[0061] 100 Information Processing Systems 1 Application Server 11 Control unit 12 Storage section 13. Communications Department 2. Image forming device 21 Control unit 22 Input reception section 23 Image reading unit 24 Image forming section 25 Communications Department 26 Memory section 3. Electronic Devices N Network

Claims

1. An information processing system including an image forming apparatus and an electronic terminal that execute a schedule management application, and an application server that communicates with the schedule management application running on the image forming apparatus and the electronic terminal via a network, the application server includes a schedule information storage unit that stores schedule information transmitted from the image forming apparatus and the electronic terminal; the image forming apparatus includes an apparatus-side application execution unit that executes the schedule management application, converts a character area in an image into text during the execution, creates new schedule information based on a keyword related to the schedule extracted from the text, and transmits the new schedule information to the application server; the electronic terminal includes a terminal-side application execution unit that executes the schedule management application and, when schedule information is created or changed by a user input during the execution of the schedule management application, transmits the schedule information to the application server; the application server includes a server-side application execution unit that notifies the image forming apparatus that it has received schedule information created or changed by the electronic terminal; The image forming device has a display unit and an image forming unit that prints schedule information created or changed on the electronic terminal onto paper, and when the device-side application execution unit receives the notification from the application server, it displays a message on the display unit prompting the user to confirm or print the schedule information created or changed on the electronic terminal.This is an information processing system.

2. In the image forming apparatus, when the schedule information created or changed on the electronic terminal is printed on paper, the apparatus-side application execution unit notifies the application server that the schedule information has been printed; 2 . The information processing system according to claim 1 , wherein, in the application server, when the notification is received, the server-side application execution unit performs processing to send to the electronic terminal a message indicating that the printing has been performed in the image forming device.

3. In the application server, the server-side application execution unit performs a process of notifying the electronic terminal that the schedule information created or changed in the image forming apparatus has been received; 2. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the terminal side application execution unit of the electronic terminal, when receiving the notification from the application server, additionally stores the schedule information indicated by the notification, or changes the previous schedule information in accordance with the schedule information indicated by the notification.

4. A schedule management method executed by an image forming apparatus and an electronic terminal that execute a schedule management application, and an application server that communicates with the schedule management application running on the image forming apparatus and the electronic terminal via a network, comprising: the application server includes a schedule information storage unit that stores schedule information transmitted from the image forming apparatus and the electronic terminal; a step in which the image forming apparatus converts a character area in an image into text while the schedule management application is being executed, and creates new schedule information based on a schedule-related keyword extracted from the text, and transmits the new schedule information to the application server; When the electronic terminal creates or modifies schedule information through user input while the schedule management application is running, the electronic terminal transmits the schedule information to the application server; the application server notifying the image forming device that it has received schedule information created or changed by the electronic terminal; When the image forming device receives the notification from the application server, a step of displaying a message on a display unit prompting the user to confirm or print the schedule information created or changed on the electronic terminal.

Images