Data processing apparatus, image forming apparatus and control method thereof, and program

Abstract

To provide a program, a method, and an information processing system capable of registering setting information of usable jobs in a terminal.SOLUTION: A method for controlling a data processing apparatus by a program for causing a computer of an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with an image forming apparatus to execute a control method includes: a reception step of accepting a job setting from a user on a setting screen for a job to be executed by the image forming apparatus; and a transmission step of generating job information based on the setting accepted in the reception step, and transmitting the job information to the image forming apparatus. When the job information transmitted in the transmission step satisfies a predetermined condition, the accepted setting can be stored in the information processing apparatus.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing system that executes a job by wireless communication between a data processing device and an image forming device.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, with the spread of high-performance mobile terminals called smartphones, the number of image forming devices that cooperate with such mobile terminals has also increased. For example, it is possible to issue an instruction to execute a print job from a mobile terminal to an image forming device using wireless communication. The mobile terminal receives an operation from a user, creates print job information based on the selected print data and the setting information of various jobs set (for example, color setting, number of copies information), and transmits the print job information to the MFP to cause the MFP to execute print processing. At this time, the network communication between the mobile terminal and the image forming device is established according to a communication protocol such as wireless LAN (Local Area Network), NFC, Bluetooth (registered trademark), etc., and can be realized by a known technique. Patent Document 1 discloses a method for improving user usability when a user registers job setting information as a "favorite" in a terminal in advance and calls the registered "favorite" to execute a job from the terminal to an image forming device.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the method of Patent Document 1, there is a possibility that the setting information registered by the user in the terminal may include a setting that causes an execution error, and there is also a possibility that unusable setting information may be registered in the terminal. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a method capable of registering setting information of a usable job in a terminal.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] A program for causing a computer of an information processing apparatus communicable with an image forming apparatus to execute a control method, the control method including: a reception step of receiving job settings from a user on a setting screen of a job to be executed by the image forming apparatus; and a transmission step of generating job information based on the settings received in the reception step and transmitting the job information to the image forming apparatus, wherein when the job information transmitted in the transmission step satisfies a predetermined condition, the received settings can be saved in the information processing apparatus.

Effects of the Invention

[0006] According to the present invention, it becomes possible to register setting information of a usable job in a terminal.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007]

Figure 1

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0008] Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims, and not all combinations of the features described in the embodiments are essential for the solution means of the invention. In the following description, an image forming device is used as an example of the information processing device for explanation, but it is not limited thereto.

[0009] (Example 1) FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of the information processing system according to this embodiment. The information processing system 100 includes a data processing device 101, a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) terminal 102, an image forming device 104, and a cloud server 105, which are connected via a network 103.

[0010] The data processing device 101 is a mobile terminal such as a smartphone, and an operating system for small terminals and programs for controlling calls and data communication may operate. Alternatively, it may be a personal computer (PC) that does not have voice control, position detection control, mobile phone data communication, etc. Also, the data processing device 101 is connected to the network 103 by the wireless LAN terminal 102. The wireless LAN terminal 102 is a parent device of a wireless LAN having a general network router function and provides a wireless LAN in a home, office, etc. The image forming apparatus 104 is a digital multi-function device having various job execution functions such as a printer function, a copy function, a scanner function, and a fax transmission function. The user can instruct the image forming apparatus 104 to execute a job by operating the data processing device 101 and execute various functions of the image forming apparatus 104. The cloud server 105 manages data used by the data processing device 101 and the image forming apparatus 104 and performs extension processing of various functions via the network 103. In this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 104 and the cloud server 105 are in a form of being wired-connected to the network 103, but may be wirelessly connected using the wireless LAN terminal 102 in the same manner as the data processing device 101. Further, the data processing device 101 and the image forming apparatus 104 can perform short-range wireless communication via wireless signals such as NFC (Near Field Communication) and BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy). The image forming apparatus 104 has information (IP address, MAC address, etc.) for wireless LAN connection to the image forming apparatus 104 in an NFC communication unit and a BLE communication unit described later, and the data processing device 101 acquires connection information by short-range wireless communication. Then, communication between the data processing device 101 and the image forming apparatus 104 is started based on the acquired information.

[0011] Figure 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of the data processing apparatus 101 according to this embodiment. The data processing apparatus 101 has a controller unit 201. The controller unit 201 controls various communication units such as an NFC communication unit 210, a BLE communication unit 211, and a wireless LAN communication unit 212, and various UI units such as a microphone / speaker 213, a display 214, and an input device 215.

[0012] The controller unit 201 is composed of a CPU 202, a ROM 203, a RAM 204, a network I / F 205, an audio control unit 206, a display control unit 207, an input control unit 208, and a storage device 209, and they are connected by a system bus 216.

[0013] The CPU 202 controls the entire system of the data processing apparatus 101. The ROM 203 stores the operating system of the data processing apparatus 101 and programs for controlling calls, data communication, etc., and the CPU 202 executes various programs. The RAM 204 is used as a temporary storage area such as the main memory and work area of the CPU 202.

[0014] The storage device 209 is a non-volatile storage device, and records settings of various operation modes that need to be retained even after the data processing apparatus 101 restarts, operation logs, and the like.

[0015] The network I / F 205 is connected to the NFC communication unit 210, the BLE communication unit 211, and the wireless LAN communication unit 212, and exchanges data with the image forming apparatus 104 through various wireless communications.

[0016] The audio control unit 206 controls input / output of audio data via the microphone / speaker 213. The display control unit 207 controls output of a screen to be displayed on the display 214. The input control unit 208 controls input of information instructed by the user via an input device 215 such as a button or a touch panel. Various applications executed on the data processing apparatus 101 utilize the audio control unit 206, the display control unit 207, the input control unit 208, etc.

[0017] FIG. 3 is a hardware configuration diagram of the image forming apparatus 104 according to the present embodiment. The image forming apparatus 104 has a controller unit 301, and the controller unit 301 controls various communication units such as an NFC communication unit 310, a BLE communication unit 311, and a wireless LAN communication unit 312, an operation unit 307, a scanner 313, and a printer 314. When the user uses the copy function of the image forming apparatus 104, the controller unit 301 controls the scanner 313 to acquire image data of the document, and controls the printer 314 to print and output the image on paper. Also, when the user uses the scan and transmit function, the controller unit 301 controls the scanner 313 to acquire image data of the document and convert it into code data. Then, it transmits the data to the data processing apparatus 101 or the like via the network I / F 308. Also, when the user uses the print function, the controller unit 301 receives image data (code data) from the data processing apparatus 101 via the network I / F 308. Then, the controller unit 301 transmits the received image data to the printer 314. The printer 314 prints and outputs the image on paper based on the received image data. Also, the image forming apparatus 104 has a FAX reception function of receiving data from ISDN or the like and printing it, and a FAX transmission function of transmitting data scanned to ISDN or the like. In order to execute each function as described above, the work of the processing target set by the user or the like is called a job, and the image forming apparatus 104 executes a predetermined job according to the job information.

[0018] The controller unit 301 is composed of a CPU 302, a RAM 303, a ROM 304, an HDD 305, an operation unit I / F 306, a network I / F 308, and a device I / F 309, and they are connected by a system bus 315.

[0019] The CPU 302 controls the entire system of the image forming apparatus 104. The RAM 303 is a system work memory for the operation of the CPU 302, and temporarily stores image data and the like. It also stores the scanned image data read by the scanner 313, or stores the print image data received from the data processing apparatus 101 via the network 103. The ROM 304 stores the system boot program, applications, and the like. The hard disk drive (HDD) 305 stores the operating system, system software, application software, image data, setting data, and the like.

[0020] The operation unit 307 displays information to the user and accepts operations from the user. For example, it includes an operation panel such as a touch panel display.

[0021] The operation unit I / F 306 outputs the information to be displayed on the operation unit 307 to the operation unit 307. Also, the operation unit I / F 306 accepts the information input by the user from the operation unit 307. The network I / F 308 is connected to the NFC communication unit 310, the BLE communication unit 311, and the wireless LAN communication unit 312, and exchanges information with the data processing apparatus 101 and the cloud server 105 through various communications. The wireless LAN communication unit 312 performs wireless LAN communication with the data processing apparatus 101 via the network 103. Also, the NFC communication unit 310 and the BLE communication unit 311 perform short-range wireless communication with the data processing apparatus 101. The image forming apparatus 104 receives job setting information, image data, job execution commands, etc. from the data processing apparatus 101 via the network I / F 308, and executes the job. The device I / F 309 connects the scanner 313 and the printer 314 that read and print image data to the controller unit 301, and performs input / output of image data.

[0022] FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the application of the data processing apparatus 101 according to the present embodiment. It is a functional block diagram of software realized by the CPU 202 reading the control program stored in the ROM 203 and the storage device 209.

[0023] The application 401 is an application installed in the data processing device 101 and is an application for giving an operation instruction to the image forming apparatus 104. Settings can be made on the application 401 to generate print job information and scan job information, and the job information can be transmitted to the image forming apparatus 104. In addition to this application 401, various applications are installed in the data processing device 101, but the description thereof is omitted. The configuration of the application 401 is shown below.

[0024] The user interface (UI) control unit 402 receives the job setting information and the like input by the user using the input device 215, and transmits the received content to the job setting management unit 406 and the job control unit 407 via the input control unit 208. Further, the UI control unit 402 receives responses from the job setting management unit 406 and the job control unit 407, and outputs a screen corresponding to the received content to the display 214 via the display control unit 207. Furthermore, the UI control unit 402 receives authentication information for logging in to the image forming apparatus 104, such as user information and passwords input by the user using the input device 215, and transmits the authentication information to the authentication setting management unit 403 via the input control unit 208.

[0025] The authentication setting management unit 403 registers the authentication information such as user information received from the UI control unit 402. Then, based on the registered authentication information, a process of logging in to the image forming apparatus 104 is performed. Specifically, the authentication information is passed to the network control unit 405. The authentication information is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 104 via the network 103. The image forming apparatus 104 performs a login process using the received authentication information and returns the result to the data processing device 101. The registered authentication information can also be attached when transmitting job information.

[0026] The device connection unit 404 establishes short-range wireless communication using, for example, NFC or BLE or wireless LAN communication via the network 103 between the data processing device 101 and the image forming device 104. For example, in the case of NFC, when the user brings the NFC communication unit 210 of the data processing device 101 close to the NFC communication unit 310 of the image forming device 104, short-range wireless communication is started. Also, in the case of BLE, the BLE communication unit 311 of the image forming device 104 transmits a BLE beacon, and the BLE communication unit 211 of the data processing device 101 receives the transmitted beacon. When the user brings the data processing device 101 close to the image forming device 104 and determines that the radio wave intensity of the beacon received by the data processing device 101 is equal to or higher than a certain level, short-range wireless communication is started. In this way, when the user brings the NFC and BLE communication units of the data processing device 101 and the image forming device 104 close to each other, the device connection unit 404 performs short-range wireless communication with the image forming device 104. Then, via the short-range wireless communication, the device connection unit 404 acquires device information including connection information necessary for wireless LAN communication from the image forming device 104. The device connection unit 404 starts wireless LAN communication with the image forming device 104 via the network 103 using the acquired connection information.

[0027] The network control unit 405 transmits job information (setting information, job execution instruction commands, image data, user authentication information, etc.) to the image forming device 104 via the network 103. When configuring job information for transmitting the scanned image data to a set destination, the job setting information includes the destination to which the data is to be transmitted (for example, an email address) and settings related to scanning (for example, color setting, resolution, etc.). Further, the network control unit 405 can also receive the job setting information stored in the image forming device 104 via the network 103.

[0028] The job setting management unit 406 stores the job setting information input by the user received by the UI control unit 402 and the job setting information received from the image forming apparatus 104 by the network control unit 405 in the RAM 204 or the storage device 209. At this time, the job setting management unit 406 may register these job setting information as "favorite" settings that the user often uses. Also, the job setting management unit 406 may register the setting information of a predetermined job as "preset" at the time of installation of the application 401.

[0029] The job control unit 407 controls the processes executed by the image forming apparatus 104. For example, it generates job information from the job setting information included in the "favorite" or "preset" registered by the job setting management unit 406 and the job setting information set by the user operation, and transmits an instruction to execute the job to the image forming apparatus 104 via the network 103. Also, the job control unit 407 acquires the job execution status and the operation status of the devices such as the scanner 313 and the printer 314 from the image forming apparatus 104 via the network 103, and transmits them to the UI control unit 402.

[0030] FIG. 5 shows the software configuration of the image forming apparatus 104 according to the present embodiment. It is a functional block diagram of software realized by reading out the control program stored in the ROM 304 and the HDD 305 by the CPU 302.

[0031] The system software 501 is software executed by the CPU 302 of the image forming apparatus 104 and is stored in the RAM 303. The user interface (UI) control unit 502 receives the job setting information and the like input by the user via the operation unit 307, and passes them to the job setting management unit 506 and the job control unit 507. Also, the UI control unit 502 receives the response from the job setting management unit 506 and the job control unit 507, and outputs a screen based on the response to the operation unit 307.

[0032] The authentication unit 503 performs a login process based on the authentication information received from the data processing device 101 and returns the result. The image forming apparatus 104 holds various types of information such as the email address corresponding to the logged-in user.

[0033] The device connection unit 504 establishes, for example, a wireless LAN communication with the data processing device 101. The network control unit 505 receives job setting information, job execution instruction commands, image data, user authentication information, etc. from the data processing device 101 via the network 103. Further, the network control unit 505 transmits the job setting information stored in the image forming apparatus 104 to the data processing device 101 via the network 103.

[0034] The job setting management unit 506 manages the state of the job to be executed. Also, information regarding the job including the job setting information input by the user by the UI control unit 502 and the job setting information received from the data processing device 101 by the network control unit 505 is stored in the RAM 303 and the HDD 305. At this time, the job setting management unit 506 may register these job setting information as "favorite" settings that the user often uses. Also, the job setting management unit 506 may register the setting information of a predetermined job as a "preset". Also, the jobs executed by the image forming apparatus 104 are managed as "history".

[0035] The job control unit 507 controls each processing unit of the scan processing unit 511, copy processing unit 512, print processing unit 513, and fax processing unit 514 according to the received job information, and executes various jobs. For example, the job control unit 507 executes various jobs using the job setting information set by the user on the operation unit 307 and the job setting information of "favorite" and "preset" registered in the job execution management unit 506. Further, the job control unit 507 receives a job execution request received from the data processing device 101 or the like via the network 103, and executes various jobs according to the received job setting information and job execution instruction. In addition, the job control unit 507 transmits the job execution status and the operation status of devices such as the scanner 313 and the printer 314 to the data processing device 101 via the network 103.

[0036] FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the connection process of the data processing device 101 to the image forming device 104. Each operation shown in FIG. 6 is realized by the CPU 202 reading a program for realizing each control module stored in the ROM 203 or the storage device 209 into the RAM 204 and executing it. Through the connection process, the data processing device 101 can issue a job execution instruction to the connected image forming device 104.

[0037] The user performs an operation to acquire connection information from the image forming device 104 using the data processing device 101. FIG. 11(a) is an example of a connection screen to the image forming device 104 displayed on the display 214 of the data processing device 101. In the connection screen 1101, 1102 is a selection item for the device connection method, and there are "automatic search", "manual search", "QR code (registered trademark)", and "nearby printer".

[0038] "Automatic discovery" means that the device connection unit 404 searches for the image forming apparatus 104 communicable with the data processing apparatus 101 on the network 103 via the wireless LAN terminal 102 using Wi-Fi (registered trademark) or the like by mDNS (multicast Domain Name System). The user connects to the image forming apparatus 104 via the device connection unit 404 by selecting the image forming apparatus 104 detected by the search.

[0039] "Manual discovery" means that the user inputs the identification information (such as an IP address) of the image forming apparatus 104 to be connected using the input device 215, and connects to the image forming apparatus 104 via the device connection unit 404.

[0040] "QR code" means that the device connection unit 404 reads a QR code holding the identification information of the image forming apparatus 104 by a camera mounted on the data processing apparatus 201, and connects to the image forming apparatus 104 via the device connection unit 404.

[0041] "Nearby printer" means that the user performs an operation of bringing the NFC or BLE communication units of the data processing apparatus 101 and the image forming apparatus 104 closer to each other, and connects to the image forming apparatus 104 via the device connection unit 404.

[0042] The device connection unit 404 determines whether connection information has been acquired by any of the above methods (S601). If the connection information cannot be acquired, the process returns to S601 and continues to wait for the acquisition of the connection information. When the connection information is acquired, the image forming apparatus 104 is searched for using the acquired connection information (S602). It is determined whether the image forming apparatus 104 has been found (S603). If the image forming apparatus 104 has been found, the device connection unit 404 starts the connection to the image forming apparatus 104 (S604) and ends the process. If the image forming apparatus 104 cannot be found, an error is notified to the user and the process ends.

[0043] FIGS. 11(b) and (c) show an example of a screen displayed by the UI control unit 402 when the data processing apparatus 101 receives a job setting from the user and transmits job information to the image forming apparatus 104.

[0044] Figure 11(b) shows the job selection screen 1111, which is a screen for the user to select a desired job. The "Favorite" buttons 1112 and 1114 are buttons for calling up the settings of the jobs pre-registered by the user. When pressed, the screen transitions to the job settings screen where the registered job setting information is reflected. The edit button 1113 is a button for changing the settings associated with the "Favorite" button. The add button 1115 is a button for adding a new "Favorite" button. When pressed, the screen transitions to the screen for registering the settings. The preset buttons 1116 to 1118 are buttons associated with default setting values. When pressed, the setting screens for the respective functions with the default setting values reflected are displayed. Here, as an example, the buttons for the copy, scan and send, and print functions are displayed. The target image forming apparatus button 1119 displays the information of the image forming apparatus 104 connected by the connection process shown in FIG. 6. The image forming apparatus 104 indicated by the target image forming apparatus button 1119 is the transmission target of the job information. When the target image forming apparatus 1119 button is pressed, it is possible to change the target image forming apparatus.

[0045] The scan settings screen 1121 is a settings screen that is displayed when the scan and send button 1117 is selected on the job selection screen 1111. It includes an item 1122 for setting the transmission destination of the image and an item 1123 for performing scan settings. The user makes job settings by selecting each item. When the start button 1124 is pressed, job information is configured based on the settings received from the user on the scan settings screen 1121, and the job information is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 104.

[0046] FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining a process of receiving job settings from a user in the data processing apparatus 101. The operations shown in FIG. 7 are realized by the CPU 202 reading out, to the RAM 204, a program for realizing each control module stored in the ROM 203 or the storage device 209 and executing the program. Here, a case where the scan and send button 1117 is selected after scanning from the job selection screen 1111 as an example will be described.

[0047] The UI control unit 402 displays a job selection screen 1111 for selecting a job to be executed (S701), and receives a selection of an execution job from the user (S702). When the UI control unit 402 receives a selection of the send button 1117 from the user and a selection of the job to be executed, the UI control unit 402 displays a scan settings screen 1121 (S703).

[0048] The UI control unit 402 determines whether there is an input for changing the settings of the destination or the scan (S704). If there is an input, the UI control unit 402 temporarily stores, in the RAM 204, job setting information including the changed settings (S705), and ends the process. If there is no input, the process ends.

[0049] FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining a process of the data processing apparatus 101 transmitting job information to the image forming apparatus 104. The operations shown in FIG. 8 are realized by the CPU 202 reading out, to the RAM 204, a program for realizing each control module stored in the ROM 203 or the storage device 209 and executing the program. Here, a case where the start button 1124 is pressed on the scan settings screen 1121 as an example will be described.

[0050] When the UI control unit 402 receives the user's pressing of the start button 1124 on the scan setting screen 1121, the job control unit 407 acquires the setting information of the job set on the setting screen via the UI control unit 402 (S801). Hereinafter, the transmission destination and scan settings necessary for job execution are collectively referred to as job setting information. Next, the job control unit 407 acquires user information such as the user name and password stored in the RAM 204 or the storage device 209 (S802), and makes a remote authentication request to the image forming apparatus 104 (S803). Remote authentication is authentication for permitting the start of communication between the data processing apparatus 101 and the image forming apparatus 104. When the remote authentication is successful, the image forming apparatus 104 can receive job information from the data processing apparatus 101. The job control unit 407 determines whether the remote authentication has been successful (S804). When receiving a notification of failure of the remote authentication from the job control unit 407, the UI control unit 402 displays an error screen on the display 214 (S807) and ends the process. When the remote authentication is successful, the job control unit 407 generates job information based on the acquired job setting information, user information, etc. (S805), transmits the job information to the connected image forming apparatus 104 (S806), and ends the process.

[0051] FIG. 12 is an example of a table showing the configuration of job information transmitted by the data processing apparatus 101. In the job information table 1201, column 1202 shows the user name, column 1203 shows the login password, column 1204 shows the transmission destination setting, and 1205 shows the scan setting. One row shows one piece of job information. Here, the job information of the scan-and-transmit job is shown, but the copy job and print job have the same configuration.

[0052] FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining the reception process of job information by the image forming apparatus 104. The operations shown in FIG. 9 are realized by the CPU 302 reading out a program for realizing each control module stored in the ROM 304 or the HDD 305 into the RAM 303 and executing it.

[0053] The job control unit 507 receives job information from the data processing device 101 via the network control unit 505 (S901). Next, the job control unit 507 extracts user information from the received job information (S902), and performs local authentication with the extracted user information on the authentication unit 503 (S903). The local authentication is for authorizing the user to operate on the operation unit 307 of the image forming apparatus 104. The job control unit 507 determines whether the local authentication has succeeded (S904). If it fails, an error is sent to the data processing device 101 (S911), and the process ends. If the local authentication is successful, the status information of the image forming apparatus 104 is acquired (S905). The status information of the image forming apparatus 104 is information indicating whether a job is being executed or another user is logged in, etc.

[0054] It is determined whether the job can be executed based on the acquired status information of the image forming apparatus 104 (S906). If the image forming apparatus 104 is executing a job or another user is logged in to the image forming apparatus 104, it is determined that the job cannot be executed, and a factor due to the status of the image forming apparatus 104 indicating that the job cannot be executed is sent to the data processing device 101 (S912), and the process ends. If the job can be executed, the job setting information is extracted (S907), and it is determined whether the setting information is executable on the image forming apparatus 104 (S908). If the setting information is executable, the reception completion of the job information is sent to the data processing device 101 (S909), the job is executed (S910), and the process ends. Here, for example, scanning processing is performed with the scan settings included in the job information, and the generated image data after scanning is sent to the transmission destination included in the job information.

[0055] If the setting information is not executable, an error due to the job setting information is sent to the data processing device 101 (S913), and the process ends.

[0056] In this embodiment, the determination process of S906 and the determination process of S908 may be in reverse order. Based on the job information transmitted from the data processing device through the above flowchart processing, the image forming apparatus 104 can execute the job. Further, when the received job cannot be executed, the image forming apparatus can notify the data processing device 101 whether it is an error due to the job setting information or an error due to the state of the image forming apparatus 104.

[0057] FIGS. 11(d) to 11(f) are examples of screens for explaining the processing of the data processing device 101 with respect to the reception result of the job information of the image forming apparatus 104, and are an example of the screen displayed by the UI control unit 402.

[0058] FIG. 11(d) shows a screen displayed by the UI control unit 402 when the image forming apparatus 104 has completed receiving the job information, that is, when the job information transmitted by the data processing device 101 can be input to the image forming apparatus 104. The job transmission completion screen 1131 includes a message 1132 indicating that the job transmission has been completed without error, a save button 1133 for saving the setting information of the transmitted job to the data processing device 101, and an OK button 1134 for ending the process without saving the setting information of the job. When the save button 1133 is pressed, the setting information of the job is saved in the application 401, and as shown in the job selection screen 1151, a "favorite" button 1152 for calling the saved setting information is newly registered on the job selection screen. When the "favorite" button 1152 is pressed, a job setting screen reflecting the saved setting information is displayed. A screen for inputting the name of the button to be displayed on the "favorite" button when the save button 1133 is pressed may be displayed.

[0059] FIG. 11(e) shows a screen displayed by the UI control unit 402 when the image forming apparatus 104 that has received job information cannot execute the received job information due to factors such as being in the middle of executing another job. The retry screen 1141 includes a message 1142 indicating that the job cannot be executed due to the state of the image forming apparatus 104, a retry button 1143 for resending the transmitted job information, and a cancel button 1144 for ending the process without saving the setting information. Before pressing the retry button 1143, it may be possible to change the transmission target of the job information by pressing the target image forming apparatus 1119 button. By doing so, it is possible to transmit the job information to another image forming apparatus without discarding the setting information of the job.

[0060] FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining the processing of the data processing apparatus 101 with respect to the reception result of the job information of the image forming apparatus 104. The operations shown in FIG. 10 are realized by the CPU 202 reading out and executing a program for realizing each control module stored in the ROM 203 or the storage device 209 into the RAM 204.

[0061] The job control unit 407 receives the reception result of the job information transmitted from the image forming apparatus 104 via the network I / F 205 (S1001). It determines whether the result is the completion of the reception of the job information corresponding to S909 (S1002). If the reception is completed, the job setting management unit 406 determines whether there is the same job setting information as the job setting information temporarily stored in the RAM 204 in S705 in the job setting information of the job saved in the application 401 (S1003). If there is the saved setting information, the process ends. If there is no saved job setting information, the UI control unit 402 displays a job transmission completion screen 1131 on the display 214 to ask the user whether to save the job setting information (S1004). The UI control unit 402 determines whether there is an instruction to save the setting information from the user on the job transmission completion screen 1131 (S1005). If there is a save instruction, the job setting information temporarily stored in the RAM 204 is saved in the storage device 209 (S1006). Otherwise, the process ends. Specifically, the save instruction is that the save button 1133 is pressed. A button for calling the saved job setting information is displayed on the job selection screen. Here, an example where the job setting information is saved when a save instruction is received from the user is shown, but it may be configured to automatically save without receiving the user's instruction.

[0062] If the reception of job information is not completed in S1002, the job control unit 407 analyzes the error information (S1007). Here, it is determined whether a notification corresponding to S913 or a notification corresponding to S912 has been received from the image forming apparatus 104. Based on the analysis result, it is determined whether the state of the image forming apparatus is the cause of the error (S1008). If the state of the image forming apparatus is the cause, the UI control unit 402 displays the retry screen 1141 (S1009). In the retry screen 1141, the UI control unit 402 determines whether a retry instruction has been received from the user (S1010). If a retry instruction has been received, the job control unit 407 performs a process of transmitting the job information stored in the RAM 204 to the image forming apparatus 104 (S1011). If a retry instruction has not been received, the process ends. Specifically, when the user presses the retry button 1143, the job setting information temporarily stored in the RAM 204 in S705 is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 104. Since this process is the same as the process of the flowchart in FIG. 8, the description thereof is omitted. If it is determined in S1010 that a retry instruction has not been received, the process ends.

[0063] In S1008, in the case of an error that is not caused by the state of the image forming apparatus, the job control unit 407 determines whether it is caused by the job setting information (S1013). If it is caused by the setting information, the UI control unit 402 displays the job setting screen (for example, the scan setting screen 1121) (S1014). The setting screen displayed here may reflect the transmitted job setting information or may be a setting screen in which all setting values are cleared.

[0064] In S1013, if it is determined that it is not caused by the setting information, the error is notified to the user (S1015), and the process ends.

[0065] When the condition that the data processing device can submit a job to the image forming device is satisfied by the processing of the above flowchart, it becomes possible to save the setting information of the job in the data processing device. It becomes possible to easily call up the setting information of available jobs. Since the setting information can be saved only when the job submission is successful and the setting information is not stored in the data processing device, it is possible to prevent unnecessary setting information from being stored.

[0066] Also, when the data processing device cannot submit a job to the image forming device, the processing can be changed according to the type of error. Specifically, when the error is due to the image forming device being in the middle of executing another job, that is, the state of the image forming device, the job information is configured to be resendable. By doing so, the job information can be resent when the image forming device becomes capable of executing the job, and there is no need to reconfigure from scratch on the data processing device. On the other hand, in the case of an error due to the job setting information, the user is made to reconfigure on the data processing device.

[0067] In the above embodiments, an example where the setting information of the job can be saved when the job can be submitted has been shown. However, it is not limited to this, and the setting information of the job may be registered or the user may be inquired when the data processing device can transmit the job information to the image forming device, or the setting information of the job may be registered or the user may be inquired when the image forming device starts the job based on the job information, or the setting information of the job may be registered or the user may be inquired when the image forming device that has received the job information has completed the job execution without error.

[0068] (Other Embodiments) In the first embodiment, on the job selection screen, as shown in 1111, favorite buttons for a plurality of functions such as a print function, a scan-and-send function, and a copy function are displayed on the same screen. However, different screens may be provided for each function. An example of this screen is shown in Fig. 13(a). The transmission job selection screen 1301 is a screen that displays the favorite button for the scan-and-send function. Only the buttons for the jobs using the scan-and-send function are displayed on the transmission job selection screen 1301, and the preset button 1302 is a button for opening the setting screen with the default setting values. The favorite buttons for calling the job setting information saved in S1006 will be displayed on the screens corresponding to their respective functions.

[0069] Also, in the first embodiment, an example was shown in which if the image forming apparatus that has received the job information is in a state where the job cannot be executed, a retry instruction can be given from the data processing apparatus. However, this is not the only case. The data processing apparatus 101 may be configured to temporarily store the transmitted job information and be able to call it from the job selection screen. An example of this screen is shown in Fig. 13(b). The job selection screen 1311 includes a button 1312 for calling the setting information of the temporarily stored job. When the button 1312 is pressed, the job setting screen reflecting the saved setting information is displayed. The button 1312 may be made invisible, for example, when the application 401 ends or is put in the background on the data processing apparatus 101, and the saved job setting information may also be deleted. Also, the saved job setting information may be deleted when the job is executed after the button 1312 is selected.

[0070] The present invention can also be realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or apparatus reads and executes the program. In this case, the computer program and the storage medium storing the computer program constitute the present invention.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0071] 100 Information Processing System 101 Data Processing Device 102 Wireless LAN Terminal 103 Network 104 Image Forming Apparatus 105 Cloud Server

Claims

1. A program for causing a computer of an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with an image forming apparatus to execute a control method, the control method comprising: a reception step of receiving job settings from a user on a setting screen of a job to be executed by the image forming apparatus; a transmission step of generating job information based on the settings received in the reception step and transmitting the job information to the image forming apparatus, wherein the received settings can be saved in the information processing apparatus when the job information transmitted in the transmission step satisfies a predetermined condition.

2. The program according to claim 1, wherein the received settings can be saved in the information processing apparatus when the job information transmitted in the transmission step can be input to the image forming apparatus.

3. The program according to claim 1, wherein the received settings can be saved in the information processing apparatus when the job information transmitted in the transmission step is received by the image forming apparatus.

4. The program according to claim 1, wherein the received settings can be saved in the information processing apparatus when the image forming apparatus executes a job based on the job information transmitted in the transmission step.

5. The program according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein when the settings included in the job information transmitted in the transmission step are not saved in the information processing apparatus, the settings can be saved.

6. The control method further comprises: a saving step of saving the received settings in the information processing apparatus; a calling step of calling the settings saved in the saving step when a user operation is received.

7. The program according to claim 6, wherein in the calling step, the settings saved in the saving step are reflected on a job setting screen.

8. The program according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the job is a process using a function of the image forming apparatus.

9. The program according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the job is at least one of a copy job, a scan and transmit job, and a print job.

10. ​ The program according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that when the image forming apparatus cannot execute a job based on the job information transmitted in the transmission step, the received settings are not stored in the information processing apparatus.

11. The program according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that when the image forming apparatus cannot execute a job due to the state of its own device based on the job information transmitted in the transmission step, a button for retransmitting the job information with the received settings is displayed.

12. The program according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that when the image forming apparatus cannot execute a job with the settings included in the job information transmitted in the transmission step, a setting screen for executing the job is displayed.

13. The program according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that a screen is displayed to inquire the user whether to save the received settings in the information processing apparatus when the job information transmitted in the transmission step satisfies a predetermined condition.

14. The program according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the received settings are one or more setting values for executing a job.

15. An information processing apparatus capable of communicating with an image forming apparatus, a receiving means for receiving job settings from a user on a setting screen of a job to be executed by the image forming apparatus, a transmitting means for generating job information based on the settings received by the receiving means and transmitting the job information to the image forming apparatus, and the information processing apparatus characterized in that the received settings can be stored in the information processing apparatus when the job information transmitted by the transmitting means satisfies a predetermined condition.

16. A control method executed by an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with an image forming apparatus, a receiving step of receiving job settings from a user on a setting screen of a job to be executed by the image forming apparatus, a transmitting step of generating job information based on the settings received in the receiving step and transmitting the job information to the image forming apparatus, and the control method characterized in that the received settings can be stored in the information processing apparatus when the job information transmitted in the transmitting step satisfies a predetermined condition.

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