Information processing system and program

Abstract

To provide an information processing system and a program capable of making a user who operates a printer recognize that abnormality occurs in communication with a server, in the information processing system for receiving and storing processing information of print processing requested by the user from the server, and transmitting the processing information to the printer according to an instruction from the printer.SOLUTION: Processing information of print processing requested by a user to an external server is received from the server and stored, the processing information is transmitted to the printer according to an instruction from the printer, and when an abnormality occurs in communication between the own system and the server, a notification indicating the occurrence of the abnormality is transmitted to the printer, thereby notifying the occurrence of the abnormality in the printer.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an information processing system and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes an information processing system that prevents a decrease in user convenience when a failure occurs in accessing the cloud in a system that uses the cloud.

[0003] Patent Document 2 describes a server system that makes it possible to receive notification of an error that occurs in a device in cloud printing, which uses a printing system on the cloud to print. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-025383 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-073284 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The object of the present disclosure is to provide an information processing system and program that can make a user operating a printing device aware that an abnormality has occurred in communication with the server, in an information processing system that receives and stores processing information for a printing process requested by a user from a server and transmits the processing information to the printing device in response to instructions from the printing device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The information processing system of the first embodiment includes a processor that receives and stores processing information for printing processing that a user has requested from an external server, sends the processing information to the printing device in response to instructions from the printing device, and, if an abnormality occurs in communication between the system and the server, sends a notification to the printing device indicating that the abnormality has occurred, thereby notifying the printing device that the abnormality has occurred.

[0007] In the information processing system of the second aspect, in the information processing system of the first aspect, when the abnormality occurs, the processor refers to user information regarding the user logged in to the printing device and determines whether or not to send the notification to the printing device.

[0008] In a third aspect of the information processing system, in the information processing system of the second aspect, when the abnormality occurs, the processor sends the notification to the printing device only if a user who has previously requested processing from the server is logged in to the printing device.

[0009] In the information processing system of the fourth aspect, in the information processing system of the first aspect, the processor transmits the notification only to a specific printing device among a plurality of printing devices connected to the system itself.

[0010] In the information processing system of the fifth aspect, in the information processing system of the first aspect, the processor sends the notification only to the printing devices of a specific group among the multiple printing devices connected to the system.

[0011] In a sixth aspect of the information processing system, in the fifth aspect of the information processing system, the processor acquires group information and sends the notification only to the printing devices of the acquired group among the multiple printing devices connected to the system.

[0012] The seventh aspect of the program causes a computer to execute the following steps: receiving and storing processing information for a printing process that a user has requested from an external server; sending the processing information to the printing device in response to instructions from the printing device; and, if an abnormality occurs in communication between the system and the server, sending a notification to the printing device indicating that the abnormality has occurred, thereby notifying the printing device that the abnormality has occurred.

[0013] The technology of the present disclosure can also be applied to programs and program products. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to the first aspect of the information processing system, in an information processing system that receives and stores processing information for a printing process requested by a user from a server and transmits the processing information to the printing device in response to instructions from the printing device, the user operating the printing device can be made aware that an abnormality has occurred in communication with the server.

[0015] According to the information processing system of the second aspect, it is possible to make only specific users aware that an abnormality has occurred in communication with the server.

[0016] According to the information processing system of the third aspect, only users who have used the server can be made aware that an abnormality has occurred in communication with the server.

[0017] According to the information processing system of the fourth aspect, it is possible to send a notification only to a specific printing device.

[0018] According to the information processing system of the fifth aspect, it is possible to send notifications only to printing devices in a specific group.

[0019] According to the information processing system of the sixth aspect, it is possible to send a notification only to printing devices in the acquired group.

[0020] According to the seventh aspect of the program, in an information processing system that receives and stores processing information for a printing process requested by a user from a server and transmits the processing information to the printing device in response to instructions from the printing device, the user operating the printing device can be made aware that an abnormality has occurred in communication with the server. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating a system configuration of a cloud print system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a main image forming apparatus in the cloud print system. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining processing performed by the cloud print system in a normal state. [Figure 4] 10A and 10B are diagrams for explaining processing when an abnormality occurs in the cloud print system. [Figure 5] 10 is a flowchart illustrating a process flow when an abnormality occurrence notification is sent in the main image forming apparatus. [Figure 6] 10 is a flowchart illustrating a process flow regarding notification of an abnormality occurrence in the sub-image forming apparatus. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating the system configuration of a cloud print system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0023] As shown in FIG. 1, the cloud print system of this embodiment includes a main image forming apparatus 10, a sub image forming apparatus 20, and a management server 30.

[0024] The main image forming device 10 is a so-called multifunction device that has multiple functions such as a copy function, a print function, a fax function, and a scan function. The main image forming device 10 is connected to a management server 30 via the Internet 40. The main image forming device 10 is an example of an information processing system in the technology of the present disclosure.

[0025] The sub-image forming device 20 is also a so-called multifunction device that has multiple functions such as a copy function, a print function, a fax function, and a scan function. The sub-image forming device 20 is connected to the main image forming device 10 via a local network 45. The sub-image forming device 20 is an example of a printing device in the technology of the present disclosure.

[0026] The management server 30 is a server for providing a cloud print service.

[0027] In the cloud print system of this embodiment, a user transmits a print job from a user terminal (not shown), such as a smartphone or a personal computer, to the management server 30. The print job corresponds to the printing process in the technology of the present disclosure.

[0028] The main image forming apparatus 10 receives from the management server 30 and stores processing information of the print job that the user has sent to the management server 30.

[0029] Thereafter, the user prints the print job he or she sent from the main image forming apparatus 10 or the sub image forming apparatus 20.

[0030] When a user prints from the main image forming apparatus 10, the main image forming apparatus 10 executes the printing based on the processing information of the print job stored in the apparatus itself.

[0031] Furthermore, when a user prints from the sub-image forming device 20, the sub-image forming device 20 sends an instruction to the main image forming device 10 to send processing information for the print job sent by the user. The main image forming device 10 sends the processing information to the sub-image forming device 20 in response to the instruction from the sub-image forming device 20. The sub-image forming device 20 executes printing based on the processing information received from the main image forming device 10.

[0032] That is, in the cloud print system of this embodiment, the main image forming apparatus 10 and the sub-image forming apparatus 20 are connected to each other via a local network 45. Then, so-called pull printing is performed in which the processing information of a print job stored in the main image forming apparatus 10 is acquired by the sub-image forming apparatus 20 and printed.

[0033] Next, a description will be given of the hardware configuration of the main image forming apparatus 10 of this embodiment.

[0034] 2, the main image forming device 10 includes a control unit 11, a communication interface (abbreviated as IF) 12, a user interface (abbreviated as UI) device 13 including a touch panel or liquid crystal display and a keyboard, a print engine 14, and a scanner 15. These components are connected to each other via a control bus 16.

[0035] The control unit 11 includes a processor 11a, a memory 11b, and a storage unit 11c. The processor 11a executes predetermined processing based on a control program read from the storage unit 11c and loaded into the memory 11b. The storage unit 11c is configured, for example, with a read-only memory (ROM), a hard disk drive (HDD), or a solid state drive (SSD). The storage unit 11c stores the control program, required software, data, and the like. The storage unit 11c also stores processing information for print jobs received from the management server 30.

[0036] In the present embodiment, the processor 11a is described as reading and executing a program stored in the storage unit 11c, but this is not limited thereto. The program may be provided in a form recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. For example, the program may be provided in a form recorded on an optical disc such as a CD (Compact Disc)-ROM (Read Only Memory) or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc)-ROM, or in a form recorded on a semiconductor memory such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory or a memory card. The program may also be obtained from an external device via a communication line.

[0037] The communication IF 12 transmits and receives data to and from external devices, etc. The UI device 13 accepts instruction input from the user. The print engine 14 prints an image on a recording medium such as printing paper through processes such as charging, exposure, development, transfer, and fixing. The scanner 15 reads an original document loaded in the main image forming device 10 as image data.

[0038] Next, the hardware configuration of the sub-image forming device 20 of this embodiment will be described. As shown in Fig. 2, the sub-image forming device 20 includes a control unit 21, a communication interface (abbreviated as IF) 22, a user interface (abbreviated as UI) device 23 including a touch panel or liquid crystal display and a keyboard, a print engine 24, and a scanner 25. These components are connected to each other via a control bus 26.

[0039] The hardware configuration of the sub-image forming apparatus 20 is the same as that of the main image forming apparatus 10, and therefore a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0040] In the above-described cloud printing system, for example, a failure may occur in the management server 30, which may cause an abnormality in communication between the main image forming apparatus 10 and the management server 30. When such an abnormality occurs, the main image forming apparatus 10 and the sub-image forming apparatus 20 cannot print a print job sent by a user. As a result, user convenience is impaired.

[0041] When a user is unable to execute a print job, he or she wants to know the cause of the problem.

[0042] The main image forming device 10 can detect that an abnormality has occurred in communication with the management server 30. Therefore, the user of the main image forming device 10 can be notified of the reason why printing is no longer possible.

[0043] However, the sub-image forming device 20 cannot detect that an abnormality has occurred in the communication between the main image forming device 10 and the management server 30. Therefore, the user of the sub-image forming device 20 cannot be notified of the reason why printing cannot be performed.

[0044] Therefore, in this embodiment, when an abnormality occurs in communication between the main image forming device 10 and the management server 30, the control unit 11 in the main image forming device 10 notifies the sub-image forming device 20 that an abnormality has occurred by sending a notification indicating that an abnormality has occurred to the sub-image forming device 20.

[0045] Here, a detailed description will be given of the process when printing from the sub-image forming apparatus 20 in the cloud print system of this embodiment.

[0046] First, a process under normal conditions of the cloud print system will be described. As shown in Fig. 3, a user logs in to a secondary image forming apparatus 20 capable of pull printing and instructs the printing of a print job that the user has sent.

[0047] Next, the sub-image forming apparatus 20 requests the main image forming apparatus 10 to transmit processing information for the print job.

[0048] Next, the main image forming apparatus 10 requests the management server 30 to transmit processing information for the print job.

[0049] Next, the management server 30 transmits to the main image forming apparatus 10 processing information for the print job for which transmission has been requested.

[0050] Next, the main image forming apparatus 10 transmits to the sub image forming apparatus 20 processing information for the print job for which transmission has been requested.

[0051] Finally, the sub-image forming apparatus 20 executes printing based on the received print job processing information.

[0052] Next, a process to be performed when an abnormality occurs in the cloud print system will be described. As shown in Fig. 4, a user logs in to a secondary image forming apparatus 20 capable of pull printing and instructs the printing of a print job that the user has sent.

[0053] Next, the sub-image forming apparatus 20 requests the main image forming apparatus 10 to transmit processing information for the print job.

[0054] Next, the main image forming apparatus 10 requests the management server 30 to transmit processing information for the print job.

[0055] Here, if an abnormality occurs in the communication between the main image forming device 10 and the management server 30, the main image forming device 10 cannot receive the processing information of the print job from the management server 30. As a result, the main image forming device 10 detects that an abnormality has occurred in the communication between the main image forming device 10 and the management server 30.

[0056] Next, the main image forming apparatus 10 notifies the sub image forming apparatus 20 that an abnormality has occurred in the communication between the main image forming apparatus 10 and the management server 30.

[0057] Finally, the sub-image forming apparatus 20 notifies the user that an abnormality has occurred in the communication between the main image forming apparatus 10 and the management server 30.

[0058] The notification of an abnormality occurring in the sub-image forming device 20 may be, for example, by displaying the details of the abnormality on a touch panel or a liquid crystal display provided on the sub-image forming device 20. The notification may also be made by voice. The notification may also be made by an indicator such as an LED (Light Emitting Diode). The notification is not limited to the above and may be made in any manner.

[0059] With this configuration, even if an abnormality occurs in the communication between the main image forming device 10 and the management server 30 and printing becomes impossible, it is possible to notify the sub-image forming device 20 of the reason why printing cannot be performed.

[0060] In this embodiment, when an abnormality occurs, the control unit 11 may refer to user information regarding the user logged in to the sub-image forming device 20 and decide whether or not to send a notification to the sub-image forming device 20.

[0061] In this case, when an abnormality occurs, the control unit 11 may be configured to send a notification to the sub-image forming device 20 only if a user who has previously requested processing from the management server 30 is logged in to the sub-image forming device 20.

[0062] Furthermore, the control unit 11 may be configured to transmit a notification only to a specific sub-image forming apparatus 20 among the multiple sub-image forming apparatuses 20 connected to the main image forming apparatus 10.

[0063] Furthermore, the control unit 11 may be configured to transmit a notification only to the sub-image forming apparatuses 20 in a specific group among the multiple sub-image forming apparatuses 20 connected to the main image forming apparatus 10.

[0064] In this case, the control unit 11 may acquire group information and send a notification only to the sub-image forming devices 20 of the acquired group among the multiple sub-image forming devices 20 connected to the main image forming device 10.

[0065] The group information may be acquired, for example, from the management server 30. Alternatively, the information may be arbitrarily set by the user in the main image forming apparatus 10. Furthermore, the acquisition is not limited to the above, and any other method may be used.

[0066] Next, the flow of processing when an abnormality occurrence notification is sent in the main image forming apparatus 10 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

[0067] First, in step S11, the control unit 11 of the main image forming apparatus 10 requests the management server 30 to transmit processing information for the print job.

[0068] Next, in step S12, the control unit 11 determines whether or not communication with the management server 30 has failed.

[0069] If it is determined in step S12 that communication with the management server 30 has failed, the control unit 11 notifies the sub-image forming device 20 in step S13 that an abnormality has occurred in the communication between the main image forming device 10 and the management server 30, and terminates the processing related to the abnormality notification.

[0070] If it is determined in step S12 that communication with the management server 30 has not failed, the control unit 11 ends the process related to the abnormality occurrence notification.

[0071] Next, the flow of processing related to notification of the occurrence of an abnormality in the sub-image forming apparatus 20 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

[0072] First, in step S21, the control unit 21 of the sub image forming apparatus 20 determines whether or not an abnormality occurrence notification has been received from the main image forming apparatus 10.

[0073] If it is determined in step S21 that an abnormality notification has been received, the control unit 21 notifies the user in step S22 that an abnormality has occurred in the communication between the main image forming device 10 and the management server 30, and terminates the processing related to the abnormality notification.

[0074] If it is determined in step S21 that the abnormality occurrence notification has not been received, the control unit 21 ends the processing related to the abnormality occurrence notification.

[0075] [Variations] Although a cloud print system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure has been described above, the technology of the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiment and can be modified as appropriate.

[0076] In each of the above embodiments, the term "processor" refers to a processor in a broad sense, and includes general-purpose processors (e.g., CPU: Central Processing Unit, etc.) and dedicated processors (e.g., GPU: Graphics Processing Unit, ASIC: Application Specific Integrated Circuit, FPGA: Field Programmable Gate Array, programmable logic device, etc.).

[0077] Furthermore, the operations of the processors in the above embodiments may not only be performed by a single processor, but may also be performed by multiple processors located at physically separate locations working together. Furthermore, the order of the operations of the processors is not limited to the order described in the above embodiments, and may be changed as appropriate.

[0078] [Note] The following additional notes are provided regarding the above-described embodiment.

[0079] (((1))) a processor; The processor: receiving and storing processing information of a print process requested by a user from an external server; Sending processing information to the printing device in response to an instruction from the printing device; When an abnormality occurs in communication between the system and the server, a notification indicating the occurrence of the abnormality is sent to the printing device, thereby notifying the printing device that the abnormality has occurred. Information processing system.

[0080] (((2))) The processor: When the abnormality occurs, the user information relating to the user who is logged in to the printing device is referenced to determine whether or not to send the notification to the printing device. The information processing system according to (((1))).

[0081] (((3))) The processor: When the abnormality occurs, the notification is sent to the printing device only if a user who has previously requested processing from the server is logged in to the printing device. The information processing system according to (((2))).

[0082] (((4))) The processor: The notification is sent only to a specific printing device among the multiple printing devices connected to the system. 1. An information processing system according to any one of ((1))) to (((3))).

[0083] (((5))) The processor: The notification is sent only to the printing devices in a specific group among the multiple printing devices connected to the system. 1. An information processing system according to any one of ((1))) to (((3))).

[0084] (((6))) The processor: Get group information, The notification is sent only to the printing devices in the acquired group among the multiple printing devices connected to the system. The information processing system according to (((5))).

[0085] (((7))) receiving and storing processing information of a print process requested by a user from an external server; transmitting processing information to the printing device in response to an instruction from the printing device; a step of notifying the printing device that an abnormality has occurred by sending a notification indicating that the abnormality has occurred to the printing device when an abnormality has occurred in communication between the system itself and the server; A program that causes a computer to execute the following.

[0086] The effects of the configuration described above will be described below.

[0087] According to the information processing system (((1))), in an information processing system that receives processing information for a printing process requested by a user from a server, stores the information, and transmits the processing information to the printing device in response to an instruction from the printing device, the user operating the printing device can be made aware that an abnormality has occurred in communication with the server.

[0088] According to the information processing system (((2))), it is possible to make only specific users aware that an abnormality has occurred in communication with the server.

[0089] According to the information processing system (((3))), only users who have used the server can be made aware that an abnormality has occurred in communication with the server.

[0090] According to the information processing system (((4))), it is possible to send a notification only to a specific printing device.

[0091] According to the information processing system (((5))), notifications can be sent only to printing devices in a specific group.

[0092] According to the information processing system (((6))), it is possible to send notifications only to printing devices in the acquired group.

[0093] According to the program (((7))), in an information processing system that receives and stores processing information for a printing process requested by a user from a server and transmits the processing information to the printing device in response to an instruction from the printing device, the user operating the printing device can be made aware that an abnormality has occurred in communication with the server. [Explanation of symbols]

[0094] 10 Main image forming device 11 Control section 11a processor 11b memory 11c storage section 12 Communication Interface 13 User Interface Device 14 Print Engine 15. Scanner 16 Control Bus 20 Sub image forming device 21 Control section 21a processor 21b memory 21c storage section 22 Communication Interface 23 User Interface Device 24 Print Engine 25 Scanner 26 Control Bus 30 Management Server 40 Internet 45 Local Network

Claims

1. a processor; The processor: receiving and storing processing information of a print process requested by a user from an external server; Sending processing information to the printing device in response to an instruction from the printing device; When an abnormality occurs in communication between the system and the server, a notification indicating the occurrence of the abnormality is sent to the printing device, thereby notifying the printing device that the abnormality has occurred. Information processing system.

2. The processor: When the abnormality occurs, the user information relating to the user who is logged in to the printing device is referenced to determine whether or not to send the notification to the printing device. The information processing system according to claim 1 .

3. The processor: When the abnormality occurs, the notification is sent to the printing device only if a user who has previously requested processing from the server is logged in to the printing device. The information processing system according to claim 2 .

4. The processor: The notification is sent only to a specific printing device among the multiple printing devices connected to the system. The information processing system according to claim 1 .

5. The processor: The notification is sent only to the printing devices in a specific group among the multiple printing devices connected to the system. The information processing system according to claim 1 .

6. The processor: Get group information, The notification is sent only to the printing devices in the acquired group among the multiple printing devices connected to the system. The information processing system according to claim 5 .

7. receiving and storing processing information of a print process requested by a user from an external server; transmitting processing information to the printing device in response to an instruction from the printing device; a step of notifying the printing device that an abnormality has occurred by sending a notification indicating that the abnormality has occurred to the printing device when an abnormality has occurred in communication between the system itself and the server; A program that causes a computer to execute the following.

Images