Printing system and processing method of printing system

Abstract

To enable a plurality of users belonging to different customers to use one image forming apparatus via a print server.SOLUTION: The print server includes a first reception unit configured to receive first user information of login from the terminal, a first acquisition unit configured to acquire first customer identification information corresponding to the first user information, a second reception unit configured to receive a registration code of the image forming apparatus input by the terminal, and a second acquisition unit configured to acquire identification information of the image forming apparatus corresponding to the registration code. The information processing apparatus includes a registration unit configured to, in a case where second customer identification information different from the first customer identification information is registered, register the first customer identification information and the second customer identification information in the identification information of the image forming apparatus, and a first transmission unit configured to, based on a print instruction from the terminal, transmit a print job to the image forming apparatus corresponding to the identification information of the image forming apparatus in which the first customer identification information is registered.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a printing system and a processing method for the printing system. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, the Internet of Things (IoT), which connects many devices to the Internet and controls various devices, sends their operational data to the cloud, and uses it on the cloud, has begun to spread widely. In office environments, many devices such as multifunction printers, projectors, and network cameras are operating and sending data to cloud services.

[0003] Furthermore, by keeping IoT devices connected to cloud services at all times, it is possible for the cloud service to send instructions to IoT devices in real time, such as upgrading the devices or carrying out maintenance operations, and have the devices carry out these instructions.

[0004] Furthermore, changes in working styles are increasing the need for telecommuting, and there are increasing cases of people using printers or user-oriented cloud services, such as cloud printing services, scanning services, and consumable delivery services, for business purposes using their home printers.

[0005] When using a printer for work while working from home, there are cases where a personal printer that was originally owned by the employee is registered and connected to a cloud service such as a cloud print service.

[0006] In addition, when using a personal printer, there may be multiple users. For example, a couple may use a printer purchased by both spouses. In this case, there is a use case where multiple users work for different companies and want to use the cloud print services used by their respective companies on the shared printer.

[0007] Patent Document 1 discloses a method for specifying in advance which companies are permitted to print from a printer that has started using a cloud print service at a specific company, so that users of other companies can also use the printer. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-135069 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] However, in Patent Document 1, a user who has registered a printer with the cloud print service must set the company of the new user, which is inconvenient for the user.

[0010] An object of the present disclosure is to enable a plurality of users belonging to different customers to use one image forming apparatus via a print server. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] The printing system has a print server and an image forming device, and the print server has a first receiving means for receiving first user information for login from a terminal, a first acquiring means for acquiring first customer identification information corresponding to the first user information, a second receiving means for receiving a registration code of the image forming device input at the terminal, a second acquiring means for acquiring identification information of the image forming device corresponding to the registration code, a first registering means for registering the first customer identification information to the identification information of the image forming device if customer identification information is not registered to the identification information of the image forming device, a second registering means for registering the first customer identification information and the second customer identification information to the identification information of the image forming device if second customer identification information different from the first customer identification information is registered to the identification information of the image forming device, and a first sending means for sending a print job to the image forming device corresponding to the identification information of the image forming device in which the first customer identification information is registered, based on a print instruction from the terminal. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the present disclosure, a plurality of users belonging to different clients can use one image forming apparatus via a print server. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of the configuration of a printing system. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of the hardware configuration of a printing system. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of the functional configuration of a printing system. [Figure 4] 10 is a flowchart illustrating a process performed by a device communication processing unit. [Figure 5A] 10 is a flowchart illustrating a process performed by a device registration processing unit. [Figure 5B] 10 is a flowchart illustrating a process performed by a device registration processing unit. [Figure 6]10 is a flowchart showing processing of a print processing unit. [Figure 7A] 10 is a flowchart showing processing of a print processing unit. [Figure 7B] 10 is a flowchart showing processing of a print processing unit. [Figure 8] 10 is a flowchart illustrating a process performed by a device communication processing unit. [Figure 9] 10 is a flowchart illustrating a process performed by a device registration processing unit. [Figure 10] 10 is a flowchart showing processing of a print processing unit. [Figure 11] 10 is a flowchart showing processing of a print processing unit. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a registration code table. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user table. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a contract customer tenant table. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a sales company tenant table. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a registered device table. [Figure 17] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print job table. [Figure 18] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user notification table. [Figure 19] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a contract customer tenant setting table. [Figure 20] FIG. 10 illustrates an example of a device setting table. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0015] (First embodiment) 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a printing system 100 according to the first embodiment. The printing system 100 includes a printing server 101, a user terminal 102, an image forming apparatus 103, and a network 104. The printing server 101, the user terminal 102, and the image forming apparatus 103 are connected to each other via the network 104.

[0016] In this embodiment, the print server 101 has a function that allows device information to be registered from the user terminal 102. The print server 101 also has a function that allows registered device information to be moved to another tenant. An example of a tenant is a group unit that represents the same security domain, such as a user's company to which the image forming apparatus 103 belongs.

[0017] The print server 101 also has a function to receive event communication from the image forming apparatus 103 and associate it with registered device information. To this end, the print server 101 has a function to receive communication for registration from the image forming apparatus 103 and correctly associate it with the registration information.

[0018] 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of a printing system 100 according to this embodiment. The printing system 100 includes a print server 101, a user terminal 102, an image forming apparatus 103, and a network 104.

[0019] The print server 101 includes a CPU 201 , a ROM 202 , a RAM 203 , a hard disk (HDD) 204 , a system bus 205 , and a network I / F 206 .

[0020] In the print server 101, a CPU 201 performs overall control of access to various devices connected to a system bus 205 based on a control program stored in a ROM 202 or a hard disk (HDD) 204.

[0021] The ROM 202 stores control programs that can be executed by the CPU 201, etc.

[0022] The RAM 203 mainly functions as a main memory, work area, etc. for the CPU 201, and is configured so that the memory capacity can be expanded by an optional RAM connected to an expansion port (not shown).

[0023] The hard disk (HDD) 204 stores a boot program, various applications, font data, user files, edit files, etc. In this embodiment, the HDD 204 is used, but instead of the HDD 204, a memory card, flash memory, or the like may also be used as an external storage device.

[0024] The network I / F 206 performs data communication with the external network 104 via a network cable.

[0025] The user terminal 102 includes a CPU 221 , a ROM 222 , a RAM 223 , a hard disk (HDD) 224 , a system bus 225 , a network I / F 226 , and a panel operation I / F 227 .

[0026] In the user terminal 102 , a CPU 221 performs overall control of access to various devices connected to a system bus 225 based on a control program stored in a ROM 222 or a hard disk (HDD) 224 .

[0027] The ROM 222 stores control programs that can be executed by the CPU 221, etc.

[0028] The RAM 223 mainly functions as a main memory, work area, etc. for the CPU 221, and is configured so that the memory capacity can be expanded by an optional RAM connected to an expansion port (not shown).

[0029] The hard disk (HDD) 224 stores a boot program, various applications, font data, user files, edit files, etc. In this embodiment, the HDD 224 is used, but instead of the HDD 224, a memory card, flash memory, or the like may also be used as an external storage device.

[0030] The network I / F 226 performs data communication with the external network 104 via a network cable.

[0031] The panel operation I / F 227 controls the display of the operation panel 228 and controls the input of various setting information set on the operation panel 228 .

[0032] The image forming apparatus 103 includes a CPU 241 , a ROM 242 , a RAM 243 , a hard disk (HDD) 244 , a system bus 245 , a network I / F 246 , a panel operation I / F 247 , and a scanner I / F 249 .

[0033] In the image forming apparatus 103 , a CPU 241 performs overall control of access to various devices connected to a system bus 245 based on a control program stored in a ROM 242 or a hard disk (HDD) 244 .

[0034] The ROM 242 stores control programs that the CPU 241 can execute.

[0035] The RAM 243 mainly functions as a main memory, work area, etc. for the CPU 241, and is configured so that the memory capacity can be expanded by an optional RAM connected to an expansion port (not shown).

[0036] The hard disk (HDD) 244 stores a boot program, various applications, font data, user files, edit files, etc. In this embodiment, the HDD 244 is used, but instead of the HDD 244, a memory card, flash memory, or the like may also be used as an external storage device.

[0037] The network I / F 246 performs data communication with the external network 104 via a network cable.

[0038] The panel operation I / F 247 controls the display of the operation panel 248 and controls the input of various setting information set on the operation panel 248 .

[0039] The scanner I / F 249 controls image input from the scanner 250 .

[0040] The printer I / F 251 controls image output to the printer 252 .

[0041] 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of a printing system 100 according to this embodiment. The printing system 100 includes a print server 101, a user terminal 102, an image forming apparatus 103, and a network 104.

[0042] The print server 101 of this embodiment has a device registration processing unit 301 and a print processing unit 302. In addition, in the print server 101, each table (tables explained in Figs. 12 to 17; see below for details) is stored in the HDD 204. The device registration processing unit 301 and the print processing unit 302 operate while handling the data in these tables.

[0043] The user terminal 102 also has a web browser 303. The image forming apparatus 103 has a device communication processing unit 304. This embodiment includes a device registration step for registering the image forming apparatus 103 with the print server 101, and a print step for executing printing using the print server 101 after registration.

[0044] The CPU executes the program to realize the functional blocks shown in FIG.

[0045] The following describes in more detail the processing of each functional block of the print server 101 and the image forming apparatus 103 in the device registration step and the printing step. The processing method of the print system 100 will be described below.

[0046] 4 is a flowchart showing the processing of a device registration step in the device communication processing unit 304 of the image forming apparatus 103. This flowchart is implemented by a program stored in the HDD 244 being read into the RAM 243 and executed by the CPU 241. This flowchart starts when an operation is received on the operation panel 248 of the image forming apparatus 103.

[0047] In step S401, the device communication processing unit 304 receives an instruction to issue a registration code by pressing the registration code issue button on the operation panel 248.

[0048] In step S402, upon receiving the instruction, the device communications processing unit 304 transmits a registration code issuance request to the print server 101. The registration code issuance request includes a device serial number for identifying the image forming apparatus 103 and token information for authenticating that the image forming apparatus 103 is a legitimate image forming apparatus. The device serial number is an example of identification information for the image forming apparatus 103.

[0049] In step S403, the device communication processing unit 304 waits for a reply from the print server 101 and determines whether or not a successful issuance has been received from the print server 101. If a successful issuance has been received, the process proceeds to step S404. If an error has been received, the process proceeds to step S406.

[0050] In step S406, the device communication processing unit 304 controls the operation panel 248 to display a registration code issuance error, and the process of FIG. 4 ends.

[0051] In step S404, the device communication processing unit 304 receives a registration code from the print server 101. The registration code is generated by the print server 101, and is specifically a string of characters including random numbers or alphabets, which is difficult for others to guess.

[0052] In step S405, the device communication processing unit 304 controls the operation panel 248 to display the received registration code, and ends the processing in Fig. 4. After that, in step S405, the device communication processing unit 304 displays the registration code so that the registration code can be input from the user terminal 102 to the print server 101.

[0053] 5A and 5B are flowcharts showing the processing of a device registration step in the device registration processing unit 301 of the print server 101. This flowchart is implemented by reading a program stored in the HDD 204 into the RAM 203 and executing it by the CPU 201.

[0054] 5A is a flowchart of a process corresponding to communication from the image forming apparatus 103. FIG. 5B is a flowchart corresponding to operation of the Web browser 303 on the user terminal 102.

[0055] The flowchart in FIG. 5A starts upon receiving a registration code issuance request from the image forming apparatus 103 described with reference to FIG.

[0056] In step S5101, the device registration processing unit 301 receives a registration code issuance request from the image forming apparatus 103. The contents of the data in the registration code issuance request are as described in step S402 of FIG.

[0057] In step S5102, the device registration processing unit 301 extracts the token for authentication from the registration code issuance request, verifies the token, and determines whether the verification is successful. If the verification is successful, the process proceeds to step S5103. If the verification is unsuccessful, the process proceeds to step S5106.

[0058] In step S5106, the device registration processing unit 301 returns an error to the image forming apparatus 103, and the process in FIG. 5A ends.

[0059] In step S5103, the device registration processing unit 301 issues a registration code corresponding to the device serial number included in the registration code issuance request. Details of the registration code are as described in step S404 of Fig. 4. Then, the device registration processing unit 301 returns a notification of successful issuance to the image forming apparatus 103.

[0060] In step S5104, the device registration processing unit 301 associates the issued registration code with the device serial number included in the registration code issuance request, and stores them in the registration code table of FIG.

[0061] 12 is a diagram showing an example of the registration code table in step S5104. The registration code table includes items for a registration code and a device serial number. The registration code is information of the random character string issued in step S5103. The device serial number is information for uniquely identifying the image forming apparatus 103.

[0062] In step S5105, the device registration processing unit 301 functions as a control unit, returns the issued registration code to the image forming apparatus 103, controls the image forming apparatus 103 to display the registration code, and ends the processing in FIG. 5A.

[0063] The flowchart in FIG. 5B starts when the print server 101 receives a request from the web browser 303 of the user terminal 102.

[0064] In step S5201, the device registration processing unit 301 transmits login screen information to the web browser 303 of the user terminal 102, and controls the web browser 303 of the user terminal 102 to display the login screen.

[0065] In step S5202, the device registration processing unit 301 functions as a receiving unit and receives, from the web browser 303 of the user terminal 102, the login information entered in the web browser 303 of the user terminal 102.

[0066] In step S5203, the device registration processing unit 301 verifies the login information and determines whether the verification is successful. If the verification is successful, the process proceeds to step S5204. If the verification is unsuccessful, the process proceeds to step S5206.

[0067] In step S5206, the device registration processing unit 301 returns an error to the user terminal 102, and the processing in FIG. 5B ends.

[0068] In step S5204, the device registration processing unit 301 acquires the account name included in the login information. The account name is shown in the user table in Fig. 13. The account name is an example of user information.

[0069] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the user table in step S5204. The user table includes fields for account name, password hash value, email address, and contract customer tenant ID. The account name and password hash value are information equivalent to login information. The email address is the contact information used for inquiries such as password reset. The contract customer tenant ID is an identifier that identifies the contract customer tenant to which the user belongs. Contract customer tenants will be described later. It is assumed that each record in these user tables is registered in advance.

[0070] In step S5205, the device registration processing unit 301 functions as an acquisition unit and acquires a contract customer tenant ID corresponding to the acquired account name based on the user table shown in Fig. 13. The contract customer tenant ID is an example of customer identification information. This process is realized by identifying a record in the contract customer tenant table of Fig. 14 from the value of the contract customer tenant ID item in the user table shown in Fig. 13.

[0071] Fig. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a contract customer tenant table in step S5205, and Fig. 15 is a diagram showing an example of a sales company tenant table. The tenants appearing in Figs. 14 and 15 represent companies and businesses. A contract customer tenant is a company that uses the image forming device 103. A sales company is a company that sells the image forming device 103 and provides maintenance and repairs.

[0072] In this embodiment, a contract customer tenant is structured to be associated with one sales company tenant. Specifically, this indicates a relationship in which a sales company is contracted by a customer company that uses the image forming apparatus 103. In addition, the user in the user table shown in FIG. 13 is structured to belong to a contract customer tenant.

[0073] The contract customer tenant table shown in FIG. 14 includes items for a contract customer tenant ID, a contract customer name, a telephone number, and a sales company tenant ID. The contract customer tenant ID is an identifier that uniquely identifies a contract customer tenant, and is a value issued by the print server 101. The contract customer name indicates the name of the company that uses the image forming device 103. The telephone number is contact information for the company. The sales company tenant ID is information that indicates the sales company tenant associated with the contract customer tenant.

[0074] 15 includes items for a sales company tenant ID, a sales company name, and a telephone number. The sales company tenant ID is an identifier that uniquely identifies a sales company tenant, and is a value issued by the print server 101. The sales company name is the name of the sales company. The telephone number is contact information for the sales company.

[0075] It is assumed that each record in the contract customer tenant table of FIG. 14 and the sales company tenant table of FIG. 15 has been registered in advance.

[0076] Next, in step S5207, the device registration processing unit 301 transmits registration code input screen information to the Web browser 303 of the user terminal 102, and controls the Web browser 303 of the user terminal 102 to display the registration code input screen.

[0077] In step S5208, the device registration processing unit 301 receives the registration code entered into the web browser 303 of the user terminal 102 from the web browser 303 of the user terminal 102. Here, the registration code is the registration code of the image forming device 103 displayed in step S405 of FIG.

[0078] In step S5209, the device registration processing unit 301 acquires the device serial number corresponding to the registration code input in step S5208 from the registration code table shown in Fig. 12. The device serial number is an example of identification information of the image forming apparatus 103.

[0079] In step S5210, the device registration processing unit 301 determines whether a record for the input registration code was found as a result of the search in step S5209. If a record was found, the process proceeds to step S5211. If a record was not found, the process proceeds to step S5216.

[0080] In step S5211, the device registration processing unit 301 transmits a device registration request to the print processing unit 302 of the print server 101. Specifically, the device registration request includes the device serial number acquired in step S5209, the contract customer tenant ID acquired in step S5205, and the account name acquired in step S5204.

[0081] In step S5212 , the device registration processing unit 301 receives the device registration result from the print processing unit 302 .

[0082] In step S5213, the device registration processing unit 301 determines whether the device registration result is successful. If the device registration result is successful, the process proceeds to step S5214. If the device registration result is unsuccessful, the process proceeds to step S5216.

[0083] In step S5216, the device registration processing unit 301 transmits registration error screen information to the Web browser 303 of the user terminal 102, causes the Web browser 303 of the user terminal 102 to display the registration error screen, and ends the processing of FIG. 5B.

[0084] In step S5214, the device registration processing unit 301 deletes the record of the registration code table searched in step S5210 from the registration code table of FIG.

[0085] In step S5215, the device registration processing unit 301 transmits device registration success screen information to the Web browser 303 of the user terminal 102, causes the Web browser 303 of the user terminal 102 to display the device registration success screen, and ends the processing of FIG. 5B.

[0086] 6 is a flowchart showing the processing of a device registration step in the print processing unit 302 of the print server 101. This flowchart is implemented by reading a program stored in the HDD 204 into the RAM 203 and executing it by the CPU 201.

[0087] The flowchart in FIG. 6 starts when a device registration request is received from the processing of the device registration processing unit 301 described in FIG. 5B.

[0088] In step S601, the print processing unit 302 receives a device registration request from the device registration processing unit 301. The device registration request is as described in step S5211 of FIG. 5B.

[0089] In step S602, the print processing unit 302 searches the registered device table of FIG. 16 for a record of the device serial number included in the device registration request.

[0090] FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of the registered device table in step S602. The registered device table includes items for a device serial number, a contract customer tenant ID list, and a registered user list. The device serial number is information that uniquely identifies the image forming device 103. The contract customer tenant ID list is information that indicates which contract customer tenant the image forming device 103 with the corresponding device serial number can be used by, and stores the contract customer tenant IDs that indicate the records in the contract customer tenant table of FIG. 14 in list form. The registered user list is the user who registered the corresponding record or added the contract customer tenant ID list.

[0091] Next, in step S603, the print processing unit 302 determines whether the device serial number is present in the registered device table of Fig. 16 as a result of the search in step S602. If the device serial number is not present, the process proceeds to step S604. If the device serial number is present, the process proceeds to step S606.

[0092] That is, if a contract customer tenant ID is not registered for the device serial number included in the device registration request in the registered device table of Fig. 16, the processing proceeds to step S604. If a contract customer tenant ID different from the contract customer tenant ID included in the device registration request is registered for the device serial number included in the device registration request in the registered device table of Fig. 16, the processing proceeds to step S606.

[0093] In step S604, the print processing unit 302 associates the device serial number, contract customer tenant ID, and user included in the device registration request received in step S601, and stores the association in the registered device table of Fig. 16. That is, the print processing unit 302 functions as a registration unit, and registers the contract customer tenant ID included in the device registration request for the device serial number included in the device registration request in the registered device table of Fig. 16.

[0094] At this time, the contract customer tenant ID list and registered user list of the newly registered record in the registered device table will be in a state where only one element is saved. After that, the process proceeds to step S605.

[0095] In step S606, the print processing unit 302 determines whether the contract customer tenant ID included in the device registration request received in step S601 is included in the contract customer tenant ID list of the searched record in Fig. 16. If the contract customer tenant ID is not included, the process proceeds to step S607. If the contract customer tenant ID is included, the process proceeds to step S608.

[0096] In step S608, the print processing unit 302 returns a device registration failure result to the device registration processing unit 301, and the process of FIG. 6 ends.

[0097] In step S607, the print processing unit 302 adds the contract customer tenant ID included in the device registration request received in step S601 to the contract customer tenant ID list item of the record in the registered device table of Fig. 16 that was searched for in step S602. That is, the print processing unit 302 registers the contract customer tenant ID that has already been registered and the contract customer tenant ID included in the device registration request for the device serial number included in the device registration request.

[0098] In addition, the print processing unit 302 adds the account name included in the device registration request received in step S601 to the registered user list item of the searched record in the registered device table of Fig. 16. At this time, the contract customer tenant ID list and registered user list of the updated record in the registered device table now contain two or more elements. After processing in step S607, the process proceeds to step S605.

[0099] In step S605, the print processing unit 302 returns a successful device registration result to the device registration processing unit 301, and the process in FIG. 6 ends.

[0100] According to the flowchart of FIG. 6, when multiple users belonging to different contract customer tenants perform device registration operations on one image forming device 103, the device can be registered so that it can be used by multiple contract customer tenants.

[0101] 7A and 7B are flowcharts showing the processing of print steps in the print processing unit 302 of the print server 101. This flowchart is implemented by reading a program stored in the HDD 204 into the RAM 203 and executing it by the CPU 201.

[0102] 7A is a flowchart corresponding to the operation of the Web browser 303 on the user terminal 102. FIG.

[0103] The flowchart in FIG. 7A starts when the print server 101 receives a request from the web browser 303 of the user terminal 102.

[0104] First, the print processing unit 302 performs the processes of steps S7101 to S7106. The processes of steps S7101 to S7106 are the same as the processes described in steps S5201 to S5206 in Fig. 5B, and therefore their description will be omitted. After the process of step S7105, the process proceeds to step S7107.

[0105] In step S7107, the print processing unit 302 searches the registered device table of Fig. 16 for the contract customer tenant identified in step S7105 and obtains a list of device serial numbers corresponding to the identified contract customer tenant. The print processing unit 302 determines that there is a match if the identified contract customer tenant is included in the contract customer tenant ID list of the registered device table of Fig. 16, and obtains multiple records as search results. The print processing unit 302 then obtains a list of the device serial numbers of the multiple records.

[0106] In step S7108, the print processing unit 302 transmits device list screen information to the Web browser 303 of the user terminal 102 according to the acquired list of device serial numbers, and controls the Web browser 303 of the user terminal 102 to display the device list screen.

[0107] In step S7109, the print processing unit 302 receives the device list selected and input via the web browser 303 of the user terminal 102 from the web browser 303 of the user terminal 102. At this time, the received device list specifically includes device serial numbers. This allows the print processing unit 302 to identify the image forming apparatus 103 that will perform printing based on the device serial numbers.

[0108] In step S7110, the print processing unit 302 transmits print instruction screen information to the web browser 303 of the user terminal 102 and controls the web browser 303 of the user terminal 102 to display the print instruction screen. Specifically, the print instruction screen allows the user to upload a file to be printed and select whether or not to issue a print code. There are two types of printing methods available on the image forming apparatus 103: normal printing, in which printing starts automatically when a print instruction is issued, and reservation printing, in which printing does not start when a print instruction is issued alone, but is carried out only after a print code is entered in the image forming apparatus 103. Reserve printing is a function used to prevent unauthorized viewing of printed materials between the time they are printed and the time the user goes to pick them up.

[0109] In steps S7111 and S7112, the print processing unit 302 receives a print instruction including a print file from the web browser 303 of the user terminal 102. The print instruction is, specifically, information entered into the print instruction screen displayed in step S7110, and includes an instruction to upload the print file and information on whether a print code should be issued. The print processing unit 302 saves the received print file in the HDD 204.

[0110] In step S7113, the print processing unit 302 references the print code issuance information in the print instruction to determine whether or not issuance of a print code is requested. If the print instruction includes information indicating whether or not a print code should be issued and therefore a print code is being requested, processing proceeds to step S7114. If the print instruction includes information indicating whether or not a print code should be issued and therefore a print code is not being requested, processing proceeds to step S7115.

[0111] In step S7114, the print processing unit 302 issues a print code, which is a random character string made up of numbers.

[0112] In step S7115, the print processing unit 302 registers the print job corresponding to the above print instruction in the print job table of FIG.

[0113] FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of the print job table in step S7115. The print job table includes items for print job ID, device serial number, print file path, and print code. The print job ID is an ID issued by the system so as to be unique within the print job table in FIG. 17. The device serial number is the device serial number of the image forming device 103 identified in step S7109. The print file path is the path used when the print file received in step S7111 is saved. The print code is the print code issued in step S7114 and may be blank.

[0114] Next, in step S7116, the print processing unit 302 sends the registered print job information screen to the Web browser 303 of the user terminal 102, causes the print job information screen to be displayed on the Web browser 303 of the user terminal 102, and ends the processing in Fig. 7A. Specifically, the print job information screen includes the device serial number and, if issued, a print code.

[0115] The flowchart in FIG. 7B starts upon receiving a print job inquiry request from the image forming apparatus 103, which will be described later.

[0116] In step S7201, the print processing unit 302 receives a print job inquiry request from the image forming apparatus 103. The print job inquiry request includes a device serial number for identifying the image forming apparatus 103 and token information for authenticating that the image forming apparatus is a legitimate image forming apparatus.

[0117] In step S7202, the print processing unit 302 extracts the authentication token from the print job inquiry request, verifies the token, and determines whether the verification was successful. If the verification was successful, the process proceeds to step S7203. If the verification was unsuccessful, the process proceeds to step S7206.

[0118] In step S7206, the print processing unit 302 returns an error to the image forming apparatus 103, and the process of FIG. 7B ends.

[0119] In step S7203, the print processing unit 302 searches the print job table in Fig. 17 for the device serial number included in the print job inquiry request. The number of records in the print job table searched for by the device serial number can be zero, one, or multiple. The print processing unit 302 returns information to the image forming apparatus 103 about whether or not there is a print job searched for by the device serial number.

[0120] In step S7204, the print processing unit 302 functions as a transmission unit and transmits a print job (including print files and print job information) corresponding to the device serial number searched for in step S7203 to the image forming apparatus 103 based on the print job table in FIG. 17. This image forming apparatus 103 is the image forming apparatus 103 corresponding to the device serial number searched for in step S7203. If multiple items are found in step S7202, the print processing unit 302 transmits print files and print job information for multiple items, and if no items are found, it transmits null information. Furthermore, the print job information specifically includes print code information.

[0121] In step S7205, the print processing unit 302 deletes the record of the print job corresponding to the device serial number found in step S7202 from the print job table in FIG. 17, and ends the processing in FIG. 7B.

[0122] 8 is a flowchart showing the processing of the printing step in the device communication processing unit 304 of the image forming apparatus 103. This flowchart is implemented by reading a program stored in the HDD 244 into the RAM 243 and executing it by the CPU 241.

[0123] This flowchart starts with the image forming apparatus 103 periodically polling to inquire about print jobs.

[0124] In step S801, the device communication processing unit 304 transmits a print job inquiry request to the print server 101. The print job inquiry request is as described in step S7201 of FIG. 7B.

[0125] In step S802, the device communication processing unit 304 determines whether or not a reply indicating that a print job was received has been received from the print server 101. If a reply indicating that a print job was received has been received, the process proceeds to step S803. If a reply indicating that no print job was received or an error reply has been received, the process in FIG. 8 ends.

[0126] In step S803, the device communication processing unit 304 receives the print file and print job information from the print server 101. This is the information sent by the print server 101 in step S7204 in FIG. 7B.

[0127] The subsequent process is repeated until all received print jobs have been processed.

[0128] In step S804, the device communications processing unit 304 performs printing processing of the print file and print job information of one of the received print jobs. At this time, if a print code is set in the print job information, the device communications processing unit 304 controls the printing processing to wait until the correct print code is input from the operations panel 248 of the image forming apparatus 103. If a print code is set in the print job information, the device communications processing unit 304 immediately performs printing processing.

[0129] In step S805, the device communication processing unit 304 determines whether any unprocessed print jobs remain among the received print jobs. If unprocessed print jobs remain, the process returns to step S804. If no unprocessed print jobs remain, the process in FIG. 8 ends.

[0130] In the flowchart, the processing of multiple print jobs in steps S804 and S805 is described as an example in which the jobs are processed one by one, but the jobs may be processed in parallel.

[0131] As described above, in this embodiment, even if the device registration process is executed multiple times for one image forming apparatus 103, the registration can be performed normally by the process of step S607 in Fig. 6. This allows users of different contract customer tenants to use one image forming apparatus 103.

[0132] (Second embodiment) The configuration of the printing system 100 of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0133] The processing of the device registration step in the device communication processing unit 304 of the image forming apparatus 103 in the second embodiment is the same as that in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 4, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0134] Of the processing steps for device registration in the device registration processing unit 301 of the print server 101 in the second embodiment, the processing for supporting the image forming device 103 is the same as that in FIG. 5A in the first embodiment, and therefore description thereof will be omitted.

[0135] 9 is a flowchart showing the device registration step processing in the device registration processing unit 301 of the print server 101, which corresponds to the operation of the web browser 303 on the user terminal 102. This flowchart is realized by reading a program stored in the HDD 204 into the RAM 203 and executing it by the CPU 201.

[0136] The device registration processing unit 301 performs the processes of steps S901 to S906. The processes of steps S901 to S906 are the same as the processes described in steps S5201 to S5206 in Fig. 5B, and therefore description thereof will be omitted. After the process of step S905, the process proceeds to step S907.

[0137] In step S907, the device registration processing unit 301 acquires user notification information from the user notification table of Fig. 18, transmits user notification screen information for displaying the user notification information to the web browser 303 of the user terminal 102, and performs control so that the user notification screen is displayed on the web browser 303 of the user terminal 102. The process of acquiring the user notification information is achieved by searching the user notification table of Fig. 18 for the user identified in step S904.

[0138] 18 is a diagram showing an example of the user notification table in step S907. The user notification table includes items for account name and user notification information. The account name is character string information that identifies a user, which is also included in the user table in FIG. 13. The user notification information is information that is notified when a user logs in. In this embodiment, the user notification information is mainly used to notify the user that a setting change has been made to the image forming apparatus 103.

[0139] Next, in step S908, the device registration processing unit 301 deletes the user notification information displayed in step S907 from the user notification table of FIG. 18, and the process proceeds to step S909.

[0140] The device registration processing unit 301 performs the processes of steps S909 to S918. The processes of steps S909 to S918 are the same as the processes described in steps S5207 to S5216 in Fig. 5B, and therefore description thereof will be omitted.

[0141] 10 is a flowchart showing the processing of a device registration step in the print processing unit 302 of the print server 101. This flowchart is implemented when a program stored in the HDD 204 is read into the RAM 203 and executed by the CPU 201.

[0142] The flowchart in FIG. 10 starts when a device registration request is received from the processing of the device registration processing unit 301 described with reference to FIG.

[0143] First, the print processing unit 302 performs the processes of steps S1001 to S1004. The processes of steps S1001 to S1004 are the same as the processes described in steps S601 to S604 in Fig. 6, and therefore description thereof will be omitted. After the process of step S1004, the process proceeds to step S1005.

[0144] In step S1005, the print processing unit 302 acquires the contract customer tenant settings to be set in the image forming apparatus 103 from the contract customer tenant setting table in Fig. 19, and registers the contract customer tenant settings in the device setting table in Fig. 20. The contract customer tenant settings include, for example, a setting prohibiting printing other than reserved printing and a setting prohibiting HTTP publication.

[0145] 19 is a diagram showing an example of a contract customer tenant setting table in step S1005. In this embodiment, the contract customer tenant setting table includes items for a contract customer tenant ID, a setting prohibiting printing other than reserved printing, and a setting prohibiting HTTP publication. The contract customer tenant ID is identifier information that uniquely identifies a contract customer tenant.

[0146] The prohibition setting for printing other than reserved printing is a setting for prohibiting normal printing other than reserved printing on the registered image forming apparatus 103. This setting is set in advance by the contracted customer company with the intention of preventing information leakage.

[0147] The HTTP publication prohibition setting prohibits publication via HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) and disables plaintext communication for the web server function of the image forming apparatus 103. This setting is set in advance by the contracted customer company with the intention of reducing the risk of attacks on the image forming apparatus 103 by third parties.

[0148] In this embodiment, two setting items are illustrated for the contract customer tenant, but other settings may also be included. These settings act as default values ​​that are initially set in the image forming apparatus 103 when the device is registered.

[0149] 20 is a diagram showing an example of the device settings table in step S1005. In this embodiment, the device settings table includes items for the device serial number, the contract customer tenant ID, the prohibition setting for printing other than reserved printing, and the prohibition setting for HTTP publication. The device serial number is information for uniquely identifying the image forming apparatus 103. The contract customer tenant ID is information for uniquely identifying the contract customer tenant. The prohibition setting for printing other than reserved printing and the prohibition setting for HTTP publication are settings that have the same meanings as the items in the contract customer tenant settings table of FIG. 19.

[0150] 20, this means the settings for the image forming device 103. In the device setting table, one record is created for each combination of a device serial number and a contract customer tenant ID, so it is possible to express that two or more contract customer tenants are configured for one image forming device 103.

[0151] Furthermore, some of the settings registered in the device setting table will be controlled as described below, but some, such as the HTTP publication prohibition setting, are notified to the image forming apparatus 103 and controlled by the image forming apparatus 103. The means for notifying the image forming apparatus 103 includes polling by the image forming apparatus 103.

[0152] In step S1005, the print processing unit 302 identifies the contract customer tenant setting from the contract customer tenant setting table in Fig. 19 using the contract customer tenant ID of the device registration request received in step S1001. Then, the print processing unit 302 saves the setting value of the identified contract customer tenant setting for the pair of the device serial number and contract customer tenant ID of the device registration request in the device setting table in Fig. 20. After step S1005, the process proceeds to step S1006.

[0153] In step S1006, the print processing unit 302 transmits device setting screen information for the set contract customer tenant setting to the Web browser 303 of the user terminal 102, and controls the device setting screen to be displayed on the Web browser 303 of the user terminal 102. Then, the process proceeds to step S1007.

[0154] The processing in steps S1007 to S1010 is the same as the processing explained in steps S605 to S608 in Fig. 6, and therefore the explanation will be omitted. After the processing in step S1009, the process proceeds to step S1011.

[0155] In step S1011, the print processing unit 302 searches the contract customer tenant setting table of Figure 19 using the contract customer tenant ID list in the updated registered device table of Figure 16, and registers and updates the device setting table of Figure 20 with the settings derived from the searched settings.

[0156] For example, for settings that are recommended when the image forming device 103 is used by multiple contract customers, such as the setting to prohibit reserved printing, even if all of the settings for the searched contract customer tenants are OFF, the derived setting is ON.

[0157] For example, in the case of FIG. 20 , in step S1009, the print processing unit 302 registers the contract customer tenant IDs of "C0001" and "C0002" for the device serial number of "DSNA00001." In step S1011, the print processing unit 302 enables the print information leakage prevention setting for the pair of the device serial number of "DSNA00001" and the contract customer tenant ID of "C0001." The print processing unit 302 also enables the print information leakage prevention setting for the pair of the device serial number of "DSNA00001" and the contract customer tenant ID of "C0002." Here, the print information leakage prevention setting is, for example, a setting prohibiting printing other than reservation printing or a setting prohibiting HTTP publication. The setting prohibiting printing other than reservation printing is an example of a reservation printing setting. ON indicates enabled, and OFF indicates disabled.

[0158] Furthermore, since there are multiple contract customer tenant settings that have been searched, for example, the HTTP publication prohibition setting may be different, such as OFF and ON, but ON, which is a stricter setting, may be the derived setting.

[0159] 19, the first print security setting for the contract customer tenant IC of "C0001" is OFF for the setting prohibiting printing other than reservation printing and OFF for the setting prohibiting HTTP publication. The second print security setting for the contract customer tenant IC of "C0002" is ON for the setting prohibiting printing other than reservation printing and ON for the setting prohibiting HTTP publication.

[0160] The ON setting for prohibiting printing other than reserved printing and the ON setting for prohibiting HTTP publishing are settings with higher security than the OFF setting for prohibiting printing other than reserved printing and the OFF setting for prohibiting HTTP publishing, respectively.

[0161] Therefore, as shown in FIG. 20, in step S1001, the print processing unit 302 registers the print security setting with the higher security between the first print security setting and the second print security setting for the pair of the device serial number "DSNA00001" and the contract customer tenant ID "C0001."

[0162] Similarly, the print processing unit 302 registers the print security setting with the higher security between the first print security setting and the second print security setting for the combination of the device serial number "DSNA00001" and the contract customer tenant ID "C0002".

[0163] Also, in the device setting table of Fig. 20, a new record will be registered, but an existing record will also be updated. The record of the combination of the device serial number and contract customer tenant ID of the device registration request received in step S1001 will be treated as a new registration. For the combination of the contract customer tenant ID and device serial number of the device registration request that was stored in the contract customer tenant ID list in the registered device table of Fig. 16 before the update in step S1009, a record exists in the registered device table of Fig. 16. Therefore, the process will overwrite and update the setting value of that record with the derived setting value.

[0164] 20 may include settings that can be changed by the user and settings that cannot be changed by the user. For example, the setting prohibiting printing other than reserved printing may be changed later, while the setting prohibiting HTTP publication may be controlled so that it cannot be changed later. Such an example is a control method in which, when two or more contract customer tenants are set for one image forming device 103, the settings are prohibited if they affect each other's settings.

[0165] After step S1011, the process proceeds to step S1012. In step S1012, the print processing unit 302 registers a record in the user notification table of FIG. 18 corresponding to the device settings table of FIG. 20 that was changed by overwriting and updating in step S1011. First, the print processing unit 302 obtains the contract customer tenant ID from the changed record in the device settings table of FIG. 20, and identifies the user associated with that contract customer tenant ID from the registered user list in the registered device table of FIG. 16 and the user table of FIG. 13. In addition, the print processing unit 302 identifies the setting values ​​changed in step S1011. From these two pieces of information, the print processing unit 302 can store the user and user notification information corresponding to the changed settings in the user notification table of FIG. 18. After step S1012, the process proceeds to step S1006.

[0166] In step S1006, the print processing unit 302 transmits device setting screen information for the settings in the device setting table of Fig. 20 set in step S1005 or S1011 to the Web browser 303 of the user terminal 102, and controls the device setting screen to be displayed on the Web browser 303 of the user terminal 102. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S1007.

[0167] 11 is a flowchart showing the process of printing steps in the print processing unit 302 of the print server 101, which corresponds to the operation of the web browser 303 on the user terminal 102. This flowchart is realized by reading a program stored in the HDD 204 into the RAM 203 and executing it by the CPU 201.

[0168] First, the print processing unit 302 performs the processes of steps S1101 to S1108. The processes of steps S1101 to S1108 are the same as the processes described in steps S901 to S908 of Fig. 9, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0169] Next, the print processing unit 302 performs the processes of steps S1109 to S1111. The processes of steps S1109 to S1111 are the same as the processes described in steps S7107 to S7109 in Fig. 7A, and therefore description thereof will be omitted. After step S1111, the process proceeds to step S1112.

[0170] In step S1112, the print processing unit 302 searches the device settings table in Fig. 20 using the contract customer tenant ID identified in step S1105 and the device serial number selected in step S1111. Then, the print processing unit 302 obtains whether the setting prohibiting printing other than reserved printing is ON.

[0171] In step S1113, the print processing unit 302 transmits print instruction screen information to the web browser 303 of the user terminal 102 and controls the web browser 303 of the user terminal 102 to display the print instruction screen. As with step S7110 in FIG. 7A, the print instruction screen allows the user to select whether to upload the print file to be printed and whether to issue a print code. However, if the setting acquired in step S1112 indicates that the prohibition setting other than reserved printing is ON, screen information is transmitted that ensures that a print code is issued. Specifically, this is a screen in which the issuance of a print code is selected and cannot be changed by the user. After this, processing proceeds to step S1114.

[0172] The processing in steps S1114 to S1119 is the same as the processing in steps S7111 to S7116 in FIG. 7A, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0173] Of the print step processes in the print processing unit 302 of the print server 101 of this embodiment, the process for supporting the image forming apparatus 103 is the same as that in FIG. 7B of the first embodiment, and therefore description thereof will be omitted.

[0174] The process of the printing step in the device communication processing unit 304 of the image forming apparatus 103 of this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 8, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0175] As described above, in this embodiment, when registering one image forming apparatus 103 so that it can be used by different contract customer tenants, even if different setting values ​​are set for each contract customer tenant, it is possible to apply appropriate settings by the processing of step S1011 in Fig. 10. Furthermore, even if settings are changed without the user's knowledge due to registration of different contract customer tenants, user notification information is generated by the processing of step S1012 in Fig. 10, and control can be performed so that the user is appropriately notified.

[0176] As described above, according to the first and second embodiments, when a plurality of users belonging to different companies use a cloud print service on one image forming apparatus 103, the use can be started more easily.

[0177] (Other embodiments) The present disclosure can also be realized by a process in which a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in the computer of the system or device read and execute the program. The present disclosure can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

[0178] It should be noted that the above-described embodiments merely illustrate specific examples of implementing the present disclosure, and the technical scope of the present disclosure should not be construed as being limited by these embodiments. In other words, the present disclosure can be implemented in various forms without departing from its technical concept or main features.

[0179] The disclosure of this embodiment includes the following configurations and methods. (Configuration 1) A printing system having a print server and an image forming device, The print server a first receiving means for receiving first user information of a login from the terminal; a first acquiring means for acquiring first customer identification information corresponding to the first user information; a second receiving means for receiving a registration code of the image forming apparatus inputted at the terminal; a second acquiring means for acquiring identification information of the image forming device corresponding to the registration code; a first registration means for registering the first customer identification information for the identification information of the image forming device when customer identification information has not been registered for the identification information of the image forming device; a second registration means for registering the first customer identification information and the second customer identification information with respect to the identification information of the image forming device when second customer identification information different from the first customer identification information is registered with respect to the identification information of the image forming device; a first transmission means for transmitting a print job to the image forming device corresponding to the identification information of the image forming device in which the first customer identification information is registered, based on a print instruction from the terminal; A printing system comprising: (Configuration 2) The printing system described in configuration 1 is characterized in that, when registering the first customer identification information and the second customer identification information for the identification information of the image forming device, the second registration means enables a setting to prevent printed matter information leakage for a pair of the identification information of the image forming device and the first customer identification information and a pair of the identification information of the image forming device and the second customer identification information. (Configuration 3) 3. The printing system according to configuration 2, wherein the print information leakage prevention setting is a reservation print setting or an HTTP publication prohibition setting. (Configuration 4) The printing system described in configuration 1 is characterized in that, when registering the first customer identification information and the second customer identification information for the identification information of the image forming device, the second registration means registers, for the pair of the identification information of the image forming device and the first customer identification information, and for the pair of the identification information of the image forming device and the second customer identification information, a print security setting with higher security between a first print security setting for the first customer identification information and a second print security setting for the second customer identification information. (Configuration 5) 5. The printing system according to any one of configurations 2 to 4, wherein the second registration means controls the terminal to display the setting information. (Configuration 6) The printing system according to any one of configurations 1 to 5, further comprising a first control means for controlling the printing server to issue a registration code corresponding to the identification information of the image forming device when the printing server receives a registration code issuance request including identification information of the image forming device from the image forming device, and to display the registration code on the image forming device. (Configuration 7) The printing system according to any one of configurations 1 to 6, wherein the first sending means receives a print file from the terminal based on a print instruction from the terminal, and sends a print job including the print file to the image forming device. (Method 1) A processing method for a printing system having a print server and an image forming device, comprising: a first receiving step in which the print server receives first user information of login from a terminal; a first acquisition step in which the print server acquires first customer identification information corresponding to the first user information; a second receiving step in which the print server receives the registration code of the image forming device input at the terminal; a second acquisition step in which the print server acquires identification information of the image forming device corresponding to the registration code; a first registration step in which the print server registers the first customer identification information for the identification information of the image forming device when customer identification information for the image forming device is not registered; a second registration step in which, when second customer identification information different from the first customer identification information is registered for the identification information of the image forming device, the print server registers the first customer identification information and the second customer identification information for the identification information of the image forming device; a first transmission step in which the print server transmits a print job to the image forming device corresponding to the identification information of the image forming device in which the first customer identification information is registered, based on a print instruction from the terminal; A processing method for a printing system, comprising: [Explanation of symbols]

[0180] 100 Printing system, 101 Print server, 102 User terminal, 103 Image forming apparatus, 104 Network, 301 Device registration processing unit, 302 Print processing unit, 303 Web browser, 304 Device communication processing unit

Claims

1. A printing system having a print server and an image forming device, The print server a first receiving means for receiving first user information of login from the terminal; a first acquiring means for acquiring first customer identification information corresponding to the first user information; a second receiving means for receiving the registration code of the image forming apparatus inputted at the terminal; a second acquiring means for acquiring identification information of the image forming apparatus corresponding to the registration code; a first registration means for registering the first customer identification information for the identification information of the image forming device when the customer identification information is not registered for the identification information of the image forming device; a second registration means for registering the first customer identification information and the second customer identification information with respect to the identification information of the image forming device when second customer identification information different from the first customer identification information is registered with respect to the identification information of the image forming device; a first transmission means for transmitting a print job to the image forming device corresponding to the identification information of the image forming device in which the first customer identification information is registered, based on a print instruction from the terminal; A printing system comprising:

2. The printing system according to claim 1, characterized in that, when registering the first customer identification information and the second customer identification information for the identification information of the image forming device, the second registration means enables a print information leakage prevention setting for the pair of the identification information of the image forming device and the first customer identification information and for the pair of the identification information of the image forming device and the second customer identification information.

3. 3. The printing system according to claim 2, wherein the print information leakage prevention setting is a reservation print setting or an HTTP publication prohibition setting.

4. 2. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein when the second registration means registers the first customer identification information and the second customer identification information for the identification information of the image forming device, the second registration means registers, for the pair of the identification information of the image forming device and the first customer identification information and for the pair of the identification information of the image forming device and the second customer identification information, the print security setting with higher security, between the first print security setting for the first customer identification information and the second print security setting for the second customer identification information.

5. 3. The printing system according to claim 2, wherein the second registration means controls the terminal to display the setting information.

6. The printing system according to claim 1, further comprising a first control means for controlling the printing server to issue a registration code corresponding to the identification information of the image forming device when the printing server receives a registration code issuance request including identification information of the image forming device from the image forming device and to display the registration code on the image forming device.

7. 2. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the first sending means receives a print file from the terminal based on a print instruction from the terminal, and sends a print job including the print file to the image forming device.

8. A processing method for a printing system having a print server and an image forming device, comprising: a first receiving step in which the print server receives first user information of login from a terminal; a first acquisition step in which the print server acquires first customer identification information corresponding to the first user information; a second receiving step in which the print server receives the registration code of the image forming device input at the terminal; a second acquisition step in which the print server acquires identification information of the image forming device corresponding to the registration code; a first registration step in which the print server registers the first customer identification information for the identification information of the image forming device when customer identification information for the image forming device is not registered; a second registration step in which, when second customer identification information different from the first customer identification information is registered for the identification information of the image forming device, the print server registers the first customer identification information and the second customer identification information for the identification information of the image forming device; a first transmission step in which the print server transmits a print job to the image forming device corresponding to the identification information of the image forming device in which the first customer identification information is registered, based on a print instruction from the terminal; A processing method for a printing system, comprising:

Images