Information processing system and program

Abstract

To provide an information processing system and a program capable of remotely changing an output destination of received data.SOLUTION: When instruction information for instructing to set an output destination of received data to either printing by a printer or uploading to an external device is registered in the external device, the output destination of the data received from the outside is set according to an instruction by the instruction information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a facsimile machine that allows the user to easily change or add reception notification destinations and destinations for forwarding received image data even after returning home or while out, and that also ensures security. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-060211 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art In an information processing system such as an image forming apparatus, a configuration has been proposed that allows a user to select whether to print data received from an external source or to upload it to a cloud, depending on a setting made by the user.

[0005] With this configuration, if the received data is set to be uploaded to the cloud, for example, when a fax is received on an image forming device installed within the company, the user can check the contents of the fax from outside the company via the cloud.

[0006] However, if the user leaves the office with the settings set to print received data, the user cannot check the contents of the fax from outside the office via the cloud. Furthermore, allowing access from outside to an image forming device installed within the office and allowing remote changes to the settings of the image forming device from outside the office poses security issues.

[0007] An object of the present disclosure is to provide an information processing system and program that can remotely change the output destination of received data. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The information processing system of the first aspect includes a processor, and when instruction information instructing the output destination of received data to be set to either printing by a printing device or uploading to an external device is registered in the external device, the processor sets the output destination of data received from outside in accordance with instructions from the instruction information.

[0009] In a second aspect of the information processing system, in the information processing system of the first aspect, when the processor receives data, it checks whether instruction information is registered in the external device before outputting the data, and if instruction information is registered in the external device, it outputs the data to the output destination indicated by the instruction information.

[0010] In a third aspect of the information processing system, in the information processing system of the second aspect, when the processor receives data, it checks whether instruction information is registered in the external device before outputting the data, and if instruction information is not registered in the external device, it outputs the data to the output destination that has already been set.

[0011] An information processing system of a fourth aspect is the information processing system of the first aspect, wherein the external device is a cloud server.

[0012] An information processing system of a fifth aspect is the information processing system of the fourth aspect, wherein the instruction information is uploaded to the cloud server as information in a file format.

[0013] The program of the sixth aspect causes a computer to execute a step of setting the output destination of data received from outside in accordance with instructions from the instruction information when instruction information instructing the output destination of received data to be set to either printing by a printing device or uploading to an external device is registered in the external device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to the information processing system of the first aspect, the output destination of received data can be remotely changed.

[0015] According to the information processing system of the second aspect, the output destination of the data can reflect the user's preference for the output destination immediately before output.

[0016] According to the information processing system of the third aspect, data can be output even when there is no instruction from the user regarding the output destination of the data immediately before the output.

[0017] According to the information processing system of the fourth aspect, it is possible to remotely change the output destination of received data by using a cloud server.

[0018] According to the information processing system of the fifth aspect, the output destination of data can be remotely changed by uploading the file to the cloud server.

[0019] According to the program of the sixth aspect, the output destination of received data can be changed remotely. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating a system configuration of a fax sorting system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus in the fax sorting system. [Figure 3]FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the flow of processing when a fax is received in the fax sorting system. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the flow of processing when a fax is received in the fax sorting system. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the flow of processing when a fax is received in the fax sorting system. [Figure 6] 10 is a flowchart illustrating a process flow when the image forming apparatus 10 receives a fax. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the system configuration of a fax sorting system according to an embodiment.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 1, the fax sorting system of this embodiment includes an image forming apparatus 10, a cloud server 20, and a user terminal 30.

[0023] The image forming apparatus 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 image forming apparatus 10 is an example of an information processing system in the technology of the present disclosure.

[0024] Cloud server 20 is a server for storing and managing fax data received from image forming apparatus 10. Cloud server 20 is an example of an external device in the technology of the present disclosure. Cloud server 20 is connected to image forming apparatus 10 via Internet 40.

[0025] The user terminal 30 is a terminal for checking fax data stored in the cloud server 20. For example, a smartphone or a personal computer can be used as the user terminal 30. The user terminal 30 is connected to the cloud server 20 via the Internet 40.

[0026] Next, a description will be given of the hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 10 of this embodiment.

[0027] 2, the image forming apparatus 10 includes a control unit 11, a communication interface (abbreviated as IF) device 12, a user interface (abbreviated as UI) device 13, a print engine 14, and a scanner 15. These components are connected to each other via a control bus 16.

[0028] 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 program read from the storage unit 11c and loaded into the memory 11b. The storage unit 11c is configured with, for example, a ROM, a HDD, or an SSD. Various programs, data, etc. are stored in the storage unit 11c.

[0029] In this embodiment, the processor 11a is described as reading and executing a program stored in the storage unit 11c, but this is not limited to this. The program may be provided in a form recorded on a computer-readable recording medium as described above. The program may also be obtained from an external device via a communication line.

[0030] The communication IF device 12 transmits and receives data to and from external devices, etc. The UI device 13 is, for example, a touch panel and / or buttons, etc., which allow the user to receive and input information. 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 print engine 14 is an example of a printing device in the technology of the present disclosure. The scanner 15 reads an original document loaded in the image forming apparatus 10 as image data.

[0031] 3, in the fax sorting system of this embodiment, a user sets in advance the output destination of fax data received by the image forming apparatus 10, either to print the data or to upload the data to the cloud server 20. The setting of the output destination of the fax data is performed via the user interface device 13 of the main body of the image forming apparatus 10.

[0032] Here, when cloud server 20 operates as an HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) server, the method for specifying cloud server 20 as the output destination of fax data can be specified by URL (Uniform Resource Locator).

[0033] When the image forming apparatus 10 outputs the received fax data to the cloud server 20, the image forming apparatus 10 accesses the URL specified as the output destination using the HTTP protocol, and if the access is successful, transmits the fax data as a file.

[0034] Note that the cloud server 20 may be an FTP (File Transfer Protocol) server or a server compatible with other general file transfer protocols, in addition to an HTTP server.

[0035] When the image forming apparatus 10 receives fax data, the control unit 11 of the image forming apparatus 10 prints the fax data or uploads it to the cloud server 20 according to the settings of the output destination of the fax data.

[0036] With this configuration, for example, when the user is in the company where the image forming device 10 is installed, the user can print and check the fax data. Also, when the user is outside the company, the user can check the fax data by accessing the cloud server 20 from the user terminal 30.

[0037] However, if the user goes out with the settings set to print received fax data, the user cannot check the contents of the fax from outside the company via the cloud, as shown in Figure 4. Incidentally, there are security issues if an image forming device installed inside the company is accessed from outside the company and the settings of the image forming device can be remotely changed from outside the company.

[0038] To solve this problem, when instruction information instructing the output destination of received fax data to be set to either printing by the image forming device 10 (more specifically, the print engine 14) or uploading to the cloud server 20 (i.e., cloud transfer) is registered in the cloud server 20, the control unit 11 in the image forming device 10 sets the output destination of the fax data received from outside in accordance with the instructions in the instruction information.

[0039] In the fax sorting system of this embodiment, the instruction information is uploaded to the cloud server 20 as information in a file format.

[0040] The instruction file, which is a file of instruction information, can be a text file such as “instruction file.txt.” The instructions can be written in a specific description language that can be recognized by the image forming apparatus 10.

[0041] For example, if the data output destination is to be transferred to the cloud, you would write "Action:ChangeExecuteMode to CloudTransfer." If the data output destination is to be printed, you would write "Action:ChangeExecuteMode to print."

[0042] The file format of the instruction information is not limited to the above and may be any file format. The method of writing the instruction is not limited to the above and may be any writing method.

[0043] As shown in Figure 5, in the fax sorting system of this embodiment, a user can change the output destination of fax data even from outside the company by uploading and registering an instruction file to the cloud server 20 using a user terminal 30 or the like.

[0044] Furthermore, when control unit 11 receives fax data, it checks whether instruction information is registered in cloud server 20 before outputting the fax data. Specifically, control unit 11 accesses location information of cloud server 20 designated as the output destination of the fax data, for example, a location designated by a URL, and obtains a list of file names of files stored in that location. This allows control unit 11 to check information about files stored in cloud server 20.

[0045] If the confirmation result indicates that instruction information is registered in cloud server 20, control unit 11 outputs the fax data to the output destination indicated by the instruction information. That is, if "InstructionFile.txt" is present in the list of file names stored in the accessed location, control unit 11 acquires the "InstructionFile.txt" file. Then, control unit 11 references the instruction information described in the acquired "InstructionFile.txt." If, for example, "Action:ChangeExecuteMode to CloudTransfer" is described, control unit 11 changes the mode to output fax data to the output destination indicated by the instruction information. If instruction information is not registered in cloud server 20, control unit 11 outputs the fax data to the output destination already set in image forming apparatus 10.

[0046] Next, the flow of processing when the image forming apparatus 10 receives a fax will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

[0047] First, in step S01, the control unit 11 of the image forming apparatus 10 receives fax data.

[0048] Next, in step S02, control unit 11 determines whether the instruction file is registered in cloud server 20 or not.

[0049] If it is determined in step S02 that the instruction file is registered on the cloud server 20, the control unit 11 determines in step S03 whether the instruction content of the instruction file is to print by the image forming device 10 or to transfer to the cloud.

[0050] If it is determined in step S03 that the instruction content of the instruction file is cloud transfer, control unit 11 uploads the fax data received in step S01 to cloud server 20 in step S04, and ends the process.

[0051] If it is determined in step S03 that the instruction content of the instruction file is to be printed by the image forming apparatus 10, the control unit 11 prints the fax data received in step S01 in step S05, and the process ends.

[0052] Also, if it is determined in step S02 that the instruction file is not registered in the cloud server 20, the control unit 11 determines in step S06 whether the settings set in the main body of the image forming device 10 are for printing by the image forming device 10 or for cloud transfer.

[0053] If it is determined in step S06 that the settings configured in the main body of the image forming device 10 are for cloud transfer, the control unit 11 uploads the fax data received in step S01 to the cloud server 20 in step S04, and terminates the process.

[0054] If it is determined in step S06 that the settings configured in the main body of the image forming device 10 indicate printing by the image forming device 10, the control unit 11 prints the fax data received in step S01 in step S05 and terminates the process.

[0055] [Variations] Although a fax sorting system according to one 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.

[0056] For example, the data that is received by the image forming apparatus 10 and sorted for output destination is not limited to fax data, but may be any data, such as email data.

[0057] 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.).

[0058] 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.

[0059] Furthermore, in the technology of the present disclosure, a system includes both a system made up of multiple devices and a system made up of a single device.

[0060] The techniques of the present disclosure can also be applied to programs and program products.

[0061] [Note] The following additional notes are provided regarding the above-described embodiment.

[0062] (((1))) a processor; The processor: When instruction information instructing that the output destination of the received data be set to either printing by a printing device or uploading to an external device is registered in the external device, the output destination of the data received from the outside is set in accordance with the instruction information. Information processing system.

[0063] (((2))) The processor: When receiving data, before outputting the data, it is confirmed whether instruction information is registered in the external device; When instruction information is registered in the external device, data is output to an output destination indicated by the instruction information. The information processing system according to (((1))).

[0064] (((3))) The processor: When receiving data, before outputting the data, it is confirmed whether instruction information is registered in the external device; When instruction information is not registered in the external device, data is output to a previously set output destination. The information processing system according to (((2))).

[0065] (((4))) The external device is a cloud server. 1. An information processing system according to any one of ((1))) to (((3))).

[0066] (((5))) The instruction information is uploaded to the cloud server as information in a file format. The information processing system according to (((4))).

[0067] (((6))) a step of setting the output destination of the data received from the outside in accordance with instructions in the instruction information when instruction information instructing that the output destination of the received data be set to either printing by the printing device or uploading to the external device is registered in the external device; A program that causes a computer to execute the following.

[0068] The effects of the configuration described above will be described below.

[0069] According to the information processing system (((1))), the output destination of received data can be remotely changed.

[0070] According to the information processing system (((2))), the output destination of the data can reflect the user's preference for the output destination immediately before output.

[0071] According to the information processing system (((3))), data can be output even if there is no instruction from the user regarding the output destination of the data immediately before output.

[0072] According to the information processing system (((4))), it is possible to remotely change the output destination of received data using a cloud server.

[0073] According to the information processing system of (((5))), the output destination of data can be remotely changed by uploading files to a cloud server.

[0074] According to the program (((6))), the output destination of received data can be remotely changed. [Explanation of symbols]

[0075] 10 Image forming device 11 Control section 11a processor 11b memory 11c storage section 12 Communication interface device 13 User Interface Device 14 Print Engine 15. Scanner 16 Control Bus 20 Cloud Server 30 User terminals 40 Internet

Claims

1. a processor; The processor: When instruction information instructing that the output destination of the received data be set to either printing by a printing device or uploading to an external device is registered in the external device, the output destination of the data received from the outside is set in accordance with the instruction information. Information processing system.

2. The processor: When receiving data, before outputting the data, it is confirmed whether instruction information is registered in the external device; When instruction information is registered in the external device, data is output to an output destination indicated by the instruction information. The information processing system according to claim 1 .

3. The processor: When receiving data, before outputting the data, it is confirmed whether instruction information is registered in the external device; When instruction information is not registered in the external device, data is output to a previously set output destination. The information processing system according to claim 2 .

4. The external device is a cloud server. The information processing system according to claim 1 .

5. The instruction information is uploaded to the cloud server as information in a file format. The information processing system according to claim 4 .

6. a step of setting the output destination of the data received from the outside in accordance with instructions in the instruction information when instruction information instructing that the output destination of the received data be set to either printing by the printing device or uploading to the external device is registered in the external device; A program that causes a computer to execute the following.

Images