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 instructing to set an output destination of received data to either printing by a printer or uploading to an external device is included in the received facsimile data, 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 the received fax data contains 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, the processor sets the output destination of the data received from outside in accordance with the instructions in the instruction information.

[0009] In the information processing system of the second aspect, in the information processing system of the first aspect, the processor validates only instruction information included in fax data received from a sender that has been registered in advance.

[0010] In a third aspect of the information processing system, in the information processing system of the second aspect, the processor sets the output destination of data received from outside in accordance with instructions from instruction information contained in fax data received from a pre-registered sender, and notifies the sender of the setting result.

[0011] An information processing system of a fourth aspect is the information processing system of the first aspect, wherein the instruction information is included as an image in fax data.

[0012] An information processing system of a fifth aspect is the information processing system of the fourth aspect, wherein the instruction information is included in the fax data as a one-dimensional code image or a two-dimensional code image.

[0013] An information processing system of a sixth aspect is the information processing system of the fourth aspect, wherein the instruction information is included in the fax data as a character image.

[0014] The program of the seventh 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 the received fax data contains instruction information instructing the output destination of the received data to be set to either printing by a printing device or uploading to an external device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] According to the information processing system of the first aspect, the output destination of received data can be remotely changed.

[0016] According to the information processing system of the second aspect, only authorized users can change the output destination of data.

[0017] According to the information processing system of the third aspect, the result of the setting can be notified to the user who instructed the setting.

[0018] According to the information processing system of the fourth aspect, it is possible to change the output destination of data using a general fax machine.

[0019] According to the information processing system of the fifth aspect, it is possible to change the output destination of data by using a one-dimensional code image or a two-dimensional code image.

[0020] According to the information processing system of the sixth aspect, the output destination of data can be changed by using a character image.

[0021] According to the program of the seventh aspect, the output destination of received data can be remotely changed. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0022] [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

[0023] 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.

[0024] 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.

[0025] 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.

[0026] 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.

[0027] 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.

[0028] Next, a description will be given of the hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 10 of this embodiment.

[0029] 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.

[0030] 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.

[0031] 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.

[0032] 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.

[0033] 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.

[0034] 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.

[0035] 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.

[0036] 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.

[0037] To solve this problem, when the received fax data contains instruction information instructing the output destination of the 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), 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.

[0038] Hereinafter, a fax for transmitting instruction information may be referred to as a control fax, and data of the control fax may be referred to as control fax data.

[0039] In the fax sorting system of this embodiment, the instruction information is included in the fax data as an image, which may be a one-dimensional code image, a two-dimensional code image, or a character image.

[0040] The instruction information can be written in a specific description language that can be recognized by the image forming apparatus 10. For example, if the output destination of the data is to be transferred to the cloud, it can be written as "Action:ChangeExecuteMode to CloudTransfer." If the output destination of the data is to be printed, it can be written as "Action:ChangeExecuteMode to print."

[0041] The method of describing the instruction information is not limited to the above, and any method may be used.

[0042] The control unit 11 decodes the image included in the fax data using a decoding method corresponding to the recording method of the instruction information to obtain the instruction information. If the control unit 11 can obtain the instruction information by decoding the image included in the fax data, it processes the fax data as control fax data. If the control unit 11 cannot obtain the instruction information by decoding the image included in the fax data, it processes the fax data as normal fax data.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 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 sending a control fax to the image forming device 10 using, for example, a fax application installed on the user terminal 30.

[0044] In the fax sorting system of this embodiment, the control unit 11 may validate only instruction information contained in fax data received from pre-registered senders. Here, a pre-registered sender is a person authorized to use the control fax. Hereinafter, a pre-registered sender may be referred to as a control fax user.

[0045] The control unit 11 may decode all fax data and validate only the instruction information contained in the fax data received from the user of the control fax. Alternatively, the control unit 11 may decode only the fax data received from the user of the control fax.

[0046] In addition, the control unit 11 may set the output destination of data received from outside in accordance with instructions from instruction information contained in fax data received from a pre-registered sender, and notify the sender of the setting result.

[0047] In addition, the control unit 11 may treat the received fax data as control fax when information indicating control fax data is included in fax reception information such as an F code, a subaddress, or an extended area of ​​the facsimile protocol.

[0048] Next, the flow of processing when the image forming apparatus 10 receives a fax will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

[0049] First, in step S01, the control unit 11 of the image forming apparatus 10 receives fax data.

[0050] Next, in step S02, the control unit 11 checks the sender information of the fax data.

[0051] Next, in step S03, the control unit 11 determines whether the sender of the fax data is a user of the control fax machine.

[0052] If it is determined in step S03 that the sender of the fax data is a control fax user, the control unit 11 decodes the image of the fax data and acquires instruction information in step S04.

[0053] Next, in step S05, the control unit 11 sets the output destination of the fax data in accordance with the instruction information.

[0054] Next, in step S06, the control unit 11 notifies the sender of the fax data received in step S01 of the setting result of the output destination of the fax data in accordance with the instruction information, and ends the process.

[0055] Also, if it is determined in step S03 that the sender of the fax data is not the control fax user, in step S07, the control unit 11 outputs the fax data received in step S01 in accordance with the settings of the fax data output destination set in the main body of the image forming device 10, and ends the process.

[0056] [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.

[0057] 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.

[0058] 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.).

[0059] 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.

[0060] 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.

[0061] The techniques of the present disclosure can also be applied to programs and program products.

[0062] [Note] The following additional notes are provided regarding the above-described embodiment.

[0063] (((1))) a processor; The processor: When the received fax data contains 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, the output destination of the data received from the outside is set in accordance with the instruction information. Information processing system.

[0064] (((2))) The processor: Only instruction information included in fax data received from a pre-registered sender is validated. The information processing system according to (((1))).

[0065] (((3))) The processor: Sets the output destination of data received from an external source in accordance with instructions from instruction information included in fax data received from a pre-registered sender, Notify the sender of the setting results The information processing system according to (((2))).

[0066] (((4))) The instruction information is included in the fax data as an image. 1. An information processing system according to any one of ((1))) to (((3))).

[0067] (((5))) The instruction information is included in the fax data as a one-dimensional code image or a two-dimensional code image. The information processing system according to (((4))).

[0068] (((6))) The instruction information is included in the fax data as a character image. The information processing system according to (((4))).

[0069] (((7))) a step of setting the output destination of the data received from the outside in accordance with an instruction from the instruction information when the instruction information instructs the setting of the output destination of the received data to either printing by a printing device or uploading to an external device is included in the received fax data; A program that causes a computer to execute the following.

[0070] The effects of the configuration described above will be described below.

[0071] According to the information processing system (((1))), the output destination of received data can be remotely changed.

[0072] According to the information processing system (((2))), only authorized users can change the output destination of data.

[0073] According to the information processing system (((3))), the result of the setting can be notified to the user who instructed the setting.

[0074] According to the information processing system (((4))), it is possible to change the output destination of data using a general fax machine.

[0075] According to the information processing system (((5))), it is possible to change the output destination of data by using a one-dimensional code image or a two-dimensional code image.

[0076] According to the information processing system (((6))), it is possible to change the output destination of data by using a character image.

[0077] According to the program (((7))), the output destination of received data can be remotely changed. [Explanation of symbols]

[0078] 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 the received fax data contains 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, the output destination of the data received from the outside is set in accordance with the instruction information. Information processing system.

2. The processor: Only instruction information included in fax data received from a pre-registered sender is validated. The information processing system according to claim 1 .

3. The processor: Sets the output destination of data received from an external source in accordance with instructions from instruction information included in fax data received from a pre-registered sender, Notify the sender of the setting results The information processing system according to claim 2 .

4. The instruction information is included in the fax data as an image. The information processing system according to claim 1 .

5. The instruction information is included in the fax data as a one-dimensional code image or a two-dimensional code image. The information processing system according to claim 4 .

6. The instruction information is included in the fax data as a character image. The information processing system according to claim 4 .

7. a step of setting the output destination of the data received from the outside in accordance with an instruction from the instruction information when the instruction information instructs the setting of the output destination of the received data to either printing by a printing device or uploading to an external device is included in the received fax data; A program that causes a computer to execute the following.

Images