Data processing apparatus, image forming apparatus, control method therefor, and storage medium

Abstract

In the related art, there is a possibility that usability is reduced when a job execution instruction is given from a terminal to an image forming apparatus in which a function use restriction is set.SOLUTION: Whether or not a corresponding user has authority to execute a job is determined by using user information included in job information transmitted from a terminal, and an error is notified to the terminal when the user does not have the authority.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a data processing system in which a data processing device and an image forming device execute jobs by wireless communication. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, with the widespread use of high-performance mobile devices known as smartphones, applications that allow users to use image forming devices from these mobile devices have been provided. For example, to execute a function for sending a scanned document to a specified destination, the mobile device searches for image forming devices on a LAN and generates job information by adding the destination email address and various scan setting information (e.g., color, double-sided) set by the user. The generated job information is then sent to the image forming device with the searched sending function, and the image forming device executes the job based on the received job information. In this way, a series of processes required for job execution can be instructed to be performed by the image forming device from the mobile device. Furthermore, a user can save desired job information on the mobile device and easily execute the desired job on various image forming devices by retrieving the saved job information.

[0003] In some image forming devices, an administrator may restrict the functions of the image forming device that can be used by each user. Patent Document 1 discloses a method in which a user sends job information from a terminal to an image forming device when such usage restrictions are in place. The method describes a method in which the terminal communicates with the image forming device in advance to obtain information on usage restrictions, and then displays icons for functions that the user cannot use on the menu screen of the terminal differently from other functions, thereby making the relevant functions unavailable. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2017-062735 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Because the functions available to a user may differ depending on the image forming device, the method of Patent Document 1 requires the user to communicate with the terminal and image forming device to obtain information on usage restrictions, etc., before selecting the function to be used. However, as mentioned above, in cases where the user saves desired job information on the terminal and reuses it on various image forming devices, there are cases where the user selects a function, sets up the job, and then selects the image forming device to which the job information will be sent. The method of Patent Document 1 requires the user to select an image forming device before selecting a function, which could result in a decrease in usability as it cannot handle the above cases.

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method that does not reduce usability even when a terminal issues a job execution instruction to an image forming apparatus for which function usage restrictions are set. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] An image forming apparatus comprising: a receiving means for receiving from a terminal job information including user information for executing a function of the image forming apparatus; a determining means for determining, based on the user information included in the job information received by the receiving means, whether a user corresponding to the user information can use a function specified in the job information; an executing means for executing a job based on the job information if the determining means determines that the function can be used; and a notifying means for notifying the terminal of an error if the determining means determines that the function cannot be used. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] To prevent degradation of usability even when a terminal instructs an image forming apparatus in which a function use restriction is set to execute a job. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] Diagram showing the configuration of a data processing system [Figure 2] Block diagram showing the hardware configuration of a data processing device [Figure 3] Block diagram showing the hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus [Figure 4] Block diagram showing the software configuration of the data processing device [Figure 5] Block diagram showing the software configuration of the image forming apparatus [Figure 6] Flowchart of connection processing of the data processing device in the first embodiment [Figure 7] 1 is a flowchart of a job execution process of a data processing device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the data processing device; [Figure 9] 1 is a flowchart of a job execution process of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the image forming apparatus; [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of user information and function usage restriction information managed by an image forming apparatus. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the components described in the embodiments are merely examples, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention to those components alone. In the following description, an image forming apparatus will be used as an example of an information processing apparatus, but the present invention is not limited to this.

[0011] Example 1 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a data processing system according to this embodiment. The data processing system 100 is composed of a data processing device 101, a wireless LAN terminal 102, and an image forming device 104, and these devices are connected to one another via a network 103 such as a LAN (Local Area Network). Devices other than those shown here may also be connected to the network 103.

[0012] The data processing device 101 may be a mobile terminal such as a smartphone, and may be an information processing device on which an operating system for small terminals and programs for controlling voice calls, position detection, and data communications run. Alternatively, the data processing device 101 may be a personal computer (PC) that does not have functions such as voice call control and position detection control. The data processing device 101 is connected to a network 103 via a wireless LAN terminal 102.

[0013] The wireless terminal 102 is a wireless LAN base station with a general network router function, and provides a wireless LAN within a home, office, or the like.

[0014] The image forming apparatus 104 is a multifunction peripheral having various functions such as a printer function, a copy function, a scanner function, and a fax transmission function. However, the image forming apparatus 104 is not limited to this and may be a device having only a single function. The image forming apparatus 104 may be configured to include a wireless access point internally so that it can communicate directly with the data processing apparatus 101. A user can instruct the image forming apparatus 104 to execute a job from the data processing apparatus 101, which is communicating with the image forming apparatus 104, and cause the image forming apparatus 104 to execute various functions. Note that in this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 104 is connected to the network 103 by wire, but it may also be connected wirelessly using a wireless LAN terminal 102, as with the data processing apparatus 101.

[0015] Furthermore, the data processing device 101 and the image forming device 104 are capable of short-range wireless communication using NFC (Near Field Communication), BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) (registered trademark), or the like. The image forming device 104 transmits connection information (IP address, MAC address, SSID, etc.) for connecting to the image forming device 104 via a wireless LAN to the data processing device 101 via an NFC communication unit or a BLE communication unit (described later). Then, the data processing device 101 starts wireless LAN communication with the image forming device 104 using the acquired connection information.

[0016] 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of a data processing device 101 according to this embodiment. The data processing device 101 has a controller unit 201. The controller unit 201 controls various communication units, such as an NFC communication unit 210, a BLE communication unit 211, and a wireless LAN communication unit 212, as well as various UI units, such as a microphone / speaker 213, a display 214, and a touch panel 215.

[0017] The controller unit 201 is composed of a CPU 202 , a ROM 203 , a RAM 204 , a network I / F 205 , an audio control unit 206 , a display control unit 207 , an input control unit 208 and a storage device 209 , which are connected by a system bus 216 .

[0018] The CPU 202 controls the entire system of the data processing device 101. The ROM 203 stores the operating system of the data processing device 101 and programs that control calls, data communications, etc., and the CPU 202 executes the various programs. The RAM 204 is used as a temporary storage area such as the main memory and work area of ​​the CPU 202.

[0019] The storage device 209 is a non-volatile storage device, and records various operation mode settings that need to be retained even after the data processing device 101 is restarted, operation logs, and the like.

[0020] The network I / F 205 is connected to an NFC communication unit 210, a BLE communication unit 211, and a wireless LAN communication unit 212, and exchanges data with the image forming apparatus 104 via various wireless communications.

[0021] An audio control unit 206 controls the input and output of audio data via a microphone / speaker 213. A display control unit 207 controls the output of a screen displayed on a display 214. An input control unit 208 controls the input of information designated by a user via a button or touch panel 215. Various applications executed on the data processing device 101 use the audio control unit 206, display control unit 207, input control unit 208, etc.

[0022] FIG. 3 is a hardware configuration diagram of the image forming apparatus 104 according to this embodiment. The image forming apparatus 104 has a controller unit 301, which controls various communication units, such as an NFC communication unit 310, a BLE communication unit 311, and a wireless LAN communication unit 312, as well as an operation unit 307, a scanner 313, and a printer 314. When a user uses the copy function of the image forming apparatus 104, the controller unit 301 controls the scanner 313 to acquire image data of an original document and controls the printer 314 to print and output the image on paper. When a user uses the scan and send function, the controller unit 301 controls the scanner 313 to acquire image data of an original document and converts it into code data. The code data is then transmitted to the data processing apparatus 101 or the like via a network I / F 308. When a user uses the print function, the controller unit 301 receives image data (code data) from the data processing apparatus 101 via the network I / F 308. The controller unit 301 then transmits the received image data to the printer 314. The printer 314 prints and outputs an image on paper based on the received image data. The image forming device 104 also has a fax receiving function that receives and prints data from ISDN or the like, and a fax sending function that sends scanned data to ISDN or the like. The work to be processed, for which the user has set up settings to execute each of the functions described above, is called a job, and the image forming device 104 executes a specified job according to the job information.

[0023] The controller unit 301 is composed of a CPU 302 , a RAM 303 , a ROM 304 , a HDD 305 , an operation unit I / F 306 , a network I / F 308 , and a device I / F 309 , which are connected by a system bus 315 .

[0024] The CPU 302 controls the entire system of the image forming apparatus 104. The RAM 303 is a system work memory for the operation of the CPU 302, and temporarily stores image data and the like. It also stores scanned image data read by the scanner 313 and print image data received from the data processing apparatus 101 via the network 103. The ROM 304 stores the system boot program, applications, and the like. The hard disk drive (HDD) 305 stores the operating system, system software, application software, image data, setting data, and the like.

[0025] The operation unit 307 displays information to the user and accepts operations from the user, and includes an operation panel such as a touch panel display.

[0026] The operation unit I / F 306 outputs information to be displayed on the operation unit 307 to the operation unit 307. The operation unit I / F 306 also accepts information input by a user from the operation unit 307. The network I / F 308 is connected to an NFC communication unit 310, a BLE communication unit 311, and a wireless LAN communication unit 312, and exchanges information with the data processing device 101 and the cloud server 105 through various types of communication. The wireless LAN communication unit 312 performs wireless LAN communication with the data processing device 101 via the network 103. The NFC communication unit 310 and the BLE communication unit 311 also perform short-range wireless communication with the data processing device 101. The image forming apparatus 104 receives job setting information, image data, job execution commands, etc. from the data processing device 101 via the network I / F 308 and executes the job. The device I / F 309 connects the controller unit 301 to a scanner 313 and a printer 314 that read and print image data, and inputs and outputs image data.

[0027] 4 shows the software configuration of the data processing device 101 according to this embodiment. It is a functional block diagram of software that is implemented when the CPU 202 reads out a control program stored in the ROM 203 or the storage device 209.

[0028] The application 401 is an application installed in the data processing device 101 and is an application for operating the image forming device 104. Settings can be made on the application 401 to generate print job information and scan job information, and the job information can be sent to the image forming device 104. In addition to this application 401, various other applications are installed on the data processing device 101, but their explanation will be omitted. The configuration of the application 401 is shown below.

[0029] A user interface (UI) control unit 402 accepts job setting information and the like input by the user via the touch panel 215, and transmits the accepted content to a job setting management unit 406 and a job control unit 407 via an input control unit 208. The UI control unit 402 also receives responses from the job setting management unit 406 and the job control unit 407, and outputs a screen corresponding to the received content to the display 214 via a display control unit 207. The UI control unit 402 also accepts authentication information for logging in to the image forming apparatus 104, such as user information and a password, input by the user via the touch panel 215, and transmits the information to an authentication setting management unit 403 via the input control unit 208.

[0030] The authentication information management unit 403 registers authentication information such as user information received from the UI control unit 402. Then, it performs processing to log in to the image forming apparatus 104 based on the registered authentication information. Specifically, it passes the authentication information to the network control unit 405. The authentication information is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 104 via the network 103. The image forming apparatus 104 performs login processing using the received authentication information and returns the result to the data processing apparatus 101. The registered authentication information can be included in job information, and it is also possible to automatically log in to the image forming apparatus by transmitting job information including the authentication information to the image forming apparatus.

[0031] The device connection unit 404 establishes, for example, near-field wireless communication using NFC or BLE or wireless LAN communication via the network 103 between the data processing device 101 and the image forming device 104. For example, in the case of NFC, near-field wireless communication is initiated when a user brings the NFC communication unit 210 of the data processing device 101 and the NFC communication unit 310 of the image forming device 104 close to each other. In the case of BLE, the BLE communication unit 311 of the image forming device 104 transmits a BLE beacon, and the BLE communication unit 211 of the data processing device 101 receives the transmitted beacon. When the user brings the data processing device 101 close to the image forming device 104, the near-field wireless communication is initiated when the data processing device 101 determines that the radio wave intensity of the received beacon has reached a certain level or higher. In this way, when the user brings the NFC or BLE communication units of the data processing device 101 and the image forming device 104 close to each other, the device connection unit 404 performs near-field wireless communication with the image forming device 104. Then, via the short-range wireless communication, the device connection unit 404 acquires device information including connection information necessary for wireless LAN communication from the image forming apparatus 104. The device connection unit 404 starts wireless LAN communication with the image forming apparatus 104 via the network 103 using the acquired connection information.

[0032] The network control unit 405 transmits job information (setting information, job execution instruction command, image data, user authentication information, etc.) to the image forming apparatus 104 via the network 103. When configuring job information for transmitting scanned image data to a set destination, the job setting information includes the destination to which the data is transmitted and settings related to scanning. Furthermore, the network control unit 405 can also receive job setting information stored in the image forming apparatus 104 via the network 103.

[0033] The job setting management unit 406 stores the job setting information entered by the user and accepted by the UI control unit 402, and the job setting information received from the image forming apparatus 104 by the network control unit 405, in the RAM 204 or the storage device 209. At this time, the job setting management unit 406 may register the job setting information as "favorites" as settings that the user frequently uses. Also, the job setting management unit 406 may register the setting information of a predetermined job as "preset" when the application 401 is installed.

[0034] The job control unit 407 controls processing executed by the image forming apparatus 104. For example, the job control unit 407 generates job information from job setting information included in "favorites" or "presets" registered in the job setting management unit 406 or job setting information set by user operation, and transmits a job execution instruction to the image forming apparatus 104 via the network 103. The job control unit 407 also acquires the job execution status and the operating status of the devices such as the scanner 313 and printer 314 from the image forming apparatus 104 via the network 103 and transmits the information to the UI control unit 402.

[0035] 5 shows the software configuration of the image forming apparatus 104 according to this embodiment. It is a functional block diagram of software that is implemented when the CPU 302 reads out a control program stored in the ROM 304 or HDD 305.

[0036] The system software 501 is software executed by the CPU 302 of the image forming apparatus 104, and is stored in the RAM 303, the HDD 305, or the like.

[0037] A user interface (UI) control unit 502 accepts job setting information and the like input by the user via the operation unit 307 and transmits it to a job control unit 506. The UI control unit 502 also receives a response from the job control unit 506 and outputs information to the operation unit 307. The operation unit here also includes a display unit.

[0038] The authentication control unit 503 performs user authentication, for example, by identifying the user and performing user authentication processing based on authentication information received from the data processing device 101, and returning the results.

[0039] The device connection unit 504 performs short-distance wireless communication between the data processing device 101 and the image forming device 104 and establishes wireless LAN communication via the network 103 .

[0040] The network control unit 505 receives job setting information, image data, user information, etc. from the data processing device 101 via the network 103. Furthermore, the network control unit 505 transmits job setting information stored in the image forming device 104 to the data processing device 101 via the network 104.

[0041] The job control unit 506 controls each processing unit, such as the scan processing unit 511, copy processing unit 512, print processing unit 513, and fax processing unit 514, in response to the received job, and executes various jobs. At this time, the job control unit 507 executes the job based on job setting information set by the user via the operation unit 307. Furthermore, the job control unit 506 receives a job execution request from the data processing device 101 via the network 103, and executes various jobs in accordance with the setting information and the like of the received job information. The job control unit 506 also transmits the job execution status and the operating status of the devices, such as the scanner 313 and printer 314, to the data processing device 101 via the network 103.

[0042] Furthermore, the job control unit 506 can also restrict functions that can be used by a user based on the usage authority management table shown in Fig. 11. For example, an administrator can set the image forming apparatus 104 to impose usage restrictions on functions.

[0043] The usage authority management table 1101 in Figure 11 is a table for managing function usage restrictions for each user, and function usage "permitted" or "prohibited" is set for each user. Column 1102 shows user information, and column 1103 shows functions. For example, "User A" can use the "copy" and "scan and send" functions, but cannot use the "fax" function. In this way, the administrator can restrict the functions that can be used by each user.

[0044] FIG. 8 is an example of a screen that the application 401 of the data processing device 101 displays on the display 214. In FIG.

[0045] Fig. 8(a) shows the menu screen of the application 401. The menu screen 801 is the initial screen that is displayed when the application 401 is launched, and the user selects the desired function from the menu screen. The target device area 802 displays information about the image forming device to which the application 401 will send job information, and when pressed, the target image forming device can be selected. In this case, the target image forming device does not have to be selected. When the "Scan and Send" button 801 is pressed, the "Scan and Send" function screen 803 is displayed.

[0046] FIG. 8(b) shows the "Scan and Send" function screen 803 of the application 401. The "Scan and Send" function screen 803 includes buttons 804 to 806 that call up predetermined setting values ​​and call up the "Scan and Send" setting screen. The "Send to Me" button 804 and the "User Settings 2" button 805 are "Favorites" buttons that allow the user to pre-register desired setting values. The "Favorites" button can be added by selecting the add button 807. The default button 806 is a "Preset" button that calls up default setting values. Here, the target image forming device does not need to be selected.

[0047] FIG. 8(c) shows a "Send to myself" settings screen 811. The "Send to myself" settings screen 811 is a screen that is displayed when the "Send to myself" button 804 is selected. The destination that has already been set is displayed in the destination area 812, and the destination can be set by pressing this area. The scan settings area 813 includes various setting buttons for the scan process, and the user can make each setting by pressing each button. Here, the target image forming device must be selected. When the execute button 814 is pressed, the job information is sent to the target image forming device. Then, the image forming device that has received the job information performs PIN code authentication, which will be described later, and then scans based on the set scan settings and sends the generated image data to the set destination.

[0048] FIG. 8D shows a PIN code input screen 821. This screen is for entering the PIN code included in the PIN code screen 1001 displayed on the image forming apparatus 104 after the "scan and send" job information is sent to the image forming apparatus 104. A PIN code input field 822 is an input field for entering the PIN code. A cancel button 824 is a button for canceling the job. An OK button 823 is a button for sending the PIN code entered in the PIN code input field 822 to the image forming apparatus 104. Instead of the PIN code, a QR code (registered trademark) may be displayed on the image forming apparatus 104, and authentication information may be sent by reading the QR code with the camera 216 provided in the data processing apparatus 101. The image forming apparatus 104 performs authentication using the received PIN code, and if successful, executes the job based on the received job information.

[0049] 8(e) shows a job error screen 831. This screen is displayed when a job-related error occurs after job information is sent from the application 401 to the image forming apparatus 104. For example, if a user who is restricted from using the "scan and send" function on the image forming apparatus 104 issues an instruction to send "scan and send" job information from the application 401, the job cannot be executed on the image forming apparatus 104 and the job error screen 831 is displayed. When an OK button 832 is pressed, the screen returns to the "send to me" settings screen 811 or the menu screen 801. The job error screen 831 may also display information indicating the content of the error.

[0050] Fig. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the connection process of the data processing device 101 to the image forming device 104 in this embodiment. The flowchart in Fig. 6 is implemented by the CPU 202 of the data processing device 101 reading into the RAM 204 and executing the programs for implementing each control module stored in the ROM 203 or the storage device 209. Note that the process of this flowchart is started, for example, when the user presses the target device area 802.

[0051] In step S601, the UI control unit 402 detects an instruction from the user to search for an image forming apparatus.

[0052] In step S602, the device connection unit 404 searches for the image forming device 104 that exists on the network 103 via the wireless LAN terminal 102 using Wi-Fi (registered trademark) or the like and that is supported by the application 401.

[0053] In step S603, if the image forming device cannot be detected as a result of the search in step S602, the device connection unit 404 terminates the process, but if the image forming device is detected, the device connection unit 404 acquires device information (S604). Alternatively, it is possible to acquire connection information such as an IP address by performing short-range wireless communication with NFC or BLE provided in the image forming device 104, and then search for the image forming device 104 using the acquired connection information to acquire device information. Here, the device information is, for example, identification information such as the MAC address and device name of the image forming device, but may also include capability information such as color information and supported format information.

[0054] In step S605, the device connection unit 404 starts a connection with the image forming device 104 based on the acquired device information, and the process ends.

[0055] The data processing device 101 that has started connection with the image forming device 104 can use the application 401 to issue job instructions to the image forming device, such as copying, printing, or sending a scanned image.

[0056] In addition, since the image forming device is searched for when the target device area 802 is pressed, it is possible to select the image forming device to which the job information is to be sent after previously setting up the job on the "Send to me" setting screen 811 on the application 401, etc. In other words, it is possible to determine the device to which the job information is to be sent after selecting the function to be used. This reduces the time required to communicate with the image forming device.

[0057] FIG. 10 shows an example of a screen displayed on the operation unit 307 of the image forming apparatus 104. In FIG.

[0058] 10(a) shows a PIN code screen 1001. This screen is displayed when, for example, "scan and send" job information is received from the data processing device 101. To ensure that the user of the data processing device 101 is in front of the image forming device 104, the user is prompted to enter the PIN code displayed on the PIN code screen 1001 on the data processing device 101. A cancel button 1002 is used to cancel the job.

[0059] 10B shows a home screen 1010. This screen is displayed when, for example, authentication using user information entered on a login information input screen (not shown) is successful and the user logs in to the image forming apparatus 104.

[0060] The home screen 1010 is a screen that displays a list of functions possessed by the image forming apparatus 104, and is a screen on which the user can select a function that he or she wishes to use. The copy button 1011 is a button for executing the copy function, and when pressed, transitions to a copy settings screen (not shown). The "scan and send" button 1012 is a button for executing a function of sending a scanned image to a set destination. When the "scan and send" button 1012 is pressed, transitions to a "scan and send" settings screen 1020. The fax button 1013 is a button for executing the fax function, and when pressed, transitions to a fax settings screen (not shown).

[0061] FIG. 10(c) is a diagram showing a screen for the "scan and send" function of the image forming apparatus 104. The "scan and send" setting screen 1020 is a screen for setting the destination for scanning and sending images. The destination field 1021 displays the destination that has already been set. The scan setting area 1022 is an area for setting scan settings, and each setting can be made by pressing each button. When the start button is pressed, processing is executed according to the settings made on the "scan and send" setting screen 1020.

[0062] Figure 10(d) shows an example of a home screen when function usage restrictions are set. Here, home screen 1030 is shown when "UserA" shown in Figure 11 logs in. "UserA" can use the "Copy" and "Scan and Send" functions, but cannot use the "FAX" function, so the FAX button 1013 is grayed out. Therefore, the FAX function cannot be used by selecting the FAX button 1013.

[0063] When the image forming apparatus 104 receives "scan and send" job information from the data processing apparatus 101, it first displays a PIN code screen 1001. If the PIN code entered on the data processing apparatus 101 is correct, it performs local login using the user information included in the received job information, displays a "scan and send" setting screen 1020, etc., and executes the "scan and send" job. Here, local login refers to a login that allows a user to monopolize operations on the operation panel of the image forming apparatus 104. For example, it allows a user to enter user information, etc. on the operation panel of the image forming apparatus, and performs authentication to enable access to various resources. While a user is locally logged in, other users cannot log in locally and cannot operate the operation panel. Hereinafter, "login" refers to local login unless otherwise specified.

[0064] Here, "UserB" shown in Fig. 11 is prohibited from using the "scan and send" function. When "UserB" uses application 401 to send "scan and send" job information to image forming apparatus 104, the PIN code is entered before logging in to the image forming apparatus, and it is determined that the job cannot be executed after logging in, resulting in an error. This is cumbersome because the user is required to enter a PIN code unnecessarily. Therefore, in this embodiment, it is possible to notify the user of an error due to usage restrictions before logging in and requesting entry of a PIN code.

[0065] The job execution instruction processing executed by the data processing device 101 of this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the job execution instruction processing, which is realized by the CPU 202 of the data processing device 101 reading out into the RAM 204 a program for implementing each control module stored in the ROM 203 or the storage device 209 and executing it.

[0066] In step S701, the UI control unit 402 accepts job settings from the user. For example, settings related to scanning and destination are accepted on a "send to me" settings screen 811.

[0067] In step S702, the UI control unit 402 receives an instruction to send job information from the user, specifically, by pressing the execute button 814.

[0068] In step S703, the device connection unit 404 acquires user information such as the user name and password stored in the authentication setting management unit 403, and requests remote authentication from the image forming apparatus 104. The user information acquired here is included in job information, which will be described later. The image forming apparatus 104 making the remote authentication request is the one that has already been connected in the connection processing of FIG. 6. Remote authentication is authentication for permitting the start of communication between the data processing apparatus 101 and the image forming apparatus 104. If the authentication is successful, the image forming apparatus 104 becomes able to receive job information from the data processing apparatus 101.

[0069] In step S704, the device connection unit 404 determines whether the remote authentication was successful, and if successful, proceeds to step S705, otherwise proceeds to step S720 and displays an error screen (for example, job error screen 831). Whether the remote authentication was successful is determined based on the response sent from the image forming apparatus 104.

[0070] In step S705, the job control unit 407 transmits job information to the image forming apparatus 104. The job information includes setting information accepted on the setting screen 811, user information, information indicating the functions to be used, and the like.

[0071] In step S706, the job control unit 407 acquires from the image forming apparatus 104 whether the job transmitted in step S705 can be executed. The image forming apparatus 104 refers to the usage authority management table 1101 in Fig. 11, for example, to identify functions that can be used by the user corresponding to the user information included in the received job information. Then, it is determined whether the functions corresponding to the job information can be used.

[0072] In step S707, the job control unit 407 proceeds to S708 if the job is executable based on the job execution propriety information acquired in step S706, and if not, proceeds to S720 and displays an error screen.

[0073] In step S708, the UI control unit 402 displays the PIN code entry screen 821 on the display 214 and accepts the PIN code entry from the user.

[0074] In S709, the UI control unit 402 determines whether or not it has received a user press of the OK button 823. If it has received a user press of the OK button 823, the process proceeds to S710, and if it has received a user press of the cancel button 824, the process ends.

[0075] In step S710, the device connection unit 404 transmits the PIN code received on the PIN code input screen 821 to the image forming apparatus 104.

[0076] In step S711, the job control unit 407 obtains information from the image forming apparatus 104 indicating whether authentication using the transmitted PIN code was successful or not, and if authentication was successful, proceeds to step S712; if not, proceeds to step S720.

[0077] In step S712, the UI control unit 402 notifies the user that the job information has been sent.

[0078] By performing the processing in the above flowchart, if a user issues an instruction to execute a job that uses a function that the user cannot use, an error notification can be displayed before the user is prompted to enter a PIN code, eliminating the need for unnecessary operations. Furthermore, by simply pressing the Execute button 814, remote authentication, a determination as to whether the function can be used, and job information transmission processing can proceed, improving usability.

[0079] In the processing of the above flowchart, job execution availability information is acquired from the image forming apparatus 104, but the data processing apparatus 101 may be configured to determine whether the job can be executed. In this case, the data processing apparatus 101 acquires in advance from the image forming apparatus 104 functions that the user can use.

[0080] In the above flowchart, the job information is sent in S705, and then the execution possibility of the job is determined in S706. However, the execution possibility information of the job may be acquired before sending the job information, and if the job cannot be executed, the job information may not be sent. In this case, the data processing apparatus 101 sends user information and information on the functions to be used to the image forming apparatus 104 before sending the job information, and determines the execution possibility of the job based on the response.

[0081] 9 is a flowchart illustrating the processing from when the image forming apparatus 104 receives job information from the data processing apparatus until it executes the job, and this processing is realized by the CPU 302 of the image forming apparatus 104 reading into the RAM 303 and executing the programs for implementing each control module stored in the ROM 304 or HDD 305. Here, an example will be described in which "scan and send" job information is sent from the data processing apparatus 101.

[0082] In step S901, the network control unit 505 receives a remote authentication request transmitted from the data processing device 101 via the network 103. This corresponds to the processing of the data processing device 101 in step S703.

[0083] In step S902, the authentication control unit 503 executes remote authentication.

[0084] In step S903, the authentication control unit 503 determines whether the remote authentication was successful, and if successful, proceeds to step S905, otherwise proceeds to step S904 and notifies an error to the data processing device 101. If the remote authentication was successful, the device may be configured not to accept instructions from devices other than the data processing device 101 via the network 103.

[0085] In step S905, the network control unit 505 notifies the data processing apparatus 101 of the success of the remote authentication, and receives the job information transmitted from the data processing apparatus 101 via the network 103.

[0086] In step S906, the job control unit 506 acquires the specified function information and user information from the job information received in S905, and stores them in the RAM 303. Here, an example has been shown in which user information included in the job information is acquired, but the present invention is not limited to this, and user information used in remote authentication may also be acquired.

[0087] In step S907, the job control unit 506 determines whether the user corresponding to the acquired user information can use the specified function. For example, when job information including the user information of "User B" is received, if the specified function is "copy," it is determined that the function can be used, and if the specified function is "scan and send," it is determined that the function cannot be used. These determinations are made based on the usage authority management table 1101 in FIG. 11.

[0088] In step S908, the job control unit 506 transmits a message to the data processing device 101 via the network control unit 503 indicating that the specified function cannot be used, and the process ends. At this time, the data processing device 101 may display a message indicating that the image forming device 104 has set a restriction on the use of the function.

[0089] In step S909, the job control unit 506 transmits to the data processing apparatus 101 via the network control unit 503 information that the specified function is available for use.

[0090] In step S910, the UI control unit 502 displays the PIN code screen 1001 on the operation unit 307.

[0091] In step S911, the job control unit 506 determines whether or not the PIN code transmitted from the data processing device 101 has been received. If so, the process proceeds to step S912; otherwise, the process returns to step S910.

[0092] In step S912, the job control unit 506 determines whether the PIN code transmitted from the data processing device 101 matches the one displayed on the operation unit 307. If the PIN codes match, the process proceeds to step S914. If they do not match, the process proceeds to step S913, where the job control unit 506 notifies the data processing device 101 via the network 103 that the authentication codes do not match, and the process ends.

[0093] In step S914, the job control unit 506 notifies the data processing apparatus 101 via the network 103 that authentication using the PIN code has been successful.

[0094] In step S915, the authentication control unit 503 performs authentication for local login using the user information acquired in step S906, and executes login processing. At this time, the UI control unit 502 may display the home screen 1010 or the "scan and send" setting screen 1020 after login.

[0095] In step S916, the job control unit 506 executes the job based on the job information received in step S905. In this embodiment, the job information includes the scan settings for scanning and the destination to which the scanned image is to be sent by email, and the image is scanned based on this information and sent by email to the specified destination.

[0096] Through the above process, the image forming apparatus 104 determines whether the user who sent the job information has the authority to execute the job before performing the login process and before displaying the PIN code screen. Therefore, a user who cannot execute the job is not required to enter a PIN code. Furthermore, because a user who cannot execute the job is not allowed to log in to the image forming apparatus 104, the operation panel of the image forming apparatus 104 is not unnecessarily occupied.

[0097] In this embodiment, an example of executing a "scan and send" job is shown, but this is just one example, and execution may also be performed for jobs such as copy jobs, fax jobs, print jobs, etc. In this case, the user's function usage authority is determined similarly before login processing or PIN code display.

[0098] In the above example, we have described a case where job information is sent from a specific user, but this is not limited to this; if job information is sent from an unspecified user (for example, a guest user), it is also possible to determine the functions that the guest user can use and notify the user of an error appropriately.

[0099] (Other Examples) The present invention can also be realized by executing the following process. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or device via a network or various storage media, and the computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or device reads and executes the program. In this case, the computer program and the storage medium storing the computer program constitute the present invention.

Claims

[Claim 1] An image forming apparatus, a receiving unit for receiving job information including user information from a terminal, the job information being for executing a function of the image forming apparatus; a determining means for determining, based on user information included in the job information received by the receiving means, whether a user corresponding to the user information can use a function specified in the job information; an execution means for executing a job based on the job information when the determination means determines that the job is available; a notification means for notifying the terminal of an error when the determination means determines that the terminal is not usable; An image forming apparatus comprising:

Images