Image forming system

Abstract

To reduce the effort required for input operations. [Solution] An image forming system 100 includes at least one image forming apparatus 20 and a server 10. The image forming apparatus 20 forms an image on a recording medium P based on image data. The server 10 communicates with the image forming apparatus 20 via a network 30 and collects print settings indicating settings related to image formation by the image forming apparatus 20. The server 10 includes a collection unit 111, an identification unit 112, and a notification unit 113. The collection unit 111 collects print settings for each different setting content. The identification unit 112 identifies, from the collected print settings, the print setting with the highest number of uses, indicating the number of times the print setting has been used, as a typical print setting. The notification unit 113 notifies the image forming apparatus 20 of the identified typical print setting. When forming an image on a recording medium P, the image forming apparatus 20 applies the typical print setting notified by the server 10.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming system. [Background technology]

[0002] The 3D printer in Patent Document 1 can query and apply hardware and software properties to select a directly printable model appropriate for the printer or to identify situations where a new machine-compatible model needs to be generated. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent No. 1,159,965 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Generally, when printing using a printer, the user is required to input print settings.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming system that can reduce the effort required for input operations. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An image forming system according to the present invention includes at least one image forming apparatus and a collection apparatus. The image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording medium based on image data. The collection apparatus communicates with the image forming apparatus via a network and collects print settings indicating settings related to image formation by the image forming apparatus. The collection apparatus includes a collection unit, an identification unit, and a notification unit. The collection unit collects the print settings for each different setting. The identification unit identifies, among the collected print settings, the print setting with the highest number of uses indicating the number of times the print setting has been used as a typical print setting. The notification unit notifies the image forming apparatus of the identified typical print setting. When forming an image on the recording medium, the image forming apparatus applies the typical print setting notified by the collection device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the effort required for input operations. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing print setting information used in the image forming system. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing other print setting information used in the image forming system. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a list image in the image forming system. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing another list image in the image forming system. [Figure 6] 5 is a flowchart illustrating a print setting method according to the present embodiment. [Figure 7] 5 is a flowchart illustrating a print setting method according to the present embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference characters and description thereof will not be repeated.

[0010] The configuration of an image forming system 100 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the image forming system 100 according to this embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1, the image forming system 100 includes a server 10 and one or more image forming apparatuses 20. As an example, the image forming system 100 according to this embodiment includes three image forming apparatuses 20A, 20B, and 20C.

[0011] The server 10 and each of the image forming devices 20A, 20B, and 20C can communicate with each other via the network 30. Specifically, the server 10 and each of the image forming devices 20A, 20B, and 20C transmit and receive information to and from each other via the network 30.

[0012] The image forming device 20 forms an image on a recording medium P such as paper based on image data. The image forming device 20 includes a control unit 21, a communication unit 22, a storage unit 23, an image forming unit 24, a display unit 25, and a reception unit 26.

[0013] The image forming unit 24 forms an image on the recording medium P. The image forming unit 24 forms an image on the recording medium P by, for example, a so-called "electrophotographic method."

[0014] The control unit 21 includes a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The storage unit 23 includes a storage device such as a semiconductor memory or an HDD (Hard Disk Drive). The storage unit 23 stores various data and control programs. The various data includes image data.

[0015] The processor of the control unit 21 executes a control program stored in the storage unit 23 to control the communication unit 22, the image forming unit 24, the display unit 25, and the reception unit 26.

[0016] The display unit 25 is, for example, a liquid crystal display device, and displays an operation input screen. The operation input screen is a screen for inputting various operations. The reception unit 26 receives operation inputs from the user. For example, the display unit 25 and the reception unit 26 are integrally formed as a touch panel. In this case, the reception unit 26 is a touch sensor, and detects a touch position on the display unit 25. The touch position is the position where the user touches the screen of the display unit 25. Therefore, the user can input operations by touching the operation input screen displayed on the display unit 25. Note that the reception unit 26 is not limited to a touch panel, and may be a physical key provided separately from the display unit 25.

[0017] The communication unit 22 is a communication port to which a communication cable is connected, or a wireless module capable of wireless communication based on a predetermined communication standard. The control unit 21 is connected to the network 30 via the communication unit 22, and transmits and receives information to and from the server 10.

[0018] For example, in the image forming apparatus 20A, when the receiving unit 26 receives an image formation instruction to form an image on the recording medium P, the control unit 21 controls the image forming unit 24 to form the image on the recording medium P in accordance with the image formation instruction.

[0019] The image formation instruction includes print settings that indicate the settings related to image formation. The settings include setting items such as paper size, paper orientation, and color. When the user inputs the details for each setting item via the reception unit 26, the setting contents are determined. Hereinafter, the print settings including the determined setting contents will be referred to as print setting A.

[0020] In this embodiment, when the image forming unit 24 forms an image, the control unit 21 transmits print settings to the server 10. Typically, when the control unit 21 controls the image forming unit 24 to form an image on the recording medium P, the control unit 21 acquires print settings A included in the image formation instruction. The control unit 21 transmits a signal including the acquired print settings A to the server 10 via the communication unit 22 and the network 30.

[0021] The server 10 manages the image forming system 100 and collects information related to the image forming apparatus 20. The server 10 is an example of a collection device. The server 10 includes a control unit 11, a communication unit 12, and a memory unit 13. The control unit 11 processes information sent and received from the image forming apparatus 20 and controls the communication unit 12 and the memory unit 13. The control unit 11 includes a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The memory unit 13 includes a storage device such as a semiconductor memory or an HDD (Hard Disk Drive). The memory unit 13 stores various data including information sent and received from the image forming apparatus 20 and control programs.

[0022] The communication unit 12 is a communication port to which a communication cable is connected, or a wireless module capable of wireless communication based on a predetermined communication standard. The control unit 11 is connected to the network 30 via the communication unit 12, and transmits and receives information to and from the image forming apparatus 20.

[0023] The control unit 11 has a collection unit 111, an identification unit 112, a notification unit 113, and a determination unit 114. The processor of the control unit 11 executes a control program in the memory unit 13 to function as the collection unit 111, the identification unit 112, the notification unit 113, and the determination unit 114.

[0024] Collection unit 111 collects print settings for each different setting content. Specifically, when collection unit 111 receives a signal transmitted from image forming apparatus 20A via communication unit 12, collection unit 111 acquires print setting A included in the signal and stores it in storage unit 13.

[0025] At this time, the collection unit 111 associates the print settings with the number of times of use, which indicates the number of times the print settings have been used, and stores the associated print settings in the storage unit 13. For example, the collection unit 111 generates print setting information T1, which indicates the correspondence between the print settings and the number of times they have been used, and stores the generated print setting information in the storage unit 13.

[0026] 1 and 2, the print setting information T1 used in the image forming system 100 will be described. FIG.

[0027] When collection unit 111 receives a signal transmitted from image forming apparatus 20A via communication unit 12, it determines whether print settings including the same setting content as print setting A included in the received signal are already stored in storage unit 13. Specifically, collection unit 111 references print setting information T1 in storage unit 13, and if print setting information T1 is not stored in storage unit 13, it generates print setting information T1 that associates print setting A with the number of times of use "1" and stores it in storage unit 13.

[0028] Alternatively, if print setting A is not included in the print setting information T1 stored in the memory unit 13, the collection unit 111 adds a correspondence between print setting A and the number of uses "1" to the print setting information T1 and updates the print setting information T1.

[0029] On the other hand, if print setting information T1 includes print setting A, collection unit 111 updates print setting information T1 by incrementing the number of times of use associated with the print setting by "1."

[0030] 2 shows an example of print setting information T1 generated in this way. For example, print setting A has been used 20 times, print setting B has been used 8 times, and print setting C has been used 10 times. Print setting A, print setting B, and print setting C have different setting contents.

[0031] The identification unit 112 identifies the print setting that has been used the most frequently among the collected print settings as the typical print setting. Specifically, the identification unit 112 determines the print setting that has been used the most frequently among the print settings included in the print setting information T1 as the typical print setting based on the print setting information T1. In the example of Fig. 2, the identification unit 112 determines the print setting A that has been used the most frequently among print settings A, print setting B, and print setting C as the typical print setting.

[0032] In a state where the typical print settings have been determined, for example, when the image forming apparatus 20B receives an image formation instruction, the notification unit 113 notifies the image forming apparatus 20B of the typical print settings identified by the identification unit 112.

[0033] Specifically, in image forming device 20B, when reception unit 26 receives an image formation instruction to form an image on recording medium P, control unit 21 generates a signal including information J1 indicating that the image formation instruction has been received, and transmits the signal to server 10 via communication unit 22 and network 30 before controlling image forming unit 24 to form an image on recording medium P.

[0034] When control unit 11 of server 10 receives a signal transmitted from image forming apparatus 20B via communication unit 12, it acquires information J1 included in the received signal. When control unit 11 acquires information J1, notification unit 113 refers to print setting information T1 in storage unit 13 and acquires print setting A, which is the typical print setting identified by identification unit 112, from print setting information T1.

[0035] The notification unit 113 generates a signal including the acquired print setting A, and transmits the signal to the image forming apparatus 20B via the communication unit 12 and the network 30.

[0036] When control unit 21 of image forming apparatus 20B receives the signal transmitted from server 10 via communication unit 22, it acquires print setting A included in the received signal. Control unit 21 controls image forming unit 24 to form an image on recording medium P by applying print setting A.

[0037] In the image forming system 100, by identifying and notifying the typical print settings, it is possible to omit the input of print settings by the user when forming an image on a recording medium. Therefore, in the image forming system 100, it is possible to reduce the effort required for input operations to the image forming apparatus 20.

[0038] Furthermore, the typical print settings are the print settings that are used most frequently among the multiple print settings, and are therefore often print settings that are optimized for the recording medium P on which the image is formed. This reduces the possibility that an image will be formed using print settings that are difficult to match with the recording medium P.

[0039] Typically, the identification unit 112 identifies typical print settings for each type of image data. Specifically, when the image forming device 20 transmits print settings, the control unit 21 of the image forming device 20 associates the print settings with the type of image data indicating the image to be formed on the recording medium P and includes them in a signal. This allows the typical print settings to be selected according to the type of image data. This makes it easier to apply print settings suitable for each type of image data.

[0040] When the collection unit 111 of the server 10 receives a signal via the communication unit 12, it acquires the print settings and type of image data contained in the received signal, and generates or updates print setting information T1 as a correspondence between the type of image data, print settings, and number of uses.

[0041] In the example of FIG. 2, print settings A and B are print settings that correspond to image data whose type is "document." Print setting C is a print setting that corresponds to image data whose type is "photo." In this case, of print settings A and B that correspond to image data whose type is "document," the specification unit 112 determines print setting A, which has been used the most, as the typical print setting. Furthermore, of print settings that correspond to image data whose type is "photo," the specification unit 112 determines print setting C, which has been used the most, as the typical print setting.

[0042] On the other hand, when the image forming apparatus 20 transmits to the server 10 a signal including information J1 indicating that it has received an image formation instruction, the control unit 21 includes information indicating the type of image data in the information J1. In this case, the notification unit 113 selects the corresponding typical print setting based on the type of image data included in the information J1.

[0043] For example, the identification unit 112 identifies a typical print setting from among print settings that have been used a predetermined number of times or more. As an example, the identification unit 112 identifies a typical print setting from among print settings that have been used 15 times or more. In the example of FIG. 2, print setting A, which is a typical print setting corresponding to "Document," has been used 20 times, which is 15 times or more, and is therefore determined by the identification unit 112 as the typical print setting. On the other hand, print setting C, which is a typical print setting corresponding to "Photo," has been used 9 times, which is less than 15 times, and is therefore not determined by the identification unit 112 as the typical print setting. In this way, by narrowing down the typical print setting to print settings that have been used a predetermined number of times or more, infrequently used print settings are not applied, and it becomes easier to apply a print setting that is suitable for the image data. Note that the number of uses that determines whether or not to identify a typical print setting may be a different number for each type of image data, or a uniform number regardless of the type of image data.

[0044] [Variation 1] Next, a first modification of the typical print settings will be described with reference to Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a diagram showing print setting information T2 used in the image forming system 100.

[0045] Print setting information T2 indicates the number of users of a print setting instead of the number of times it has been used, and the correspondence between the print setting and the print setting. For example, print setting A has been used by 10 people, print setting B has been used by 5 people, and print setting C has been used by 3 people.

[0046] When the image forming apparatus 20 transmits the print settings, the control unit 21 of the image forming apparatus 20 associates the print settings with identification information for identifying the user, such as a login ID, and includes the associated information in the signal.

[0047] When the collection unit 111 of the server 10 receives a signal via the communication unit 12, it acquires, for example, print setting A and identification information contained in the received signal, stores print setting A in the memory unit 13, and also stores information indicating the combination of print setting A and the identification information in the memory unit 13.

[0048] Furthermore, the collection unit 111 references the print setting information T2 and determines whether print setting A is included in the print setting information T2. ​​If print setting A is included in the print setting information T2, the collection unit 111 references the storage unit 13 and identifies the identification information associated with print setting A. If the identified identification information matches the identification information included in the received signal, the collection unit 111 does not increase the number of users of the print setting corresponding to the print setting information T2. ​​On the other hand, if the identified identification information differs from the identification information included in the received signal, the collection unit 111 increases the number of users of the print setting corresponding to the print setting information T2 by "1."

[0049] For example, the specification unit 112 specifies typical print settings from among print settings used by a predetermined number of users or more. This prevents print settings used by a small number of users from being applied, making it easier to apply print settings suitable for image data.

[0050] [Variation 2] In this embodiment, the notification unit 113 notifies the image forming apparatus of print settings whose setting contents are different from each other. The print settings whose setting contents are different from each other may include a typical print setting. Typically, when the image forming apparatus 20 forms an image, the notification unit 113 transmits print setting information T1 or print setting information T2 to the image forming apparatus 20 instead of transmitting the typical print setting to the image forming apparatus 20.

[0051] When the control unit 21 of the image forming apparatus 20 receives the print setting information T1 or T2, it generates a list image V1 showing a list of print settings based on the print setting information T1 or T2. The control unit 21 controls the display unit 25 to display the generated list image V1. This allows the user to visually confirm print settings that have been used in the image forming system 100. This makes it easy for the user to determine the appropriateness of the print settings.

[0052] Next, the list image V1 will be described with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing the list image V1 in the image forming system 100. The list image V1 shown in Fig. 4 is generated based on the print setting information T1.

[0053] 4, list image V1 includes operation buttons B1, B2, and B3 in addition to an image showing print setting information T1. Operation buttons B1, B2, and B3 are arranged in positions corresponding to print setting A, print setting B, and print setting C, respectively. In addition, marking M1 indicating a typical print setting is added to the image showing print setting information T1. Marking M1 is arranged in a position corresponding to print setting A, which is the typical print setting.

[0054] Operation buttons B1, B2, and B3 are buttons that switch between applying and canceling the corresponding print settings. When operation buttons B1, B2, and B3 are touched, the corresponding print settings are switched between applying and canceling. When the corresponding print settings are applied, the operation buttons B1, B2, and B3 display the word "Cancel," and when the corresponding print settings are not applied, the operation buttons B1, B2, and B3 display the word "Apply."

[0055] For example, when the operation button B1 displaying the word "Cancel" is touched on the list image V1 shown in Fig. 4, the control unit 21 cancels the application of the print setting A. In other words, when the reception unit 26 receives a touch operation on the operation button B1, the control unit 21 cancels the application of the print setting A. The touch operation on the operation button B1 displaying the word "Cancel" is an example of a cancel operation. Therefore, it is possible to easily switch between setting and canceling the typical print setting in response to a user's operation.

[0056] Furthermore, the control unit 21 controls the display unit 25 to display a request image requesting a selection operation to select one of the print settings included in the list image V1. In this embodiment, the operation buttons B1, B2, and B3 with the word "Apply" displayed are an example of a request image. Note that the operation buttons B1, B2, and B3 with the word "Apply" displayed may be displayed only when the typical print settings have been released. Therefore, the desired print settings can be easily selected from among multiple print settings in response to a user's operation.

[0057] When any of the operation buttons B1, B2, and B3 displaying the word "APPLY" is touched, the control unit 21 applies the print settings corresponding to the operation button B1, B2, and B3. Specifically, the control unit 21 generates a signal including information indicating the print settings corresponding to the touched operation button, and transmits the signal to the server 10. The touch operation on the operation button B1, B2, and B3 displaying the word "APPLY" is an example of a selection operation.

[0058] When the control unit 11 of the server 10 receives the signal transmitted from the image forming apparatus 20, it acquires information indicating the print settings contained in the signal. The control unit 11 refers to the storage unit, acquires the corresponding print settings, and transmits them to the image forming apparatus 20. The control unit 21 of the image forming apparatus 20B receives the print settings transmitted from the server 10, and controls the image forming unit 24 to form an image on the recording medium P by applying the received print settings.

[0059] Next, the list image V2 will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing the list image V2 in the image forming system 100.

[0060] The list image V2 is the same as the list image V1, except that a marking M2 is added instead of the marking M1 and the operation button B1 is not arranged. The marking M2 indicates that the setting contents of the typical print settings include certain prohibited items. The marking M2 is an example of a prohibited image.

[0061] In this embodiment, the determination unit 114 (FIG. 2) determines whether the setting contents include predetermined prohibited items. Prohibited items include, for example, exceeding the number of printed sheets or color printing. Typically, a list of prohibited items is stored in advance in the storage unit 13.

[0062] When the identification unit 112 identifies the typical print settings, the determination unit 114 compares the setting contents of the typical print settings with the list of prohibited items in the storage unit 13. If the setting contents of the typical print settings are included in the list of prohibited items, the determination unit 114 determines that the setting contents include a predetermined prohibited item, and adds information to the print setting information T1 or print setting information T2 that the setting contents of the typical print settings include a prohibited item.

[0063] The notification unit 113 transmits the print setting information T1 or the print setting information T2, to which information indicating that the setting contents of the typical print settings include prohibited items, to the image forming device 20. When the control unit 21 of the image forming device 20 receives the print setting information T1 or the print setting information T2, it generates a list image V2 showing a list of print settings based on the print setting information T1 or the print setting information T2.

[0064] Based on information indicating that the setting contents of the typical print settings, which was added to print setting information T1 or print setting information T2, include prohibited items, control unit 21 generates marking M2 and places it at a position corresponding to the typical print setting in list image V2. Furthermore, based on information indicating that the setting contents of the typical print settings, which was added to print setting information T1 or print setting information T2, include prohibited items, control unit 21 cancels the placement of operation button B1 corresponding to the typical print setting. In this way, control unit 21 controls display unit 25 to display list image V2 on which marking M2 is placed. Therefore, the user can easily determine that the setting contents of the typical print settings include prohibited items.

[0065] Note that when information indicating that the setting contents of the typical print settings include prohibited items is added to print setting information T1 or print setting information T2, control unit 21 may not only cancel the placement of operation button B1 corresponding to the typical print setting, but may also display operation button B1 in a color scheme or transparency different from those of operation buttons B2 and B3 on display unit 25. In this case, reception unit 26 does not receive a touch operation on operation button B1.

[0066] Next, a print setting method used in the image forming system 100 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 6 and Fig. 7. Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 are flowcharts showing the print setting method according to this embodiment. Fig. 7 is a continuation of Fig. 6.

[0067] When an image formation instruction to form an image on a recording medium P is input to the image forming device 20 (step S11), the image forming device 20 notifies the server 10 by sending information J1 indicating that the image formation instruction has been accepted (step S12).

[0068] The server 10 determines whether the typical print settings have been identified (step S13). If the typical print settings have been identified (Yes in step S13), the server 10 transmits the typical print settings to the image forming apparatus 20 to notify it (step S14).

[0069] When the image forming device 20 receives the typical print settings, it accepts a cancellation operation (step S15). If no cancellation operation is input to the image forming device 20 (No in step S15), the image forming device 20 applies the typical print settings (step S16). The process proceeds to step S21.

[0070] On the other hand, if a typical print setting is not identified (No in step S13), or if a cancellation operation is input to the image forming device 20 (No in step S15), the server 10 sends print setting information T1 indicating the correspondence between the print setting and the number of times of use to the image forming device 20 (step S17).

[0071] When the image forming device 20 receives the print setting information T1, it generates and displays a list image V1 showing a list of print settings based on the print setting information T1, and a request image requesting a selection operation to select one of the print settings included in the list image V1 (step S18).

[0072] When the image forming apparatus 20 accepts a selection operation for the requested image (step S19), it notifies the server 10 of the print settings corresponding to the selected requested image. The server 10 transmits the print settings notified from the image forming apparatus 20 to the image forming apparatus 20. The image forming apparatus 20 receives and applies the print settings transmitted from the server 10 (step S20).

[0073] The image forming apparatus 20 forms an image on the recording medium P (step S21). The image forming apparatus 20 transmits the print settings applied when forming the image on the recording medium P to the server 10 (step S22).

[0074] The server 10 collects the print settings transmitted from the image forming apparatus 20. The server 10 stores the print settings and increments the number of uses associated with the print settings by "1" (step S23).

[0075] The server 10 determines the number of times the print setting has been used (step S24). If the number of times the print setting has been used is equal to or greater than a predetermined number (Yes in step S24), the server 10 determines whether the number of times the print setting has been used is the most among the multiple print settings (step S25).

[0076] If the print setting has been used the most (Yes in step S25), the server 10 identifies the print setting as a typical print setting (step S26). The server 10 and the image forming device 20 wait for the input of the next image formation instruction (step S11).

[0077] On the other hand, if the number of times the print setting has been used is less than the predetermined number of times (No in step S24), or if the number of times the print setting has been used is not the most (No in step S25), the server 10 and the image forming device 20 wait for the input of the next image formation instruction (step S11).

[0078] In this embodiment, the server 10 is described as the collection device, but the collection device is not limited to the server 10. For example, any one of the multiple image forming devices 20 in the image forming system 100 may include a collection device.

[0079] The embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and can be implemented in various forms without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Furthermore, the components disclosed in the above embodiments can be modified as appropriate. For example, some of the components shown in one embodiment may be added to the components of another embodiment, or some of the components shown in one embodiment may be deleted from the embodiment.

[0080] Furthermore, the drawings mainly show each component in a schematic manner to facilitate understanding of the invention, and the thickness, length, number, spacing, etc. of each component shown in the drawings may differ from the actual ones due to the convenience of creating the drawings. Furthermore, the configuration of each component shown in the above embodiment is merely an example and is not particularly limited, and it goes without saying that various modifications are possible within a range that does not substantially deviate from the effects of the present invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0081] The present invention can be used in the field of image forming devices. [Explanation of symbols]

[0082] 10: Server 20: Image forming device 24: Image forming unit 25:Display section 26: Reception 30: Network 100: Image forming system 111: Collection Department 112: Specific part 113: Notification Department 114: Judgment section B1, B2, B3: Operation buttons M2: Marking T1: Print setting information T2: Print setting information V1: List image V2: List image

Claims

1. at least one image forming device that forms an image on a recording medium based on image data; a collection device that communicates with the image forming device via a network and collects print settings that indicate settings related to image formation by the image forming device; Equipped with The collection device a collection unit that collects the print settings for each different setting content; an identification unit that identifies, from the collected print settings, a print setting with the largest number of uses indicating the number of times the print setting has been used, as a typical print setting; a notification unit that notifies the image forming apparatus of the identified typical print settings; Equipped with The image forming system is configured such that the image forming apparatus applies the typical print settings notified by the collection apparatus when forming an image on the recording medium.

2. The image forming system according to claim 1 , wherein the specifying unit specifies the typical print settings for each type of the image data.

3. 3. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the specifying unit specifies the typical print setting from among the print settings that have been used a predetermined number of times or more.

4. 3. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the specifying unit specifies the typical print settings from among the print settings used by a predetermined number of users or more.

5. the notification unit notifies the image forming apparatus of the print settings, the print settings having different setting contents; 3. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus includes a display unit that displays a list image showing a list of the print settings, the set contents of which are different from each other.

6. the image forming apparatus further includes a reception unit that receives an operation; 6. The image forming system of claim 5, wherein when the reception unit receives a cancellation operation to not apply the typical print settings, the display unit displays a request image requesting a selection operation to select one of the print settings included in the list image.

7. The collection device a determination unit that determines whether the setting content includes a predetermined prohibited matter; The image forming system according to claim 6 , wherein when the determination unit determines that the typical print settings include the prohibition item, the display unit displays a prohibition image indicating that application of the typical print settings is prohibited.

Images