System and method for controlling the system

Abstract

To allow cooperation between cloud print services related to a tenant and a public tenant in a more suitable mode.SOLUTION: A system according to the present invention includes a CPS 103 that is connected with a client terminal 101 via a network, and a CPS 123 that is connected with an image forming apparatus 122 via a network. The CPS 103 receives a print job from the client terminal 101, requests the CPS 123 to issue a job code, and manages the job code issued by the CPS 123 and the print job in association with each other. When receiving the job code from the image forming apparatus 122, the CPS 123 transmits information indicating the print job corresponding to the job code to the CPS 103 managed in association with the job code. The CPS 103 transmits, to the CPS 103, the print job corresponding to the information transmitted from the CPS 123.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] In recent years, cloud print services, in which a print job is submitted via a network service called a cloud and the print job is transmitted to an image forming device, are becoming popular. In a printing system using such a cloud print service, an image forming device is registered in a tenant corresponding to the cloud print service, and settings related to permission to use the image forming device are made for users belonging to the tenant. In this disclosure, a tenant corresponds to a service system deployed on the cloud by a user, and has a storage area whose access is restricted to the user. For example, in the Company A tenant of a cloud print service used by Company A, employees working at Company A are registered as users, and image forming devices under the management of Company A are registered and used. This allows users of Company A to issue printing-related instructions from an in-house client terminal to the image forming device under the management of Company A, thereby causing the image forming device to print.

[0003] On the other hand, with the diversification of work styles, there is a demand for the introduction of a mechanism that enables documents stored in a client terminal within a company to be printed using an image forming device installed in a so-called public space such as a convenience store, a library, or a station. In response to such demand, a cloud print service that enables printing in a public space is also provided. This service is a cloud print service that uses a configuration generally called a public cloud, and is associated with, for example, a public tenant. In this disclosure, such a print service is also referred to as a "public print service." In some cases, the public print service performs user management based on the public tenant, and in some cases, a function that allows printing as a guest is provided regardless of the presence or absence of user management. In addition, the image forming device for printing in a public space may be registered and managed in the public print tenant.

[0004] In guest printing in a public print service, when a print job is accepted from a client terminal such as a PC or mobile terminal, a unique job code is issued for the print job, and the client terminal is notified of the job code. When a user executes printing in a public space, the user inputs the job code into an image forming device, which enables the image forming device to identify the target print job and execute printing. In addition, a function is provided that allows the user to set an expiration date for print jobs held by the public print service, and automatically delete jobs whose expiration date has passed.

[0005] In this way, for example, two use cases can be assumed for the cloud print service: "printing using an image forming device installed in a company" and "printing using an image forming device installed in a public space." One example of a specific situation in which these use cases can be applied is a situation in which a document to be printed in a public space is printed in the company beforehand to check whether there are any errors in the print settings.

[0006] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an example of a technology for enabling printing by external tenants by concealing some information, such as user account information and billing information, from external tenants and sharing only necessary information between tenants. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] JP 2018-206278 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] On the other hand, in general, a public print service stores print jobs on the public print service whose server address is publicly available, which may make it difficult for an image forming device belonging to a tenant to access the public print service, and as a result, it may become difficult to perform printing using the image forming device. On the other hand, storing duplicate print data on cloud print services corresponding to each image forming device in order to enable printing on both in-house image forming devices and image forming devices in public spaces is a waste of resources.

[0009] In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to enable collaboration between cloud print services related to tenants and public tenants in a more suitable manner. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The system according to the present invention includes a first cloud print service connected to a client terminal via a network, and a second cloud print service connected to an image forming apparatus via the network, wherein the first cloud print service includes a storage unit for storing print job data received from the client terminal, a request unit for requesting the second cloud print service to issue a job code for the print job data, a first management unit for managing the print job data in association with the job code issued by the second cloud print service, and a management unit for managing the print job data in association with the job code issued by the second cloud print service when information indicating the print job data to be stored is received from the second cloud print service. and a first transmitting means for transmitting print job data stored in the print job data storage unit to the second cloud print service, wherein the second cloud print service has a first issuing means for issuing a job code of the print job data when issuance of a job code of the print job data is requested by the requesting means of the first cloud print service, a second managing means for associating and managing the issued job code with information indicating the first cloud print service, and a second transmitting means for, when a job code is received from the image forming device, transmitting information indicating the print job data corresponding to the job code to the first cloud print service managed in association with the received job code. Effect of the Invention

[0011] According to the present invention, it is possible to link cloud print services related to a tenant and a public tenant in a more suitable manner. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a system configuration of a printing system. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of an information processing device. [Diagram 3]FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing an example of a functional configuration of an information processing device. [Figure 4] 13 is a flowchart showing an example of a process of a client terminal. [Diagram 5] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a screen presented as a UI. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a processing sequence of the printing system. [Figure 7] FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a processing sequence of the printing system. [Figure 8] FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a processing sequence of the printing system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this specification and the drawings, components having substantially the same functional configurations are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

[0014] <System configuration> An example of the system configuration of a printing system according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1. The system shown in Fig. 1 includes CPSs (Cloud Print Services) 103, 113, and 123. CPS 103 typically represents a cloud print service that can be used by users (e.g., employees) under the management of company A. Also, client terminal 101 and image forming device 102 typically represent a client terminal and an image forming device under the management of company A. In other words, each of CPS 103, client terminal 101, and image forming device 102 is associated with a tenant of company A. Similarly, the CPS 113, the client terminal 111, and the image forming device 113 are each associated with a tenant of company B that is different from the tenant of company A. Moreover, CPS 123 typically indicates a cloud print service using a public cloud. Moreover, image forming apparatus 122 typically indicates an image forming apparatus available in a public space. In other words, each of CPS 123 and image forming apparatus 122 is associated with a public tenant. Each of the CPS 103 and the CPS 113 corresponds to an example of a "first cloud print service." Furthermore, the CPS 123 corresponds to an example of a "second cloud print service."

[0015] With this configuration, for example, when CPS 103 receives a request for print job data (hereinafter also simply referred to as a "print job") from client terminal 101, it transmits the print job to image forming device 102. When image forming device 102 receives the print job from CPS 103, it executes printing based on the print job. Similar processing can also be applied between client terminal 111, CPS 113, and image forming device 112. In the following description, for convenience, the tenants of company A and company B will be collectively referred to as “intra-company tenants.” In addition, there may be multiple client terminals 101, client terminals 111, image forming apparatuses 102, and image forming apparatuses 112.

[0016] Furthermore, when the CPS 103 is instructed by the client terminal 101 to permit "printing in public space", the CPS 103 transmits job information and tenant information to the CPS 123 and requests the CPS 123 to issue a job code, which is a unique identification code for the print job. The job information is information about the job (e.g., a print job, etc.). The tenant information is information about the tenant associated with the CPS 103 (in this case, information about company A). Similar processing can also be applied between the client terminal 111, the CPS 113, and the CPS 123.

[0017] The CP 123 receives information related to a print job from the CPS 103 or the CPS 113, and issues a job code. The information related to the print job may include, for example, tenant information related to a tenant associated with the CPS 103 or the CPS 113 that is the sender of the print job, and job information related to the print job (for example, the expiration date of the print job, etc.). Thereafter, when the CPS 123 receives a print job request and a job code from the image forming apparatus 122 , the CPS 123 obtains a print job corresponding to the job code from the CPS 103 or CPS 113 and transmits the print job to the image forming apparatus 122 .

[0018] The above-mentioned components are connected to each other so as to be able to communicate with each other via a predetermined network 100. The type of network 100 is not particularly limited as long as data can be transmitted and received between the above-mentioned components. As a specific example, the network 100 may be any of the Internet, a LAN, a WAN, a telephone line, a dedicated digital line, an ATM, and the like, or a combination of these.

[0019] In this embodiment, the CPSs 103 and 113 are realized as separate cloud print services, with each CPS playing a role corresponding to an internal tenant, and the CPS 123 playing a role corresponding to a public tenant. Meanwhile, the configuration shown in FIG. 1 is merely an example, and does not necessarily limit the system configuration of the printing system according to this embodiment. As a specific example, at least one of the CPSs 103 and 113 may also play the role of the CPS 123. As another example, the CPS 124 may also play the role of at least one of the CPSs 103 and 113. In this way, the functions of two or more cloud print services among the series of cloud print services shown in FIG. 1 may be realized by one cloud print service.

[0020] <Hardware configuration> An example of a hardware configuration of an information processing device 200 constituting a system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIG. 2. The information processing device 200 according to this embodiment includes a central processing unit (CPU) 201, a random access memory (RAM) 203, and a read only memory (ROM) 202. The information processing device 200 also includes an auxiliary storage device 204 and a network I / F 207. The information processing device 200 may also include at least one of an input device 205 and an output device 206. The CPU 201, the RAM 202, the ROM 203, the auxiliary storage device 204, the input device 205, the output device 206, and the network I / F 207 are each connected to one another via a bus 208.

[0021] The CPU 201 is a central processing unit that controls various operations of the information processing device 200. For example, the CPU 201 may control the operation of the information processing device 200 as a whole. The RAM 202 is a main storage memory for the CPU 201, and is used as a work area or a temporary storage area for developing various programs. The ROM 203 stores a program (eg, BIOS) for the CPU 201 to control the operation of the information processing device 200.

[0022] The auxiliary storage device 204 stores various data and programs such as an OS (Operating System) which is basic software, various applications, etc. The auxiliary storage device 204 can be realized by, for example, a non-volatile memory such as a HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or a SDD (Solid State Drive).

[0023] The network I / F 207 is an interface that is connected to a predetermined network (for example, a LAN or the Internet) and is used to communicate with external devices via the network.

[0024] The input device 205 is a device for receiving instructions from a user, and may be realized by, for example, an operation device such as a pointing device such as a mouse, a keyboard, or a touch panel. The output device 206 is a device for presenting various information to a user. The output device 206 can be realized by a display device such as a display that presents information to a user by displaying various display information, screens, etc.

[0025] The above-mentioned configuration is merely an example, and does not necessarily limit the hardware configuration of the information processing device 200. As a specific example, some of the components of the information processing device 200 described above (for example, at least one of the input device 205 and the output device 206) may be externally attached to the outside of the information processing device 200. In addition, the functional configuration described later with reference to Figure 3 and the processing described later with reference to Figures 4, 6, 7, and 8 are realized by a desired information processing device 200 expanding a program stored in ROM 203 or auxiliary storage device 204 into RAM 202 and executing it.

[0026] <Functional configuration> 3, an example of the functional configuration of an information processing device constituting the printing system according to this embodiment will be described, focusing in particular on the configuration related to the provision of each of CPSs 103, 113, and 123. Note that each of CPSs 103, 113, and 123 may be provided by different information processing devices, or multiple CPSs may be provided by one information processing device. Note that in the following description, for convenience, the description will be focused on the case where information processing device 300 executes various processes related to the provision of CPS 103, but the description will be substantially similar in the case where each of CPSs 113 and CPS 123 is provided.

[0027] The information processing apparatus 300 includes a setting management unit 301 , a job management unit 302 , a communication unit 303 , an authentication control unit 304 , a storage unit 305 , and a UI control unit 306 .

[0028] The setting management unit 301 holds setting information related to various functions of the CPS 103 by storing it in a predetermined storage area (e.g., the RAM 203, the auxiliary storage device 204, etc.), and reads the setting information from the storage area at a desired opportunity. The setting information includes, for example, tenant information and job information related to an input print job (e.g., the expiration date of the print job, etc.).

[0029] For example, Tables A and B shown below show an example of setting information for a cloud print service. Specifically, Table A shows an example of setting information for an internal tenant (e.g., a tenant of Company A). Furthermore, Table B shows an example of setting information for a public tenant.

[0030] [Table 1]

[0031] First, an example of in-house tenant setting information shown as Table A will be described. "Own tenant information" is information for identifying an internal tenant (e.g., a tenant of company A), and for example, information such as a URL may be set. In the example shown in Table A, "http: / / companyA.com" is set as the own tenant information. Note that the type of information set as the own tenant information is not particularly limited as long as it is possible to identify an internal tenant, and for example, an identifier such as a tenant ID may be set.

[0032] The "public tenant information" is information for identifying a public tenant that is used as a job destination by a cloud print service associated with an internal tenant, and information such as a URL may be set. In the example shown in Table A, "http: / / public.com" is set as the public tenant information. The type of information set as the public tenant information is not particularly limited as long as it is possible to identify the public tenant, and an identifier such as a tenant ID may be set.

[0033] "Job expiration information" is an example of job information, and is information indicating the expiration date of a print job held by an in-house tenant. In the example shown in Table A, "3 days" is set as the job expiration information. This setting value makes it possible to set the period for which print jobs are to be held for each tenant.

[0034] Next, an example of setting information for a public tenant, shown as Table B, will be described. The "own tenant information" is information for identifying a public tenant, and for example, information such as a URL may be set. In the example shown in Table B, "http: / / public.com" is set as the own tenant information. Note that the type of information set as the own tenant information is not particularly limited as long as it is possible to identify a public tenant, similar to the example of the internal tenant shown in Table A.

[0035] "Job expiration date information" is an example of job information, and is information indicating the expiration date of a print job held by the public tenant. In the example shown in Table B, "7 days" is set as the job expiration date information. This setting value is the expiration date of information related to a print job held by the public tenant, and is a setting value that is commonly applied to each tenant, such as the tenant of company A and the tenant of company B. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the expiration date of a print job in an in-house tenant is set to be shorter than the expiration date of information related to the print job in a public tenant.

[0036] The job management unit 302 acquires information related to a job (e.g., a print job) from another device (e.g., the client terminals 101 and 111, etc.) and stores the information in a predetermined storage area (e.g., the storage unit 305, etc.). The job management unit 302 may also acquire information related to a job (e.g., a print job) from a cloud print service (e.g., the CPSs 103 and 113, etc.) and store the information in a predetermined storage area. The job management unit 302 corresponding to the CPS 103 or 113 may determine whether or not the print job received from another device (e.g., the client terminals 101 and 111) is permitted to be "printed in a public space." The job management unit 302 may also issue permission information related to the execution of the job. The job management unit 302 corresponding to the CPS 123 may issue a job code when information related to a job (e.g., a print job) is received from the CPS 103 or CPS 113. Furthermore, when the job management unit 302 receives a request for a job (e.g., a print job) specifying a job code from the image forming device 122, the job management unit 302 may obtain the corresponding job from the CPS 103 or CPS 113 and transmit the job to the image forming device 122.

[0037] For example, Tables C and D shown below show examples of print jobs and information related to the print jobs that a cloud print service stores in a specified storage area. Specifically, Table C shows an example of print jobs and information related to the print jobs that a cloud print service corresponding to an internal tenant (e.g., CPS103 or CPS113) stores in a specified storage area. Table D shows an example of print job-related information that a cloud print service corresponding to a public tenant (e.g., CPS123) stores in a specified storage area.

[0038] [Table 2]

[0039] First, an example of a print job and information related to the print job stored in a predetermined storage area by a cloud print service corresponding to an internal tenant will be described, which is shown in Table C. The series of information shown in Table C is generated, for example, for each print job and stored in a predetermined storage area. For convenience, each piece of information will be described below assuming that the CPS 103 is the entity that manages the information shown in Table C.

[0040] The "job ID" is identification information (ID value) that is uniquely assigned by the CPS 103 to manage print jobs and information related to the print jobs.

[0041] "Public printing" is information that indicates whether "printing in public spaces" is permitted for print jobs submitted within the company, and is set according to the user's designation. In the example shown in Table C, "Permitted" is set as public printing.

[0042] The "job code" is a job code that is sent from CPS 123 to CPS 103 as a response when CPS 103 sends at least a part of the series of job-related information exemplified in Table C to CPS 123. This job code is used, for example, to specify a print job to be printed by image forming device 122.

[0043] The "job execution permission information" is information issued when CPS103 receives a job code from CPS123, and is notified from CPS103 to CPS123 after the job code is received. The job execution permission information is, for example, an access token, and is notified to CPS103 together with the CPS123 when the CPS123 makes a request to CPS103 to obtain a print job. This enables CPS103 to confirm whether CPS123 is appropriate as a requester of a print job.

[0044] "Job data" is data of the print job itself, for example, binary data. As a specific example, the print job data is data that complies with PDL (Page Description Language) or PDF (Portable Document Format). Furthermore, instead of the data of the print job itself, information for accessing a document stored in an external storage (for example, an address, etc.) may be set as the "job data".

[0045] "Job execution result" is information according to the result of execution of a print job by the image forming apparatus 102 or 122. In the example shown in Table C, "OK" is set as the job execution result, indicating that printing was performed normally. This job execution result is, for example, information that CPS 103 receives from CPS 123 together with the job code. If an error occurs during printing, an error code, for example, may be set as the job execution result. In addition, the job execution result may include either color printing or monochrome printing, the number of pages and the number of copies, billing information, and the like. In addition, the job execution result may include information regarding the date and time when printing was performed, the location, and the like.

[0046] Next, an example of information related to a print job stored in a predetermined storage area by a cloud print service corresponding to a public tenant will be described, which is shown in Table D. A series of information shown in Table D is generated for each unit of information related to a print job received by the CPS 123 (in other words, for each print job) and stored in a predetermined storage area.

[0047] The "job ID" is identification information (ID value) that is uniquely assigned by the CPS 123 to manage information related to a printing job.

[0048] The "job sender" is information for identifying the cloud print service (e.g., CPS 103) that sent information about the print job to CPS 123, and may be set to information such as a URL. In the example shown in Table D, "http: / / companyA.com" is set as the job sender.

[0049] "Job code" is a job code issued by CPS 123 when CPS 123 receives information related to a print job from CPS 103. CPS 123 transmits the issued job code to CPS 103. This job code corresponds to the job codes shown in Table C. That is, this job code is used, for example, to specify a print job to be printed by image forming device 122.

[0050] "Job execution permission information" is job execution permission information notified to CPS123 by CPS103 after CPS123 transmits a job code to CPS103. The job execution permission information is, for example, an access token. This job execution permission information corresponds to the job execution permission information shown in Table C. In other words, this job execution permission information is notified to CPS103 together with the request from CPS123 to obtain a print job.

[0051] "Job execution result" is information according to the result of execution of a print job in image forming device 102 or 122. In the example shown in Table D, "OK" is set as the job execution result, indicating that printing was executed normally. This job execution result corresponds to the job execution result shown in Table C. For example, CPS 123 receives the job execution result from image forming device 122, and transmits the job execution result to CPS 103 together with the job code.

[0052] The communication unit 303 transmits and receives various data to and from other devices (e.g., the client terminals 101 and 111, and the image forming devices 102, 112, and 122, etc.). For example, the communication unit 303 may receive a print job or a job execution request from another device. The communication unit 303 may also receive various processing requests from other cloud print services and transmit information according to the processing results to the cloud print service.

[0053] The authentication control unit 304 executes various processes related to user management. The authentication control unit 304 may store information about a user added in response to an instruction from a tenant administrator in a predetermined storage area (for example, the storage unit 305 described later). As another example, the authentication control unit 304 may manage information about a user by cooperating with an external authentication service.

[0054] The storage unit 305 stores various data. For example, the storage unit 305 may store various data in response to a request from the job management unit 302 or the authentication control unit 304.

[0055] The UI control unit 306 executes processing related to receiving input from a user and outputting a UI for realizing presentation of various information to a user in response to a request from another device (for example, the client terminals 101 and 111, and the image forming devices 102, 112, and 122, etc.). As a specific example, the UI control unit 306 may generate a screen, which will be described later with reference to FIG. 5, in response to a request from a browser operating on the client terminal 101, and transmit the screen (or data related to the output of the screen) to the client terminal 101 via the communication unit 303. As a result, the screen generated by the UI control unit 306 is presented to the user via the browser operating on the client terminal 101.

[0056] <Processing> An example of the processing of the printing system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. First, an example of processing related to the submission of a print job by a client terminal (for example, client terminals 101, 111, etc.) will be described with reference to Fig. 4 and Fig. 5. Note that, hereinafter, for convenience, an example of processing by the client terminal 101 when the client terminal 101 transmits a print job to the CPS 103 will be described with a focus on a tenant of company A.

[0057] 4 is executed in response to, for example, instructions from a user via a display device or input device of the client terminal 101, instructions from a user received by an application installed in the client terminal 101, etc. In the following explanation, it is assumed that a browser is used to receive instructions from a user. Specifically, the top screen of a UI related to the use of CPS 103 is displayed based on the URL "http: / / companyA.com" corresponding to CPS 103 that is entered in the URL input field of the browser.

[0058] For example, a screen 500 shown in Fig. 5A is an example of the top screen. The screen 500 is a screen for accepting input of information related to user authentication. The input area 501 is an area for accepting input of a user name (identification information) for identifying the user from the user. The input area 502 is an area for accepting input of a password used for authenticating the user from the user. The button 503 is a button for receiving an instruction from the user to execute user authentication based on the user name input in the input area 501 and the password input in the input area 502. In contrast, the button 504 is a button for receiving an instruction from the user to stop using the CPS 103.

[0059] In S401, when a user name and a password are input in input fields 501 and 502 of a screen 500 and a button 503 is pressed, the client terminal 101 transmits the user name and the password to the CPS 103. Based on the user name and password transmitted from the client terminal 101, the authentication control unit 304 of the CPS 103 executes a process for authenticating the user corresponding to the user name. At this time, the authentication control unit 304 may request a predetermined authentication service to authenticate the user. If the user authentication is successful in the process of S401, a screen 510 shown in FIG. 5(B) is presented via the browser. Specifically, the client terminal 101 accesses the CPS 103 to acquire data of the screen 510, and presents the screen 510 to the user based on the data.

[0060] Screen 510 shown in Fig. 5(B) shows an example of a menu screen for receiving instructions from the user to display a screen that serves as a user interface for using various functions. Item 511 is an item for receiving instructions from the user to display a screen associated with a function related to registering a print job. Item 512 is an item for receiving instructions from the user to display a screen associated with a function related to checking a registered print job. Item 513 is an item for receiving instructions from the user to display a screen associated with a function related to checking and changing various settings.

[0061] In S402, the client terminal 101 accepts the designation of the document to be printed from the user. Specifically, when an item 511 is designated on the screen 510 displayed in S401, the client terminal 101 accesses the CPS 103 to acquire data of a screen 520 related to job registration, and presents the screen 520 to the user based on the data. The client terminal 101 then accepts the designation of the document to be printed from the user via the screen 520.

[0062] A screen 520 shown in FIG. 5C shows an example of a screen for receiving an instruction from a user regarding the designation of a document to be printed. The input area 521 is an input area for receiving, from the user, the designation of the document to be printed. The designation of the document is received, for example, by using an input device such as a mouse pointer to drag and drop the data (file, etc.) of the target document into the input area 521. Of course, as long as it is possible to identify the data of the target document, the method of designating the data is not limited. The check box 522 is a user interface for receiving an instruction from the user regarding permission to print in a public space. Button 503 is a button for receiving an instruction from the user regarding the registration of a print job based on the information input in input area 521 and the input state of check box 522. Button 504 is a button for receiving an instruction from the user regarding the cancellation of the registration of a print job.

[0063] In S403, the client terminal 101 receives an instruction from the user via the screen 520 as to whether or not to permit "printing in a public space." As a specific example, the client terminal 101 may recognize that printing in a public space is permitted when a check is entered into the check box 522. In contrast, the client terminal 101 may recognize that printing in a public space is restricted when the check box 522 is unchecked.

[0064] In S404, the client terminal 101 accepts an instruction for registering a job based on the information entered on the screen 520. Specifically, when the button 523 is pressed, the client terminal 101 transmits the information entered in the input area 521 and information corresponding to the input state of the check box 522 to the CPS 103. This requests the CPS 103 to register a job. Note that if printing in a public space is permitted by entering a check in the check box 522, a series of processes shown in FIG. 6 is executed. On the other hand, if printing in a public space is restricted by unchecking the check box 522, a series of processes shown in FIG. 7 is executed.

[0065] A screen 530 shown in FIG. 5(D) shows an example of a screen related to a notification of a job code, which will be described later, and is presented to a user by the client terminal 101 in the process of S608 or S708, which will be described later. The screen 530 may be presented to a user via a medium such as an email, for example. The issued job code is presented on the screen 530. In addition to the job code, the screen 530 may also present, for example, the expiration date of the print job and the file name of the document specified via the screen 520. For the expiration date, for example, the date on which the shorter number of days has passed from the date on which the process related to the job registration shown in FIG. 4 was executed is presented as the "job expiration date information" in Table A or Table B. As a specific example, in the example shown in FIG. 5(D), the print job is submitted on December 1, 2020, and December 4, 2020, three days later (the expiration date shown in Table A), is set as the expiration date of the print job.

[0066] Next, an example of a processing sequence between the client terminal 101, CPS 103, CPS 123, and image forming device 122 when printing in a public space is permitted will be described with reference to Fig. 6. The series of processes shown in Fig. 6 shows an example of a processing sequence related to "printing using an image forming device installed in a public space" that is executed when, for example, button 523 on screen 520 is pressed in S405.

[0067] In step S601, the client terminal 101 transmits information input on the screen 520 to the CPS 103, thereby registering a job based on the information in the CPS 103.

[0068] In S602, the job management unit 302 of the CPS 103 receives information about the print job from the client terminal 101, and checks whether printing in the public space is permitted based on the information. As described above, in the example shown in Fig. 6, it is assumed that printing in the public space is permitted. The job management unit 302 of the CPS 103 transmits a job code issuance request together with information on the request source to the CPS 123. Note that, as information for identifying the CPS 123 as the destination, for example, information (e.g., address, etc.) previously set as "public tenant information" in Table A can be cited. Also, the above-mentioned information on the request source corresponds to information for identifying the CPS 103 as the destination, and for example, the URL "http: / / companyA.com" of the CPS 103 can be cited. At this time, the job management unit 302 of the CPS 103 may also transmit information related to the print job received from the client terminal 101 to the CPS 123.

[0069] In S603, the job management unit 302 of the CPS 123 receives a job code issuance request from the CPS 103 and issues a job code. At this time, the job management unit 302 of the CPS 123 receives information on the request source and information related to the print job from the CPS 103, and stores the issued job code in association with the received information in the storage unit 305. For example, the information shown in Table D corresponds to an example of the information related to the print job.

[0070] In S604, the job management unit 302 of the CPS 123 transmits the job code issued in S603 to the CPS 103. In S605, the job management unit 302 of the CPS 103 receives the job code from the CPS 123 and issues job execution permission information corresponding to the job code. For example, the information shown in Table C corresponds to an example of the received job code and the issued job execution permission information. The job management unit 302 of the CPS 103 may also embed information regarding the expiration date of the target print job in the job execution permission information. The information regarding the expiration date of the print job can be set based on the job expiration date information included in the setting information of the in-house tenant shown in Table A, for example. The job management unit 302 of the CPS 103 stores this information in the storage unit 305.

[0071] In step S606, the job management unit 302 of the CPS 103 transmits the job execution permission information issued in step S605 to the CPS 123. In S607 , the job management unit 302 of the CPS 123 receives the job execution permission information from the CPS 103 , and stores the job execution permission information in the storage unit 305 .

[0072] In S608, the job management unit 302 of the CPS 103 notifies the user of the job code issued by the CPS 123. The process of S608 may be realized, for example, by sending an email notification to an email address associated with the user authenticated in S402. As another example, a screen displaying the job code may be presented to the user via the client terminal 101, thereby notifying the user of the job code.

[0073] In S609, the image forming apparatus 122 accepts input of a job code corresponding to a desired print job from the user. An example of the job code input here is the job code notified from the CPS 103 in S608. This job code is used by the CPS 123 to identify the print job. Therefore, processing related to accepting the input of the job code does not necessarily need to be executed. As a specific example, the image forming apparatus 122 may authenticate a user by accepting an input related to authentication from the user, and may accept from the user a designation of a desired print job from a list of jobs associated with the user.

[0074] In S610, the image forming apparatus 122 transmits the job code (in other words, information for identifying the job) input in S609 to the CPS 123, and requests the CPS 123 to transmit the print job. In S611, the job management unit 302 of the CPS 123 transmits to the CPS 103 the job code transmitted from the image forming apparatus 122 in S610 and the job execution permission information corresponding to the job code.

[0075] In S612, the job management unit 302 of CPS 103 verifies the job execution permission information transmitted from CPS 123 in S611. Specifically, the job management unit 302 of CPS 103 searches for information related to the print job with a matching job code from the job-related information (see Table C) stored in the storage unit 305. Then, for example, the job management unit 302 of CPS 103 may verify whether the job execution permission information included in the information related to the searched print job matches the job execution permission information received from CPS 123. As another example, the job management unit 302 of CPS 103 may perform authorization using an external authorization service or the like, and perform verification using the result of the authorization. Furthermore, if information regarding the expiration date of the print job is embedded in the job execution permission information, the job management unit 302 of the CPS 103 may verify whether or not the expiration date is not expired when verifying the job execution permission information. In the example shown in FIG. 6, it is assumed that there is no problem in the verification in S612, and the subsequent processing will be described.

[0076] In S613, the job management unit 302 of the CPS 103 transmits a print job corresponding to the job code received from the CPS 123 to the CPS 123. Note that the target print job corresponds to, for example, the data shown as job data in Table C. Note that, if the job management unit 302 of CPS 103 can identify the print job to be sent to CPS 123, the information notified to CPS 103 from the job management unit 302 of CPS 123 in S611 is not necessarily limited to the job code. In other words, the job management unit 302 of CPS 103 may send information about the target print job (e.g., identification information that can uniquely identify the print job) to CPS 103 instead of the job code. In step S614 , the job management unit 302 of the CPS 123 receives the print job from the CPS 103 and transmits the print job to the image forming apparatus 122 . In S615, the image forming apparatus 122 receives the print job from the CPS 123 and executes the print job. At this time, the image forming apparatus 122 may present a screen related to changing print settings to the user and accept an instruction related to changing the print settings from the user via the screen.

[0077] In S616, the image forming apparatus 122 transmits to the CPS 123 the execution result of the print job in S615 and the job code corresponding to the print job. In S617, the job management unit 302 of the CPS 123 receives the execution result of the print job and the job code from the image forming apparatus 122, and transmits the execution result of the print job and the job code to the CPS 103. At this time, the job management unit 302 of the CPS 123 may hold the execution result of the received print job by storing it in the storage unit 305. Specifically, the job management unit 302 of the CPS 123 searches for job-related information corresponding to the received job code from the job-related information (see Table D) stored in the storage unit 305. Then, the job management unit 302 of the CPS 123 may store the execution result of the received print job in the storage unit 305 by associating the execution result with the searched job-related information.

[0078] In S618, the job management unit 302 of CPS 103 receives the execution result of the print job and the job code from CPS 123, and stores the execution result of the print job and the job code in the storage unit 305. Specifically, the job management unit 302 of CPS 103 searches for job-related information corresponding to the received job code from the job-related information (see Table C) stored in the storage unit 305. Then, the job management unit 302 of CPS 103 may store the execution result of the received print job in the storage unit 305 by associating the execution result with the searched job-related information.

[0079] It should be noted that a print job submitted in a state in which printing in a public space is permitted, as in the example shown in Fig. 6, can be used for printing by an image forming device registered in the company tent. As a specific example, when a print job registered based on the processing of S601 to S608 is specified and the image forming device 102 executes printing based on an instruction from a user, the processing of S704 to S710, which will be described later with reference to Fig. 7, can be executed. This makes it possible to realize two use cases: "printing using an image forming device installed in the company" and "printing using an image forming device installed in a public space."

[0080] Next, an example of a processing sequence between the client terminal 101, the CPS 103, and the image forming device 102 when printing in a public space is restricted will be described with reference to Fig. 7. The series of processes shown in Fig. 6 shows an example of a processing sequence related to "printing using an image forming device installed in the company" that is executed when, for example, the button 523 on the screen 520 is pressed in S405.

[0081] The process of S701 is similar to the process of S601. In S702, the job management unit 302 of the CPS 103 receives information about the print job from the client terminal 101, and checks whether printing in the public space is permitted based on the information. As described above, in the example shown in FIG. 7, it is assumed that printing in the public space is restricted. In this case, the job management unit 302 of the CPS 103 issues a job code. At this time, the job management unit 302 of the CPS 103 associates the received print job with the issued job code, and stores the print job and the job code in the storage unit 305. For example, the print job related information shown in Table C corresponds to an example of information stored in the storage unit 305. The process of S703 is similar to the process of S608.

[0082] In S704, the image forming apparatus 102 accepts input of a job code corresponding to a desired print job from the user. This process is substantially similar to the process of S609, except that the subject is the image forming apparatus 102. In addition, the job code input here may be, for example, the job code notified from the CPS 103 in S703.

[0083] In step S705, the image forming apparatus 102 transmits the job code input in step S704 to the CPS 103, and requests the CPS 103 to execute a print job. In S706, the job management unit 302 of the CPS 103 receives the job code and the print job from the image forming device 102 and checks the job code. Specifically, the job management unit 302 of the CPS 103 searches the job-related information stored in the storage unit 305 (see Table C) for information related to the print job that includes a job code that matches the job code received from the image forming device 102.

[0084] In step S707 , the job management unit 302 of the CPS 103 transmits the print job associated with the job code to the image forming apparatus 102 . In S708, the image forming apparatus 102 receives the print job from the CPS 103 and executes the print job.

[0085] In step S709, the image forming apparatus 102 transmits to the CPS 103 the execution result of the print job in step S708 and the job code corresponding to the print job. In S710, the job management unit 302 of the CPS 103 receives the execution result of the print job and the job code from the image forming apparatus 102, and stores the execution result of the print job and the job code in the storage unit 305.

[0086] Next, an example of a processing sequence among the client terminal 101, CPS 103, and CPS 123 related to the deletion of a print job held in CPS 103 or CPS 123 will be described with reference to Fig. 8. The processing sequence shown in Fig. 8 is executed, for example, when an instruction related to the deletion of a print job is received from a user, or when the print job is automatically deleted when the expiration date shown in Table A has elapsed. The processing sequence shown in Fig. 8 may also be executed when the print job is deleted at the same time as printing is executed. Note that, in the example shown in Fig. 8, a request to delete a print job is made to CPS 123 starting from CPS 103, but a request to delete a print job may also be made from CPS 123 to CPS 103.

[0087] In step S801, the client terminal 101 requests the CPS 103 to delete a print job in response to an instruction from a user. As a specific example, the client terminal 101 may present a screen related to a request to delete a print job to the user via a browser or the like, and accept the specification of information (e.g., a job code) related to the print job to be deleted via that screen. As another example, the client terminal 101 may present a list of submitted print jobs to the user and accept from the user a designation of a print job to be deleted from the list. In this case, the client terminal 101 may obtain information on submitted print jobs from the CPS 501, for example, and create the list based on the information. Also, the screen may be presented to the user when, for example, the item 512 shown on the screen 510 is designated.

[0088] In S802, the job management unit 302 of the CPS 103 searches the storage unit 305 for job-related information (see Table C) corresponding to the print job for which the deletion request was accepted, and checks whether printing in the public space is permitted based on the information. If printing in the public space is permitted, the job management unit 302 of the CPS 103 advances the process to S803, and if printing in the public space is restricted, the process advances to S807.

[0089] In step S803, the job management unit 302 of the CPS 103 transmits to the CPS 123 a job code and job execution permission information corresponding to the print job to be deleted. A request to delete the print job is made. Note that the job execution permission information sent to the CPS 123 in the process of S803 is the job execution permission information included in the job-related information searched for in S802.

[0090] In S804, the job management unit 302 of the CPS 123 receives the job code and the job execution permission information together with the print job deletion request from the CPS 103. The job management unit 302 of the CPS 123 searches the storage unit 305 for job related information (see Table D) corresponding to the received job code. Then, the job management unit 302 of the CPS 123 may verify whether the received job execution permission information matches the job execution permission information included in the searched print job related information. As another example, the job management unit 302 of the CPS 123 may perform authorization using an external authorization service, and verify the print job related information based on the result of the authorization. In the example shown in FIG. 8, the subsequent processing will be described on the assumption that the verification in S804 is satisfactory.

[0091] In S805, the job management unit 302 of the CPS 123 deletes the job-related information (see Table D) searched for in S804. At this time, the job management unit 302 of the CPS 123 may store information related to the target print job as history in a predetermined storage area. As a specific example, the job management unit 302 of the CPS 123 may hold a setting value such as a flag for not responding to a print request from the image forming device 122 (responding with an error). In addition, for information used as history among the job-related information, a copy of the information may be stored in a predetermined storage area (for example, the storage unit 305).

[0092] In S806, the job management unit 302 of the CPS 123 notifies the CPS 103 that the deletion of the print job has been completed.

[0093] In S807, the job management unit 302 of the CPS 103 deletes data corresponding to the print job designated as the one to be deleted. At this time, the job management unit 302 of the CPS 103 may store information related to the print job in question as history in a predetermined storage area. As a specific example, the job management unit 302 of the CPS 103 may store a copy of the information used as history among the job-related information (see Table C) corresponding to the print job to be deleted in a predetermined storage area (for example, the storage unit 305).

[0094] <Other embodiments> The present invention can also be realized by a process in which a program for implementing one or more of the functions of the above-mentioned embodiments is supplied to a system or device via a network or a recording medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or device read and execute the program. Also, the present invention can be realized by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) for implementing one or more of the functions. [Explanation of symbols]

[0095] 101 Client terminals 102 Image forming device 103 CPS 122 Image forming device 123 CPS 302 Job Management Department

Claims

1. A system including a first cloud print service connected to a client terminal via a network, and a second cloud print service connected to an image forming apparatus via the network, The first cloud print service is A storage unit for storing print job data received from the client terminal; a requesting means for requesting the second cloud print service to issue a job code for the print job data; a first management unit that manages a job code issued by the second cloud print service and the print job data in association with each other; a first transmission means for transmitting the stored print job data to the second cloud print service when information indicating the stored print job data is received from the second cloud print service, The second cloud print service is a first issuing means for issuing a job code of the print job data when the issuing of the job code of the print job data is requested by the requesting means of the first cloud print service; a second management unit that manages the issued job code and information indicating the first cloud print service in association with each other; A system having a second transmission means that, when a job code is received from the image forming device, transmits information indicating print job data corresponding to the received job code to the first cloud print service that is managed in association with the received job code.

2. the received print job data includes an instruction regarding permission to print in a public space; The system according to claim 1, characterized in that when the received print job data includes an instruction to permit printing in the public space, the request means requests the second cloud print service to issue a job code for the print job data.

3. The first cloud print service is a second issuing unit that issues permission information related to execution of a process based on the print job data stored in the storage unit and transmits the permission information to the second cloud print service; the second transmission means, when transmitting information indicating print job data corresponding to the received job code to the first cloud print service, further transmits the issued permission information together therewith; When the first transmission means receives information indicating the print job data to be stored from the second cloud print service, the first transmission means also receives the permission information, verifies the permission information, and transmits the print job data stored in the storage means to the second cloud print service according to a result of the verification.

3. A system according to claim 1 or 2.

4. the second issuing means embeds information regarding an expiration date of the print job data stored in the storage means into the issued permission information, and transmits the permission information to the second cloud print service; The first transmission means verifies whether or not the print job data stored in the storage means is within the expiration date based on information indicating the expiration date embedded in the permission information received from the second cloud print service, and transmits the print job data stored in the storage means to the second cloud print service according to a result of the verification. The system of claim 3.

5. A method for controlling a system including a first cloud print service connected to a client terminal via a network, and a second cloud print service connected to an image forming apparatus via the network, comprising: A storage step in which the first cloud print service stores print job data received from the client terminal; a requesting means for requesting the second cloud print service to issue a job code of the print job data; a first transmission step of the first cloud print service transmitting the stored print job data to the second cloud print service when information indicating the stored print job data is received from the second cloud print service; a first issuing means for issuing a job code of the print job data when the issuing means of the first cloud print service requests the issuing of the job code of the print job data; a second management unit that manages the issued job code and information indicating the first cloud print service in association with each other by the second cloud print service; a first management means for managing, by the first cloud print service, a job code issued by the second cloud print service and the print job data in association with each other; A control method comprising: a second transmission step in which, when a job code is received from the image forming device, the second cloud print service transmits information indicating print job data corresponding to the received job code to the first cloud print service which is managed in association with the received job code.

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