Information processing device, information processing method, and program

Abstract

To provide an information processing apparatus that can reduce time and effort for an instruction in reservation printing.SOLUTION: A print management device 104 acquires, from a cloud storage 102, a user authentication information corresponding file, of a plurality of files stored in the cloud storage 102, which is indicated in a printing candidate file generated based on printing target priority settings indicating the priority of files stored in the cloud storage 102, and transmits the acquired user authentication information corresponding file to a multifunctional machine 101.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing device, Reason Regarding the law and the program. [Background technology]

[0002] Image forming devices having a printing function are known. For example, the image forming device temporarily holds a file received from an external device without immediately printing the file, and prints the held file according to an instruction input by a user to an operation panel of the image forming device (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This type of printing is generally called reservation printing, secure printing, authentication printing, cloud printing, etc. In reservation printing, a user operates a PC or smartphone to select a file to be printed from multiple files stored in an in-house file server or cloud storage, etc., and issues an instruction to send the file to the image forming device. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2014-159123 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the case of reservation printing, as described above, the user needs to operate a PC or smartphone to search for the file to be printed and give an instruction to send the file, which is time-consuming.

[0005] The present invention provides an information processing apparatus and an information processing method that can reduce the effort required for issuing instructions for reservation printing. Reason The purpose of the present invention is to provide laws, regulations, and programs for the promotion of education and training in the field of medicine. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, an information processing apparatus according to the present invention is an information processing apparatus that communicates with a server that stores a file and an image forming apparatus that prints the file, When a first setting is set to display files of a specific file format at the top, a second setting is set to display files that have been printed many times at the top, and the priority of the conditions of the first setting and the conditions of the second setting is set, Number of times printed and the above priority The system is characterized in that it comprises a setting means for setting the priority of the files stored in the server based on the priority, a file acquisition means for acquiring files indicated in a print candidate file list generated based on the set priority from among the multiple files stored in the server, and a transmission means for transmitting the acquired files to the image forming device, and a file selected from the transmitted files is printed by the image forming device. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the effort required for issuing instructions for reservation printing. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a printing system including a print management device as an information processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic hardware configuration of the multifunction peripheral and the print management device of FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic software configuration of the multifunction peripheral and the print management device of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] 1. FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram for explaining a series of flows from when the multifunction peripheral accepts a login request from a user to when the multifunction peripheral executes a print process in the printing system of FIG. [Diagram 5] 5 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the login process in step S401 of FIG. 4. [Figure 6] 5 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the print candidate file estimation process in step S405 of FIG. 4. [Figure 7] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a setting screen displayed on an operation panel of the printing management device of FIG. [Figure 8] 3 is a diagram showing an example of a reservation printing function screen displayed on the operation panel of the multifunction peripheral of FIG. 2(a). FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram for explaining a series of flows from when a user operates a PC to save a file created by the user in cloud storage to when printing processing is executed in the second embodiment. [Figure 10] 10 is a flowchart showing the procedure of print candidate file estimation processing in step S905 of FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, an information processing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a printing system 100 including a print management device 104 as an information processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the printing system 100 includes a multifunction peripheral 101 as an image forming device, a cloud storage 102 as a server, a PC 103, and a print management device 104. In the present embodiment, as an example, a configuration in which the printing system 100 includes one image forming device, one server, one PC, and one information processing device will be described, but the configuration is not limited to this. For example, the printing system 100 may include a plurality of image forming devices, servers, PCs, and print management devices. In the printing system 100, the multifunction peripheral 101 can communicate with the PC 103 and the print management device 104 via a network 105. In the printing system 100, the PC 103 and the print management device 104 can communicate with the cloud storage 102 via the network 105 and an external network 106.

[0011] The multifunction device 101 has a copy function, a scan function, a communication function, etc. The multifunction device 101 also performs reservation printing. In reservation printing, the multifunction device 101 temporarily holds a file received from the print management device 104 or the like without immediately printing the file, and prints the held file according to an execution instruction from a user who has logged in to the multifunction device 101.

[0012] The cloud storage 102 stores files with extensions such as "pptx," "doc," "pdf," and "zip" that are created by a user operating the PC 103. The print management device 104 supports print processing by the multifunction device 101. For example, the print management device 104 acquires files stored in the cloud storage 102 and transmits the acquired files to the multifunction device 101.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic hardware configuration of the multifunction device 101 and the print management device 104 in FIG. 1. FIG. 2(a) shows the hardware configuration of the multifunction device 101. In FIG. 2(a), the multifunction device 101 includes a control unit 200, a printer 210, a scanner 211, and an operation panel 212. The control unit 200 is connected to the printer 210, the scanner 211, and the operation panel 212, respectively. The control unit 200 also includes a CPU 201, a ROM 202, a RAM 203, a HDD 204, a network I / F control unit 205, a scanner I / F control unit 206, a printer I / F control unit 207, and a panel control unit 208. The CPU 201, the ROM 202, the RAM 203, the HDD 204, the network I / F control unit 205, the scanner I / F control unit 206, the printer I / F control unit 207, and the panel control unit 208 are connected to each other via a bus 209.

[0014] The CPU 201 executes the software program of the multifunction device 101 and controls the entire device. The ROM 202 is a read-only memory and stores the boot program, fixed parameters, etc. of the multifunction device 101. The RAM 203 is a random access memory and is used as a temporary storage area for temporarily storing programs, intermediate data, etc. when the CPU 201 controls the operation of the multifunction device 101. The HDD 204 is a hard disk drive and stores system software, applications, and various data. The CPU 201 executes the boot program stored in the ROM 202, expands the program stored in the HDD 204 into the RAM 203, and controls the operation of the multifunction device 101 by executing the expanded program.

[0015] A network I / F control unit 205 controls transmission and reception of data to and from the network 105. A scanner I / F control unit 206 controls document reading processing by a scanner 211. A printer I / F control unit 207 controls printing processing and the like by a printer 210. A panel control unit 208 controls a touch panel type operation panel 212. For example, the panel control unit 208 causes various information to be displayed on the operation panel 212, and also acquires from the operation panel 212 instructions input by a user to the operation panel 212, such as instructions to execute a scan or print.

[0016] Fig. 2(b) shows a hardware configuration of the printing management device 104. In Fig. 2(b), the printing management device 104 includes a control unit 213 and an operation panel 220. The control unit 213 is connected to the operation panel 220. The control unit 213 also includes a CPU 214, a ROM 215, a RAM 216, a HDD 217, a network I / F control unit 218, and a panel control unit 219. The CPU 214, the ROM 215, the RAM 216, the HDD 217, the network I / F control unit 218, and the panel control unit 219 are connected to each other via a bus 221.

[0017] The CPU 214 executes the software program of the print management device 104 and controls the entire device. The ROM 215 is a read-only memory and stores the boot program, fixed parameters, etc. of the print management device 104. The RAM 216 is a random access memory and is used as a temporary storage area for temporarily storing programs, intermediate data, etc. when the CPU 214 controls the operation of the print management device 104. The HDD 217 is a hard disk drive and stores system software, applications, and various data. The CPU 214 executes the boot program stored in the ROM 215, expands the program stored in the HDD 217 into the RAM 216, and controls the operation of the print management device 104 by executing the expanded program. The network I / F control unit 218 controls the transmission and reception of data to and from the network 105. The panel control unit 219 controls a touch panel type operation panel 220. For example, the panel control unit 219 displays various information on the operation panel 220 and acquires instructions input by a user to the operation panel 220 from the operation panel 220.

[0018] Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic software configuration of the multifunction device 101 and the print management device 104 in Fig. 1. Fig. 3(a) shows the software configuration of the multifunction device 101. In Fig. 3(a), the multifunction device 101 includes a network driver 301, a network control module 302, a communication control module 303, an encryption processing module 304, a print / read processing module 305, a device control module 306, and a UI control module 307. The processing of these modules is realized by the CPU 201 executing programs expanded in the RAM 203.

[0019] A network driver 301 controls the network I / F control unit 205 and transmits and receives data to and from external devices via the network 105. A network control module 302 controls communication below the transport layer in a network communication protocol such as TCP / IP to transmit and receive data. A communication control module 303 is a module for controlling a plurality of communication protocols supported by the multifunction device 101. For example, encrypted communication such as TLS supported by the multifunction device 101 is executed by the communication control module 303.

[0020] The encryption processing module 304 is a module for executing various encryption processes such as data encryption and decryption, generation and verification of digital signatures, generation of hash values, etc. For example, in encrypted communication processes such as TLS executed by the communication control module 303, the encryption processing module 304 executes encryption processes.

[0021] The print / read processing module 305 is a module for executing a print process by the printer 210 and a document read process by the scanner 211. The device control module 306 is a module for generating control commands and control data for the multifunction device 101 and for overall control of the multifunction device 101. The UI control module 307 is a module for controlling the operation panel 212 and the panel control unit 208.

[0022] Fig. 3(b) shows the software configuration of the print management device 104. In Fig. 3(b), the print management device 104 includes a network driver 308, a network control module 309, a communication control module 310, an encryption processing module 311, a print / read processing module 312, a device control module 313, and a UI control module 314. The processing of these modules is realized by the CPU 214 executing programs loaded in the RAM 216.

[0023] A network driver 308 controls the network I / F control unit 218 and transmits and receives data to and from external devices via the network 105. A network control module 309 controls communication below the transport layer in a network communication protocol such as TCP / IP to transmit and receive data. A communication control module 310 is a module for controlling multiple communication protocols supported by the print management device 104. For example, encrypted communication such as TLS supported by the print management device 104 is executed by the communication control module 310.

[0024] The encryption processing module 311 is a module for executing various encryption processes such as data encryption and decryption, generation and verification of digital signatures, generation of hash values, etc. For example, in an encryption communication process such as TLS executed by the communication control module 310, the encryption processing module 311 executes the encryption process.

[0025] The print / read processing module 312 is a module for assisting in the execution of a print process by the printer 210 of the multifunction device 101, a document reading process by the scanner 211, etc. The device control module 313 is a module for generating control commands and control data for the print management device 104 and for overall control of the print management device 104. The UI control module 314 is a module for controlling the operation panel 220 and the panel control unit 219.

[0026] Fig. 4 is a sequence diagram for explaining a series of steps from when the MFP 101 accepts a login request from a user to when the MFP 101 executes print processing in the printing system 100 in Fig. 1. In Fig. 4, each process executed by the MFP 101 is realized by the CPU 201 of the MFP 101 executing a program loaded in the RAM 203. Also, in Fig. 4, each process executed by the print management device 104 is realized by the CPU 214 of the print management device 104 executing a program loaded in the RAM 216.

[0027] In FIG. 4, first, the CPU 201 of the multifunction peripheral 101 executes the login process of FIG. 5 (step S401).

[0028] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the login process in step S401 in FIG. 4. In FIG. 5, CPU 201 displays a login screen (not shown) on operation panel 212 (step S501). When CPU 201 detects that the user has input user authentication information including a user ID and a password into the login screen (step S502), CPU 201 starts user authentication using the user authentication information (step S503). Next, CPU 201 determines whether user authentication has been successful (step S504). In user authentication, for example, CPU 201 compares a plurality of pieces of registration information registered in advance with the user authentication information input into the login screen. The registration information includes a user ID and a password, and is stored in advance in HDD 204 or the like. When the user authentication information input into the login screen corresponds to, for example, matches, any of the plurality of pieces of registration information, CPU 201 determines that user authentication has been successful. On the other hand, if the user authentication information entered on the login screen does not correspond to any of the plurality of pieces of registration information, the CPU 201 determines that the user authentication has failed.

[0029] If the user authentication is unsuccessful as a result of the determination in step S504, CPU 201 displays an error screen indicating this on operation panel 212, and the login process returns to step S502. If the user authentication is successful as a result of the determination in step S504, CPU 201 permits the user who entered the user authentication information to log in to multifunction device 101 (step S505). This allows the user to use various functions of multifunction device 101, and for example, enables the user to instruct multifunction device 101 to start printing a file stored in multifunction device 101. Next, CPU 201 stores the user authentication information entered by the user in step S502 in RAM 203 (step S506), and the login process ends.

[0030] Returning to FIG. 4, when the CPU 201 finishes the login process, it transmits the user authentication information held in the RAM 203 to the print management apparatus 104 .

[0031] The CPU 214 of the print management device 104 acquires user authentication information from the multifunction device 101 (step S402) (user authentication information acquisition means), and transmits a request to acquire a file list of the user corresponding to the user authentication information to the cloud storage 102 (step S403). This file list includes the names, file formats, update dates and times, etc. of files (hereinafter referred to as "user authentication information corresponding files") that were created by the user corresponding to the user authentication information among multiple files held in the cloud storage 102. Note that in this embodiment, the file list does not need to include information about unprintable user authentication information corresponding files, such as files with the extension "zip".

[0032] The cloud storage 102 responds to the request for obtaining the file list received from the print management device 104 (step S404). Specifically, the cloud storage 102 transmits the file list corresponding to the request to the print management device 104. The CPU 214 of the print management device 104 executes the print candidate file estimation process of FIG. 6 based on the file list received from the cloud storage 102 (step S405).

[0033] Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the print candidate file estimation process in step S405 in Fig. 4. Note that in the print candidate file estimation process in Fig. 6, it is assumed that the print target priority setting indicating the priority of the file stored in the cloud storage 102 has already been stored in the HDD 217. In this embodiment, in an estimated print data list 803 on a reservation print function screen 801 in Fig. 8 described later, the names of the files acquired by the multifunction peripheral 101 from the cloud storage 102 via the print management device 104 are displayed in descending order of priority in the print target priority setting.

[0034] 6, the CPU 214 acquires print target priority settings from the HDD 217 (step S601). In this embodiment, an administrator of the printing system 100 or the like can set print target priority settings on a setting screen 701 of FIG. 7(a) displayed on the operation panel 220, and this print target priority setting is stored in the HDD 217. Note that the setting screen 701 may be displayed on a device other than the operation panel 220, and may be configured to be displayed on the PC 103 as a remote UI provided by the printing management device 104 via the network 105, for example.

[0035] When any of the enable buttons 702a to 702f is selected on the setting screen 701 and an OK button 703 is pressed, a condition 709 corresponding to the selected enable button is set as a condition for determining the display order of files in an estimated print data list 803, which will be described later.

[0036] For example, when the condition 709 corresponding to the enable button 702a is set, the user authentication information corresponding file with the most recent update date and time is displayed at the top of the estimated print data list 803 described later. When the condition 709 corresponding to the enable button 702b is set, the user authentication information corresponding file in the file format set by selecting the set button 704 is displayed at the top of the estimated print data list 803 described later. For example, the administrator selects the set button 704 to set a printable file format such as "pptx", "doc", "pdf", etc.

[0037] When the condition 709 corresponding to the enable button 702c is set, the user authentication information corresponding file stored in the folder set by selecting the setting button 705 is displayed at the top of the estimated print data list 803 described later. When the condition 709 corresponding to the enable button 702d is set, the user authentication information corresponding file having the name set by selecting the setting button 706 is displayed at the top of the estimated print data list 803 described later. When the condition 709 corresponding to the enable button 702e is set, the user authentication information corresponding file printed multiple times is displayed at the top of the estimated print data list 803 described later. When the condition 709 corresponding to the enable button 702f is set, the user authentication information corresponding file printed only once is displayed at the top of the estimated print data list 803 described later. Note that the priority of the condition 709 corresponding to the enable button in an unselected state is set to the lowest. For example, when the enable button 702f is in an unselected state, the user authentication information corresponding file printed only once is displayed at the bottom of the estimated print data list 803 described later.

[0038] In addition, the setting screen 701 displays a priority 710 of the condition 709 corresponding to the activation button in a selected state, and this priority can be changed. For example, when the activation button 702b is pressed and the activation button 702b is switched to a selected state, the color of the area corresponding to the activation button 702b is inverted and becomes active, as shown in FIG. 7B. Next, when the "Raise Priority" button 707 is pressed, the priority 710 of the condition 709 corresponding to the activation button 702b increases by one step, as shown in FIG. 7C. On the other hand, when the "Lower Priority" button 708 is pressed, the priority 710 of the condition 709 corresponding to the activation button 702b decreases by one step. The setting values ​​set in the setting screen 701 in this manner are stored in the HDD 217 as print target priority settings when the OK button 703 is pressed.

[0039] In this embodiment, the priority 710 of a file that is relatively likely to be selected as a print target by a user (hereinafter referred to as "print desirability") is set higher than the priority 710 of other files. Files with a relatively high print desirability are, for example, a user authentication information corresponding file with the latest update date and time, a user authentication information corresponding file in a predetermined file format, a user authentication information corresponding file stored in a predetermined folder in the cloud storage 102, a user authentication information corresponding file with a predetermined name, and a user authentication information corresponding file that has been printed multiple times. Furthermore, the priority 710 of a file with a relatively low print desirability is set lower than the priority 710 of other files. Files with a relatively low print desirability are, for example, a user authentication information corresponding file that has been printed only once.

[0040] 6, CPU 214 performs a sorting process of the file list acquired in step S404 based on the print object priority setting (step S602). In the sorting process, CPU 214 sorts the order of the names of the multiple user authentication information corresponding files included in the file list in descending order of priority 710 of the print object priority setting. Next, CPU 214 generates a print candidate file list in which the names of the multiple user authentication information corresponding files are arranged in descending order of priority 710 of the print object priority setting (step S603) (list generating means), and saves the print candidate file list in RAM 216.

[0041] 4, when CPU 214 ends the print candidate file estimation process, it transmits an acquisition request for the print candidate files shown in the print candidate file list to cloud storage 102 (step S406). Cloud storage 102 responds to the acquisition request for the print candidate files received from print management device 104 (step S407). Specifically, cloud storage 102 transmits a user authentication information corresponding file corresponding to the acquisition request to print management device 104 as a print candidate file.

[0042] The CPU 214 of the print management device 104 acquires the print candidate files from the cloud storage 102 (step S408) (file acquisition means), and stores the acquired print candidate files in the HDD 217. The CPU 214 also transmits the print candidate files to the multifunction device 101 in accordance with the order of the file names in the print candidate file list (step S409).

[0043] The CPU 201 of the multifunction device 101 acquires the print candidate file from the print management device 104 (step S410) and stores the print candidate file in the HDD 204 (step S411). Next, the CPU 201 displays the reservation print function screen 801 of FIG. 8 on the operation panel 212 (step S412).

[0044] The reserved print function screen 801 is a screen for the user to instruct the execution of printing of a file reserved in the multifunction device 101, and includes a received print data list 802 and an estimated print data list 803. The received print data list 802 displays a list of files that have been sent from the PC 103 or the like by a user instruction and that are temporarily stored (reserved) in the HDD 204. The estimated print data list 803 displays the names of the print candidate files acquired from the print management device 104 in step S410 in the order in which they were received from the print management device 104. That is, in the estimated print data list 803, the names of multiple user authentication information corresponding files are displayed in order of high to low priority 710 of the print target priority setting. Specifically, in the estimated print data list 803, print candidate files with a relatively high degree of print desirability are preferentially displayed based on the priority 710. For example, a user authentication information corresponding file with the latest update date and time, a user authentication information corresponding file in a predetermined file format, a user authentication information corresponding file stored in a predetermined folder in the cloud storage 102, a user authentication information corresponding file with a predetermined name, a user authentication information corresponding file that has been printed multiple times, etc. are displayed higher than other print candidate files. On the other hand, in the estimated print data list 803, a print candidate file with a relatively low degree of desirability for printing, for example, a user authentication information corresponding file that has been printed only once, is displayed lower than other print candidate files.

[0045] When the CPU 201 receives an instruction to execute printing, such as when the user selects a check box corresponding to a desired file on the reservation printing function screen 801 and presses the print button 804 (step S413), the CPU 201 executes printing of the file corresponding to the selected check box (step S414).

[0046] According to the embodiment described above, the print management device 104 acquires from the cloud storage 102 a user authentication information corresponding file indicated in a print candidate file list generated based on a print target priority setting from among a plurality of files stored in the cloud storage 102, and transmits the acquired user authentication information corresponding file to the multifunction device 101. That is, in reservation printing, the user does not need to instruct the multifunction device 101 to transmit the user authentication information corresponding file stored in the cloud storage 102. This reduces the effort required for issuing instructions in reservation printing.

[0047] In the above-described embodiment, when a user logs in to the multifunction device 101, the print management device 104 acquires the user authentication information corresponding file shown in the print candidate file list, and transmits the acquired user authentication information corresponding file to the multifunction device 101. In this way, the user can make the user authentication information corresponding file stored in the cloud storage 102 remain in the multifunction device 101 simply by performing an operation for logging in to the multifunction device 101.

[0048] In the above-described embodiment, the user authentication information corresponding file is a file, among the multiple files stored in the cloud storage 102, that corresponds to the user authentication information input at the time of logging in to the multifunction device 101. This makes it possible to keep in the multifunction device 101, among the multiple files stored in the cloud storage 102, a file that corresponds to the user who logged in to the multifunction device 101, even without a user instruction.

[0049] In the above-described embodiment, the print management device 104 generates a print candidate file. This makes it possible to quickly start a process of acquiring a user authentication information corresponding file from the cloud storage 102 based on the generated print candidate file.

[0050] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the print target priority setting includes a setting related to the display order of files in the estimated print data list 803 displayed on the operation panel 212 of the multifunction device 101. This makes it possible to control the display order of files in the estimated print data list 803 so that the user can easily find the file to be printed.

[0051] In the above-described embodiment, the print target priority setting includes a setting for displaying print candidate files with a relatively high print desirability at the top of the acquired user authentication information corresponding files. The print candidate files with a relatively high print desirability are the user authentication information corresponding file with the most recent update date and time, the user authentication information corresponding file stored in a predetermined folder in the preset cloud storage 102, the user authentication information corresponding file with a preset name, and the user authentication information corresponding file that has been printed multiple times. This allows a list display that makes it easy for the user to find the files to be printed.

[0052] In the above-described embodiment, the print target priority setting includes a setting for displaying print candidate files with a relatively low print desirability at a lower level among the acquired user authentication information corresponding files. A print candidate file with a relatively low print desirability is a user authentication information corresponding file that has been printed only once. This prevents print candidate files with a relatively low print desirability from being displayed at the top, making it difficult for the user to find a file to be printed.

[0053] Next, an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0054] The second embodiment is basically the same as the first embodiment in terms of configuration and operation, but differs from the first embodiment in that the print management device 104 periodically acquires print candidate files from the cloud storage 102 before the user logs in to the multifunction device 101. Therefore, a description of the overlapping configurations and operations will be omitted, and the different configurations and operations will be described below.

[0055] In the first embodiment described above, after completing the login process of the multifunction device 101, the print management device 104 acquires the user authentication information corresponding file to be sent to the multifunction device 101 from the cloud storage 102. For this reason, it takes a certain amount of time from when the user inputs the user authentication information until the multifunction device 101 completes reception of the user authentication information corresponding file, and the multifunction device 101 cannot display a list of print candidate files immediately after the user logs in.

[0056] In contrast, in the second embodiment, the printing management device 104 periodically performs a process of acquiring from the cloud storage 102 a user authentication information corresponding file indicated in the print candidate file list from among the multiple files stored in the cloud storage 102, and transmitting the acquired user authentication information corresponding file to the multifunction device 101.

[0057] Fig. 9 is a sequence diagram for explaining a series of flows from when a user operates the PC 103 to save a file created in the cloud storage 102 to when a print process is executed in the printing system 100 in Fig. 1. In Fig. 9, each process executed by the multifunction device 101 is realized by the CPU 201 of the multifunction device 101 executing a program loaded in the RAM 203. Also, in Fig. 9, each process executed by the print management device 104 is realized by the CPU 214 of the print management device 104 executing a program loaded in the RAM 216.

[0058] In FIG. 9, first, the PC 103 executes a login process (step S901), and saves a file created by the logged-in user in the cloud storage 102 (step S902).

[0059] On the other hand, the CPU 214 of the print management device 104 transmits a request to acquire a file list, which is a list of files stored in the cloud storage 102, to the cloud storage 102 (step S903). This file list includes the names, file formats, update dates, and the like of all files stored in the cloud storage 102. The file list may include only information about files stored in a predetermined folder in the cloud storage 102 that is set in advance, rather than information about all files stored in the cloud storage 102. The file list may not include information about files that cannot be printed, such as files with the extension "zip". In this embodiment, the CPU 214 periodically transmits a request to acquire a file list to the cloud storage 102 at a predetermined interval, for example, every 10 minutes. Alternatively, the CPU 214 transmits a request to acquire a file list to the cloud storage 102 based on receiving a file change notification from the cloud storage 102 indicating that a file has been updated or a new file has been saved.

[0060] The cloud storage 102 responds to the request to obtain the file list received from the print management device 104 (step S904). Specifically, the cloud storage 102 transmits the file list corresponding to the request to the print management device 104. Next, the CPU 214 of the print management device 104 executes the print candidate file estimation process of FIG. 10 based on the file list received from the cloud storage 102 (step S905).

[0061] Fig. 10 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the print candidate file estimation process in step S905 in Fig. 9. Note that, in the print candidate file estimation process in Fig. 10, similar to the print candidate file estimation process in Fig. 6, it is assumed that the print target priority setting has already been stored in the HDD 217. Also, in the print candidate file estimation process in Fig. 10, it is assumed that the print management device 104 holds files previously acquired from the cloud storage 102.

[0062] 10, CPU 214 compares the file list received from cloud storage 102 with files previously acquired from cloud storage 102 to determine whether the print candidate files have been updated (step S1001). In step S1001, for example, if the file list contains the name of a new file that has not been previously acquired, or if it is determined that a previously acquired file has been updated based on the update date and time contained in the file list, CPU 214 determines that the print candidate files have been updated. On the other hand, if neither of these conditions apply, CPU 214 determines that the print candidate files have not been updated.

[0063] If it is determined in step S1001 that the print candidate files have not been updated, the print candidate file estimation process ends. If it is determined in step S1001 that the print candidate files have been updated, the CPU 214 acquires the print target priority settings from the HDD 217 (step S1002). Next, the CPU 214 performs a sorting process of the file list acquired in step S904 based on the print target priority settings (step S1003). In this sorting process, the CPU 214 sorts the order of the names of the multiple files included in the file list in descending order of the priority 710 of the print target priority settings. Next, the CPU 214 generates a print candidate file list in which the names of the multiple files are arranged in descending order of the priority 710 of the print target priority settings (step S1004), saves the print candidate file list in the RAM 216, and the print candidate file estimation process ends.

[0064] Returning to FIG. 9, when the CPU 214 ends the print candidate file estimation process, it transmits an acquisition request for the print candidate files shown in the print candidate file list to the cloud storage 102 (step S906). The cloud storage 102 responds to the acquisition request for the print candidate files received from the print management device 104 (step S907). Specifically, the cloud storage 102 transmits the files corresponding to the acquisition request to the print management device 104 as print candidate files. The CPU 214 of the print management device 104 acquires the print candidate files from the cloud storage 102 (step S908). Next, the CPU 214 transmits the acquired print candidate files to the multifunction device 101 in accordance with the order of the file names in the print candidate file list (step S909).

[0065] The CPU 201 of the multifunction peripheral 101 acquires the print candidate file from the print management device 104 (step S910) and stores the acquired print candidate file in the HDD 204 (step S911). In this manner, in this embodiment, the multifunction peripheral 101 acquires the file stored in the cloud storage 102 before the user logs in to the multifunction peripheral 101, and is ready to immediately print the file. Next, when the CPU 201 accepts a login request from the user, it executes login processing in accordance with the login request, similar to step S401 (step S912). Next, the CPU 201 displays a reservation printing function screen 801 including a list of the received print candidate files on the operation panel 212 (step S913). In the estimated print data list 803 of this reservation printing function screen 801, the names of the print candidate files acquired from the print management device 104 in step S910 are displayed in the order in which they were received from the print management device 104, similar to the first embodiment described above. Next, when the CPU 201 receives a print instruction such as the user selecting a check box corresponding to each file on the reservation printing function screen 801 and pressing the print button 804 (step S914), the CPU 201 executes printing of the file corresponding to the selected check box (step S915).

[0066] In the second embodiment described above, the print management device 104 periodically performs a process of acquiring a user authentication information corresponding file shown in the print candidate file list from among a plurality of files stored in the cloud storage 102, and transmitting the acquired user authentication information corresponding file to the multifunction device 101. This reduces the effort required for issuing instructions for reservation printing, and furthermore, makes it possible to display a list of print candidate files on the operation panel 212 of the multifunction device 101 immediately after the user logs in.

[0067] Although the present invention has been described above using the above-mentioned embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment. For example, the MFP 101 may acquire a print candidate file list from the print management device 104, and display the names of the files in the estimated print data list 803 according to the order of the file names in the acquired print candidate file list.

[0068] In the above-described embodiment, the MFP 101 and the printing management device 104 do not have to be separate devices, and the MFP 101 may have the functions of the printing management device 104. That is, the MFP 101 executes each process executed by the printing management device 104 in Figures 4, 6, 9, and 10, and the setting screen 701 is displayed on the operation panel 212 of the MFP 101. Even with such a configuration, it is possible to achieve the same effects as the above-described embodiment.

[0069] In the above embodiment, the server is one cloud storage 102, but the server configuration is not limited to this. For example, the server may be an on-premise file server, or may be multiple cloud storages.

[0070] In the above embodiment, the image forming apparatus is a multifunction machine (digital multifunction machine / MFP (Multi Function Peripheral)), but the image forming apparatus in the present invention is not limited to a multifunction machine. The image forming apparatus in the present invention may be, for example, a printing apparatus such as an SFP (Single Function Peripheral) that performs reservation printing.

[0071] The present invention can also be realized by supplying a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-mentioned embodiments to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and having one or more processors in a computer of the system or device read and execute the program. The present invention can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) that realizes one or more functions. [Explanation of symbols]

[0072] 101 Multifunction device 102 Cloud Storage 104 Print management device 201 CPU 203 RAM 205 Network I / F control section 210 Printer 214 CPU 218 Network I / F control section 701 Setting screen

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus that communicates with a server that stores files and an image forming apparatus that prints the files, a first setting for displaying files of a predetermined file format at the top, a second setting for displaying files that have been printed many times at the top, and a setting means for setting the priority of the files stored in the server based on the file format, the number of times the files have been printed, and the priority when the priority of the conditions of the first setting and the conditions of the second setting are set; a file acquisition means for acquiring files indicated in a print candidate file list generated based on the set priority from among a plurality of files stored in the server; a transmission unit for transmitting the acquired file to the image forming device; The information processing apparatus is characterized in that a file selected from the transmitted files is printed by the image forming apparatus.

2. 2. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein, when it is detected that a user has logged in to the image forming device, the file acquisition means acquires a file indicated in the print candidate file list, and the transmission means transmits the acquired file.

3. The image forming apparatus further includes a user authentication information acquisition unit that acquires user authentication information input at the time of logging in to the image forming apparatus, 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the files shown in the print candidate file list are files corresponding to the user authentication information.

4. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the file acquisition means periodically performs a process of acquiring the files indicated in the print candidate file list and transmitting the acquired files by the transmission means.

5. 5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a list generating unit for generating the list of files to be printed.

6. a list of files transmitted by the transmitting means is displayed on the display means of the image forming apparatus; 6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting means performs settings relating to a display order of files to be displayed on a display means of the image forming apparatus.

7. 7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the setting means sets a file having a most recent update date and time to be displayed at a higher position among the files transmitted by the transmission means.

8. 7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said setting means performs a setting for displaying files in a predetermined file format at a higher rank among the files transmitted by said transmission means.

9. 7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said setting means performs a setting such that, among the files transmitted by said transmission means, files stored in a predetermined folder of said server are displayed at a higher position.

10. 7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said setting means performs a setting such that, among the files transmitted by said transmission means, a file having a predetermined name is displayed at a higher position.

11. 7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the setting means sets a file that has been printed a plurality of times to be displayed at a higher position among the files transmitted by the transmission means.

12. 12. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the setting means sets a file that has been printed only once to be displayed lower among the files transmitted by the transmission means.

13. An information processing method for communicating with a server that stores a file and an image forming device that prints the file, comprising: a setting step of setting a priority of the files stored in the server based on the file format, the number of times the files have been printed, and the priority when a first setting is set for a file of a predetermined file format, a second setting is set for a file of a large number of times the files have been printed, and the priority of the files stored in the server based on the file format, the number of times the files have been printed, and the priority, when the priority of the conditions of the first setting and the conditions of the second setting are set; a file acquisition step of acquiring files indicated in a print candidate file list generated based on the set priority from among the plurality of files stored in the server; a transmitting step of transmitting the acquired file to the image forming apparatus; a file selected from the transmitted files is printed by the image forming apparatus;

14. The information processing method according to claim 13, characterized in that when it is detected that a user has logged in to the image forming device, a file indicated in the print candidate file list is acquired in the file acquisition step, and the acquired file is transmitted in the transmission step.

15. The method further includes a user authentication information acquisition step of acquiring user authentication information input at the time of logging in to the image forming apparatus, 15. The information processing method according to claim 14, wherein the files shown in the print candidate file list are files corresponding to the user authentication information.

16. 14. The information processing method according to claim 13, wherein the file acquisition step acquires files indicated in the print candidate file list, and the transmission step periodically transmits the acquired files.

17. 17. The information processing method according to claim 13, further comprising a list generating step of generating the list of files to be printed.

18. a list of the files transmitted in the transmitting step is displayed on a display means of the image forming apparatus; 18. The information processing method according to claim 13, wherein in the setting step, a setting is made regarding a display order of files to be displayed on a display unit of the image forming apparatus.

19. 20. The information processing method according to claim 18, wherein said setting step includes setting to display a file with the most recent update date and time at a higher position among the files transmitted at said transmitting step.

20. 20. The information processing method according to claim 18, wherein said setting step includes setting to display files in a predetermined file format at a higher rank among the files transmitted in said transmitting step.

21. 20. The information processing method according to claim 18, wherein said setting step includes setting such that, among the files transmitted in said transmitting step, files stored in a specified folder of said server are displayed at a higher position.

22. 20. The information processing method according to claim 18, wherein said setting step includes setting such that a file having a predetermined name is displayed at a higher position among the files transmitted at said transmitting step.

23. 20. The information processing method according to claim 18, wherein said setting step includes setting to display files that have been printed multiple times at a higher position among the files transmitted at said transmitting step.

24. 24. The information processing method according to claim 18, wherein in the setting step, a setting is made to display files that have been printed only once among the files transmitted in the transmitting step at a lower level.

25. 13. A program for causing a computer to execute each of the means of the information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

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