Image forming apparatus, image forming program, and image forming system

Abstract

To print a print data from an external terminal without new registration of an unregistered external terminal as an authentication terminal.SOLUTION: When receiving a print data from an external terminal 30 which has not been registered as an authorization terminal 20 having print authority, an image forming apparatus 10 according to the present invention transmits, to the authorization terminal 20, a notice for inquiring, to the authorization terminal 20, whether or not the print data can be printed. When receiving permission of printing the print data from the authorization terminal 20, the image forming apparatus prepares for printing of the print data received from the external terminal 30 having no printing authority.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, an image forming program, and an image forming system. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent document 1 discloses a communication system having a mobile terminal and an information processing device, in which the mobile terminal has an acquisition means for acquiring a distance between the mobile terminal and the information processing device based on a signal of short-range wireless communication between the mobile terminal and the information processing device, an establishment means for establishing short-range wireless communication with the information processing device when the distance acquired by the acquisition means is shorter than a first predetermined value, a first transmission means for transmitting a service request to the information processing device when the short-range wireless communication is established, and a first receiving means for receiving a response to the service request from the information processing device, and the information processing device has a second receiving means for receiving a service request from the mobile terminal and a second transmission means for transmitting the response to the service request to the mobile terminal via the short-range wireless communication.

[0003] Patent Document 2 discloses an image forming apparatus and a plurality of communication terminals connected to the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus includes a first storage unit that stores a plurality of pieces of user information, a first receiving unit that receives user information from each of the plurality of communication terminals, an authentication unit that authenticates the communication terminal based on whether the received user information matches the plurality of pieces of user information stored in the first storage unit, and a first transmitting unit that transmits authentication information indicating that the authentication is successful to each of the plurality of communication terminals, the first receiving unit receives, from the communication terminal that transmitted the authentication information, a stop request that requests the stop of a job being executed by the image forming apparatus and a new job to be executed by the image forming apparatus, and further includes a control unit that stops the job being executed based on the received stop request and executes the received new job, each of the communication terminals includes a second storage unit that stores user information, a second transmitting unit that transmits the user information to the image forming apparatus, and a second receiving unit that receives the authentication information from the image forming apparatus, The image forming system is configured such that, when the transmission unit receives the authentication information, it transmits the stop request and the new job to the image forming apparatus.

[0004] Patent Document 3 discloses a job processing device including a job processing device, a mobile information terminal, and an information processing device, the information processing device having a first transmission means for transmitting a job to the job processing device, the job processing device having a first reception means for receiving a job transmitted by the first transmission means, a storage means for storing the job received by the first reception means, a second transmission means for transmitting information of the job stored in the storage means to the mobile information terminal, and an authentication means for authenticating a user who logs into the job processing device, the mobile information terminal having a second reception means for receiving information of the job transmitted by the second transmission means, and an authentication means for authenticating a user who logs into the job processing device, A feature of the job processing system disclosed is that the system has a display means for displaying information about a job, a selection means for selecting a job to be executed by the job processing device via information about a plurality of jobs displayed by the display means, and an instruction means for instructing the job processing device to execute the job selected by the selection means in association with user identification information in accordance with the user being authenticated by the authentication means, wherein the job processing device further has an execution means for executing the job instructed to be executed by the instruction means and associated with the identification information of the user authenticated by the authentication means in accordance with the user being authenticated by the authentication means. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2016-66217 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2016-220001 A [Patent Document 3] JP 2017-78986 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] 2. Description of the Related Art There are image forming apparatuses that perform authentication management such that only print data from a pre-registered authentication terminal is printed.

[0007] When an outside person who does not have an authentication terminal, such as a customer, tries to print on an image forming device where such authentication management is performed, the outside person must temporarily register the external terminal used by the outside person as an authentication terminal in the image forming device, or give the print data to someone who is using the authentication terminal and request that they print it, which is more troublesome than printing by someone who is already using an authentication terminal.

[0008] The present invention aims to provide an image forming device, an image forming program, and an image forming system that can print print data from an external terminal without newly registering an unregistered external terminal as an authentication terminal, even when authentication management is performed such that only print data from pre-registered authentication terminals is printed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] An image forming apparatus according to a first aspect includes a processor, and when the processor receives print data from an external terminal that is not previously registered as an authentication terminal having printing authority, the processor sends an inquiry notification to the authentication terminal inquiring as to whether or not the print data can be printed, and when the processor receives permission to print the print data from the authentication terminal, the processor prepares to print the print data.

[0010] In a second aspect, in the image forming apparatus of the first aspect, the processor sends at least one of identification information that identifies the external terminal and data information representing the contents of the printing data to the authentication terminal together with the inquiry notification.

[0011] An image forming apparatus according to a third aspect is an image forming apparatus according to the second aspect, wherein the identification information is a terminal name that is pre-set in the external terminal, and the data information is a thumbnail of an image formed on a recording medium when the print data is printed on the recording medium.

[0012] An image forming apparatus according to a fourth aspect is an image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the processor receives print settings from the authentication terminal in advance that permit printing of the print data before receiving the print data from the external terminal, and if the print settings of the print data are set to print settings that permit printing, prepares the print data for printing without sending the inquiry notification to the authentication terminal.

[0013] An image forming apparatus according to a fifth aspect is an image forming apparatus according to the fourth aspect, wherein the processor receives from the external terminal a plurality of print settings that permit printing of the print data, and when the print settings of the print data are set to all of the plurality of print settings that permit printing, or when the print settings of the print data are set to any one of the plurality of print settings that permit printing, prepares the print data for printing without sending the inquiry notification to the authentication terminal.

[0014] An image forming apparatus according to a sixth aspect is an image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein when the processor fails to send the inquiry notification to the authentication terminal, the processor sends an error notification to the external terminal notifying the external terminal of the failure to send the inquiry notification.

[0015] An image forming program according to a seventh aspect is a program that causes a computer to execute a process in which, when it receives print data from an external terminal that is not previously registered as an authentication terminal having printing authority, it sends an inquiry notification to the authentication terminal inquiring as to whether or not the print data can be printed, and, when it receives permission to print the print data from the authentication terminal, it starts printing the print data.

[0016] An image forming system according to an eighth aspect includes an authentication terminal that is permitted to print on an image forming device, and the image forming device that, when it receives print data from an external terminal that is not pre-registered as the authentication terminal, sends an inquiry notification to the authentication terminal inquiring as to whether or not the print data can be printed, and, when it receives permission to print the print data from the authentication terminal, prepares to print the print data.

[0017] An image forming system according to a ninth aspect is the image forming system according to the eighth aspect, wherein the authentication terminal receives print settings from a user of the authentication terminal that permit printing of the print data, and if the print settings of the print data received from the image forming device along with the inquiry notification are set to the print settings that permit printing received from the user of the authentication terminal, the authentication terminal sends print permission for the print data to the image forming device without receiving an instruction from the user of the authentication terminal as to whether or not to permit printing of the print data. Effect of the Invention

[0018] According to the first, seventh, and eighth aspects, even if authentication management is performed such that only print data from pre-registered authentication terminals is printed, it is possible to print print data from an unregistered external terminal without newly registering the external terminal as an authentication terminal.

[0019] According to the second aspect, it is possible to provide the user with information for determining whether or not the print data from the external terminal can be printed.

[0020] According to the third aspect, there is an advantage that the user can specify the external terminal that is about to perform printing, and can also confirm the contents of the print data that is about to be printed.

[0021] According to the fourth aspect, there is an effect that it is possible to print print data received from an external terminal without inquiring of a user having an authentication terminal as to whether or not the print data can be printed.

[0022] According to the fifth aspect, it is possible to print without inquiring of the user as to whether the print data can be printed, and it is possible to set the printing conditions of the print data received from the external terminal by combining a plurality of print settings.

[0023] According to the sixth aspect, it is possible to prevent a user using an external terminal from continuing to wait for instructions on how to respond to the print data even though the user using the authentication terminal has not been notified of an inquiry as to whether or not the print data can be printed.

[0024] According to the ninth aspect, an effect is obtained in that a user who uses an authentication terminal can save the trouble of determining whether or not print data can be printed and inputting the determination result into the authentication terminal every time an inquiry notification as to whether or not print is possible. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0025] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of the configuration of an image forming system. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration in which an image forming apparatus is configured using a computer. [Diagram 3] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration in which the authentication terminal and the external terminal are configured as computers. [Figure 4] 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a printing process executed by the image forming apparatus. [Diagram 5] 11 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the flow of data transmitted and received among an image forming apparatus, an authentication terminal, and an external terminal when a print process is executed. FIG. [Figure 6] 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating an example of a guide for a procedure for connecting to the image forming apparatus, which is displayed on the authentication terminal, and an example of a display notifying completion of connection to the image forming apparatus, which is displayed on the authentication terminal and an external terminal. [Figure 7]FIG. 11 illustrates an example of printing execution in an external terminal. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the authentication terminal when a confirmation process is being performed. [Figure 9] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a guest printing process executed by the image forming apparatus. [Figure 10] 11 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the flow of data transmitted and received among an image forming apparatus, an authentication terminal, and an external terminal when a guest print process is executed. FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a confirmation screen displayed on the authentication terminal. [Figure 12] 10 is a flowchart showing a modified example of a printing process executed by the image forming apparatus. [Figure 13] 13 is a flowchart showing a guest print process in a modified example of the print process. [Figure 14] 13 is a flowchart showing a modified example of a confirmation process executed by the authentication terminal. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0026] Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the same components and processes are given the same reference numerals throughout the drawings, and duplicated explanations will be omitted.

[0027] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an image forming system 1 that prints a specified image on a recording medium.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming system 1 includes an image forming apparatus 10, an authentication terminal 20, and an external terminal 30, which are connected to each other via a communication line 2.

[0029] The image forming device 10 is a device with an image forming function that prints an image represented by print data received from the authentication terminal 20 and the external terminal 30 via the communication line 2 onto a recording medium such as paper. As long as the image forming device 10 has the image forming function, it may be a device including multiple functions such as a facsimile, scanner, and copy. In the following, as an example, the image forming device 10 will be described as a device that has only the image forming function.

[0030] The authentication terminal 20 and the external terminal 30 are information devices, such as a smartphone, a tablet computer, or a notebook computer, that have a communication function for transmitting print data stored in a storage device together with print settings designated by a user to the image forming apparatus 10 via the communication line 2. In the following, as an example, a case will be described in which the authentication terminal 20 and the external terminal 30 are each a smartphone.

[0031] In the example of the image forming system 1 shown in FIG. 1, only one authentication terminal 20 and one external terminal 30 are illustrated, but there is no restriction on the number of authentication terminals 20 and external terminals 30 included in the image forming system 1 and there may be multiple authentication terminals 20 and external terminals 30.

[0032] In this way, the authentication terminal 20 and the external terminal 30 are both information devices that transmit print data to the image forming apparatus 10, but are differentiated by how they are handled in terms of authentication management by the image forming apparatus 10.

[0033] In order to prevent the image forming device 10 from accepting print requests from an unspecified number of information devices for information security reasons, the information devices that can print with the image forming device 10 are limited to information devices registered in advance, and authentication management is performed so that print data accepted from other unregistered information devices cannot be printed unless linked to an information device registered with the image forming device 10.

[0034] An information device that is registered with the image forming device 10 and has the authority to print on the image forming device 10 is the authentication terminal 20, and an information device that is not registered with the image forming device 10 and cannot print on the image forming device 10 unless it cooperates with the authentication terminal 20 is the external terminal 30.

[0035] For example, in the case of an image forming device 10 installed in a company, since employees of the company may use the image forming device 10 to print in the course of their daily work, the information devices used by the employees are registered in advance in the image forming device 10. In this way, the information devices used by employees are authentication terminals 20, whereas information devices used by guests, such as visitors who temporarily visit the company or employees of cooperating companies, are external terminals 30 since they are not registered in the image forming device 10. In other words, the image forming device 10 handles print data received from the authentication terminal 20 and print data received from the external terminal 30 separately.

[0036] The image forming apparatus 10 in which authentication management is performed includes the following functional sections: a communication section 11, an authentication section 12, a print data DB (Database) 13, an image forming section 14, a user IF (Interface) section 15, and a control section 16.

[0037] The communication unit 11 receives printing data, printing instructions including printing settings, and identification information that uniquely identifies the information device requesting printing from the authentication terminal 20 and the external terminal 30 via the communication line 2, and also transmits various information regarding the printing to be performed by the image forming device 10 to the authentication terminal 20 and the external terminal 30.

[0038] The authentication unit 12 compares the identification information received by the communication unit 11 with the identification information of information devices registered in advance, and authenticates whether the information device requesting printing is the authentication terminal 20 or the external terminal 30. Specifically, the authentication unit 12 determines that the information device requesting printing is the authentication terminal 20 when the identification information registered in advance in the image forming apparatus 10 includes identification information that matches the identification information received by the communication unit 11.

[0039] The identification information used for authentication by the authentication unit 12 may be any information that can uniquely identify the information device requesting printing, such as a terminal name or MAC address that is preset in the information device.

[0040] The print data DB 13 stores the print data accepted by the communication unit 11.

[0041] The image forming unit 14 prints on a recording medium an image represented by the print data stored in the print data DB 13. There are no restrictions on the image forming method of the image in the image forming unit 14, and any known image forming method such as xerography or inkjet may be used.

[0042] The user IF unit 15 receives instructions from a user who operates the image forming apparatus 10 and notifies the control unit 16, and also outputs various information related to printing performed by the image forming apparatus 10 to the user in accordance with the instructions of the control unit 16.

[0043] The control unit 16 controls the communication unit 11, the authentication unit 12, the print data DB 13, the image forming unit 14, and the user IF unit 15 so that each of the communication unit 11, the authentication unit 12, the print data DB 13, the image forming unit 14, and the user IF unit 15 performs the above-mentioned processing.

[0044] The communication line 2 connecting the image forming device 10, the authentication terminal 20, and the external terminal 30 is a wireless line, and a plurality of wireless communication means are used. Specifically, the image forming device 10 and the authentication terminal 20 communicate with each other using short-range wireless communication, and the image forming device 10 and the external terminal 30 communicate with each other using a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) and short-range wireless communication.

[0045] Short-distance wireless communication is wireless communication that communicates within a line-of-sight range of a few centimeters to a few tens of meters, and examples of such communication include BLE (registered trademark) and NFC (Near Field Communication). BLE (registered trademark) is an abbreviation for "Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy."

[0046] Although BLE (registered trademark) and NFC are both examples of short-range wireless communication, for convenience of explanation, they will be distinguished from each other in the following explanation. Hereinafter, wireless communication using BLE (registered trademark) will be simply referred to as "short-range wireless communication." Also, wireless communication between an information device and image forming device 10 using NFC will be referred to as "NFC tap" because it is performed by bringing the information device within a few centimeters of the NFC reader attached to the image forming device 10.

[0047] 1 is realized by using a computer 40. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration in which the image forming apparatus 10 is configured by the computer 40.

[0048] The computer 40 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 41, which is an example of a processor responsible for executing the functions of the image forming apparatus 10, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 42 that stores an image forming program that causes the computer 40 to function as the image forming apparatus 10, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 43 used as a temporary work area for the CPU 41, a non-volatile memory 44, and an input / output interface (I / O) 45. The CPU 41, the ROM 42, the RAM 43, the non-volatile memory 44, and the I / O 45 are connected to each other via a bus 46.

[0049] The non-volatile memory 44 is an example of a storage device that maintains stored information even if the power supplied to the non-volatile memory 44 is cut off, and is, for example, a semiconductor memory or a hard disk. The non-volatile memory 44 stores, for example, identification information of the authentication terminal 20 that has been registered in advance.

[0050] To the I / O 45, for example, a wireless unit 47, an NFC unit 48, a UI (User Interface) unit 49, and an image forming unit 50 are connected.

[0051] The wireless unit 47 has a communication protocol for performing data communication with the authentication terminal 20 using short-range wireless communication, and a communication protocol for performing data communication with the external terminal 30 using a wireless LAN.

[0052] The NFC unit 48 includes an NFC reader and reads identification information from the NFC-tapped authentication terminal 20 and external terminal 30, and transmits information necessary for connecting to the authentication terminal 20 via short-range wireless communication and information necessary for connecting to the external terminal 30 via wireless LAN to the authentication terminal 20 and the external terminal 30, respectively.

[0053] The UI unit 49 is a unit that provides an interface between the image forming apparatus 10 and a user who operates the image forming apparatus 10, and is a device that receives instructions from the user who operates the image forming apparatus 10 and notifies the CPU 41 of the instructions, and outputs information processed by the CPU 41 to the outside. The UI unit 49 is composed of, for example, buttons, a touch panel, and a liquid crystal display, and the touch panel is attached superimposed on the liquid crystal display. Information processed by the CPU 41 is displayed on the liquid crystal display, and processing associated with an object such as a button displayed at a position on the liquid crystal display selected via the touch panel is executed.

[0054] In addition, in the UI unit 49, a display device such as an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display may be used instead of a liquid crystal display.

[0055] The image forming unit 50 forms an image on a recording medium according to an instruction from the CPU 41 .

[0056] Meanwhile, the information devices of the authentication terminal 20 and the external terminal 30 shown in Fig. 1 are also realized using a computer 60. Fig. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration example in which the authentication terminal 20 and the external terminal 30 are configured by a computer 60. In the explanation of Fig. 3, since there is no need to distinguish between the authentication terminal 20 and the external terminal 30, the authentication terminal 20 and the external terminal 30 will be simply referred to as "information devices".

[0057] The computer 60 includes a CPU 61 which is an example of a processor responsible for executing functions of an information device, a ROM 62 which stores a program for making the computer 60 function as an information device, a RAM 63 which is used as a temporary working area for the CPU 61, a non-volatile memory 64, and an I / O 65. The CPU 61, the ROM 62, the RAM 63, the non-volatile memory 64, and the I / O 65 are each connected via a bus 66.

[0058] In the non-volatile memory 64, for example, print data to be printed by the image forming apparatus 10 is stored.

[0059] To the I / O 65, for example, a wireless unit 67, an NFC unit 68, and a UI unit 69 are connected.

[0060] The wireless unit 67 has a communication protocol for performing data communication with the image forming apparatus 10 using wireless LAN and short-range wireless communication. Note that the wireless unit 67 of the authentication terminal 20 uses short-range wireless communication for data communication with the image forming apparatus 10, and the wireless unit 67 of the external terminal 30 uses wireless LAN for data communication with the image forming apparatus 10.

[0061] The NFC unit 68 transmits information device identification information to the image forming apparatus 10 with which the NFC tap has been made, and receives information required for connecting to the image forming apparatus 10 from the image forming apparatus 10 using the wireless unit 67 .

[0062] The UI unit 69 is a unit that provides an interface between the information device and a user who operates the information device, and receives instructions from the user who operates the information device and notifies the CPU 61 of the instructions, and also outputs information processed by the CPU 61 to the outside. Like the UI unit 49 of the image forming apparatus 10, the UI unit 69 is composed of, for example, buttons, a touch panel, and a liquid crystal display, and the touch panel is attached superimposed on the liquid crystal display. Naturally, a display device such as an organic EL display may be used instead of the liquid crystal display.

[0063] For ease of explanation, hereinafter, a user who operates the authentication terminal 20 among the information devices will be referred to as an "employee," and a user who operates the external terminal 30 will be referred to as a "guest."

[0064] Next, the printing process in the image forming apparatus 10 will be described in detail.

[0065] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a printing process executed by the CPU 41 of the image forming device 10, for example, after the image forming device 10 is powered on, and FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing the flow of data transmitted and received between the image forming device 10, the authentication terminal 20, and the external terminal 30 when the printing process shown in FIG. 4 is executed.

[0066] An image forming program that defines the print processing is stored in advance, for example, in the ROM 42 of the image forming apparatus 10. The CPU 41 of the image forming apparatus 10 reads the image forming program stored in the ROM 42 and executes the print processing.

[0067] When the authentication terminal 20 prints on the image forming device 10, and when it permits printing by the external terminal 30, it needs to connect to the image forming device 10 via the communication line 2. Therefore, when the connection service is started on the authentication terminal 20, the connection procedure with the image forming device 10 is first guided.

[0068] Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of guidance for a procedure for connecting to the image forming apparatus 10, which is displayed on the authentication terminal 20. When the authentication terminal 20 attempts to connect to the image forming apparatus 10, guidance such as that shown in Fig. 6(A) is displayed on the authentication terminal 20, which encourages the image forming apparatus 10 to perform an NFC tap. Also, as will be described later with reference to Fig. 8, when printing is to be performed using the external terminal 30, guidance is displayed which encourages the image forming apparatus 10 to perform an NFC tap. Accordingly, an NFC tap is performed by the authentication terminal 20 or the external terminal 30.

[0069] When an NFC tap is performed by the authentication terminal 20 or the external terminal 30, in step S10 of Fig. 4, the CPU 41 detects through the NFC unit 48 whether or not an NFC tap is performed by the authentication terminal 20 or the external terminal 30. If an NFC tap by the authentication terminal 20 or the external terminal 30 is not detected, the CPU 41 repeats the determination process of step S10 to continue detecting an NFC tap. If an NFC tap by the authentication terminal 20 or the external terminal 30 is detected, the process proceeds to step S20. Note that sequence F1 in Fig. 5 represents a situation in which an NFC tap is performed by the authentication terminal 20.

[0070] 4, the CPU 41 determines whether or not the information device that performed the NFC tap on the image forming apparatus 10 is the authentication terminal 20. When the NFC tap is performed by the information device, identification information is transmitted from the information device that performed the NFC tap to the image forming apparatus 10. Therefore, the CPU 41 may determine that the information device that performed the NFC tap is the authentication terminal 20 when the identification information received through the NFC unit 48 matches any of the identification information of the authentication terminal 20 pre-stored in the non-volatile memory 44.

[0071] When the information device that performed the NFC tap is the authentication terminal 20, the process proceeds to step S30. In the following description, the authentication terminal 20 that performed the NFC tap will be simply referred to as the "authentication terminal 20".

[0072] In step S30, the CPU 41 controls the wireless unit 47 to connect to the authentication terminal 20, and sets the state in which data communication with the authentication terminal 20 is possible using short-range wireless communication.

[0073] To this end, the CPU 41 first transmits advertising information to the authentication terminal 20 via the NFC unit 48 (sequence F2 in FIG. 5).

[0074] The authentication terminal 20 that receives the advertising information from the image forming device 10 performs advertising using short-range wireless communication. Advertising is a process in which the authentication terminal 20 repeatedly broadcasts information required for connecting to the authentication terminal 20 (called "connection information") to other devices (in this case, the image forming device 10) within the reach of the radio waves of the short-range wireless communication at predetermined intervals, and waits for the image forming device 10 to connect to the authentication terminal 20 via short-range wireless communication.

[0075] The CPU 41 of the image forming apparatus 10 that has received the connection information from the authentication terminal 20 connects to the authentication terminal 20 using the received connection information (sequence F3 in FIG. 5). This establishes a communication line 2 between the image forming apparatus 10 and the authentication terminal 20 by short-range wireless communication. When the connection with the image forming apparatus 10 is completed, a notification of the completion of the connection is displayed on the authentication terminal 20 as shown in FIG. 6(B).

[0076] After the communication line 2 is established with the authentication terminal 20 by short-range wireless communication, in step S40 of Fig. 4, the CPU 41 determines whether or not print data has been received from the authentication terminal 20 via short-range wireless communication. If print data has not been received, the process proceeds to step S50.

[0077] On the other hand, when the external terminal 30 executes printing on the image forming device 10, an NFC tap on the image forming device 10 is also the starting point for printing (sequence F4 in FIG. 5), so in step S50, the CPU 41 determines whether or not an NFC tap by the external terminal 30 has been detected.

[0078] If an NFC tap by the external terminal 30 is not detected, the process proceeds to step S40. That is, the CPU 41 repeatedly executes steps S40 and S50 to monitor changes in the situation until print data is received from the authentication terminal 20 or an NFC tap by the external terminal 30 is detected.

[0079] If an NFC tap by the external terminal 30 is detected in the determination process of step S50, the process proceeds to step S60.

[0080] Unlike the authentication terminal 20, it is not known what type of model is being used for the external terminal 30. Therefore, in step S60, the CPU 41 controls the wireless unit 47 to connect to the external terminal 30 via a wireless LAN that is pre-installed in any type of information device, thereby enabling data communication with the external terminal 30 using the wireless LAN.

[0081] To this end, the CPU 41 transmits connection information (e.g., an IP address, etc.) required to connect to the image forming apparatus 10 via the wireless LAN to the external terminal 30 via the NFC unit 48 (sequence F5 in FIG. 5). The external terminal 30, which has received the connection information from the image forming apparatus 10, connects to the image forming apparatus 10 via the wireless LAN using the received connection information (sequence F6 in FIG. 5). This establishes a communication line 2 via the wireless LAN between the image forming apparatus 10 and the external terminal 30. When the connection with the image forming apparatus 10 is completed, a notification of connection completion as shown in FIG. 6(B) is displayed on the external terminal 30.

[0082] When the external terminal 30 performs an NFC tap on the image forming apparatus 10, this indicates that the guest wishes to execute printing from the external terminal 30.

[0083] 7 is a diagram showing an example of printing execution in the external terminal 30. When a guest prints from the external terminal 30, the print driver installed in the external terminal 30 displays a setting screen for making print settings for the print data to be printed. The print settings are information used to determine whether the print data can be printed or not, and information that instructs the image forming apparatus 10 on the format in which the print data should be printed when the print data is printed.

[0084] For example, print settings include a color mode that indicates whether the image represented by the print data is to be printed in color or black and white, a print side that indicates whether the image represented by the print data is to be printed on both sides or one side of a recording medium, and settings such as the number of copies to be printed and the size of the recording medium to be used.

[0085] Fig. 7(A) is a diagram showing an example of a setting screen for making print settings for print data. The print screen shown in Fig. 7(A) displays a thumbnail 3 of the first page of an image represented by the print data together with print setting items. When the guest selects the print button after setting the contents of each print setting displayed on the setting screen, a dialogue 32 showing an NFC tap guide as shown in Fig. 7(B) is displayed on the external terminal 30.

[0086] When the guest follows the NFC tap instructions displayed in the dialog 32 and brings the external terminal 30 close to the NFC unit 48 of the image forming device 10 to perform an NFC tap, the NFC tap by the external terminal 30 is detected by the determination process of step S50 in Figure 4, and the image forming device 10 and the external terminal 30 are connected via wireless LAN.

[0087] When the image forming apparatus 10 and the external terminal 30 are connected by wireless LAN, the external terminal 30 transmits print data to be printed together with print settings to the image forming apparatus 10 via the wireless LAN (sequence F7 in FIG. 5). Note that FIG. 7C is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the external terminal 30 transmitting the print data.

[0088] Therefore, in step S70, the CPU 41 determines whether or not print data has been received from the external terminal 30 via the wireless LAN.

[0089] If the print data has not been received, the determination process of step S70 is repeatedly executed and the process waits until the print data is received from the external terminal 30. On the other hand, if the print data has been received from the external terminal 30, the process proceeds to step S80.

[0090] As already explained, since the external terminal 30 itself does not have the printing authority, the CPU 41 does not start preparation for printing even when it receives print data from the external terminal 30, but temporarily stores the received print data in the RAM 43. Then, in step S80, the CPU 41 transmits an inquiry notice to the authentication terminal 20 via short-range wireless communication inquiring about whether the print data received from the external terminal 30 can be printed, to the authentication terminal 20 that performed the NFC tap.

[0091] When transmitting an inquiry notification to the authentication terminal 20 using short-range wireless communication, the CPU 41 first instructs the authentication terminal 20 to transmit a response instruction to the inquiry to the image forming apparatus 10 using a Notify command (sequence F8 in FIG. 5). After that, the CPU 41 transmits the inquiry notification to the authentication terminal 20 using a Write command (sequence F9 in FIG. 5).

[0092] In this way, the authentication terminal 20 that has received the inquiry notification from the image forming apparatus 10 executes a process of confirming whether the print data received from the external terminal 30 can be printed.

[0093] Fig. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the authentication terminal 20 by the process of confirming whether printing is permitted. When an inquiry notification is received from the image forming apparatus 10, a confirmation screen such as that shown in Fig. 8(A) is displayed on the authentication terminal 20. On the confirmation screen, a PRINT button for issuing an instruction to grant printing permission for the print data received from the external terminal 30 and a DISALLOW button for issuing an instruction not to grant printing permission are displayed.

[0094] The employee selects the print button when giving permission to print the print data that the guest is attempting to print from the external terminal 30. Fig. 8(B) is a diagram showing an example of the screen displayed on the authentication terminal 20 when the employee selects the allow button on the confirmation screen, which indicates that permission has been given to print the print data that the guest is attempting to print from the external terminal 30.

[0095] On the other hand, the employee selects the Deny button if he or she does not want to give permission to print the print data that the guest is attempting to print from the external terminal 30. Fig. 8(C) is a diagram showing an example of the screen displayed on the authentication terminal 20 when the employee selects the Deny button on the confirmation screen, which indicates that permission to print the print data that the guest is attempting to print from the external terminal 30 has been denied.

[0096] When the employee selects the Allow button or the Disallow button on the confirmation screen, the authentication terminal 20 uses a Notify command to send instructions on how to handle the inquiry notice to the image forming apparatus 10 (sequence F10 in FIG. 5).

[0097] 4, the CPU 41 judges whether or not a response instruction for the print data received from the external terminal 30 has been received from the authentication terminal 20. If a response instruction has not been received from the authentication terminal 20, the CPU 41 repeatedly executes the judgment process of step S90 to monitor for receipt of a response instruction. On the other hand, if a response instruction has been received from the authentication terminal 20, the CPU 41 proceeds to step S100.

[0098] When the permit button on the confirmation screen is selected on the authentication terminal 20, the content of the corresponding instruction is set to permit printing, and when the prohibit button on the confirmation screen is selected on the authentication terminal 20, the content of the corresponding instruction is set to prohibit printing. In other words, the corresponding instruction is an example of an instruction that indicates whether or not to permit printing of the print data.

[0099] Therefore, in step S100, the CPU 41 determines whether the content of the response instruction is set to print permission. If the content of the response instruction is set to print permission, the process proceeds to step S110, where the CPU 41 performs print preparation for the print data received from the external terminal 30. The print preparation means shifting the state of the image forming apparatus 10 to a state in which printing is possible, and includes warming up the image forming unit 50, for example, by correcting the density of the image or by heating the fixing device that fixes the image on the recording medium with heat.

[0100] The CPU 41 may start printing the print data after the print preparation is completed, or may notify the information device that is the sender of the print data that the print preparation is completed, and may start printing the print data after receiving an instruction to start printing from the information device that is the sender of the print data. Therefore, when the print data is received from the external terminal 30, the CPU 41 may notify the external terminal 30 through the wireless LAN that the print preparation is completed, and may start printing the print data after receiving an instruction to start printing from the external terminal 30. Note that, when the CPU 41 receives print data from the external terminal 30, instead of notifying the external terminal 30 that the print preparation is completed, the CPU 41 may notify the authentication terminal 20 that the print preparation of the print data received from the external terminal 30 is completed, and may start printing the print data after receiving an instruction to start printing from the authentication terminal 20. Note that printing the print data means printing the image represented by the print data. When the CPU 41 executes printing of the print data, it ends the print process shown in FIG. 4.

[0101] On the other hand, if the content of the response instruction is set to printing prohibition in the determination process of step S100, the CPU 41 ends the print process shown in FIG. 4 without printing the print data accepted from the external terminal 30.

[0102] 4, if it is determined that print data has been received from the authentication terminal 20, the authentication terminal 20 has printing authority, and therefore the print data received from the authentication terminal 20 may be printed without sending an inquiry to the authentication terminal 20 to ask the employee whether or not to print. Therefore, the process proceeds to step S110 without executing the processes of steps S50 to S100, and the CPU 41 executes printing of the print data received from the authentication terminal 20.

[0103] On the other hand, if it is determined in the determination process of step S20 in FIG. 4 that the information device that performed the NFC tap on the image forming apparatus 10 is not the authentication terminal 20, that is, if it is determined that the external terminal 30 performed the NFC tap, the process proceeds to step S120.

[0104] Even if the external terminal 30 performs an NFC tap before the authentication terminal 20, the CPU 41 cooperates with the authentication terminal 20 to execute a guest printing process in step S120 so that the print data received from the external terminal 30 can be printed on a recording medium, and then ends the printing process shown in FIG. 4.

[0105] Figure 9 is a flowchart showing an example of a guest printing process executed in step S120 of Figure 4, and Figure 10 is a sequence diagram showing the flow of data sent and received between the image forming device 10, the authentication terminal 20, and the external terminal 30 when the guest printing process shown in Figure 9 is executed.

[0106] As shown in sequence F4 of FIG. 10, if the external terminal 30 performs an NFC tap before the authentication terminal 20 performs an NFC tap, in step S200 of FIG. 9, the CPU 41 connects to the external terminal 30 via wireless LAN, as described in step S60 of FIG. 4, and makes data communication using wireless LAN possible with the external terminal 30 (sequences F5 and F6 of FIG. 10).

[0107] When the external terminal 30 on which the NFC tap has been performed is connected via wireless LAN, in step S210 of FIG. 9, the CPU 41 determines whether or not print data has been received from the external terminal 30 via the wireless LAN.

[0108] If the print data has not been received, the determination process of step S210 is repeatedly executed and the process waits until the print data is received from the external terminal 30. On the other hand, if the print data has been received from the external terminal 30 (sequence F7 in FIG. 10), the process proceeds to step S220.

[0109] In order to print the print data received from the external terminal 30 on the image forming device 10, printing permission from the employee is required. Therefore, the guest calls out to the employee and asks him or her to NFC tap the NFC unit 48 of the image forming device 10 on the authentication terminal 20.

[0110] Meanwhile, in step S220, the CPU 41 determines whether or not an NFC tap by the authentication terminal 20 has been detected. If an NFC tap by the authentication terminal 20 has not been detected, the determination process of step S220 is repeatedly executed to monitor the execution of an NFC tap by the authentication terminal 20. On the other hand, if an NFC tap by the authentication terminal 20 has been detected (sequence F1 in FIG. 10), the process proceeds to step S230.

[0111] In step S230, the CPU 41 controls the wireless unit 47 to connect to the authentication terminal 20, as described in step S30 of FIG. 4, and enables data communication with the authentication terminal 20 using short-range wireless communication (sequences F2 and F3 of FIG. 10).

[0112] In step S240, the CPU 41 transmits an inquiry notification for the print data received from the external terminal 30 to the authentication terminal 20 via short-range wireless communication (sequences F8 and F9 in FIG. 10).

[0113] 8, the authentication terminal 20 executes a confirmation process for the inquiry notice, and transmits a response instruction for the inquiry notice to the image forming apparatus 10. Therefore, in step S250, the CPU 41 determines whether or not a response instruction for the print data received from the external terminal 30 has been received from the authentication terminal 20. If a response instruction has not been received from the authentication terminal 20, the determination process of step S250 is repeatedly executed to monitor receipt of a response instruction. On the other hand, if a response instruction has been received from the authentication terminal 20 (sequence F10 in FIG. 10), the process proceeds to step S260.

[0114] In step S260, the CPU 41 determines whether the content of the received response instruction is set to print permission. If the content of the response instruction is set to print permission, the process proceeds to step S270, where the CPU 41 prepares to print the received print data, and executes printing of the print data, and then ends the guest print process shown in FIG.

[0115] On the other hand, if the content of the response instruction is set to printing prohibited in the determination process of step S260, the CPU 41 ends the guest printing process shown in Fig. 9 without printing the print data accepted from the external terminal 30. Note that ending the guest printing process in Fig. 9 also means ending the printing process in Fig. 4.

[0116] This completes the description of the printing process shown in FIG.

[0117] In the guest printing process shown in Fig. 9, in order to print print data transmitted from the external terminal 30 on the image forming apparatus 10, the guest calls out to the employee and requests that the authentication terminal 20 be NFC-tapped to the NFC unit 48 of the image forming apparatus 10. However, when the CPU 41 determines that print data has been received from the external terminal 30 in the determination process of step S210 in Fig. 9, the CPU 41 may execute step S230 before executing the determination process of step S220 to connect to the authentication terminal 20 by short-range wireless communication, and transmit a request notification to the authentication terminal 20 to request the NFC unit 48 of the image forming apparatus 10 to NFC-tap the authentication terminal 20. In this case, the image forming apparatus 10 becomes a peripheral and executes advertising.

[0118] If the employee moves outside the range of the short-range wireless communication radio waves while carrying the authentication terminal 20, the inquiry notice or request notice will not be sent to the authentication terminal 20, resulting in a transmission failure. If the transmission of the inquiry notice or request notice fails, it is preferable that the CPU 41 transmits an error notice to the external terminal 30 via wireless LAN to inform the guest that the transmission of the inquiry notice or request notice has failed, so that the guest does not continue to wait for permission to print the print data.

[0119] Furthermore, since the NFC tap request notification is broadcast, for example, if there are multiple external terminals 30, the employee who receives the request notification at the authentication terminal 20 may not know which external terminal 30 has requested the NFC tap. Therefore, the CPU 41 may transmit identification information of the external terminal 30 that has sent the print data together with the request notification to the authentication terminal 20. The employee will be able to determine from the identification information of the external terminal 30 whether the NFC tap request is from a guest related to the employee, and therefore, if the NFC tap request is from a guest related to the employee, the employee can NFC tap the authentication terminal 20 on the NFC unit 48 of the image forming device 10.

[0120] Similarly, when an employee receives an inquiry notification in step S80 of FIG. 4 or step S240 of FIG. 9 at the authentication terminal 20, the employee may not be able to determine from the inquiry notification alone whether or not it is possible to print the print data received from an external terminal 30 which external terminal 30 the print data was received from or what the content of the print data is, and may have difficulty in determining whether or not to allow the print data to be printed.

[0121] Therefore, the CPU 41 may transmit at least one of the identification information of the external terminal 30 that transmitted the print data and the data information indicating the contents of the print data received from the external terminal 30 to the authentication terminal 20 together with the inquiry notification.

[0122] Specifically, the identification information of the external terminal 30 is information that uniquely identifies the external terminal 30, such as the terminal name of the external terminal 30 and the guest name of the guest operating the external terminal 30, and the data information representing the contents of the print data is a thumbnail 3 of the image formed on the recording medium when the print data is printed and the file name of the print data.

[0123] 11 is a diagram showing an example of a confirmation screen displayed on the authentication terminal 20 receiving from the image forming apparatus 10, together with an inquiry notification, the terminal name of the external terminal 30 that has transmitted the print data and a thumbnail 3 of the image represented by the print data received from the external terminal 30. In the example of the confirmation screen shown in FIG. 11, the terminal name of the external terminal 30, such as "Guest terminal A," and the thumbnail 3 of the image represented by the print data are displayed. Therefore, the employee can know who is making the inquiry about the printability of the print data, and it becomes easier to determine whether or not to print compared to a case where the terminal name of the external terminal 30 and the thumbnail 3 of the image are not displayed.

[0124] In addition, since it is possible that identification information of the external terminal 30, such as the terminal name of the external terminal 30 or the name of the guest operating the external terminal 30, may be forged and printing may be performed by so-called "spoofing," the CPU 41 may perform printing processing with additional security measures.

[0125] Specifically, the employee and the guest share the same PIN (Personal Identification Number) code, and the guest sets the PIN code on the setting screen shown in Fig. 7(A) and transmits the PIN code together with the print data to the image forming device 10. When a PIN code is set in the print data received from the external terminal 30, the CPU 41 transmits the PIN code together with the inquiry notification to the authentication terminal 20.

[0126] When the CPU 61 of the authentication terminal 20 receives the PIN code together with the inquiry notification, it displays the PIN code received from the image forming device 10 on the confirmation screen shown in Fig. 8(A) or 11, allowing the employee to understand that the received inquiry notification is an inquiry as to whether or not to print the print data of a legitimate guest. Such a PIN code is an example of a print setting, as it is used to determine whether or not to print the print data.

[0127] Thus, according to the image forming system 1 of this embodiment, even an external terminal 30 that does not have printing authority can print print data on the image forming device 10 by linking with the authentication terminal 20.

[0128] <Modification of Printing Process in Image Forming Apparatus 10> In the printing process shown in Figure 4, an employee who receives an inquiry notification from the image forming device 10 on the authentication terminal 20 enters response instructions via the confirmation screen shown in Figure 8 (A) or Figure 11. However, here we will explain a modified printing process that allows the image forming device 10 to determine whether or not to print print data received from the external terminal 30, even if the employee does not enter response instructions on the authentication terminal 20.

[0129] Fig. 12 is a flowchart showing an example of printing processing according to this modified example, which is executed by CPU 41 of image forming apparatus 10. The printing processing flowchart shown in Fig. 12 differs from the printing processing flowchart shown in Fig. 4 in that steps S80 to S100 are deleted and step S75 is added instead, and step S120 is replaced with step S120A.

[0130] Moreover, Fig. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of a guest printing process constituting step S120A of the printing process according to this modified example shown in Fig. 12. The guest printing process shown in Fig. 13 differs from the guest printing process shown in Fig. 9 in that steps S220 to S260 are deleted and step S215 is added instead.

[0131] 12 and 13 are the same as the print process shown in FIG. 4 and the guest print process shown in FIG. 9, respectively, except for the differences described above.

[0132] 12 is stored in advance in, for example, the ROM 42 of the image forming apparatus 10. The CPU 41 of the image forming apparatus 10 reads the image forming program stored in the ROM 42 and executes the modified example of the print process shown in FIG.

[0133] Note that the non-volatile memory 44 of the image forming device 10 stores in advance print settings that permit printing of print data received from the external terminal 30, i.e., "permitted print settings." The permitted print settings are set by an employee operating the UI unit 49 of the image forming device 10 or an employee operating the UI unit 69 of the authentication terminal 20. When an employee sets the permitted print settings on the authentication terminal 20, the set permitted print settings are stored in the non-volatile memory 44 of the image forming device 10 through near-field wireless communication, but the permitted print settings may also be stored in the non-volatile memory 44 of the image forming device 10 by NFC tapping the NFC unit 48 of the image forming device 10 with the authentication terminal 20.

[0134] When it is determined in the determination process of step S70 in FIG. 12 that print data has been received from the external terminal 30 that was NFC tapped with after the authentication terminal 20, step S75 is executed.

[0135] In step S75, the CPU 41 determines whether the print settings received together with the print data from the external terminal 30 are set to the same contents as the permitted print settings. If the print settings of the print data are set to the same contents as the permitted print settings, the print data for which the print settings are set is print data that the employee has given permission to print in advance, even without inquiring the employee about whether or not it can be printed by an inquiry notification. Therefore, the CPU 41 proceeds to step S110 without sending an inquiry notification to the authentication terminal 20, and after preparing to print the received print data, starts printing the print data.

[0136] On the other hand, if the print settings of the print data are set to contents different from the permitted print settings, the print data for which the print settings are set is considered to be print data that the employee has prohibited from printing in advance, even if the employee is not asked by the inquiry notification whether or not the print data can be printed. Therefore, the CPU 41 ends the print process shown in Fig. 12 without sending an inquiry notification to the authentication terminal 20, and does not print the print data received from the external terminal 30.

[0137] Specifically, when color mode is selected as the permitted print setting and the content is set to "black and white," if the color mode of the print data is set to "black and white," the CPU 41 prints the print data, and if the color mode of the print data is set to "color," the CPU 41 does not print the print data.

[0138] When there are multiple permitted print settings, the employee can set in advance whether the print settings of the print data and the permitted print settings should be collated using an AND comparison or an OR comparison.

[0139] When the comparison between the print settings of the print data and the permitted print settings is set to AND comparison, the CPU 41 prints the print data if the print settings of the print data are set to the same contents as all of the permitted print settings.

[0140] Specifically, when color mode and paper size are selected as permitted print settings, the color mode is set to "black and white," and the paper size is set to "A4," if the color mode of the print data is set to "black and white" and the paper size of the paper on which the image is printed is set to "A4," the CPU 41 prints the print data.

[0141] On the other hand, when the comparison between the print settings of the print data and the permitted print settings is set to OR comparison, the CPU 41 prints the print data if the print settings of the print data are set to the same content as at least one of the permitted print settings.

[0142] Specifically, when color mode and paper size are selected as permitted print settings, the color mode is set to "black and white," and the paper size is set to "A4," if the color mode of the print data is set to "black and white" or the paper size of the paper on which the image is printed is set to "A4," the CPU 41 prints the print data.

[0143] In addition to AND matching and OR matching, there is also another type of matching between the print settings of the print data and the permitted print settings, such as threshold matching, in which the print data is printed if the print settings of the print data are set to the same content as a preset number or more of the permitted print settings.

[0144] Specifically, when the threshold value is set to "3", if the print settings of the print data are set to the same contents as any three or more of the multiple permitted print settings, the CPU 41 prints the print data.

[0145] On the other hand, if it is determined in the determination process of step S20 in Fig. 12 that the external terminal 30 has performed an NFC tap, the process proceeds to step S120A, and the guest printing process shown in Fig. 13 is executed. In the guest printing process shown in Fig. 13, when print data is received from the external terminal 30 via wireless LAN, step S215 is executed.

[0146] In step S215, the CPU 41 determines whether the print settings received together with the print data from the external terminal 30 are set to the same contents as the permitted print settings, similar to the determination process in step S75 in Fig. 12. If the print settings of the print data are set to the same contents as the permitted print settings, the print data for which the print settings are set is print data that the employee has given permission to print in advance, even without inquiring the employee about whether or not it can be printed by an inquiry notification. Therefore, the CPU 41 proceeds to step S270 without sending an inquiry notification to the authentication terminal 20, and after making preparations for printing the received print data, starts printing the print data.

[0147] On the other hand, if the print settings of the print data are set to contents different from the permitted print settings, the print data for which the print settings are set is considered to be print data that the employee has prohibited from being printed in advance, even if the employee is not asked by the inquiry notification whether or not the print data can be printed. Therefore, the CPU 41 ends the guest print process shown in Fig. 13 without sending an inquiry notification to the authentication terminal 20, and prevents the print data received from the external terminal 30 from being printed.

[0148] Note that the description of the comparison type between the print settings of the print data and the permitted print settings in a situation where multiple permitted print settings exist in step S75 of FIG. 12 also applies to the determination process in step S215 of FIG.

[0149] In this manner, according to the modified printing process, the image forming device 10 can determine whether or not the print data received from the external terminal 30 can be printed, without the employee having to input a response instruction into the authentication terminal 20.

[0150] <Modification of the Verification Process in the Authentication Terminal 20> In the modified example of the printing process in the image forming device 10 shown above, an embodiment has been described in which permitted printing settings are stored in advance in the non-volatile memory 44 of the image forming device 10, so that it is possible to determine whether or not printing data received from the external terminal 30 can be printed without the employee having to input corresponding instructions at the authentication terminal 20.

[0151] Here, we will describe an embodiment in which permitted printing settings are pre-stored in non-volatile memory 64 of the authentication terminal 20 instead of in non-volatile memory 44 of the image forming device 10, making it possible to determine whether or not printing data received from an external terminal 30 can be printed without the employee having to input corresponding instructions on the authentication terminal 20.

[0152] The permitted printing settings are stored in the non-volatile memory 64 of the authentication terminal 20 by the employee operating the UI unit 69 of the authentication terminal 20 .

[0153] The image forming device 10 executes the print process shown in Fig. 4, while the authentication terminal 20 executes the confirmation process shown in Fig. 14. Note that the inquiry notification that the image forming device 10 transmits to the authentication terminal 20 in S80 in Fig. 4 and S240 in Fig. 9 includes the print settings of the print data received from the external terminal 30.

[0154] FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing an example of a confirmation process according to this modified example, which is executed by the CPU 61 of the authentication terminal 20 when an inquiry notification is received from the image forming apparatus 10. In FIG.

[0155] An authentication program that prescribes the verification process is stored in advance, for example, in the ROM 62 of the authentication terminal 20. The CPU 61 of the authentication terminal 20 reads the authentication program stored in the ROM 62 and executes the verification process.

[0156] In step S300 in FIG. 14, the CPU 61 determines whether the print settings received from the image forming apparatus 10 together with the inquiry notification are the same as the permitted print settings stored in the non-volatile memory 64.

[0157] If the print settings of the print data are set to contents different from the permitted print settings, the print data received from the external terminal 30 is print data that the employee has prohibited from being printed in advance. Therefore, the process proceeds to step S310, where the CPU 61 controls the wireless unit 67 to send a response instruction to the image forming device 10 via short-range wireless communication, setting the contents to be prohibited from being printed, and the confirmation process shown in FIG.

[0158] On the other hand, if the print settings of the print data are set to the same contents as the permitted print settings, the print data received from the external terminal 30 is print data that the employee has permitted to be printed in advance. Therefore, the process proceeds to step S320, where the CPU 61 controls the wireless unit 67 to send a response instruction, in which the contents are set to permitted to be printed, to the image forming device 10 via short-range wireless communication, and the confirmation process shown in FIG.

[0159] Note that the description of the comparison type between the print settings of the print data and the permitted print settings described in step S75 of FIG. 12 in a situation where a plurality of permitted print settings exist also applies to the determination process in step S300 of FIG.

[0160] According to this modified example, even if an employee does not input response instructions in response to an inquiry notification at the authentication terminal 20, a response instruction indicating whether or not the print data received from the external terminal 30 can be printed can be sent to the image forming device 10.

[0161] Although one aspect of the image forming system 1 has been described above using the embodiment, the disclosed form of the image forming system 1 is merely an example, and the form of the image forming system 1 is not limited to the scope described in the embodiment. Various modifications or improvements can be made to the embodiment without departing from the gist of the present disclosure, and the form in which such modifications or improvements are made is also included in the technical scope of the disclosure. For example, the printing process shown in Figures 4 and 9, modified versions of the printing process shown in Figures 12 and 13, and the order of the confirmation process shown in Figure 14 may be changed without departing from the gist of the present disclosure.

[0162] In the above embodiment, the processes are implemented by software. However, the processes equivalent to the flowcharts shown in Figures 4, 9, and 12 to 14 may be implemented by hardware. In this case, the processes can be implemented at a higher speed than when the processes are implemented by software.

[0163] In the above embodiment, the term "processor" refers to a processor in a broad sense, including general-purpose processors (e.g., CPU 41 and CPU 61) and dedicated processors (e.g., GPU: Graphics Processing Unit, ASIC: Application Specific Integrated Circuit, FPGA: Field Programmable Gate Array, programmable logic device, etc.).

[0164] In addition, the operations of the processor in the above embodiment may be performed not only by one processor but also by multiple processors located at physically separate locations working together. The order of the operations of the processor is not limited to the order described in the above embodiment and may be changed as appropriate.

[0165] In the above embodiment, an example in which the image forming program is stored in the ROM 42 has been described, but the storage destination of the image forming program is not limited to the ROM 42. The image forming program of the present disclosure can also be provided in a form recorded in a storage medium readable by the computer 40. For example, the image forming program may be provided in a form recorded in an optical disk such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disk Read Only Memory) or a DVD-ROM (Digital Versatile Disk Read Only Memory). The image forming program may also be provided in a form recorded in a portable semiconductor memory such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory or a memory card.

[0166] Similarly, the authentication program of the present disclosure is not limited to being stored in the ROM 62, but may be provided in a form recorded on a storage medium readable by the computer 60.

[0167] The ROM 42, the ROM 62, the non-volatile memory 44, the non-volatile memory 64, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, a USB, and a memory card are examples of non-transitory storage media.

[0168] Furthermore, the image forming apparatus 10 may download an image forming program from an external device (not shown) connected to a wireless LAN and store the downloaded image forming program in a non-transitory storage medium. In this case, the CPU 41 of the image forming apparatus 10 reads the image forming program downloaded from the external device (not shown) and executes a print process.

[0169] Similarly, the authentication terminal 20 may download an authentication program from an external device (not shown) connected to the wireless LAN and store the downloaded authentication program in a non-transitory storage medium. In this case, the CPU 61 of the authentication terminal 20 reads the authentication program downloaded from the external device (not shown) and executes a confirmation process. [Explanation of symbols]

[0170] 1 image forming system, 2 communication line, 3 thumbnail, 10 image forming device, 11 communication unit, 12 authentication unit, 13 print data DB, 14 image forming unit, 15 user IF unit, 16 control unit, 20 authentication terminal, 30 external terminal, 32 dialogue, 40 (60) computer, 41 (61) CPU, 42 (62) ROM, 43 (63) RAM, 44 (64) non-volatile memory, 45 (65) I / O, 46 (66) bus, 47 (67) wireless unit, 48 (68) NFC unit, 49 (69) UI unit, 50 image forming unit

Claims

1. A processor is provided. The processor, When print data is received from an external terminal not previously registered as an authentication terminal having printing authority, a communication line is established with a specific authentication terminal, which is the authentication terminal that has come within a predetermined distance from a short-distance communication unit that performs short-distance wireless communication, and if the print settings of the print data are set to the same contents as permitted print settings previously stored in a storage device as print settings that permit printing, the print data is prepared for printing without sending an inquiry notice to the specific authentication terminal inquiring whether the print data can be printed, and if the print settings of the print data are set to contents different from the permitted print settings, the print data is not printed without sending the inquiry notice to the specific authentication terminal. Image forming device.

2. When a plurality of the permitted print settings are stored in the storage device, The processor prepares to print the print data without sending the inquiry notification to the authentication terminal when the print settings of the print data are set to the same contents as all of the permitted print settings stored in the storage device, or when the print settings of the print data are set to the same contents as any one of the permitted print settings stored in the storage device.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.

3. On the computer, When print data is received from an external terminal not previously registered as an authentication terminal having printing authority, a communication line is established with a specific authentication terminal, which is the authentication terminal that has come within a predetermined distance from a short-distance communication unit that performs short-distance wireless communication, and if the print settings of the print data are set to the same contents as permitted print settings that are previously stored in a storage device as print settings that permit printing, the print data is prepared for printing without sending an inquiry notice to the specific authentication terminal inquiring whether or not the print data can be printed, and if the print settings of the print data are set to contents different from the permitted print settings, the print data is not printed without sending the inquiry notice to the specific authentication terminal. Image formation program.

4. An authentication terminal that is permitted to print on the image forming device, when print data is received from an external terminal not previously registered as the authentication terminal, a communication line is established with a specific authentication terminal, which is the authentication terminal that has come within a predetermined distance from a short-range communication unit that performs short-range wireless communication, and an inquiry notice is transmitted to the specific authentication terminal via the short-range wireless communication to inquire as to whether or not the print data can be printed; the image forming apparatus, when receiving permission to print the print data from the specific authentication terminal, preparing to print the print data; Including, when the print settings of the print data received from the image forming apparatus together with the inquiry notification are set to the same contents as permitted print settings stored in a storage device of the specific authentication terminal as print settings for permitting printing, the specific authentication terminal transmits an instruction to permit printing of the print data to the image forming apparatus from the specific authentication terminal without receiving an instruction from a user of the specific authentication terminal as to whether or not to permit printing of the print data; If the print settings of the print data received from the image forming device are set to contents different from the permitted print settings, an instruction to prohibit printing of the print data is transmitted from the specific authentication terminal to the image forming device without receiving an instruction from the user of the specific authentication terminal as to whether or not to permit printing of the print data. Image forming system.

Images