Information processing apparatus, image forming apparatus, and control methods thereof

Abstract

To achieve simple configuration of a default image forming apparatus.SOLUTION: An information processing apparatus has: acquisition means that acquires identification information for identifying an image forming apparatus; and transmission means that transmits the identification information on the image forming apparatus to a server system that has registered in advance the identification information so that the image forming apparatus is configured to be a default image forming apparatus in the server system.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to default settings for image forming devices registered in a server system. [Background technology]

[0002] With the spread of cloud services, printing devices are also equipped with network communication functions, and cloud print services are provided in which users issue print instructions from their terminals via the Internet. When users log in to cloud print services on the Internet from various terminals, they can print to printers registered in the cloud print service. However, printers registered in the cloud print service are located in various locations, and if there are many printers registered in the cloud print service, it becomes time-consuming for the user to select the printer they want to use. In Patent Document 1, when an image code is read by the printer they want to use, the physical printer ID given to the printer by the cloud print server is notified to the user's terminal. Then, a method is described in which a setting request including the physical ID and user ID is sent to the cloud print service to make the printer available. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication 2015-108950 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the method of Patent Document 1 is merely a means for allowing a printer to be used temporarily, and therefore the problem remains that the printer cannot be set as a normally used printer, i.e., a so-called "default printer." Therefore, even if the user uses the same printer, the user is burdened with the task of selecting the printer from among the printers registered with the cloud print service every time. In addition, since the physical ID is assigned to the printer by the cloud print service, the cloud print service is burdened with having to manage the physical IDs of all printers. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] An acquisition unit for acquiring identification information for identifying an image forming apparatus; a transmitting means for transmitting the identification information to a server system in which the identification information of the image forming apparatus is registered in advance, so that the image forming apparatus is set as a default image forming apparatus in the server system. Effect of the Invention

[0006] By implementing the present invention, it becomes possible to easily set a printer as an individual's default printer by operating the printer in front of the printer. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows a system configuration. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the hardware configuration of a client terminal, a printer, and a print server. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the software configuration of a client terminal and a print server. [Figure 4] 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a process of a default printer setting application according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 5] 6 is a flowchart showing an example of processing of a print service according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6]10 is a flowchart showing an example of processing of a print service according to a second embodiment. [Figure 7] 5 is a view showing an example of a UI of a default printer setting application according to the first embodiment. [Figure 8] 3A and 3B are views showing examples of a shared device list and an individual device list according to the first embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the software configurations of a printer and a print server according to a third embodiment. [Figure 10] 13 is a flowchart showing an example of a process of a default printer setting application according to the third embodiment. [Figure 11] 13 is a flowchart showing an example of a process of a default printer setting application according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 12] 13 is a flowchart showing an example of processing of a print service according to the fourth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0009] <Embodiment 1> FIG. 1 shows a configuration diagram of a printing bot system according to this embodiment.

[0010] A print server 101, a client terminal 102, and a printer 103 are connected via a network 104. Although FIG. 1 shows one client terminal 102 and one printer 103, in reality, there are usually multiple. Each server may also be configured to distribute the load among multiple servers. Conversely, a single physical server may be configured to virtually play the role of each server internally. Each server may also be a cloud server arranged on a cloud. The network 104 is assumed to be a WAN such as the Internet, but may also be a closed environment such as an in-house LAN. The client terminal 102 refers to a PC, tablet, smartphone, etc., and is a terminal that is directly operated by a user. Any application software can be executed on the client terminal 102. The printer 103 is a device that actually prints on physical paper, and converts print data received via the network 104 into image data and prints it. The print server 101 has a role of accepting print instructions and document data from outside, converting them into print data, and then transmitting the print data to a specified printer 103 and issuing a print instruction. When the print server 101 is arranged in a cloud environment, it may also be called a cloud print server. The timing of printing on the printer 103 may be a push type in which no operation is required on the printer 103 by the user, or a pull type in which printing starts after the user operates the printer 103 to start printing. Note that the cloud server and cloud print server are server systems made up of one or more servers. Note that the printer is an image forming device that forms an image on a sheet.

[0011] Next, the hardware configuration of each device in the system of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

[0012] 2A is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the print server 101. The print server 101 includes a storage unit 204, a control unit 201, and a network communication unit 205. The storage unit 204 refers to a non-volatile storage device such as a hard disk or SSD, and is capable of storing and rewriting digital data.

[0013] The control unit 201 is composed of a CPU 202 and a memory 203, and controls the overall operation of the print server 101. The CPU 202 loads programs stored in the storage unit 204 into the memory 203 and executes them. The memory 203 is the main memory of the CPU 202 and is used as a work area and a temporary storage area for loading various programs.

[0014] A network communication unit 205 is a device for communicating with the external network 104, and inputs and outputs digital data to and from external servers, client terminals, and the like via the network 104.

[0015] 2(b) is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the client terminal 102. The client terminal 102 includes a display unit 216, an operation unit 217, a storage unit 214, a control unit 211, and a network communication unit 215. The display unit 216 is a device such as a liquid crystal display for displaying visual information to a user in real time. The operation unit 217 is a device for receiving input from a user via a keyboard, mouse, or the like. A device having the functions of both the display unit 216 and the operation unit 217, such as a touch panel, may also be used.

[0016] The image reader 218 is a device for reading a two-dimensional code displayed on the panel of a device or attached to the housing.

[0017] The description of the storage unit 214, the control unit 211, and the network communication unit 215 is omitted because they are the same as those of the print server 101.

[0018] FIG. 2C is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the printer 103. The printer 103 includes a display unit 226, an operation unit 227, a storage unit 224, a control unit 221, a network communication unit 225, and a printing unit 228. The display unit 226 is a device for displaying information to a user in real time, such as a touch panel or LEDs provided on the printer 103. The operation unit 227 is a device for receiving input from a user, and may include hard keys such as a numeric keypad in addition to a touch panel. The storage unit 224 and the control unit 221 are the same as those of the print server 101, so their description will be omitted. The network communication unit 225 is a device for communicating with the external network 104, and mainly plays a role of receiving print data and transmitting information about the status of the printer 103, such as errors, to an external server. The printing unit 228 is a device for performing a series of operations, such as feeding, printing, and discharging, on paper prepared in a cassette or tray to perform printing processing. The printing method is not particularly limited to an electrophotographic method or an inkjet method. Finishing devices such as a duplex unit used during paper ejection, stapler, and puncher are also included in the printing unit 228. Note that, although a single-function printer that performs only a printing function is described as an example of the printer 103 in this embodiment, a multifunction printer (complex machine) that also has a scanner function and a FAX function may also be used.

[0019] Next, the software configuration of each device in the system of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

[0020] FIG. 3A is a diagram showing the software configuration of the print server 101. The print service 301 is a service that transmits print data received from outside to a registered printer (for example, the printer 103) via the network 104 and executes the data. The file storage 302 is an area prepared in the storage unit 204 of the print server 101. The file storage 302 stores user information registered in the print service 301, information about the printers held by the users, default print settings for each user, a list of print settings, and the like, and is used by the print service 301. In addition, the print service 301 also plays a role in managing devices available in the print service 301. The print service 301 manages a list of printers that all users are permitted to use among the printers registered in the print service as a shared device list (FIG. 8A). In addition, the print service 301 manages a list of printers selected by each user from the printers in the shared device list as the printers that each user selects to use ...

[0021] 3B is a block diagram showing the software configuration of the client terminal 102. The default printer setting application 311 is a software application that serves as an interface with the user for issuing a default printer setting request to the print service. Specifically, the default printer setting application 311 displays on the display unit 216 a UI (login screen) for logging in to the print service 301 and a UI for reading a two-dimensional code. The default printer setting application 311 also has a role to extract a device-specific ID (identification information for identifying a device) from the two-dimensional code read by the image reading unit 218, and to transmit a default printer setting request to the print server 101 together with the device-specific ID.

[0022] The file storage 312 is an area for saving user files prepared in the memory unit 214 of the client terminal 102, and allows the user to save image data read by the image reading unit 218 and an extracted unique device ID. The default printer setting application 311 has the authority to access the file storage 312. In this embodiment and other embodiments, the print server is preferably a print server system made up of one or more servers.

[0023] Next, the processing of applications and services in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 4, FIG. 5, and FIG.

[0024] FIG. 4 shows an example of a default printer setting process on the client terminal side (information processing device).

[0025] All the processing shown in FIG. 4 is executed by the CPU 212 after the program of the default printer setting application 311 stored in the storage unit 214 of the client terminal 102 is loaded into the memory 213 .

[0026] First, the default printer setting application 311 scans a two-dimensional code displayed on a panel of the printer or attached to the housing of the printer with the image reading unit 218 (s401, FIG. 7(a)). Next, the default printer setting application 311 analyzes the image of the read two-dimensional code and extracts a device-specific ID (s402). Then, the default printer setting application 311 displays a login UI for the print service 301 and prompts the user to enter user information and a password (s403, FIG. 7(b)). If the correct password corresponding to the user information is entered, the print service 301 determines that the user has successfully logged in. The default printer setting application 311 determines whether the user has successfully logged in to the print service 301 (s404).

[0027] If the login to the print service 301 is successful in s404, the default printer setting application 311 receives credential information from the print service 301. For the credential information, signed data including attributes of the authenticated user, such as an ID token, is used. Then, the default printer setting application 311 sends a default printer setting request to the print server 101 together with the device unique ID and the credential information (s405). The default printer setting application 311 determines whether the default printer setting was successful or not based on a response from the print server 101 (s406). If the default printer setting was successful in s406, the default printer setting application 311 displays a printer list screen on the display unit 216 (s407, FIG. 7(c)). The printer list screen displays a list of printers registered in the updated individual device list (701) and the default printer setting (702). On the other hand, if the default printer setting has failed in s406, the default printer setting application 311 displays error information on the display unit 216 (s408, FIG. 7(d)).

[0028] Furthermore, if login to the print service 301 fails in s406, the default printer setting application 311 also displays error information on the display unit 216 (s409, FIG. 7(e)).

[0029] The default printer is a printer that has been selected in advance, and is the printer that will be used for printing unless a printer is manually selected.

[0030] FIG. 5 shows an example of a default printer setting process on the print server 101 side.

[0031] 5. The process shown in FIG. 5 is executed by the CPU 202 after the program of the print service 301 stored in the storage unit 204 of the print server 101 is loaded into the memory 203.

[0032] The flow in FIG. 5 begins with s501 as a result of the print service 301 receiving a default printer setting request.

[0033] First, the print service 301 receives a default printer setting request (s501). The print service 301 checks the credential information attached to the received default printer setting request against the currently logged-in user information (s502). If the credential information and the currently logged-in user information match in s502, the print service 301 checks the device-specific ID attached to the received default printer setting request against the individual device list (s503). On the other hand, if the credential information and the currently logged-in user information do not match in s502, the print service 301 returns an error to the client terminal 102 (s507). If the device-specific ID matches any of the device-specific IDs registered in the individual device list in s503, the print service 301 sets the printer having that device-specific ID as the default printer (s506).

[0034] On the other hand, if there is no printer in the individual device list that matches the device unique ID in s503, the print service 301 checks the device unique ID against the shared device list (s504). If there is a printer in the shared device list that matches the device unique ID in s504, the print service 301 records the device unique ID in the individual device list of the user. This registers the printer as a device to be used by each user (s505). The print service 301 then sets the printer with the device unique ID as the default printer (s506). On the other hand, if there is no printer in the shared device list that matches the device unique ID in s504, the print service 301 returns an error to the client terminal 102 (s508, FIG. 7(e)).

[0035] As described above, the default print application 311 in the client terminal 102 and the print service 301 in the print server 101 cooperate to perform processing, making it possible to set a default printer for each user based on the printer's unique device ID. In addition, since the user operates the printer in front of the user, the user does not need to memorize the name, IP address, etc., of the printer to be printed on, improving convenience. In addition, since the user does not need to reselect the printer to be printed on from the list of shared printers every time, the user's workload is also reduced.

[0036] As described above, in this embodiment, the user does not need to explicitly and manually select the default printer after logging in; by simply photographing the two-dimensional code displayed on the printer's display, the printer can be set as the default printer.

[0037] <Embodiment 2> In the first embodiment, an example of a method for setting a default printer by a user reading a two-dimensional code with the default printer setting application 311 of the client terminal 102 has been described. In the present embodiment, a method for an administrator to easily register a printer in a shared device list will be described.

[0038] Specific processing according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 6. Note that only differences from the first embodiment will be described here. The system configuration, hardware / software configuration, and respective processing flows are the same as those of the first embodiment except for some parts, so descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0039] FIG. 6 shows an example of a process of registering a shared device list on the print server 101 side and a process of setting a default printer.

[0040] 6. The processing shown in FIG. 6 is executed by the CPU 202 after the program of the print service 301 stored in the storage unit 204 of the print server 101 is loaded into the memory 203.

[0041] The flow in FIG. 6A begins with s601 as a result of the print service 301 receiving a default printer setting request.

[0042] The process from s601 to s607 is the same as the process from s501 to s507 in Fig. 5, and therefore the description will be omitted. If there is no printer with a matching unique device ID in the shared device list in s604, the print service 301 performs a shared device registration process (s608).

[0043] A specific example of the shared device registration process is shown in FIG.

[0044] The print server 101 refers to the user information stored in the file storage 302, and determines whether the user has the authority to register a shared device (s611).

[0045] In s611, if the user has the authority to register a shared device, the print server 101 registers the printer as a shared device by recording the unique device ID in the shared device list (s612). The print server 101 then registers the printer as a device to be used by each user by further recording the unique device ID in the individual device list of the user (s613). The print service 301 then sets the printer having the unique device ID as the default printer (s614). In s611, the print service 301 returns an error to the client terminal 102 (s615).

[0046] As described above, according to this embodiment, the print service 301 registers a printer in the shared device list and sets the default printer.

[0047] Therefore, since the user can operate the printer in front of the user, the user does not have to memorize the name and IP address of the printer to be printed, and convenience is improved.

[0048] Furthermore, the printer administrator can easily register new printers in the shared device list, reducing the burden of printer management work.

[0049] <Embodiment 3> In the first embodiment, an example of the method in which the user sets the default printer by reading a two-dimensional code with the default printer setting application of the client terminal 102 has been described.

[0050] The default printer setting application may be present in the printer 103. That is, in this embodiment, an example of a method in which the user sets a default printer by starting the default printer setting application of the printer 103 will be described.

[0051] Specific processing according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 9 and Fig. 10. Note that only differences from the first embodiment will be described here. The system configuration, hardware / software configuration, and respective processing flows are the same as those of the first embodiment except for some parts, so descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0052] Fig. 9A is a block diagram showing the software configuration of the print server 101. This is the same as the software configuration of the print server 101 in Fig. 3A, so a description thereof will be omitted.

[0053] 9B is a block diagram showing the software configuration of the printer 103. A default printer setting application 901 is the same as the default printer setting application 311 of the client terminal 102.

[0054] The file storage 902 is an area for storing user files provided in the storage unit 224 of the printer 103, and allows the user to store the acquired unique device ID. The default printer setting application 901 has the authority to access the file storage 902.

[0055] Next, the process of the application in this embodiment will be described.

[0056] FIG. 10 shows an example of default printer processing when a default printer setting application is executed on a printer.

[0057] 10. The process shown in FIG. 10 is executed by the CPU 222 after the program of the default printer setting application 901 stored in the storage unit 224 of the printer 103 is loaded into the memory 223.

[0058] The flow in FIG. 10 starts in step s1001 as a result of the user starting up the default printer setting application 901 from the UI on the printer panel.

[0059] When the default printer setting application 901 is started from the UI on the printer panel, it directly obtains the device unique ID from the printer (s1001).

[0060] The process from s1002 to s1008 is the same as the process from s403 to s409 in FIG. 4, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted.

[0061] As described above, according to this embodiment, the default printer setting application 901 of the printer 103 can acquire the unique device ID of the printer and set the default printer for each user based on the unique device ID of the printer.

[0062] Furthermore, the user can easily set the default printer even if he or she does not have a client terminal.

[0063] <Embodiment 4> In the first embodiment, an example of the method in which the user immediately sets the default printer by reading a two-dimensional code with the default printer setting application of the client terminal 102 has been described.

[0064] In this embodiment, a method will be described in which the user is asked "whether to set to default" and the setting is made according to the result of the confirmation.

[0065] Specific processing according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 11 and Fig. 12. Note that only differences from the first embodiment will be described here. The system configuration, hardware / software configuration, and respective processing flows are the same as those of the first embodiment except for some parts, so descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0066] FIG. 11 shows an example of a default printer setting process on the client terminal side.

[0067] 11. The process shown in FIG. 11 is executed by the CPU 212 after the program of the default printer setting application 311 stored in the storage unit 214 of the client terminal 102 is loaded into the memory 213.

[0068] First, the default printer setting application 311 presents the user with a choice between a scan UI and a manual input UI (s1101). If the scan UI is selected in s1101, the process flow starts with scanning, and s1102, s1103, s1105, and s1106 are the same as the processes from s401 to s404, and therefore their explanations will be omitted. On the other hand, if the manual input UI is selected in s1101, the process flow starts with manual input, and the default printer setting application 311 accepts input of a device unique ID by the user. In the process flow starting with manual input, s1105 and s1106 are the same as the processes from s403 to s404, and therefore their explanations will be omitted. If login to the print service 301 is successful in s1106, the default printer setting application 311 receives credential information from the print service 301. Then, the default printer setting application 311 adds starting point information, whether the starting point is scanning or manual input, to the default printer setting request information configured with the device unique ID and credential information (s1107).Then, the default printer setting application 311 transmits the default printer setting request to the print server 101 (s1108).The processing from s1109 to s1012 is the same as the processing from s406 to s408 in FIG. 4, and therefore description thereof will be omitted.

[0069] FIG. 12 shows an example of the default printer setting process on the print server 101 side.

[0070] The processing shown in FIG. 12 is executed by the CPU 202 after the program of the print service 301 stored in the storage unit 204 of the print server 101 is loaded into the memory 203 .

[0071] The flow in FIG. 12 starts in step s1201 as a result of the print service 301 receiving a default printer setting request.

[0072] First, the print service 301 receives a default printer setting request (s1201).

[0073] The print service 301 checks the credential information attached to the received default printer setting request against the currently logged-in user information (s1202). If the credential information and the currently logged-in user information match in s1202, the print service 301 checks the device-specific ID attached to the received default printer setting request against the individual device list (s1203). On the other hand, if the credential information and the currently logged-in user information do not match in s502, the print service 301 returns an error to the client terminal 102 (s1208). If the device-specific ID matches any of the device-specific IDs registered in the individual device list in s1203, the print service 301 determines whether the device is a scan start point from the start point information of the default printer setting request information (s1206). On the other hand, if the individual device list does not contain a printer that matches the device-specific ID in s1203, the print service 301 checks the device-specific ID against the shared device list (s1204). If a printer matching the device unique ID is found in the shared device list in s1204, the print service 301 records the device unique ID in the user's individual device list, thereby registering the printer as a device to be used for each user (s1205). Then, the print service 301 determines whether the printer is a scan-based printer based on the start point information in the default printer setting request information (s1206). On the other hand, if a printer matching the device unique ID is not found in the shared device list in s1204, the print service 301 returns an error to the client terminal 102 (s1209, FIG. 7(e)). If it is determined in s1206 that the printer is a scan-based printer, the print service 301 sets the printer having the device unique ID as the default printer in order to immediately set the printer as the default printer (s1207). On the other hand, if it is determined in s1206 that the printer is a manual input-based printer, the print service 301 confirms with the user whether to set the printer having the device unique ID as the default printer (s1210).If it is determined in s1211 that the user's consent has been obtained in the confirmation with the user, the print service 301 sets the printer having the device unique ID as the default printer (s1207). On the other hand, if it is determined in s1211 that the user's consent has not been obtained in the confirmation with the user, the print service 301 ends the process.

[0074] As described above, according to this embodiment, the print service 301 confirms with the user "whether to set as default" depending on the result of determining whether the printer originated from scanning or manual input, and sets the default printer depending on the confirmation result. Therefore, in the case of a scanning origin where it is certain that the printer was operated while in front of the user, it is possible to immediately set the default printer. On the other hand, in the case of a manual input origin where it is expected that the printer may not be in front of the user, by confirming with the user, it is possible to prevent erroneous operations without impairing user convenience.

[0075] <Other Examples> The present invention can also be realized by a process in which a program for implementing one or more of the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and 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 implements one or more of the functions. [Explanation of symbols]

[0076] 101 Print Server 102 Client terminals 103 Printer 301 Print Service 311 Default printer setting app

Claims

[Claim 1] An acquisition unit for acquiring identification information for identifying an image forming apparatus; a transmitting means for transmitting the identification information to a server system in which the identification information of the image forming apparatus is registered in advance, so that the image forming apparatus is set as a default image forming apparatus in the server system.

Images