Information processing apparatus, image forming apparatus, information processing program, and image forming program

Abstract

To enable the validity of a received document to be determined by a recipient, without the need for a document recipient to go off to a place where an image forming device is installed, when receiving a document from a sender which has been printed by the image forming device.SOLUTION: The present invention includes a first processor, the first processor acquiring, from the terminal of sender of a document, recipient information that includes the name and address of a recipient of the document and document information that constitutes the basis of the document, transmitting the acquired document information to an image forming device that prints the document, providing the terminal of a deliverer who delivers the document to the recipient with printing information that enables printing of the document by the image forming device and the recipient information, and providing the terminal of the recipient or the image forming device with confirmation information that enables confirmation of the document that is printed from the document information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a printed matter distribution system that uses the services of a provider of the printed matter distribution system to enable distribution of printed matter to specific recipients without financial burden. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-197012 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Conventionally, if you do not have an environment at home where you can print a document, you have to send a print job from home to a print server and then go to a convenience store, supermarket, or other location where an image forming device connected to the print server is installed to print the job.

[0005] One possible service is to go to a location where the image forming device is installed on behalf of the document recipient, print the document, and deliver the printed document to the recipient. In this case, if the sender and recipient of the document are different, the recipient, who does not understand the contents of the document, will not be able to determine the legitimacy of the document they received, even if the document is missing or incomplete due to intentional or negligent acts of the delivery person delivering the document, and there is room for improvement.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to enable a recipient of a document to determine the legitimacy of the received document when the recipient receives a document from a sender that has been printed on an image forming device without having to go to the location where the image forming device is installed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] An information processing device of a first aspect includes a first processor, which acquires recipient information including the name or title and address of the recipient of the document, as well as document information that forms the basis of the document, from the terminal of the sender of the document, transmits the acquired document information to an image forming device that prints the document, provides printing information that enables the document to be printed on the image forming device and the recipient information to the terminal of a delivery person who delivers the document to the recipient, and provides confirmation information that enables the document printed using the document information to the recipient's terminal or the image forming device.

[0008] The information processing device of a second aspect is the information processing device of the first aspect, in which a plurality of types of confirmation information are provided.

[0009] An information processing device of a third aspect is the information processing device of the second aspect, wherein the first processor accepts, from the sender's terminal, a selection of the type of confirmation information to be provided to the recipient's terminal or the image forming device.

[0010] The information processing device of a fourth aspect is the information processing device of any one of the first to third aspects, in which a plurality of methods are provided for providing the confirmation information to the recipient's terminal or the image forming device.

[0011] An information processing device of a fifth aspect is the information processing device of the fourth aspect, wherein the first processor accepts, from the sender's terminal, a selection of a method for providing the confirmation information to the recipient's terminal or the image forming device.

[0012] An information processing device of a sixth aspect is an information processing device of the fourth or fifth aspect, wherein the first processor determines a method of providing the confirmation information to the recipient's terminal or the image forming device depending on the content of the confirmation information.

[0013] An information processing device of a seventh aspect is an information processing device of the sixth aspect, wherein, when the confirmation information includes personal information that can identify a specific individual, the first processor provides information to the recipient's terminal or the image forming device that enables the recipient to view the confirmation information stored in a predetermined memory area.

[0014] An information processing device of an eighth aspect is an information processing device of any of the first to seventh aspects, wherein the first processor accepts a selection from the sender's terminal as to whether or not to provide the confirmation information to the recipient's terminal or the image forming device.

[0015] An information processing device of a ninth aspect is the information processing device of any one of the first to eighth aspects, wherein the first processor transmits the document information to the image forming device to which the print information has been input.

[0016] The information processing program of the tenth aspect causes a computer to execute the following process: acquire recipient information, including the name or title and address of the recipient of the document, and document information that forms the basis of the document, from the terminal of the sender of the document; send the acquired document information to an image forming device that prints the document; provide printing information that enables the image forming device to print the document and the recipient information to the terminal of a delivery person who delivers the document to the recipient; and provide confirmation information that enables the document printed using the document information to be confirmed to the recipient's terminal or the image forming device.

[0017] The image forming device of the eleventh aspect is equipped with a second processor, which acquires recipient information including the name or title and address of the recipient of the document from the terminal of the sender of the document, as well as document information that is the basis of the document, from an information processing device which acquires the document information and confirmation information that enables confirmation of the document printed using the document information, and provides the acquired confirmation information to the terminal of the recipient which receives the document from the delivery person who delivers the document.

[0018] An image forming apparatus of a twelfth aspect is the image forming apparatus of the eleventh aspect, wherein the second processor transmits the confirmation information to the recipient's terminal or prints it as the document together with the document information.

[0019] The image forming program of the thirteenth aspect causes a computer to execute a process of acquiring, from an information processing device that has acquired from a terminal of a sender of a document, recipient information including the name or title and address of the recipient of the document, and the document information that is the basis of the document, the document information and confirmation information that enables confirmation of the document printed using the document information, and providing the acquired confirmation information to the recipient's terminal that receives the document from the delivery person who delivers the document. [Effects of the Invention]

[0020] According to the first, tenth, eleventh, and thirteenth aspects, when a document recipient receives a document from a sender that has been printed on an image forming device without going to the location where the image forming device is installed, the recipient can determine the authenticity of the received document.

[0021] According to the second aspect, more types of confirmation information are provided to the recipient than when only one type of confirmation information is provided.

[0022] According to a third aspect, the recipient is provided with confirmation information of the type intended by the sender.

[0023] According to the fourth aspect, the method of providing confirmation information to the recipient is diversified compared to when there is only one method of providing confirmation information.

[0024] According to the fifth aspect, the confirmation information is provided to the recipient in the manner intended by the sender.

[0025] According to the sixth aspect, the confirmation information is provided to the recipient in a providing method that depends on the content of the confirmation information.

[0026] According to the seventh aspect, confirmation information is provided to the recipient in a manner that takes personal information into consideration.

[0027] According to the eighth aspect, the sender decides whether or not to provide confirmation information.

[0028] According to the ninth aspect, the document is printed on the image forming device to which the delivery person inputs the printing information.

[0029] According to a twelfth aspect, the confirmation information is provided to the recipient by electromagnetic means or by hand delivery. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0030] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a document delivery system. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of a sender terminal, an information processing device, a delivery person terminal, and a recipient terminal. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus. [Figure 4] 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of a document delivery process by an information processing device. [Figure 5] 10 is a display example displayed on the display unit of the sender terminal. [Figure 6] 10 is a display example of table information. [Figure 7] 10 is a display example of print image information. [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is a first explanatory diagram showing the flow of a document delivery system. [Figure 9] 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of a providing process performed by the image forming apparatus. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a second explanatory diagram showing the flow of the document delivery system. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a third explanatory diagram showing the flow of the document delivery system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0031] The document delivery system 20 according to this embodiment will be described below.

[0032] (First embodiment) 1 is a diagram showing the schematic configuration of a document delivery system 20. The document delivery system 20 is a system that enables a document recipient to receive a document from a sender that has been printed on an image forming device without having to go to the location where the image forming device is installed.

[0033] 1, the document delivery system 20 includes a sender terminal 10, an information processing device 30, a deliveryperson terminal 50, a recipient terminal 70, and an image forming device 90. The sender terminal 10, the information processing device 30, the deliveryperson terminal 50, the recipient terminal 70, and the image forming device 90 are connected via a network N and are capable of communicating with each other.

[0034] The sender terminal 10 is a terminal owned by the sender of the document. The information processing device 30 is a terminal owned by a predetermined business operator.

[0035] The delivery person terminal 50 is a terminal held by a delivery person who delivers a document to a recipient. A delivery person is a temporary delivery company that is hired each time a delivery request is made by a sender in the document delivery system 20. The delivery person has the following characteristics: (1) they are unfamiliar with operating the image forming device 90 and may make operational mistakes that result in missing or incomplete documents, (2) they are less trustworthy than professional delivery companies and may commit fraud, and (3) because they are temporary delivery companies, they are unable to determine the legitimacy of the document they are delivering.

[0036] The recipient terminal 70 is a terminal owned by the recipient of the document. As an example, image forming device 90 is an image forming device installed in a location different from the recipient's address, such as a convenience store, a supermarket, etc. Note that image forming device 90 is not limited to being installed in an open location such as a convenience store or a supermarket, and may be installed in a location that is available only to a limited number of people, such as a company office.

[0037] 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configurations of the sender terminal 10, the information processing device 30, the deliveryperson terminal 50, and the recipient terminal 70. The sender terminal 10, the information processing device 30, the deliveryperson terminal 50, and the recipient terminal 70 may, for example, be a general-purpose computer device such as a server computer or a personal computer (PC), a portable personal computer (notebook PC), a smartphone, or a tablet terminal. In the first embodiment, for example, the information processing device 30 is a server computer, and the sender terminal 10, the deliveryperson terminal 50, and the recipient terminal 70 are smartphones. Note that the sender terminal 10, the information processing device 30, the deliveryperson terminal 50, and the recipient terminal 70 basically have a general computer configuration, so the information processing device 30 will be described as a representative.

[0038] 2, the information processing device 30 includes a CPU 31 (Central Processing Unit), a ROM 32 (Read Only Memory), a RAM 33 (Random Access Memory), a storage unit 34, an input unit 35, a display unit 36, and a communication unit 37. Each component is connected to each other via a bus 38 so as to be able to communicate with each other.

[0039] The CPU 31 is a central processing unit that executes various programs and controls each part. That is, the CPU 31 reads a program from the ROM 32 or the storage unit 34, and executes the program using the RAM 33 as a work area. The CPU 31 controls each of the above components and performs various arithmetic processing according to the program stored in the ROM 32 or the storage unit 34. The CPU 31 is an example of a "first processor."

[0040] The ROM 32 stores various programs and various data. The RAM 33 serves as a working area for temporarily storing programs or data.

[0041] The storage unit 34 is configured with a storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), an SSD (Solid State Drive), or a flash memory, and stores various programs and various data. In the first embodiment, the storage unit 34 stores at least an information processing program for executing the document delivery process described below. The information processing program may be pre-installed in the information processing device 30, or may be stored in a non-volatile storage medium, or distributed via the network N and installed in the information processing device 30 as appropriate. Examples of non-volatile storage media include a CD-ROM, a magneto-optical disk, an HDD, a DVD-ROM, a flash memory, and a memory card.

[0042] The input unit 35 includes, for example, a pointing device such as a mouse, various buttons, a keyboard, a microphone, etc., and is used to perform various inputs.

[0043] The display unit 36 is, for example, a liquid crystal display, and displays various information. The display unit 36 may function as the input unit 35 by adopting a touch panel system.

[0044] The communication unit 37 is an interface for communicating with other devices. For this communication, for example, a wired communication standard such as Ethernet (registered trademark) or FDDI, or a wireless communication standard such as 4G, 5G, or Wi-Fi (registered trademark) is used.

[0045] When executing the information processing program, the information processing device 30 uses the hardware resources described above to execute processing based on the information processing program.

[0046] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 90. As shown in FIG. 3, the image forming apparatus 90 includes a control unit 100 that controls the operation of the image forming apparatus 90. The control unit 100 includes a CPU 101, a ROM 102, a RAM 103, and an input / output interface (=I / O) 104, which are connected via a bus 105 so as to be able to communicate with one another.

[0047] The CPU 101 is a central processing unit that executes various programs and controls each part. That is, the CPU 101 reads a program from the ROM 102 or the storage unit 106 described later, and executes the program using the RAM 103 as a work area. The CPU 101 controls each of the above components and performs various arithmetic processing according to the program recorded in the ROM 102 or the storage unit 106. The CPU 101 is an example of a "second processor."

[0048] The ROM 102 stores various programs and various data. The RAM 103 serves as a working area for temporarily storing programs or data.

[0049] The I / O 104 is connected to a storage unit 106, a display unit 107, an operation unit 108, a document reading unit 109, an image forming unit 110, and a communication unit 111. Each of these units can communicate with the CPU 101 via the I / O 104.

[0050] The storage unit 106 is configured by a storage device such as an HDD, an SSD, or a flash memory, and stores various programs and various data.

[0051] For example, a liquid crystal display or an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display is used for the display unit 107. The display unit 107 is integrally provided with a touch panel.

[0052] The operation unit 108 is provided with various operation keys such as a numeric keypad and a start key. The display unit 107 and the operation unit 108 receive various instructions from a user of the image forming apparatus 90. These various instructions include, for example, an instruction to start printing a document, an instruction to start copying a document, etc. The display unit 107 displays various information such as the results of processing executed in response to instructions received from the user and notifications regarding the processing.

[0053] The document reading unit 109 takes in documents one by one that are placed on a paper feed tray of an automatic document feeder (not shown) that is provided above the image forming apparatus 90, and optically reads the taken-in documents to obtain image information. Alternatively, the document reading unit 109 optically reads a document that is placed on a document tray such as a platen glass to obtain image information.

[0054] The image forming unit 110 forms, on a recording medium such as paper, an image based on image information obtained by reading by the document reading unit 109, image information obtained from an external PC or the like connected via the network N, or document information (described later) corresponding to printing information (described later) input to the image forming device 90.

[0055] The communication unit 111 is an interface for communicating with other devices. For this communication, for example, a wired communication standard such as Ethernet (registered trademark) or FDDI, or a wireless communication standard such as 4G, 5G, or Wi-Fi (registered trademark) is used.

[0056] 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of a document delivery process by information processing device 30 that enables a recipient who receives a document from a sender that has been printed by image forming device 90 to determine the legitimacy of the received document without having to go to the location where image forming device 90 is installed. The document delivery process is performed by CPU 31 reading out an information processing program from storage unit 34, expanding it into RAM 33, and executing it.

[0057] 4, the CPU 31 acquires recipient information including the recipient's name or title and address, document information that is the basis of the document, and setting information indicating settings related to confirmation information, which will be described later, from the sender terminal 10. Then, the process proceeds to step S11.

[0058] In the first embodiment, as an example, the recipient information includes at least the name and address of the recipient, and an email address that is predetermined as a contact point for the recipient terminal 70 owned by the recipient.

[0059] In the first embodiment, as an example, the setting information includes at least whether confirmation information is to be provided, and if confirmation information is to be provided, the recipient, type, and method of providing the confirmation information.

[0060] Here, a method for transmitting recipient information, document information, and setting information from the sender terminal 10 to the information processing device 30 will be described.

[0061] Fig. 5 is an example of a display displayed on the display unit 16 of the sender terminal 10. As an example, the display example shown in Fig. 5 shows an input screen where the sender inputs various information in the document delivery system 20. The input screen shown in Fig. 5 displays a first display unit 21, a second display unit 22, a third display unit 23, a send button 24, and a cancel button 25.

[0062] The first display unit 21 is a section that displays recipient information. The first display unit 21 is provided with a first reception unit 21A, a second reception unit 21B, and a third reception unit 21C as sections that accept recipient information input by the sender. As an example, the first display unit 21 shown in FIG. 5 shows the state after the sender has input various pieces of information into the first reception unit 21A, the second reception unit 21B, and the third reception unit 21C, respectively. As a result, the first reception unit 21A displays "XX" as the recipient's name, the second reception unit 21B displays "XX" as the recipient's address, and the third reception unit 21C displays "△△" as the recipient's contact information.

[0063] The second display section 22 is a section that displays document information. The second display section 22 is provided with a selection button 22A that accepts the selection of document information by the sender. When the selection button 22A is operated, a document information selection screen (not shown) is displayed. Then, the second display section 22 displays the document information selected on the selection screen. As an example, the second display section 22 shown in FIG. 5 displays "Document 1.pdf" as the document information selected by the sender, and indicates the file name and file type of the document information.

[0064] Third display section 23 is a section that displays setting information. Third display section 23 is provided with first button 23A, second button 23B, third button 23C, fourth button 23D, fifth button 23E, sixth button 23F, seventh button 23G, and eighth button 23H as buttons that accept the sender's selection of setting information. Note that in FIG. 5, the buttons selected by the sender (specifically, first button 23A, third button 23C, fifth button 23E, and seventh button 23G) are shown in black.

[0065] The first button 23A and the second button 23B are buttons that accept the sender's choice of whether or not to provide confirmation information; when the first button 23A is selected, the provision of confirmation information is set to "yes," and when the second button 23B is selected, the provision of confirmation information is set to "no."

[0066] The third button 23C and the fourth button 23D are buttons that accept the sender's selection of the recipient of the confirmation information. When the third button 23C is selected, the recipient of the confirmation information is set to the "recipient terminal 70," and when the fourth button 23D is selected, the recipient of the confirmation information is set to the "image forming device 90."

[0067] The fifth button 23E and the sixth button 23F are buttons that accept the sender's selection of the type of confirmation information, and when the fifth button 23E is selected, the type of confirmation information is set to "A," and when the sixth button 23F is selected, the type of confirmation information is set to "B." In the first embodiment, type A is table information that shows the confirmation information in a table format, and type B is print image information that shows the confirmation information as a print image of a document printed using document information.

[0068] Display examples of table information and print image information will be described below. Fig. 6 is a display example of table information. In Fig. 6, the items corresponding to the records of the table information are "Document No.", "Number of pages", "Number of copies", "Color mode", "N-UP", "Double-sided / Single-sided", and "Execution result". Note that the items are not limited to the above types, and other types may be provided.

[0069] The item "Document No." displays a number that can uniquely identify each document to be printed based on the document information.

[0070] The item "Number of Pages" displays the number of pages of each document to be printed according to the document information. The item "copies" displays the number of copies of each document to be printed based on the document information.

[0071] The item "color mode" displays the color mode of each document to be printed based on the document information.

[0072] The "N-UP" item displays the N-UP setting for each document to be printed based on the document information. The N-UP setting determines whether or not to print multiple pages of a document on one page, and if so, how many pages of a document to print on one page, such as 2UP or 4UP, is set.

[0073] The item "double-sided / single-sided" displays whether each document to be printed is double-sided or single-sided based on the document information.

[0074] The "Execution Result" item displays the execution result of the image forming device 90 that printed the document information. As an example, the "Execution Result" item displays "Normal" if printing completed successfully, and displays "Notice of abnormality and processing details after abnormality" if an error occurred during printing. As an example, in FIG. 6, "Notice of abnormality and processing details after abnormality" displays "Reprint after abnormality stop." Here, in the document delivery system 20, if printing on the image forming device 90 fails, the delivery person delivers the failed-to-print document to the recipient. In addition, the document delivery system 20 includes the "Execution Result" item in the table information, which is confirmation information obtained by the recipient, to prevent the delivery person from arbitrarily disposing of the failed-to-print document.

[0075] Figure 7 is a display example of print image information. In Figure 7, the print image information shows the document to be printed based on the document information, specifically, a print image of an invoice. The print image represents the state of the document printed on the recording medium, reflecting settings such as color mode, N-UP setting, and double-sided or single-sided printing. In other words, Figure 7 shows the print image information that represents the state of the invoice that will actually be printed.

[0076] Returning to Figure 5, the seventh button 23G and the eighth button 23H are buttons that accept the sender's selection of the method for providing confirmation information. When the seventh button 23G is selected, the method for providing confirmation information is set to "email," and when the eighth button 23H is selected, the method for providing confirmation information is set to "Web."

[0077] The send button 24 is a button for sending the input recipient information, document information, and setting information to the information processing device 30 when operated after the sender inputs recipient information, document information, and setting information into the first display unit 21, the second display unit 22, and the third display unit 23.

[0078] The cancel button 25 is a button for canceling the input of recipient information, document information, and setting information by the sender into the first display section 21, the second display section 22, and the third display section 23, and changing the screen of the display section 16 to a predetermined display content.

[0079] In the following description, it is assumed that in step S10, the CPU 31 acquires setting information in which the confirmation information shown in FIG. 5 is provided as "Yes", the destination is "recipient terminal 70", the type is "A", and the method of provision is "email".

[0080] Returning to FIG. 4 , in step S11, the CPU 31 provides the delivery person terminal 50 with the recipient information acquired in step S10 and print information that enables the image forming device 90 to print a document. Then, the process proceeds to step S12. As an example, the recipient information and print information are provided via email, and the CPU 31 sends an email containing the recipient information and print information to the delivery person terminal 50. Specifically, the CPU 31 sends a delivery request to the delivery person terminals 50 of multiple delivery persons registered as delivery persons in the document delivery system 20, and sends an email containing the recipient information and print information to the delivery person terminal 50 that first notifies the delivery person of acceptance of the delivery request. The print information is a multi-digit alphanumeric character or number associated with the document information. The delivery person can input the print information displayed on the delivery person terminal 50 into the image forming device 90 to print the document indicated by the document information on the image forming device 90.

[0081] In step S12, the CPU 31 transmits the document information acquired in step S10 to the image forming apparatus 90 to which the print information provided in step S11 has been input, and then the process proceeds to step S13.

[0082] In step S13, CPU 31 provides confirmation information to recipient terminal 70, which enables confirmation of the document to be printed based on the document information acquired in step S10. As an example, CPU 31 sends an email with the confirmation information attached to recipient terminal 70. Then, the process proceeds to step S14.

[0083] In step S14, the CPU 31 determines whether the recipient has completed receipt of the document, and if it determines that receipt has been completed (step S14: YES), the process ends. On the other hand, if the CPU 31 determines that receipt has not been completed (step S14: NO), the process waits until receipt is completed. As an example, the CPU 31 determines that the recipient has completed receipt of the document when it acquires completion information indicating that receipt of the document has been completed from the recipient terminal 70.

[0084] 8 is a first explanatory diagram showing the flow of the document delivery system 20. As an example, the document delivery system 20 proceeds in the order of (1) → (2) → (3) → (4) → (5) → (6).

[0085] First, in the document delivery system 20, as (1), recipient information, document information, and setting information are transmitted from the sender terminal 10 to the information processing device 30. Note that as a prerequisite for (1), the sender has input the recipient information, document information, and setting information into the sender terminal 10.

[0086] Next, in the document delivery system 20, as (2), the information processing device 30 provides the recipient information and print information to the deliveryperson terminal 50. After that, the deliveryperson inputs the print information displayed on the deliveryperson terminal 50 into the image forming device 90.

[0087] Next, in the document delivery system 20, as (3), the document information acquired in (1) above is sent to the image forming device 90 to which the print information has been input from the information processing device 30. Thereafter, the delivery person acquires the document indicated by the document information printed by the image forming device 90.

[0088] Next, in the document delivery system 20, the image forming apparatus 90 transmits the execution result of printing the document information to the information processing apparatus 30 as (4).

[0089] Next, in the document delivery system 20, as (5), confirmation information is provided from the information processing device 30 to the recipient terminal 70. Thereafter, the recipient compares the document delivered by the delivery person with the confirmation information acquired by the recipient terminal 70.

[0090] Finally, in the document delivery system 20, as (6), completion information is provided from the recipient terminal 70 to the information processing device 30. When the information processing device 30 acquires the completion information, it deletes the print job for printing the document indicated by the document information. If the recipient compares the document delivered by the delivery person with the confirmation information and finds that the document is missing or incomplete, the recipient may operate the recipient terminal 70 to send incomplete information indicating that the received document is incomplete to the information processing device 30, rather than completion information.

[0091] As described above, in the first embodiment, the CPU 31 acquires recipient information and document information from the sender terminal 10. The CPU 31 then transmits the acquired document information to the image forming device 90, which prints the document. The CPU 31 also provides the print information and recipient information to the delivery person terminal 50. The CPU 31 then provides confirmation information to the recipient terminal 70. As a result, in the first embodiment, the recipient can compare the document delivered by the delivery person with the confirmation information acquired by the recipient terminal 70. Therefore, according to the first embodiment, when the document recipient receives a document from the sender that has been printed by the image forming device 90, the recipient can determine the authenticity of the received document without having to go to the location where the image forming device 90 is installed.

[0092] In addition, in the first embodiment, multiple types of confirmation information are provided. As a result, according to the first embodiment, more types of confirmation information are provided to the recipient than when there is only one type of confirmation information.

[0093] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the CPU 31 accepts, from the sender terminal 10, a selection of the type of confirmation information to be provided to the recipient terminal 70. As a result, according to the first embodiment, the type of confirmation information intended by the sender is provided to the recipient.

[0094] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, multiple methods are provided for providing confirmation information to the recipient terminal 70. As a result, according to the first embodiment, the methods for providing confirmation information to the recipient are more diverse than when there is only one method for providing confirmation information.

[0095] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the CPU 31 accepts a selection of a method for providing confirmation information to the recipient terminal 70 from the sender terminal 10. As a result, according to the first embodiment, the confirmation information is provided to the recipient in the method intended by the sender.

[0096] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the CPU 31 accepts a selection from the sender terminal 10 as to whether or not to provide confirmation information to the recipient terminal 70. As a result, according to the first embodiment, whether or not to provide confirmation information is determined at the sender's discretion.

[0097] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the CPU 31 transmits document information to the image forming device 90 to which the print information has been input. As a result, according to the first embodiment, the document is printed by the image forming device 90 to which the delivery person has input the print information.

[0098] (Second embodiment) Next, a second embodiment will be described while omitting or simplifying parts that overlap with other embodiments.

[0099] In the second embodiment, the CPU 31 determines a method for providing the confirmation information to the recipient terminal 70 depending on the content of the confirmation information. For example, if the confirmation information includes personal information that can identify a specific individual, the CPU 31 provides the recipient terminal 70 with a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) that can connect to a predetermined website as information that enables the recipient terminal 70 to view the confirmation information stored in the storage unit 34. The storage unit 34 is an example of a "predetermined storage area." By connecting to the website from the recipient terminal 70, the confirmation information can be viewed on the website. The method for viewing the confirmation information on the website corresponds to the "Web" method of providing confirmation information when the eighth button 23H shown in FIG. 5 is selected. In the above case, the CPU 31 may provide a QR code (registered trademark) that can connect to the website instead of or in addition to providing a URL.

[0100] Furthermore, if the confirmation information does not include personal information, the CPU 31 sets the method of providing the confirmation information to "email" and sends an email to the recipient terminal 70 with the confirmation information attached.

[0101] According to the second embodiment, the confirmation information is provided to the recipient in a manner that takes into consideration the content of the confirmation information.

[0102] (Third embodiment) Next, a third embodiment will be described while omitting or simplifying parts that overlap with other embodiments.

[0103] In the third embodiment, unlike the above-described embodiments, confirmation information is provided from the information processing device 30 to the image forming device 90, and the confirmation information is provided from the image forming device 90 to the recipient terminal 70. In the third embodiment, an image forming program for executing at least the below-described providing process is stored in the ROM 102 or storage unit 106 of the image forming device 90. The image forming program may be pre-installed in the image forming device 90, or may be stored in a non-volatile storage medium or distributed via the network N and installed in the image forming device 90 as needed.

[0104] 9 is a flowchart showing the flow of a providing process by the image forming apparatus 90 to provide confirmation information to the recipient terminal 70. The providing process is performed by the CPU 101 reading out an image forming program from the ROM 102 or the storage unit 106, expanding it into the RAM 103, and executing it.

[0105] 9, the CPU 101 acquires recipient information, document information, and confirmation information from the information processing device 30. Then, the process proceeds to step S21. Note that in the third embodiment, in the document delivery process shown in FIG. 4, the information processing device 30 transmits recipient information to the deliveryperson terminal 50 and the image forming device 90 in step S11, and transmits confirmation information to the image forming device 90 in step S13.

[0106] In step S21, CPU 101 provides confirmation information to recipient terminal 70. As an example, the confirmation information is provided by email, and CPU 101 sends the email with the confirmation information attached to it to recipient terminal 70. Then, the process ends. CPU 101 may send the confirmation information acquired in step S20 directly to recipient terminal 70, or may send confirmation information acquired in step S20 plus the execution result of the image forming device 90 that printed the document information to recipient terminal 70. That is, image forming device 90 may send the confirmation information to recipient terminal 70 before printing the document information, or may send the confirmation information to recipient terminal 70 after printing the document information. Furthermore, CPU 101 may print the confirmation information as a document together with the document information, instead of sending an email with the confirmation information attached to recipient terminal 70. As a result, in the third embodiment, confirmation information is provided to the recipient by electromagnetic means or by hand delivery.

[0107] 10 is a second explanatory diagram showing the flow of the document delivery system 20. As an example, the document delivery system 20 proceeds in the order of (1) → (2) → (3) → (4) → (5).

[0108] First, in the document delivery system 20, as (1), recipient information, document information, and setting information are transmitted from the sender terminal 10 to the information processing device 30. Note that as a prerequisite for (1), the sender has input the recipient information, document information, and setting information into the sender terminal 10.

[0109] Next, in the document delivery system 20, as (2), the information processing device 30 provides recipient information and print information to the deliveryperson terminal 50. The deliveryperson then inputs the print information displayed on the deliveryperson terminal 50 into the image forming device 90. Although not shown in the figure, in the above (2), the information processing device 30 also provides recipient information to the image forming device 90.

[0110] Next, in the document delivery system 20, as (3), the document information acquired in (1) above and confirmation information are sent to the image forming device 90 to which the print information has been input from the information processing device 30. Thereafter, the delivery person acquires the document indicated by the document information printed by the image forming device 90.

[0111] Next, in the document delivery system 20, as (4), confirmation information is provided from the image forming device 90 to the recipient terminal 70. Thereafter, the recipient compares the document delivered by the delivery person with the confirmation information acquired by the recipient terminal 70.

[0112] Finally, in the document delivery system 20, the recipient terminal 70 provides the information processing device 30 with completion information or incomplete information as (5).

[0113] 11 is a third explanatory diagram showing the flow of the document delivery system 20. As an example, the document delivery system 20 proceeds in the order of (1) → (2) → (3) → (4).

[0114] First, in the document delivery system 20, as (1), recipient information, document information, and setting information are transmitted from the sender terminal 10 to the information processing device 30. Note that as a prerequisite for (1), the sender has input the recipient information, document information, and setting information into the sender terminal 10.

[0115] Next, in the document delivery system 20, as (2), the information processing device 30 provides the recipient information and print information to the deliveryperson terminal 50. After that, the deliveryperson inputs the print information displayed on the deliveryperson terminal 50 into the image forming device 90.

[0116] Next, in the document delivery system 20, as (3), the document information acquired in (1) above and confirmation information are sent to the image forming device 90 to which the printing information has been input from the information processing device 30. Thereafter, the delivery person acquires the document indicated by the document information printed by the image forming device 90 and the document indicated by the confirmation information.

[0117] Finally, in the document delivery system 20, as (4), the recipient compares the document indicated by the document information delivered by the delivery person with the document indicated by the confirmation information, and the recipient terminal 70 provides completion information or incomplete information to the information processing device 30.

[0118] (others) In the above embodiment, the sender and recipient may be natural persons or legal entities.

[0119] In the above embodiment, it is assumed that the sender decides whether or not to provide confirmation information. In this case, the fee borne by the sender in the document delivery system 20 may be different depending on whether or not confirmation information is provided. As an example, the fee borne by the sender may be higher when confirmation information is provided than when confirmation information is not provided.

[0120] In the above embodiment, the CPU 31 transmits the document information to the image forming device 90 to which the print information has been input. However, this is not limiting, and if the image forming device 90 to be used by the delivery person is determined in advance, the CPU 31 may transmit the document information to the predetermined image forming device 90 before the print information is input. In other words, the timing at which the document information is transmitted from the information processing device 30 to the image forming device 90 may be before or after the print information is input to the image forming device 90.

[0121] In the above embodiment, the confirmation information is transmitted once, but this is not limiting, and the confirmation information may be transmitted multiple times with different contents.

[0122] In each of the above embodiments, the term "processor" refers to a processor in a broad sense, and includes general-purpose processors (e.g., CPU: Central Processing Unit, etc.) and dedicated processors (e.g., GPU: Graphics Processing Unit, ASIC: Application Specific Integrated Circuit, FPGA: Field Programmable Gate Array, programmable logic device, etc.).

[0123] Furthermore, the operations of the processor in each of the above embodiments may be performed not only by a single processor but also by multiple processors located at physically separate locations working together. Furthermore, the order of the operations of the processor is not limited to the order described in each of the above embodiments and may be changed as appropriate. [Explanation of symbols]

[0124] 30 Information processing equipment 31 CPU (an example of a first processor) 90 Image forming device 101 CPU (an example of a second processor)

Claims

1. a first processor; The first processor Acquire recipient information including the name or title and address of the recipient of the document, as well as document information on which the document is based, from the terminal of the sender of the document; transmitting the acquired document information to an image forming device that prints the document; providing print information that enables printing of the document on the image forming device and the recipient information to a terminal of a delivery person who delivers the document to the recipient; providing confirmation information to the recipient's terminal or the image forming device, the confirmation information enabling confirmation of the document printed based on the document information; The confirmation information is provided in a plurality of types, The first processor accepting, from the sender's terminal, a selection of the type of confirmation information to be provided to the recipient's terminal or the image forming apparatus; Information processing device.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a plurality of methods are provided for providing the confirmation information to the recipient's terminal or the image forming apparatus.

3. The first processor 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a terminal of the sender, which accepts a selection of a method for providing the confirmation information to the terminal of the recipient or the image forming apparatus.

4. The first processor 4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a method of providing the confirmation information to the recipient's terminal or the image forming apparatus is determined depending on the content of the confirmation information.

5. The first processor 5. The information processing device according to claim 4, wherein, if the confirmation information includes personal information that can identify a specific individual, information is provided to the recipient's terminal or the image forming device that enables the recipient to view the confirmation information stored in a predetermined memory area.

6. The first processor The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising: a terminal of the sender, which accepts a selection as to whether or not the confirmation information is to be provided to the terminal of the recipient or the image forming apparatus.

7. The first processor The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the document information is transmitted to the image forming apparatus to which the print information is input.

8. On the computer, Acquire recipient information including the name or title and address of the recipient of the document, as well as document information on which the document is based, from the terminal of the sender of the document; transmitting the acquired document information to an image forming device that prints the document; providing print information that enables printing of the document on the image forming device and the recipient information to a terminal of a delivery person who delivers the document to the recipient; The document information is printed with confirmation information that allows the recipient to confirm the document. and providing the image forming apparatus with the image forming device. Execute the process, The confirmation information is provided in a plurality of types, The computer, accepting, from the sender's terminal, a selection of the type of confirmation information to be provided to the recipient's terminal or the image forming apparatus; An information processing program for executing processing.

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