Image forming system

Abstract

To provide an image forming system that can narrow down an image forming device to be designated as an output destination in accordance with a communication status with a portable terminal.SOLUTION: An image forming system is connected to, via a network, a plurality of image forming devices 1 that output image data, and includes: an operation receiving unit 11a that receives an operation; a network communicating unit 23 that executes communication via the network; a terminal communicating unit 12 that communicates with a portable terminal; an information obtaining unit 24a that obtains a communication status between the portable terminal and the image forming device 1 as connection information; and an output destination designating unit 24b that designates an output destination of the image data on the basis of teh connection information. The output destination designating unit 24b designates, among the plurality of image forming devices 1 communicating with the portable terminal, the image forming device 1 received by the operation receiving unit 11a as the output destination of the image data.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an image forming system in which a plurality of image forming apparatuses that output image data are connected via a network.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, image forming apparatuses are installed in various locations such as stores and public facilities like convenience stores and are widely spread. And in order to improve convenience, even when a user does not have a copy manuscript at hand, it is required to obtain a copy output, and in response to this, a remote print system has been proposed. In the remote print system, print data is transmitted to an image forming apparatus located at a remote location via a network and printed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In a conventional remote print system, a document server and an image forming apparatus are connected by a network, and a mobile terminal capable of transmitting an email address indicating the image forming apparatus as a print destination and selection information of a print document in the document server to the document server is provided. The document server transmits the data of the document specified by the selection information to the email address received from the mobile terminal.

[0005] Conventional remote printing systems communicate between a document server and an image forming machine, with document data pre-stored on the document server. Communication between image forming machines is not anticipated. In other words, the system is not designed for sending printed materials such as photos or documents to family members or other users in remote locations, by having each user print them through the nearest image forming machine.

[0006] This disclosure is made to solve the above-mentioned problems and aims to provide an image forming system that can narrow down the image forming apparatus to be designated as the output destination depending on the communication status with the mobile terminal. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The image forming system according to this disclosure is an image forming system in which a plurality of image forming apparatuses that output image data are connected via a network, and comprises an operation reception unit that receives operations, a network communication unit that communicates via the network, a terminal communication unit that communicates with a mobile terminal, an information acquisition unit that acquires the communication status between the mobile terminal and the image forming apparatus as connection information, and an output destination designation unit that designates the image data output destination from among the plurality of image forming apparatuses that are communicating with the mobile terminal, the image forming apparatus that is received by the operation reception unit, and is characterized in that the output destination designation unit designates the image data output destination from among the plurality of image forming apparatuses that are communicating with the mobile terminal.

[0008] The image forming system according to this disclosure includes a matching unit that matches address information obtained from the mobile terminal with the connection information, and the output destination designation unit may be configured to extract the image forming apparatus to be designated as the output destination based on the matching result of the matching unit.

[0009] In the image forming system according to this disclosure, the image forming apparatus has an input unit that receives image data and an output unit that outputs image data, and the operation receiving unit may be configured to receive an operation to make the image forming apparatus that is the source of the image data input and the image forming apparatus that is the destination of the image data output different.

[0010] In the image forming system relating to this disclosure, the image forming apparatus may be configured to stop processing when communication between the mobile terminal and the terminal communication unit is interrupted.

[0011] The image forming system according to this disclosure may include a storage unit that stores output information relating to the output of image data, and the image forming apparatus may be configured to read the output information and output image data.

[0012] The image forming system relating to this disclosure may have a predetermined fee for outputting image data, and the operation reception unit may be configured to accept the designation of the payment recipient.

[0013] In the image forming system according to this disclosure, the operation reception unit may be configured to accept an operation to designate a plurality of image forming apparatuses as output destinations for image data.

[0014] In the image forming system relating to this disclosure, the operation reception unit receives instructions for pre-output, The image forming apparatus may be configured to output image data when pre-output is instructed, regardless of whether it is specified as an output destination.

[0015] The image forming system relating to this disclosure may be configured to include a server connected to a network. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] According to this disclosure, the image forming apparatus designated as the output destination for image data can be narrowed down based on the communication status with the mobile terminal, and the user can be allowed to select the image forming apparatus to output the image data.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0017] [Figure 1] It is a system configuration diagram showing an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] It is a front external view showing an image forming apparatus. [Figure 3] It is a schematic configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus. [Figure 4] It is an explanatory diagram showing a display screen displayed on a display unit. [Figure 5] In the image forming system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, it is a flowchart showing a processing flow when printing an image. [Figure 6] It is a flowchart showing a processing flow of payment processing.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0018] Hereinafter, an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0019] FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0020] In the image forming system, a plurality of image forming apparatuses 1 and a server 30 communicate via a network NW. The image forming apparatus 1 communicates with a mobile terminal (input source terminal 40A and output destination terminal 40B) via short-range wireless communication. The mobile terminal is, for example, a mobile phone terminal, a tablet, a personal computer, or the like.

[0021] In the image forming system, the image forming apparatus 1 designated as the input source receives image data (images), and the image forming apparatus 1 designated as the output destination outputs the image data. For the purpose of explanation below, to distinguish between multiple mobile terminals, the mobile terminal used (possessed) by the input source user US1 may be referred to as the input source terminal 40A, and the mobile terminal used (possessed) by the output destination user US2 may be referred to as the output destination terminal 40B. Furthermore, among the multiple image forming apparatuses 1, the image forming apparatus 1 located near the input source user US1 (input source terminal 40A) may be referred to as the input source image forming apparatus 1A, and the image forming apparatus 1 located near the output destination user US2 (output destination terminal 40B) may be referred to as the output destination image forming apparatus 1B. In addition, the input source user US1, the input source terminal 40A, and the input source image forming apparatus 1A may be collectively referred to simply as the input source, and the output destination user US2, the output destination terminal 40B, and the output destination image forming apparatus 1B may be collectively referred to simply as the output destination.

[0022] In an image forming system, the image forming apparatus 1 may manage various types of information individually, or it may transmit various types of information to a server 30, which manages it collectively, while the image forming apparatus 1 retains only the minimum necessary information.

[0023] Figure 2 is an external front view showing an image forming apparatus.

[0024] The image forming apparatus 1 consists of a multifunction device 2 having scanning, copying, printing, and facsimile functions, and a deposit terminal 3 for receiving cash and other deposits. The multifunction device 2 and the deposit terminal 3 are connected to each other and communicate data between them to operate in coordination. A display panel 11 is mounted above the deposit terminal 3. The display panel 11 is a touch panel display. However, it is not limited to this, and the display panel 11 may be a simple display with separate buttons for receiving input.

[0025] The deposit terminal 3 is equipped with a terminal communication unit 12, a media connection unit 13, a coin slot 14, a receipt output slot 15, a banknote slot 16, a coin return slot 17, and a paper output slot 18. The media connection unit 13 is equipped with an insertion slot for recording media such as memory cards and a connector for connecting cables, etc. The terminal communication unit 12 communicates with information storage media such as IC cards and mobile terminals and receives address information of mobile terminals and electronic money information related to electronic money payments from the information storage media. The coin slot 14 and the banknote slot 16 correspond to the deposit section that accepts deposits and accepts the insertion of coins and banknotes. For the purpose of explanation below, the coin slot 14 and the banknote slot 16 will be collectively referred to as the deposit section. The coin return slot 17 dispenses coins to be returned according to the amount of change, etc.

[0026] The deposit terminal 3 is equipped with an internal receipt printing unit that prints on thermal paper or similar paper, and the receipts printed by the receipt printing unit are ejected from the receipt output slot 15. The deposit terminal 3 is also equipped with an internal printer that prints images on paper, and the paper printed by the printer is ejected from the paper output slot 18.

[0027] The multifunction printer 2 is equipped with an operation panel 19 that has substantially the same functions as the display panel 11. The multifunction printer 2 also includes a printing unit 21 (an example of an output unit) that forms an image on paper according to the image data, and a reading unit 22 (an example of an input unit) that reads the placed document and creates image data. The paper formed by the printing unit 21 is discharged into an output tray located inside the cylinder.

[0028] In the image forming apparatus 1, depending on the output conditions such as paper size and color in image formation, the printer can be selected from the printing unit 21 of the multifunction device 2, the receipt printing unit and printer of the payment terminal 3, and the image can be printed on the paper.

[0029] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing the general configuration of an image forming apparatus.

[0030] The image forming apparatus 1 includes, in addition to the display panel 11, terminal communication unit 12, deposit unit, printing unit 21, and reading unit 22 described above, a network communication unit 23, a control unit 24, and a storage unit 25. The network communication unit 23 communicates with other image forming apparatuses 1 and the server 30 via the network NW. The storage unit 25 is a storage medium such as memory or an HDD, which stores various types of information.

[0031] The display panel 11 combines an operation reception unit 11a for receiving user input and a display unit 11b for displaying the screen. However, it is not limited to this configuration, and in the image forming apparatus 1, the operation reception unit 11a and the display unit 11b may be provided independently.

[0032] The control unit 24 is a CPU provided in the image forming apparatus 1, which controls various operations of the image forming apparatus 1, and includes an information acquisition unit 24a, an output destination specification unit 24b, a matching unit 24c, and a payment processing unit 24d.

[0033] The information acquisition unit 24a acquires the communication status between the mobile terminal and the image forming apparatus 1 as connection information. The image forming apparatus 1 communicates with the mobile terminal via short-range wireless communication via the terminal communication unit 12, and the state in which it is connected to the mobile terminal in a communicative manner is referred to as pairing below.

[0034] The output destination specification unit 24b specifies the output destination of the image data based on the connection information. The matching unit 24c matches the address information obtained from the mobile terminal with the connection information. The payment processing unit 24d performs various processes for payment of the predetermined amount for the output of the image data. The output destination specification unit 24b, the matching unit 24c, and the payment processing unit 24d will be explained in conjunction with the processing flow of the image forming apparatus 1 with reference to Figure 6, which will be described later.

[0035] Figure 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the display screen displayed on the display unit.

[0036] The display screen GM includes a comment area CR, an information area ZR, and an operation reception area SR. The comment area CR is an area that displays instructions to the user, such as "Please select your role" or "Please wait a moment." The information area ZR is an area that notifies the user of information, such as details about the output destination of image data and various conditions in image formation. The operation reception area SR is an area that displays buttons that accept user operations, such as buttons to select the output destination of image data and buttons to select answers to questions. The content displayed in the comment area CR, information area ZR, and operation reception area SR is changed as needed according to the processing flow of the image forming apparatus 1, and will be explained in conjunction with the processing flow shown in Figure 5 below.

[0037] On the display screen GM, it is not necessary to always display all of the comment area CR, information area ZR, and operation acceptance area SR during the processing flow. You can display only what is necessary as needed, and you may change the size and arrangement.

[0038] Figure 5 is a flowchart showing the processing flow when printing an image in the image forming system according to the embodiment of this disclosure.

[0039] Image forming apparatus 1 may perform not only remote copying (image forming) in cooperation with other image forming apparatuses 1 via a network NW, but also normal copying that operates independently. In the processing flow shown in Figure 5, the start time is defined as when an instruction to perform remote copying is given.

[0040] Before the start of the processing flow, the comment area CR of the display screen GM should display "Please select a job," and the operation reception area SR should accept the user's selection of whether to perform a normal copy or a remote copy. If remote copy is selected, the display screen GM should be changed, the comment area CR should display "Please select your role," and the operation reception area SR should accept the user's selection of whether to input or output the image data. After the input and output destinations of the image data have been determined, the display screen GM should be changed again, the comment area CR should display "Who will be the primary operator?", and the operation reception area SR should accept the user's selection of whether they or someone else will be the primary operator.

[0041] In step S01, the terminal communication unit 12 pairs with the mobile terminal. At this point, the display screen GM displays "Please pair your mobile terminal" in the comment area CR, and waits until the mobile terminal and the image forming apparatus 1 can communicate via the terminal communication unit 12.

[0042] In step S02, the information acquisition unit 24a acquires connection information. The connection information indicates whether the mobile terminal is able to communicate with the image forming apparatus 1, and by referring to this, the mobile terminal currently paired with the image forming apparatus 1 can be identified. The acquired connection information may be transmitted to the image forming apparatus 1 that is paired with the mobile terminal, or it may be transmitted to the server 30 and then transmitted from the server 30 to the corresponding image forming apparatus 1. To explain the connection information acquired here in more detail, for example, in the case of the input source image forming apparatus 1A shown in Figure 1, not only is the connection information between itself and the input source terminal 40A acquired, but the connection information between the output destination image forming apparatus 1B and the output destination terminal 40B, which is received via the network NW, is also acquired.

[0043] Furthermore, when paired with a mobile device, the device acquires the mobile device's address information along with the connection information. The address information is, for example, an address book or phone book containing address, name, telephone number, email address, etc. The matching unit 24c can identify the mobile device registered in the address book or phone book by referring to the address information.

[0044] In step S03, the matching unit 24c compares the connection information with the address information. Here, the matching result is output to determine whether the mobile terminal identified by the connection information corresponds to the address information.

[0045] In step S04, the display unit 11b displays the image forming apparatus 1 that is currently paired. Here, all image forming apparatus 1 that are currently paired with any of the mobile terminals may be displayed. Alternatively, the corresponding image forming apparatus 1 may be extracted and displayed based on the matching result of the matching unit 24c. To explain using Figure 1 as an example, if the output terminal 40B corresponds to the address information obtained from the input terminal 40A, and the output image forming apparatus 1B and the output terminal 40B are currently paired, then the information area ZR of the display screen GM displays information about the output image forming apparatus 1B and the output terminal 40B.

[0046] In step S05, the output destination specification unit 24b determines whether an output destination for the image (image data) has been specified. If only one image forming apparatus 1 was displayed in step S04, the output destination image forming apparatus 1 may be specified without confirming with the user, or the output destination image forming apparatus 1 may be specified after confirming with the user. If there are multiple corresponding image forming apparatus 1, all of them may be displayed. When multiple image forming apparatus 1 are displayed, the user should be allowed to select which one to specify as the output destination. If an output destination for the image is specified (step S05: Yes), the process proceeds to step S06. On the other hand, if an output destination for the image is not specified (step S05: No), the process returns to step S04, and the screen prompting the user to specify the output destination is displayed.

[0047] In step S06, the payment processing unit 24d performs the payment processing. The payment processing will be explained with reference to Figure 6, which will be described later.

[0048] In step S07, the reading unit 22 accepts the image input. Here, the input source display screen GM should display a notification prompting image input in the comment area CR, and the output destination display screen GM should display a notification in the comment area CR indicating that it is waiting for image input.

[0049] In step S08, the control unit 24 sets the output conditions. The display screen GM shows the set output conditions, and the output conditions may be changed as appropriate according to user operations.

[0050] In step S09, the control unit 24 determines whether a pre-output has been instructed. If a pre-output has been instructed (step S09: Yes), the process proceeds to step S10. On the other hand, if a pre-output has not been instructed (step S09: No), the process proceeds to step S11.

[0051] In step S10, the printing unit 21 performs pre-output. The image forming apparatus 1 accepts pre-output of image data regardless of whether it is specified as an output destination. In other words, when the input source user US1 instructs the pre-output to be performed, the input source image forming apparatus 1A prints the image based on the set output conditions. After printing the image, the apparatus may also ask the user whether to change the output conditions, and if instructed to change the output conditions, it returns to step S08 and repeats the process.

[0052] By implementing this pre-output process, users can be informed of the format in which the image data will be output, preventing the image data from being output in a state unintended by the user.

[0053] In step S11, the image is output to the specified output destination and the process ends. In other words, the image is printed by the printing unit 21 of the output destination image forming apparatus 1B.

[0054] In the image forming system described above, the reading unit 22 reads the image on the paper and the printing unit 21 prints the image on the paper. However, the system is not limited to this, and the image data itself may also be handled. In other words, the input source image forming apparatus 1A may receive image data input from an information holding medium such as the input source terminal 40A, and the output destination image forming apparatus 1B may output image data to an information holding medium such as the output destination terminal 40B.

[0055] Figure 6 is a flowchart showing the processing flow of payment processing.

[0056] In step S21, the operation reception unit 11a accepts the designation of the payment recipient. Here, the display screen GM should display "Who will bear the cost?" in the comment area CR, and accept the selection of whether the user or someone else will bear the cost in the operation reception area SR.

[0057] In step S22, the display unit 11b notifies the payee of the approval request. Here, the display screen GM of the image forming apparatus 1 designated as the payee should display "Please accept the cost burden request" in the comment area CR, and accept the option in the operation acceptance area SR whether to accept the cost burden request (request for approval of payment).

[0058] In step S23, the payment processing unit 24d determines whether the payment has been approved. If the user selects to accept the expense reimbursement request, the payment is deemed approved. If the payment is approved (step S23: Yes), the process proceeds to step S24. On the other hand, if the payment is not approved (step S23: No), the process waits until approval is granted.

[0059] In step S24, the display unit 11b notifies the user that the payment has been approved. The display screen GM of the image forming apparatus 1, other than the payment recipient, notifies the user that it is waiting until the payment is approved by the payment recipient, and once the payment is approved by the payment recipient, it notifies the user that the payment has been approved. After the payment is approved, the process proceeds to step S07 in Figure 5.

[0060] By implementing this payment processing, the user can be allowed to choose the recipient of the payment for the image data output.

[0061] As described above, in the image forming system, the output destination specification unit 24b designates the image forming apparatus 1 that has been received by the operation reception unit 11a from among the multiple image forming apparatuses 1 communicating with the mobile terminal as the output destination for the image data. In this way, the image forming apparatus 1 designated as the output destination for the image data can be narrowed down depending on the communication status with the mobile terminal, and the user can be allowed to select the image forming apparatus 1 to output the image data.

[0062] Furthermore, since the image forming apparatus 1 to be specified as the output destination is extracted based on the address information, image forming apparatus 1 that is communicating with a third party unrelated to the user can be excluded, allowing the user to select an appropriate image forming apparatus 1.

[0063] Furthermore, the operation reception unit 11a accepts operations to set the image forming apparatus 1 used as the input source for image data and the image forming apparatus 1 used as the output destination for image data to be different. By setting the input source and output destination to be different in this way, remote copying can be performed, for example, by inputting image data from a nearby image forming apparatus 1 and outputting it from a remote image forming apparatus 1.

[0064] The image forming apparatus 1 is configured to stop processing when communication between the mobile terminal and the terminal communication unit 12 is lost. It may also send updated connection information to other image forming apparatuses 1 that it is working with, notifying them that communication with the mobile terminal has been lost, and causing them to stop processing accordingly. This action prevents image data from being output from the image forming apparatus 1 when the user is away and the apparatus is not in operation.

[0065] The memory unit 25 may store output information related to the output of image data, and the image forming apparatus 1 may be configured to read the output information and output the image data. In other words, since the output information is stored in the memory unit 25, the image data can be re-output by reading the output information at any time according to the user's instructions.

[0066] The operation reception unit 11a may accept an operation to specify multiple image forming apparatuses 1 as output destinations for image data. In other words, in the display screen GM corresponding to step S05 in Figure 5, multiple image forming apparatuses 1 may be specified as output destinations, and image data may be output to all image forming apparatuses 1 specified as output destinations. This allows image data to be output to multiple image forming apparatuses 1 with a single operation, thereby improving user convenience.

[0067] Furthermore, the embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative in all respects and do not constitute a limiting interpretation. Accordingly, the technical scope of this disclosure is not to be interpreted solely by the embodiments described above, but is defined based on the claims. This includes all modifications within the meaning and scope of equivalents to the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0068] 1. Image forming apparatus 1A Input source image forming apparatus 1B Output destination image forming apparatus 11 Display Panel 11a Operation reception section 11b Display section 12 Terminal Communication Unit 21 Printing section (an example of an output section) 22 Reading Unit (Example of an Input Unit) 23 Network Communications Department 24 Control Unit 24a Information acquisition section 24b Output destination specification section 24c Verification section 24d Payment Processing Unit 25 Memory section 30 servers 40A Input source terminal (example of a mobile terminal) 40B Output destination terminal (example of a mobile terminal) NW Network US1 Input source user US2 Output Destination User

Claims

1. An image forming system in which multiple image forming apparatuses that output image data are connected via a network, An operation reception unit that accepts operations, A network communication unit that communicates over a network, A terminal communication unit that communicates with mobile devices, An information acquisition unit that acquires connection information of the image forming apparatus, which is connected to the mobile terminal via the terminal communication unit, A display unit that displays multiple image forming apparatus communicating with the aforementioned mobile terminal, The system includes an output destination specification unit that specifies the output destination of image data based on the aforementioned connection information, The output destination designation unit designates the image forming apparatus selected by the operation reception unit from among the multiple image forming apparatuses communicating with the mobile terminal as the output destination for the image data. An image forming system characterized by the following.

2. The image forming system according to claim 1, The system includes a matching unit that compares address information obtained from the mobile terminal with connection information, The output destination specification unit extracts the image forming apparatus to be designated as the output destination based on the matching result of the matching unit. An image forming system characterized by the following.

3. The image forming system according to claim 1, The image forming apparatus has an input unit that receives image data and an output unit that outputs image data. The operation receiving unit receives an operation to make the image forming apparatus that is used as the input source for image data and the image forming apparatus that is used as the output destination for image data different. An image forming system characterized by the following.

4. The image forming system according to claim 1, The image forming apparatus stops processing when communication between the mobile terminal and the terminal communication unit is interrupted. An image forming system characterized by the following.

5. The image forming system according to claim 1, It includes a storage unit that stores output information related to the output of image data, The image forming apparatus reads the output information and outputs image data. An image forming system characterized by the following.

6. The image forming system according to claim 1, The fee for outputting image data is predetermined. The aforementioned operation reception unit accepts the designation of the payment recipient. An image forming system characterized by the following.

7. The image forming system according to claim 1, The operation reception unit receives an operation to specify a plurality of image forming apparatuses as output destinations for image data. An image forming system characterized by the following.

8. The image forming system according to claim 1, The aforementioned operation reception unit receives instructions for pre-output, The image forming apparatus outputs image data when pre-output is instructed, regardless of whether it is specified as an output destination. An image forming system characterized by the following.

9. The image forming system according to claim 1, It must have a server connected to a network. An image forming system characterized by the following.

Images