Printing system

Abstract

When a message application server (2) receives print data from one electronic terminal 1, among electronic terminals 1 that are registered in a group, via a talk screen of the group (S11) and then receives a print instruction from one of the electronic terminals 1 (S15), a chatbot server (3) transfers the print data received via the message application server (2) to a print server (4) (S21), and the print server (4) transfers the print data received from the chatbot server (3) to an image formation device 5 (S22) to cause printing to be executed (S23).

Description

Printing system

[0001] The present invention relates to a printing system that transmits print data from an electronic terminal to an image forming apparatus using a message application and causes printing to be performed.

[0002] In recent years, the use of message applications (hereinafter simply referred to as "message apps") for exchanging messages in a chat format between a plurality of electronic terminals via a network has been increasing. Also, when a user sends a message using a message app, services using a chatbot application that automatically creates and replies to a message according to the content of the message have also spread.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes a technique that enables print settings to be performed on an image file transmitted using a message app and a print instruction to be given to a printer, and further enables reuse of past print settings.

[0004] Patent Document 2 describes a technique that enables print settings to be performed on an image file transmitted using a message app and a print instruction to be given to a printer, and enables the output result to be confirmed on the message app before giving the print instruction.

[0005] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2022 - 185,142 Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2021 - 114,218

[0006] However, in such message apps, printing is only possible in a one - to - one relationship between one user and an image forming apparatus, and it is not possible for a plurality of users to share print data and each user to perform printing.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to enable a plurality of users to share print data and each user to perform printing in a scene where messages are exchanged in a chat format.

[0008] A printing system according to one aspect of the present invention comprises: a print server that controls printing of an image forming apparatus; an electronic terminal that has a messaging application installed which enables message exchange via a network in a chat format and displays a talk screen indicating the message exchange on a display unit; a message application server that registers a plurality of the electronic terminals as members of a group capable of exchanging messages and provides a messaging service capable of exchanging messages; and a chatbot server that is registered with the message application server as a member of the group and sends and receives data between the message application server and the print server. When the message application server receives print data from one of the electronic terminals registered in the group via the group's talk screen, and then receives a print command from one of the electronic terminals, the chatbot server transfers the print data received via the message application server to the print server, and the print server transfers the print data received from the chatbot server to the image forming apparatus to execute printing.

[0009] According to the present invention, in situations where messages are exchanged in a chat format, print data can be shared among multiple users and printed individually for each user.

[0010] This figure shows an example of the configuration of a printing system. This figure shows an example of the electrical configuration of an electronic terminal. This figure shows an example of the electrical configuration of a message application server. This figure shows an example of the electrical configuration of a chatbot server. This figure shows an example of the electrical configuration of a print server. This figure shows an example of the electrical configuration of an image forming apparatus. This is a sequence diagram showing the process in this embodiment from when a user operates an electronic terminal to send print data to a message application server, and when the image forming apparatus prints based on that print data via a messaging service. This figure shows an example of the display unit. This is a sequence diagram showing another embodiment of the process in this embodiment from when a user operates an electronic terminal to send print data to a message application server, and when the image forming apparatus prints based on that print data via a messaging service. This figure shows an example of the display unit. This is a sequence diagram showing yet another embodiment of the process in this embodiment from when a user operates an electronic terminal to send print data to a message application server, and when the image forming apparatus prints based on that print data via a messaging service. This figure shows an example of the display unit. This is a sequence diagram showing an example of the display unit.

[0011] A printing system according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The image forming apparatus in this embodiment is a copier or a multifunction device equipped with these functions.

[0012] Figure 1 shows an example of the configuration of a printing system 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The printing system 100 comprises an electronic terminal 1, a message application server 2, a chatbot server 3, and a print server 4. The electronic terminal 1 has a message application installed that enables message exchange via the network N in a chat format. In this embodiment, the printing system 100 is provided with a plurality of electronic terminals 1A, electronic terminals 1B, ... as electronic terminal 1. Hereinafter, they will be collectively referred to as electronic terminal 1.

[0013] The message application server 2 provides a messaging service that enables message exchange over the network N. The message application server 2 also registers the electronic terminal 1 and the chatbot server 3 as members of a group that can exchange messages (group members).

[0014] The chatbot server 3 sends and receives data with the message application server 2 and the print server 4 via the network N. The chatbot server 3 performs processing on messages received by the message application server 2 according to their content. Specifically, the chatbot server 3 creates a message in response to a message received from the electronic terminal 1 via the messaging service, and sends an instruction to the print server 4 in response to a print command from the electronic terminal 1.

[0015] The print server 4 transmits and receives data with the image forming apparatus 5 via the network N and controls the printing of the image forming apparatus 5. The print server 4 performs processing such as sending print data and print instructions to the image forming apparatus 5. The image forming apparatus 5 prints images on paper according to the print data transmitted from the print server 4 or the print data obtained by user operation.

[0016] The image forming apparatus 5 prints an image on paper based on print data acquired from the print server 4 via the network N, or image data acquired by scanning the original document with the image reading unit described later. The image forming apparatus 5 also comprises multiple image forming apparatuses 5X, 5Y, etc., and hereinafter, the image forming apparatus 5 will be referred to collectively.

[0017] Figure 2 shows an example of the electrical configuration of an electronic terminal 1. The electronic terminal 1 is, for example, a smartphone and includes a control unit 11, an input receiving unit 12, a storage unit 13, and a communication unit 14, etc. The control unit 11 consists of a processor, RAM (Random Access Memory), and ROM (Read Only Memory), etc. The processor is a CPU (Central Processing Unit), MPU (Micro Processing Unit), or ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), etc. The control unit 11 functions as a control unit 111 by having the processor execute a control program stored in the ROM, etc. The control unit 111 is responsible for the overall operation control of the electronic terminal 1.

[0018] The input receiving unit 12 is a hard button, touch panel, etc., that receives input operations from the user. The input receiving unit 12 also has a display unit 121 that displays operation screens, messages, etc., and in this embodiment, the display unit 121 and the touch panel are integrally configured. The communication unit 14 is composed of a communication module, etc., and transmits and receives data with external devices via the network N. The display unit 121 is, for example, an LCD (liquid crystal display).

[0019] The storage unit 13 is, for example, a non-volatile memory that stores various programs and data tables, and stores the message application 131 for using the messaging service described above. The control unit 111 executes the message application 131 and performs the necessary processes to use the messaging service provided by the message application server 2.

[0020] Figure 3 shows an example of the electrical configuration of the message application server 2. The message application server 2 consists of, for example, a computer, and includes a control unit 21, a storage unit 22, and a communication unit 23. The control unit 21 consists of a processor, RAM, and ROM. The processor is a CPU, MPU, or ASIC. The control unit 21 functions as a control unit 211 by having the processor execute a control program stored in the ROM, etc. The control unit 211 is responsible for the overall operation control of the message application server 2.

[0021] The storage unit 22 is a large-capacity storage device consisting of an SSD (Solid State Drive) or HDD (Hard Disk Drive) that stores various programs and data tables. The storage unit 22 also stores the message application 221. The control unit 211 executes the message application 221, performing various processes to provide messaging services to the electronic terminal 1 and image forming apparatus 5 on which the message application is installed. The communication unit 23 consists of a communication module and the like, and transmits and receives data with external devices via the network N.

[0022] Figure 4 shows an example of the electrical configuration of the chatbot server 3. The chatbot server 3 consists of, for example, a computer, and includes a control unit 31, a storage unit 32, and a communication unit 33. The control unit 31 consists of a processor, RAM, and ROM. The processor is a CPU, MPU, or ASIC. The control unit 31 functions as a control unit 311 by having the processor execute a control program stored in the ROM, etc. The control unit 311 is responsible for the overall operation control of the chatbot server 3.

[0023] The storage unit 32 is a large-capacity storage device consisting of an SSD or HDD that stores various programs and data tables. The storage unit 32 also stores the bot application 321. The control unit 311 executes the bot application 321, sending and receiving data between the message application server 2 and the print server 4. For example, the chatbot server 3 creates a reply message to a message received from the message application server 2 and sends it to the message application server 2, and also sends print data to the print server 4.

[0024] The communication unit 33 consists of a communication module and the like, and transmits and receives data with external devices via the network N.

[0025] Figure 5 shows an example of the electrical configuration of the print server 4. The print server 4 includes a control unit 41, a storage unit 42, a communication unit 43, etc. The control unit 41 consists of a processor, RAM, ROM, etc. The processor is a CPU, MPU, or ASIC, etc. The control unit 41 functions as a control unit 411 when the processor executes a control program stored in the ROM, etc. The control unit 411 is responsible for the overall operation control of the print server 4.

[0026] The storage unit 42 is a large-capacity storage device consisting of an SSD or HDD that stores various programs and data tables. The storage unit 42 also stores the printer application 421. The control unit 411 executes the printer application 421 to perform the processing necessary for print control to the image forming apparatus 5, which is accessible from the print server 4. The communication unit 43 consists of a communication module and the like, and transmits and receives data with external devices such as the image forming apparatus 5 via the network N.

[0027] Figure 6 shows an example of the electrical configuration of the image forming apparatus 5. The image forming apparatus 5 includes a control unit 51, an input receiving unit 52, an image reading unit 53, an image forming unit 54, a storage unit 55, and a communication unit 56, etc.

[0028] The input receiving unit 52 includes hard keys such as a confirmation key and a start key for confirming various operations and settings, and a display unit 521. The input receiving unit 52 receives various instructions from the user in response to the operation of each of these keys. The display unit 521 includes, for example, an LCD (liquid crystal display) and displays operation screens, messages, etc. The display unit 521 may be integrated with a touch panel.

[0029] The image reading unit 53, for example, is equipped with a scanner and reads an image of a document to acquire image data. The image forming unit 54, for example, is equipped with an electrophotographic image forming mechanism and prints the image data acquired by the image reading unit 53 and print data such as images received by the communication unit 56 from the print server 4 onto paper. The storage unit 55 is a large-capacity storage device consisting of an SSD or HDD that stores image data, various programs, data tables, etc.

[0030] The control unit 51 consists of a processor, RAM, ROM, etc. The processor is a CPU, MPU, or ASIC, etc. The control unit 51 functions as a control unit 511 when the processor executes a control program stored in the ROM, etc. The control unit 511 is responsible for the overall operation control of the image forming apparatus 5.

[0031] The communication unit 56 consists of communication modules and other components, and transmits and receives data with the print server 4 and external devices via the network N.

[0032] Figure 7 is a sequence diagram showing the process in this embodiment from when a user operates an electronic terminal 1 to send print data to the message application server 2, and when the image forming apparatus 5 performs printing based on that print data via the messaging service. Here, the control unit 211 of the message application server 2 stores multiple electronic terminals 1 (electronic terminal 1A and electronic terminal 1B) and the chatbot server 3 as group members in the messaging service.

[0033] Figure 8 shows an example of a case where the control unit 111 of the electronic terminal 1 executes the messaging application 131 and displays the chat screen of the messaging service provided by the messaging application server 2 on the display unit 121. The control unit 111 of the electronic terminal 1 displays on the display unit 121 messages and images sent via the messaging application server 2 from, for example, electronic terminal 1A and electronic terminal 1B, which is the person exchanging messages (chat partner), in chronological order from the top in Figure 8. The control unit 111 also displays on the display unit 121 messages sent by the user on the right side of the screen in Figure 8, and messages from the chat partner on the left side of the screen in Figure 8.

[0034] In this embodiment, the user operates the electronic terminal 1 to send an image as print data, but the print data may be document data. Also, in the example of the talk screen display described below, including Figure 8, the message exchange is shown as a whole, but in reality, one message is displayed for each user operation or for each process of the chatbot server 3.

[0035] When multiple electronic terminals 1 and a chatbot server 3 are group members of a messaging service and a conversation is taking place via a chat screen, for example, if the control unit 111 of electronic terminal 1A sends an image as print data to the messaging service (message application server 2) via the communication unit 14 at the user's operation, the print server 4, via the chatbot server 3, will cause the image forming apparatus 5 to print based on the print instructions sent to the messaging service from all electronic terminals 1 that are group members for that image. In other words, the printing of the print data is performed based on a print instruction from electronic terminal 1B, not the electronic terminal 1A that sent the print data. The process in this case will be explained below. (1) When the chatbot server 3 causes the image forming apparatus 5 to print based on print instructions from multiple electronic terminals, including the electronic terminal that sent the image.

[0036] Based on the user's operation of the input receiving unit 12 of the electronic terminal 1A, the control unit 111 of the electronic terminal 1A starts the message application 131 and begins executing the necessary processes to use the messaging service (group talk service) provided by the message application server 2. In this state, based on the user's operation of the input receiving unit 12 of the electronic terminal 1A, the control unit 111 of the electronic terminal 1A transmits an image as print data to the messaging service (message application server 2) via the communication unit 14 (S11). At this time, the control unit 111 of the electronic terminal 1A displays an image 611A representing the print data in the talk screen displayed on the display unit 121A. Also, the control unit 111 of the electronic terminal 1B, which is a group member, displays an image 611B representing the print data transmitted by the electronic terminal 1A in the talk screen displayed on the display unit 121B.

[0037] When the message application server 2 receives an image as print data from the electronic terminal 1A, its control unit 211 transmits the image to the chatbot server 3 via the communication unit 23 (S12). The control unit 311 of the chatbot server 3 creates an image reception message as a reply message and has the communication unit 23 transmit the image reception message to the message application server 2 (S13). When the communication unit 23 of the message application server 2 receives the image reception message, the control unit 211 transmits the image reception message from the communication unit 23 to the group members, electronic terminals 1A and 1B (S14).

[0038] In the electronic terminal 1, when the communication unit 14 receives an image reception message from the message application server 2, the control unit 111 displays message 612A on the display unit 121A (in the case of electronic terminal 1A) and message 612B on the display unit 121B (in the case of electronic terminal 1B). As shown in Figure 8, the image reception message includes message 612A (message 612B), the image sent by electronic terminal 1A, and a print instruction reception image 6121A (6121B), and the control unit 111 displays these on the chat screen.

[0039] Here, assume that a user of electronic terminal 1A or electronic terminal 1B touches the print instruction reception image 6121A or print instruction reception image 6121B on the chat screen. At this time, the control unit 111 of the electronic terminal 1 that was touched receives a print instruction for the image via the input reception unit 12, and the communication unit 14 transmits the print instruction for the image to the message application server 2 (S15). When the communication unit 23 of the message application server 2 receives the print instruction, the control unit 211 forwards the print instruction to the chatbot server 3 via the communication unit 23 (S16).

[0040] When the communication unit 33 of the chatbot server 3 receives the print command, the control unit 311 transmits the image and print command, etc., which were received as print data in S12, from the communication unit 33 to the print server 4 (S21).

[0041] In the print server 4, when the communication unit 43 receives the image and print instructions, the control unit 411 generates a print job including the image and print instructions, and transmits the print job from the communication unit 56 to the image forming apparatus 5 (S22).

[0042] In the image forming apparatus 5, when the communication unit 56 receives the print job, the control unit 511 causes the image forming unit 54 to print the image included in the print job (S23).

[0043] When the image forming apparatus 5 completes the printing process, the control unit 511 sends a print completion notification from the communication unit 56 to the print server 4 (S24). When the print server 4 receives the print completion notification from the receiving unit 43, the control unit 411 sends the print completion notification from the communication unit 43 to the chatbot server 3 (S25). When the chatbot server 3 receives the print completion notification from the communication unit 33, the control unit 311 sends the print completion notification from the communication unit 33 to the message application server 2 (S26).

[0044] In the message application server 2, when the communication unit 23 receives the print completion notification, the control unit 211 transmits the print completion message from the communication unit 23 to the electronic terminal 1A and the electronic terminal 1B which are group members (S27). In the electronic terminal 1A and the electronic terminal 1B, when the communication unit 14 receives the print completion message, the control unit 111 causes the display unit 121A to display the message 616A and the display unit 121B to display the message 616B.

[0045] As described above, in the present embodiment, the chatbot server 3 obtains an image as print data from the message application server 2 based on a print instruction from the electronic terminal 1A that transmitted the image or another electronic terminal 1B via the group chat of the messaging service, and transmits it to the print server 4. The image forming apparatus 5 forms the image by the print server 4. As a result, in a scene where a plurality of group members of the group chat of the messaging service exchange messages in a chat format on the talk screen, the plurality of group members (users) can share the print data, and each user can print the print data.

[0046] In the above embodiment, in a talk screen where a plurality of electronic terminals 1 and the chatbot server 3 are group members, for example, when the control unit 111 of the electronic terminal 1A transmits an image as print data to the messaging service (message application server 2) via the communication unit 14 by an operation by the user, it is possible to issue a print instruction from all the electronic terminals 1 that are group members for the image. However, when the user of the electronic terminal 1B issues a print instruction for the image, a situation may occur where the user of the electronic terminal 1A which is the transmission source of the image cannot receive the printed matter of the image during the period when the printing is being performed. Therefore, a method by which the user of the electronic terminal 1A which is the transmission source of the image can surely receive the printed matter of the image will be described below.

[0047] FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram showing another embodiment of the process until a user operates the electronic terminal 1 to transmit print data to the message application server 2 and an image forming apparatus 5 performs printing based on the print data via a messaging service in the present embodiment.

[0048] (1) When the chatbot server 3 accepts only a print instruction from the electronic terminal 1 that has transmitted an image. Similar to the above-described embodiment described with reference to FIG. 7, based on an operation by the user, an image as print data is transmitted from the electronic terminal 1A to the messaging service (S11). After passing through the processes of S12 and S13, it is assumed that the message application server 2 transmits the image reception message from the communication unit 23 to the electronic terminals 1A and 1B that are group members (S14). In S12, the control unit 211 of the message application server 2 also transmits, from the communication unit 23 to the chatbot server 3, the source information indicating the source of the print data (in this example, the electronic terminal 1A) together with the image as the print data. At this time, on the electronic terminals 1A and 1B, a message 612A (in the case of the electronic terminal 1A) is displayed on the display unit 121A, and a message 612B (in the case of the electronic terminal B) is displayed on the display unit 121B (FIG. 8).

[0049] Here, it is assumed that the user of the electronic terminal 1B touches a print instruction reception image 6121B for giving a print instruction for the image. At this time, the control unit 111 of the electronic terminal 1B where the touch has been made receives the print instruction for the above-described image via the input reception unit 12 and transmits the print instruction for the image from the communication unit 14 to the message application server 2 (S15). That is, although the electronic terminal 1A has transmitted the image as print data, a print instruction for the image is issued from an electronic terminal 1 other than the electronic terminal 1A. When the communication unit 23 of the message application server 2 receives the print instruction, the control unit 211 transfers the print instruction and the source information indicating the source thereof (electronic terminal 1B) to the chatbot server 3 via the communication unit 23 (S16).

[0050] In the chatbot server 3, the control unit 311 compares the source of the image that has been instructed to be printed with the source of the print instruction based on the source information above. If the sources are not the same, it instructs the message application server 2 to send a print rejection message (S17).

[0051] In the message application server 2, the control unit 211 sends the print rejection message from the communication unit 23 to the group members, electronic terminals 1A and 1B (S18). In electronic terminal 1, when the communication unit 14 receives the print rejection message, the control unit 111 displays message 614A on the display unit 121A (in the case of electronic terminal 1A) and displays message 614B on the display unit 121B (in the case of electronic terminal 1B). In other words, the chatbot server 3 rejects the print instruction from electronic terminal 1B, which is not the sender of the above image, and does not perform the processing for printing, notifying electronic terminal 1B that the print instruction cannot be accepted.

[0052] On the other hand, suppose the user of electronic terminal 1A touches the print instruction reception image 6121A to instruct the user to print an image. At this time, the control unit 111 of electronic terminal 1A that received the touch receives the print instruction for the image via the input reception unit 12, and the communication unit 14 transmits the print instruction for the image to the message application server 2 (S19). In other words, an instruction to print the image has been issued from electronic terminal 1A, which sent the image as print data. When the communication unit 23 of the message application server 2 receives the print instruction, the control unit 211 transmits the print instruction and source information indicating the sender (electronic terminal 1A) to the chatbot server 3 via the communication unit 23 (S20).

[0053] In the chatbot server 3, control unit 311 compares the source of the image that received the print instruction with the source of the print instruction based on the source information described above. If the sources are the same, the communication unit 33 sends the image and print instruction, etc., as print data received in S12 to the print server 4 (S21).

[0054] In the print server 4, when the communication unit 43 receives the image and print instructions, the control unit 411 generates a print job including the image and print instructions, and transmits the print job from the communication unit 56 to the image forming apparatus 5 (S22).

[0055] In the image forming apparatus 5, when the communication unit 56 receives the print job, the control unit 511 causes the image forming unit 54 to print the image included in the print job (S23).

[0056] After the printing is completed and the image is formed, in the same manner as in the embodiment described above with reference to Figure 7, the control unit 511 of the image forming apparatus 5 sends a print completion message from the communication unit 56 to the print server 4 after printing (S24). The print server 4 forwards this print completion notification to the chatbot server 3 (S25), and the chatbot server 3 forwards the print completion notification to the message application server 2 (S26). The message application server 2 sends the print completion notification to the group members, electronic terminals 1A and 1B (S27). When electronic terminal 1 receives the print completion notification, the display unit 121A displays message 616A and the display unit 121B displays message 616B.

[0057] In this way, the chatbot server 3 accepts print commands only from the electronic terminal 1 that sent the image and sends the image to the print server 4, and does not accept print commands from any other electronic terminal 1, thereby ensuring that the user who sent the image is able to print that image.

[0058] (2) When the number of valid prints can be set, an embodiment in which the chatbot server 3 limits the number of valid prints of an image as print data will be described. Figure 10 is a diagram showing an example of the display on the display unit 121A of the electronic terminal 1A.

[0059] Assume that the chatbot server 3 receives the print data, and messages 612A and 612B, similar to those shown in Figure 8 above, are displayed on the display units 121A and 121B of the electronic terminals 1A and 1B, which are group members. At this time, when the image 6122A of the talk screen on the display unit 121A of electronic terminal 1A is touched, the control unit 111 receives a button display instruction via the input reception unit 12 and displays a print valid count change button 91 in the menu area 90 for making settings related to printing.

[0060] Here, when the user touches the print count change button 91, the control unit 111 receives the instruction to set the number of prints via the input reception unit 12 and displays a soft numeric keypad (not shown) on the chat screen. When the user operates the soft numeric keypad to input a value indicating the desired number of prints, the control unit 111 receives this value via the input reception unit 12 as the print count for the image (print data) displayed in message 612A along with image 6122A. The control unit 111 transmits the identification information indicating the print data and the received print count from the communication unit 14 to the message application server 2. In the message application server 2, when the control unit 211 receives the identification information and the print count via the communication unit 23, it transmits the print count from the communication unit 23 to the chatbot server 3. In the chatbot server 3, the control unit 311 stores the print count received via the communication unit 33 in the storage unit 32 as the print count for the print data indicated by the identification information, and manages it as the print count for that print data. The following describes the process in chatbot server 3 when the number of valid print attempts is stored as 1.

[0061] (2-1) If the number of valid print attempts is 1, the control unit 311 of the chatbot server 3 will only accept the first print instruction for the print data indicated by the identification information from the electronic terminal 1 that sent the print data. This is because the control unit 311 of the chatbot server 3 limits the printing of the image that is the print data to only once, so that the user of the electronic terminal 1 that sent the image that is the print data can ensure that the image is printed in that single printing opportunity.

[0062] (2-2) When the number of valid print attempts is two or more The following describes the processing in the chatbot server 3 when the number of valid print attempts is two or more for the print data indicated by the above identification information. When the number of valid print attempts is two or more, the control unit 311 of the chatbot server 3 accepts only the print instruction from the electronic terminal 1 that sent the image as print data for the first print instruction, and accepts print instructions from all electronic terminals 1 belonging to the group members for the second and subsequent print instructions.

[0063] The sequence diagram in Figure 9 and the display example in Figure 8 will be used for explanation. As an example, let's assume that the chatbot server 3 has two valid print attempts stored in its memory. In this case as well, the control unit 311 of the chatbot server 3 will only accept the first print instruction for the print data indicated by the identification information from the electronic terminal 1 that sent the print data (S19 to S27). This is to ensure that the user of the electronic terminal 1 that sent the image, which is the print data, can print that image.

[0064] Here, suppose the user of electronic terminal 1B touches the print instruction reception image 6121B to instruct the user to print an image. At this time, the control unit 111 of electronic terminal 1B that was touched receives the print instruction for the image via the input reception unit 12, and the communication unit 14 transmits the print instruction for the image to the message application server 2 (S28). When the communication unit 23 of the message application server 2 receives the print instruction, the control unit 211 transmits the print instruction and source information indicating the sender (electronic terminal 1B) to the chatbot server 3 via the communication unit 23 (S29).

[0065] In the chatbot server 3, if the print data targeted by the print instruction has two or more valid print counts and this is the first print instruction, the control unit 311 sends the image as print data to the print server 4 from the communication unit 33 only if the source of the image that was ordered to be printed and the source of the print instruction are the same electronic terminal 1. If the source of the image that was ordered to be printed and the source of the print instruction are not the same, the control unit 311 sends a print rejection message to the message application server 2 from the communication unit 33.

[0066] On the other hand, if the control unit 311 determines that there are two or more valid print attempts and that the print instruction is the second or later, it does not compare the source of the image that was sent for print with the source of the print instruction, and regardless of which terminal device 1 the print instruction is from, it sends the image as print data from the communication unit 33 to the print server 4 (S30). Since the image forming apparatus 5 has already completed printing in response to the print instruction from the electronic terminal 1A that sent the image (S23), the control unit 311 sends the image to the print server 4 (S30). This is because the opportunity to print the image has already been secured for the user of the electronic terminal 1 that sent the image as print data.

[0067] In the print server 4, when the communication unit 43 receives the image and print instructions, the control unit 411 generates a print job including the image and print instructions, and transmits the print job from the communication unit 56 to the image forming apparatus 5 (S31).

[0068] In the image forming apparatus 5, when the communication unit 56 receives the print job, the control unit 511 causes the image forming unit 54 to print the image included in the print job (S32).

[0069] After image formation, in the same manner as in the embodiment described above, the control unit 511 of the image forming apparatus 5 sends a print completion notification from the communication unit 56 to the print server 4 after printing (S33). The print server 4 forwards this print completion notification to the chatbot server 3 (S34), and the chatbot server 3 forwards the print completion notification to the message application server 2 (S35). The message application server 2 sends the print completion message to the group members, electronic terminal 1A and electronic terminal 1B (S36). When electronic terminal 1 receives the print completion notification, the display unit 121A displays message 616A and the display unit 121B displays message 616B, as shown in Figure 8.

[0070] In this way, if the number of valid print opportunities is two or more, after the electronic terminal 1 that sent the image issues a print command, other electronic terminals 1 can also issue print commands and receive printed materials. This ensures that the user of the electronic terminal 1 that sent the image has already been given the opportunity to print the image, while also improving convenience for users of other electronic terminals 1.

[0071] (3) Changing the setting of the image forming apparatus as the printing destination: In this embodiment, the print server 4 and the chatbot server 3 register and manage multiple image forming apparatuses 5 as control targets, and accept the designation of the image forming apparatus 5 to be used for printing operations based on the specified instructions.

[0072] Assume that the chatbot server 3 receives the print data and that messages 612A and 612B, as shown in Figure 10 above, are displayed on the display units 121A and 121B of the electronic terminals 1A and 1B, which are group members. At this time, when the image 6122A of the talk screen on the display unit 121A of electronic terminal 1A is touched, the control unit 111 receives a button display instruction via the input reception unit 12 and displays a print valid count change button 91 for making print-related settings, along with an image forming apparatus change button 92 for receiving the specification of the image forming apparatus 5 to be used for the printing operation, in the menu area 90.

[0073] When the user touches the image forming apparatus change button 92, the control unit 111 receives the apparatus change instruction via the input reception unit 12 and displays a list image 93 on the talk screen showing a list of multiple image forming apparatuses 5 managed by the chatbot server 3 (see Figure 13). When the user touches the display area of ​​the desired image forming apparatus 5 in the list image 93 to input a specification instruction to specify the desired image forming apparatus, the control unit 111 receives the specification instruction via the input reception unit 12 and transmits it to the message application server 2 from the communication unit 14. The control unit 211 of the message application server 2 transmits the specification instruction to the chatbot server 3 from the communication unit 23. When the control unit 311 of the chatbot server 3 receives the specification instruction via the communication unit 33, it changes the image forming apparatus 5 that performs the printing operation based on the print instruction sent via the message application server 2 to the image forming apparatus 5 indicated by the specification instruction.

[0074] However, if, for example, a user of electronic terminal 1A sends an image as print data to the message application server 2, and immediately afterward (for example, before the image is printed), another user changes the image forming apparatus 5 that is performing the printing operation, the user of electronic terminal 1A who sent the print data will not be able to print the print data using the image forming apparatus 5 that was set to perform the printing operation at the time the print data was sent. In this case, the user will also have to go through the trouble of changing the image forming apparatus 5 back to the original image forming apparatus 5.

[0075] Therefore, as a further embodiment, for example, until a predetermined time has elapsed since the user of electronic terminal 1A sent an image as print data to the message application server 2 and it was received by the chatbot server 3, the control unit 311 of the chatbot server 3 will not change the image forming apparatus 5 that performs the printing operation based on the print instruction sent via the message application server 2 to the image forming apparatus 5 indicated by the instruction, even if it receives the above-mentioned instruction from another electronic terminal 1B other than the electronic terminal 1A that sent the print data. After a predetermined time has elapsed since it was received by the chatbot server 3, the control unit 311 of the chatbot server 3 will change the image forming apparatus 5 that performs the printing operation based on the print instruction sent via the message application server 2 to the image forming apparatus 5 indicated by the instruction. The reason for allowing the image forming apparatus to be changed as the print destination after a predetermined time has elapsed is to prevent other users from being unable to change the printer destination if the user of electronic terminal 1A forgets to perform the print execution operation after sending the image.

[0076] Figure 11 is a sequence diagram showing yet another embodiment of the process in this embodiment, from when a user operates an electronic terminal 1 to send print data to a message application server 2, and when the image forming apparatus 5 performs printing based on that print data via a messaging service. Here, it is assumed that the print server 4 and the chatbot server 3 register and manage the image forming apparatus 5X and the image forming apparatus 5Y as control targets.

[0077] Figure 12 shows an example of a talk screen displayed on the display unit 121 when the control unit 111 of the electronic terminal 1 executes the message application 131. The processes S11 to S14 in Figure 11, and messages 611A and 612A, and messages 611B and 612B in Figure 12 are the same as described above.

[0078] Assume that the chatbot server 3 receives the print data and that messages 612A and 612B, as shown in Figure 8 above, are displayed on the display units 121A and 121B of the electronic terminals 1A and 1B, which are group members. At this time, when the image 6122A of the talk screen on the display unit 121A of electronic terminal 1A is touched, the control unit 111 receives a button display instruction via the input reception unit 12 and displays a print valid count change button 91 for making print-related settings, along with an image forming apparatus change button 92 for accepting the selection of the image forming apparatus 5 to be used for the printing operation, within the menu area 90.

[0079] Here, the user touches the image forming apparatus change button 92. When the input reception unit 12 of the electronic terminal 1B detects the touch of the image forming apparatus change button 92, the control unit 111 sends an instruction from the communication unit 14 to the message application server 2 requesting the apparatus list information. When the control unit 211 of the message application server 2 receives the instruction via the communication unit 23, it obtains apparatus list information indicating the managed image forming apparatus 5 from the chatbot server 3 and sends the apparatus list information to the electronic terminal 1. Based on the apparatus list information received via the communication unit 14, the control unit 111 of the electronic terminal 1B displays a list image 93 showing a list of each image forming apparatus 5 indicated by the apparatus list information, as shown in Figure 13.

[0080] When a user touches the display area of ​​the desired image forming apparatus 5 in the list image 93 to input a designation instruction to specify the desired image forming apparatus, the control unit 111 receives the designation instruction via the input reception unit 12 and transmits the designation instruction specifying the desired image forming apparatus related to the change of the image forming apparatus that performs the printing operation from the communication unit 14 to the message application server 2 (S51). The control unit 211 of the message application server 2 transmits the designation instruction specifying the desired image forming apparatus related to the change of the image forming apparatus that performs the printing operation from the communication unit 23 to the chatbot server 3 (S52). When the control unit 311 of the chatbot server 3 receives the designation instruction via the communication unit 33, it determines whether the electronic terminal 1 that sent the designation instruction and the electronic terminal 1 that sent the print data are the same terminal, or whether the predetermined time has elapsed since the print data was received.

[0081] Here, we will explain the case where the predetermined time has not elapsed since the chatbot server 3 received the print data. Although the print data was sent by electronic terminal 1A, the instruction to specify it was given by electronic terminal 1B, and the predetermined time has not elapsed since the chatbot server 3 received the image as print data, the control unit 311 will not permit the change of the image forming apparatus 5 that will perform the printing operation. In this case, the control unit 311 sends an instruction to the message application server 2 from the communication unit 33 to send a message rejecting the change of the image forming apparatus 5 that will perform the printing operation (S53). When the control unit 211 of the message application server 2 receives the instruction to send the change rejection message via the communication unit 23, it sends the change rejection message from the communication unit 23 to the group members electronic terminals 1A and 1B (S54).

[0082] In the electronic terminal 1, when the control unit 111 receives a change rejection message via the communication unit 14, it displays image 712A on the display unit 121A and image 712B on the display unit 121B. In other words, the user of the electronic terminal 1B is notified that the change of the image forming apparatus as the printing destination has been rejected.

[0083] Meanwhile, when the user touches the display location of the desired image forming apparatus 5 in the list image 93 on the electronic terminal 1A, which is the source of the image, and inputs a designation instruction to specify the desired image forming apparatus, the control unit 111 receives the designation instruction via the input reception unit 12 and sends the designation instruction specifying the desired image forming apparatus related to the change of the image forming apparatus that performs the printing operation from the communication unit 14 to the message application server 2 (S55). The control unit 211 of the message application server 2 sends the designation instruction specifying the desired image forming apparatus related to the change of the image forming apparatus that performs the printing operation from the communication unit 23 to the chatbot server 3 (S56). When the control unit 311 of the chatbot server 3 receives the designation instruction via the communication unit 33, it determines whether the electronic terminal 1 that sent the designation instruction and the electronic terminal 1 that sent the print data are the same terminal, or whether the predetermined time has elapsed since the print data was received.

[0084] In this case, the electronic terminal 1A sent the print data, and the same electronic terminal 1A also issued the above designation instruction. Therefore, the control unit 311 of the chatbot server 3 permits a change in the image forming apparatus 5 that will perform the printing operation according to the content indicated by the print instruction. At this time, processing S57 is performed after S56. The control unit 311 changes the image forming apparatus 5 that will perform the printing operation based on the print instruction sent via the message application server 2 to the image forming apparatus 5 corresponding to the desired image forming apparatus indicated by the designation instruction that specifies the desired image forming apparatus related to the notification of change of image forming apparatus that performs the printing operation. The control unit 311 sends the designation instruction that specifies the desired image forming apparatus related to the instruction to change the image forming apparatus that performs the printing operation to the print server 4 via the communication unit 33 (S57). At the print server 4, the control unit 411 changes the image forming apparatus 5 that will perform the printing operation based on the print instruction sent via the message application server 2 to the image forming apparatus 5 corresponding to the desired image forming apparatus indicated by the designation instruction (S58).

[0085] Once the setting change for the image forming apparatus as the printing destination is complete, the control unit 411 of the print server 4 sends a change completion notification to the chatbot server 3 via the communication unit 43 (S59). When the control unit 311 of the chatbot server 3 receives the change completion notification via the communication unit 33, it sends the change completion notification from the communication unit 33 to the message application server 2 (S60). When the control unit 211 of the message application server 2 receives the change completion notification via the communication unit 23, it sends the change completion notification from the communication unit 23 to the group members, electronic terminal 1A and electronic terminal 1B (S61).

[0086] In the electronic terminal 1, when the control unit 111 receives the change completion notification via the communication unit 14, it displays message 714A on the display unit 121A and message 714B on the display unit 121B. In other words, each group member is notified that the image forming apparatus designated as the printing destination has been changed.

[0087] The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiments and various modifications are possible. Furthermore, the configuration and process shown in the above embodiments using Figures 1 to 13 are merely one embodiment of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention to such configuration and process.

Claims

1. A printing system comprising: a print server that controls printing of an image forming apparatus; an electronic terminal that has a messaging application installed that enables message exchange over a network in a chat format and displays a talk screen indicating the message exchange on a display unit; a message application server that registers a plurality of the electronic terminals as members of a group capable of exchanging messages and provides a messaging service capable of exchanging messages; and a chatbot server that is registered with the message application server as a member of the group and sends and receives data between the message application server and the print server, wherein when the message application server receives print data from one of the electronic terminals registered in the group via the group's talk screen and then receives a print command from one of the electronic terminals, the chatbot server transfers the print data received via the message application server to the print server, and the print server transfers the print data received from the chatbot server to the image forming apparatus to execute printing.

2. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the electronic terminal further comprises a receiving unit that receives from a user a setting for the number of valid prints, which indicates the number of times the image forming apparatus can print using the print data, and transmits the received setting for the number of valid prints to the message application server, and the chatbot server, when it receives the print data and a setting indicating that the number of valid prints is 1 from the electronic terminal via the message application server, transfers the print data to the print server only if it has received a print instruction from the electronic terminal that sent the print data.

3. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the electronic terminal further comprises an input receiving unit that receives from a user a setting for the number of valid prints, which indicates the number of times the image forming apparatus can print using the print data, and transmits the received setting for the number of valid prints to the message application server, and when the chatbot server receives the print data and a setting indicating that the number of valid prints is two or more from the electronic terminal via the message application server, for the first time printing the print data, it transfers the print data to the print server only if it receives a print instruction from the electronic terminal that sent the print data, and for the second time and onward printing the print data, it transfers the print data to the print server according to print instructions from all electronic terminals registered as members of the group.

4. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the print server controls printing of a plurality of image forming apparatuses, the electronic terminal further comprises a receiving unit that receives instructions from a user to specify an image forming apparatus from among the plurality of image forming apparatuses as a printing destination for printing the print data, and transmits the received instructions to the message application server, the chatbot server, upon receiving the instructions via the message application server, transfers the print data along with the instructions to the print server, the print server transfers the print data received from the chatbot server to the image forming apparatus designated as the printing destination indicated by the instructions and performs printing, and after one of the electronic terminals transmits the print data via the group's talk screen, the chatbot server does not transfer instructions to the print server, even if it receives instructions to change the image forming apparatus designated as the printing destination via the message application server, until the image forming apparatus designated as the printing destination performs printing using the print data.

5. The printing system according to claim 4, wherein, after a predetermined time has elapsed since the chatbot server received the print data, the chatbot server receives an instruction via the message application server to change the image forming apparatus as the print destination, and then forwards the instruction to the print server.

6. The printing system according to claim 5, wherein even before the predetermined time has elapsed from the time the chatbot server receives the print data, if the chatbot server receives an instruction from one of the electronic terminals that sent the print data via the message application server to change the image forming apparatus as the print destination, it forwards the instruction to the print server.

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