Printing system

Abstract

A user (A) operates an electronic terminal to transmit a message (621) including a mention (6211) designating a user (B). Since the message (621) includes the mention (6211), a chatbot server does not generate a reply message. The user (B) operates an electronic terminal to transmit a message (622) including a mention (6221) designating the user (A). Since the message (622) includes the mention (6221), the chatbot server does not generate a reply message.

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 the image forming apparatus to perform printing.

[0002] In recent years, the use of message applications (hereinafter simply referred to as "message apps") that exchange 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 chatbot applications that automatically create and reply to messages according to the content of the message have also spread.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes a technique that enables printing 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 printing settings).

[0004] Patent Document 2 describes a technique that enables printing 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 - 185142, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2021 - 114218

[0006] In such messaging apps, it is generally possible to register groups containing multiple users, and messages can be exchanged within the group on the group screen. However, when using a messaging app to instruct an image forming machine to print, printing is only possible in a one-to-one relationship between a single user and the image forming machine; it is not possible to instruct the image forming machine to print print data provided by multiple users on the group screen. In order to enable printing of print data provided by multiple users on the group screen, it is necessary to distinguish between messages for conversation unrelated to printing and messages related to printing instructions on the group screen, and to balance conversations between members with the processing of print instructions to the image forming machine.

[0007] This invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and aims to distinguish and process messages for conversations unrelated to printing and messages related to printing instructions in a chat format, thereby enabling both conversations between members and the processing of printing instructions to an image forming apparatus.

[0008] A printing system according to one aspect of the present invention includes a print server that controls printing of an image forming apparatus, an electronic terminal that has a messaging application installed that enables message exchange via a network in a chat format and displays a talk screen showing 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 message application server that is registered with the message application server as a member of the group, and 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 message application server The system includes a chatbot server that receives print data via a bar and transfers it to the print server, wherein the chatbot server sends and receives data between the message application server and the print server, generates a reply message when the message application server receives a message from an electronic terminal registered in the group, the message application server sends the reply message generated by the chatbot server to a plurality of electronic terminals registered as members of the group, and the chatbot server does not generate a reply message when the message application server receives a message containing a predetermined string from an electronic terminal registered in the group.

[0009] According to the present invention, when a chatbot server receives a message containing a predetermined string (for example, a mention specifying a user of an electronic terminal, a username, etc.), it does not generate a reply message. As a result, even when users exchange messages with each other on a group including a printer, no unnecessary reply messages are sent, allowing users to communicate smoothly. Therefore, according to the present invention, in situations where messages are exchanged in a chat format, messages for conversations unrelated to printing and messages related to print instructions can be processed separately, enabling both conversations between members and the processing of print instructions to the image forming apparatus to proceed simultaneously.

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

[0017] 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).

[0018] 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.

[0019] 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.

[0020] 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.

[0021] 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.

[0022] 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.

[0023] The communication unit 33 consists of a communication module and the like, and transmits and receives data with external devices via the network N.

[0024] 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.

[0025] 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.

[0026] 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.

[0027] 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.

[0028] 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.

[0029] 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.

[0030] 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.

[0031] 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.

[0032] 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.

[0033] 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.

[0034] 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 1 displays an image 601 indicating the print data in the talk screen displayed on the display unit 121.

[0035] 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 an example of a reply message when an image is received, 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).

[0036] 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 602 on the display unit 121. As shown in Figure 8, the image reception message includes message 602, the image sent by the electronic terminal 1, and a print instruction reception image 6021, and the control unit 111 displays these on the chat screen.

[0037] Here, assume that a user of electronic terminal 1A or electronic terminal 1B touches the print instruction reception image 6021 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 transmits the print instruction for the image to the message application server 2 from the communication unit 14 (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). The chatbot server 3 transmits the print instruction to the print server 4 via the communication unit 33 (S17).

[0038] 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 (S18).

[0039] 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 (S19).

[0040] When the image forming process is complete, 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 (S20). When the communication unit 43 of the print server 4 receives the print completion notification, the control unit 411 sends the print completion notification from the communication unit 43 to the chatbot server 3 (S21). When the communication unit 33 of the chatbot server 3 receives the print completion notification, the control unit 311 sends the print completion notification from the communication unit 33 to the message application server 2 (S22).

[0041] In the message application server 2, when the communication unit 23 receives the print completion notification, the control unit 211 transmits the print completion notification from the communication unit 23 to the electronic terminal 1, which is a group member (S23). In the electronic terminal 1, when the communication unit 14 receives the print completion notification, the control unit 111 displays the message 604 on the display unit 121.

[0042] Here, an example of a conversation between group members using a messaging service not according to this embodiment will be explained with reference to Figure 9. When user A sends message 611 from their electronic terminal to the message application server, the message application server sends message 611 to the chatbot server. Regardless of the content of message 611, the chatbot server generates a reply message regarding printing in response to message 611 and sends it to the message application server 2. The message application server 2 then sends this reply message to all electronic terminals (the entire group). Therefore, even though an electronic terminal has sent a message to other group members, the display unit of the electronic terminal will show the reply message 612 regarding printing generated by the chatbot server, as shown in Figure 9.

[0043] And further, assuming that user B has sent message 613 from their own electronic terminal in response to message 611 sent by user A. Similar to the above, the chatbot server generates a reply message regarding printing for message 613 and sends it to the message app server 2, and the message app server 2 sends the reply message to all electronic terminals (the entire group). For this reason, as shown in FIG. 9, reply message 614 is displayed on the display unit of the electronic terminal following the messages indicating the conversation among each group member.

[0044] Thus, in the messaging service not according to this embodiment, even if user A sends a message addressed to user B instead of print data such as an image, the chatbot server generates a reply message, and the message app server sends this reply message to the entire group. Since the reply message generated by the chatbot server is unnecessary for the conversation between each user, the display of such a reply message hinders the conversation among each group member.

[0045] In order to solve this problem, in the printing system 100 according to this embodiment, when the electronic terminal 1 sends a message of a predetermined character string to the messaging service (message app server 2) on a group including the chatbot server 3, the control unit 311 of the chatbot server 3 does not generate a reply message as described above. A plurality of forms of processing in this case will be described below. (1) When the message includes a mention designating a specific user

[0046] In this embodiment, in the chatbot server 3, when the control unit 311 receives a message including a mention designating a user as a predetermined character string from the message app server 2, the control unit 311 does not generate a reply message regarding printing for the message. This will be described using the display example in FIG. 10.

[0047] Suppose that, due to the operation of the electronic terminal 1A by user A, a message including the mention 6211 specifying user B is input to the input reception unit 12. At this time, the control unit 111 of the electronic terminal 1A transmits, from the communication unit 14, the message 621 including the mention 6211 to the message application server 2. In the message application server 2, when the control unit 211 receives the message 621 via the communication unit 23, the communication unit 23 transmits the message 621 to the chatbot server 3. In the chatbot server 3, the control unit 311 receives the message 621 via the communication unit 33. The control unit 311 determines whether information indicating a mention is included in the message 621. When the control unit 311 determines that information indicating a mention is included in the message 621, it does not generate a reply message. Here, since the message 621 includes the mention 6211, the control unit 311 does not generate the above-mentioned reply message. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 10, the above-mentioned reply message for the message 621 is not displayed on the display unit 121 of the electronic terminal 1A. Note that when the control unit 311 determines that information indicating a mention is not included in the message 621, it generates a reply message.

[0048] Furthermore, suppose that, due to the operation of the electronic terminal 1B by user B, a message 622 including the mention 6221 specifying user A is input to the input reception unit 12. Also in this case, the chatbot server 3 receives the message 622 from the electronic terminal 1B via the message application server 2. However, since the message 622 includes the mention 6211, the control unit 311 does not generate the above-mentioned reply message. As shown in FIG. 10, the above-mentioned reply message for the message 622 is not displayed on the display unit 121 of the electronic terminal 1A (similarly for the electronic terminal B).

[0049] Next, even if user A operates electronic terminal 1A and inputs message 623 containing a mention 6151 specifying user B to the input reception unit 12, the chatbot server 3 similarly does not generate a reply message, and as shown in Figure 10, the display unit 121 of electronic terminal 1A (and electronic terminal B) does not display the reply message to message 623.

[0050] In this way, for messages that include a mention of a specific user, the chatbot server 3 does not generate a reply message. Therefore, even when users exchange messages with each other in a group, the reply message unrelated to the conversation between members will not be sent or displayed. Consequently, in a chat-style message exchange, messages for conversations unrelated to printing and messages related to printing instructions can be processed separately, allowing for both conversations between members and the processing of printing instructions to the image forming apparatus 5 to proceed simultaneously, enabling users to exchange messages with each other smoothly. (2) When a message contains a specific string

[0051] In this embodiment, when the control unit 311 of the chatbot server 3 receives a message from the message application server 2 containing a specific string as a predetermined string, it does not generate a reply message regarding printing for that message. For example, the input receiving unit 12 of the electronic terminal 1 receives the input of the specific string from the user in response to user operation.

[0052] The specific string is, for example, a string specified by an instruction entered by the user into the input receiving unit 12. In other words, a user of the electronic terminal 1 who is registered as a group member can set a specific string by operating the input receiving unit 12.

[0053] The setting of specific strings will now be explained. For example, when a user touches the "Menu" area displayed at the bottom of the display unit 121, the touch panel receives a menu display instruction from the input reception unit 12, and the control unit 111 displays the menu area 639 at the bottom of the talk screen shown on the display unit 121 in Figure 11, according to the menu display instruction. Under the control of the control unit 111, the display unit 121 displays each of the already set specific strings in the menu area 639. In this embodiment, an example is shown where the specific strings are "Mr. A" and "Mr. B". The menu area 639 may be part of the talk screen or may be a separate area from the talk screen, but it is preferable that it be displayed on the display unit 121 together with the talk screen.

[0054] A specific string set by the user is sent from the communication unit 13 to the message application server 2 by the control unit 111. When the control unit 211 of the message application server 2 receives the specific string via the communication unit 23, it stores the specific string in the storage unit 22 and also sends it from the communication unit 23 to the chatbot server 3. When the control unit 311 of the chatbot server 3 receives the specific string via the communication unit 33, it stores the specific string in the storage unit 32.

[0055] After the specific string is set as described above, when a message containing the specific string is input to the input receiving unit 12 of the electronic terminal 1, the control unit 111 sends the message from the communication unit 13 to the message application server 2. When the message application server 2 receives the message via the communication unit 23, it sends the message from the communication unit 23 to the chatbot server 3. In the chatbot server 3, when the control unit 311 receives the message from the message application server 2 via the communication unit 33, it determines whether the message contains any of the specific strings stored in the storage unit 32. If the control unit 311 determines that any of the specific strings are included, it does not generate a reply message for the message. If the control unit 311 determines that none of the specific strings are included, it generates a reply message for the message.

[0056] To add, delete, or modify a specific string, the user touches the edit button 6391. Upon receiving the edit button 6391, the input reception unit 12 receives an editing instruction, and the control unit 111 displays an editing screen for the specific string on the display unit 121 (figure not shown). Based on this editing screen, the user operates the input reception unit 12, inputting instructions for adding, deleting, or modifying the string. The control unit 111 then sends the specific string indicated by the input instruction to the message application server 2 and the chatbot server 3 as described above.

[0057] In the example shown in Figure 11, user A operates electronic terminal 1A and sends message 631 containing the specific string "Mr. B". Message application server 2 forwards message 631 to chatbot server 3, but chatbot server 3 does not generate a reply message because message 631 contains the specific string "Mr. B".

[0058] Furthermore, user B operates electronic terminal 1B and sends message 632 containing the specific string "Mr. A". Message application server 2 forwards message 632 to chatbot server 3, but chatbot server 3 does not generate a reply message because message 632 contains the specific string "Mr. A".

[0059] Furthermore, since the message 633 sent by electronic terminal 1A also contains the specific string "Mr. / Ms. B", the chatbot server 3 does not generate a reply message.

[0060] In this way, for messages containing pre-set specific strings, the chatbot server 3 does not generate a reply message. As a result, even when users exchange messages with each other in a group, reply messages unrelated to the conversation between users will not be sent or displayed. Therefore, users can exchange messages smoothly. (3) When a mention specifying the image forming apparatus 5 is included

[0061] In this embodiment, when the chatbot server 3 receives a message that includes a mention specifying the chatbot server 3 as a group member, it generates a reply message to that message. The message application server 2 sends this reply message to multiple electronic terminals 1 that are registered as members of the group. This embodiment will be explained using the display example in Figure 12.

[0062] Assume that user A has entered a message 641 containing a mention 6411 specifying chatbot server 3 into the input receiving unit 12 through operation of electronic terminal 1A. The control unit 111 sends message 641 containing the mention 6411 (@P1234) from the communication unit 13 to the message application server 2. The message application server 2 forwards message 641 to chatbot server 3. In chatbot server 3, the control unit 311 determines whether the message 641 contains a mention, and if it determines that it does, it determines whether the mention specifies chatbot server 3. If the control unit 311 determines that the mention in message 641 specifies chatbot server 3, it generates a reply message. In other words, the control unit 311 does not generally generate a reply message if message 641 contains a mention, but as an exception, it generates a reply message if the mention in message 641 specifies chatbot server 3.

[0063] The control unit 311 of the chatbot server 3 sends a reply message to message 641 from the communication unit 33 to the message application server 2. The message application server 2 then sends the reply message to all electronic terminals (the entire group). The control unit 111 of the electronic terminal 1 displays the reply message 642 on the display unit 121, as shown in Figure 12.

[0064] Here, for example, when an image as print data is input to the input receiving unit 12 of the electronic terminal 1A by a user, the control unit 111 of the electronic terminal 1A transmits the image as print data to the messaging service (message application server 2) via the communication unit 14, based on the operation of the input receiving unit 12. At this time, the control unit 111 of the electronic terminal 1A displays an image 643 indicating the print data in the talk screen displayed on the display unit 121. After this, the image as print data is transmitted to the print server 4 via the message application server 2 and the chatbot server 3, and the image is printed in the image forming apparatus 5.

[0065] In this way, for messages that include a mention of chatbot server 3, chatbot server 3 generates a reply message, allowing the user to smoothly perform the printing operation. (4) When the message includes a mention of all group members

[0066] In this embodiment, if the chatbot server 3 receives a message via the message application server 2 from an electronic terminal 1 registered in the group that includes a mention specifying all members registered in the group as the predetermined string, it does not generate a reply message to that message. This will be explained using the display example in Figure 13.

[0067] Assume that user A has entered a message 651 containing a mention 6511 that designates all group members into the input receiving unit 12 through an operation of electronic terminal 1A. The control unit 111 sends the message 651 containing the mention 6511 (@everyone) from the communication unit 13 to the message application server 2. The message application server 2 forwards the message 651 to the chatbot server 3. In the chatbot server 3, the control unit 311 determines whether the message 651 contains a mention, and if it determines that it does, it determines whether the mention designates all group members. If the control unit 311 determines that the mention in the message 651 designates all group members, it does not generate a reply message or an image reception message.

[0068] In this case, as shown in Figure 13, when the input receiving unit 12 of the electronic terminal 1A receives an image as print data through user operation, the control unit 111 displays an image 652 indicating the print data in the talk screen displayed on the display unit 121. When the message application server 2 receives the 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. The control unit 311 of the chatbot server 3 then generates an image reception message and has the communication unit 23 transmit the image reception message to the message application server 2. From there, print control for the image is performed according to the operation and processing procedures shown in Figure 7.

[0069] In this way, for messages that include mentions specifying all group members, the chatbot server 3 does not generate a reply message, so that reply messages unrelated to the conversation between users are not sent or displayed. Therefore, users can exchange messages smoothly.

Claims

1. The system comprises: a print server that controls printing for an image forming apparatus; an electronic terminal that has a messaging application installed that 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 multiple electronic terminals as members of a group capable of message exchange and provides a messaging service capable of message exchange; a chatbot server that is registered with the message application server as a member of the group, and 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; the chatbot server sends and receives data between the message application server and the print server, generates a reply message when the message application server receives a message from an electronic terminal registered in the group, and the message application server sends the reply message generated by the chatbot server to multiple electronic terminals registered as members of the group. The chatbot server is a printing system in which, when the message application server receives a message containing a predetermined string from an electronic terminal registered in the group, it does not generate the reply message for that message.

2. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein if the message application server receives a message from an electronic terminal registered in the group that includes a mention specifying a user of another electronic terminal registered in the group as the predetermined string, the chatbot server does not generate the reply message for that message.

3. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the electronic terminal further comprises an input receiving unit that receives input of a specific string from a user, sends a message containing the received specific string to the message application server, and when the message application server receives a message containing the specific string as a predetermined string from an electronic terminal registered in the group, the chatbot server does not generate the reply message for the message.

4. The printing system according to claim 3, wherein the electronic terminal displays the specific string received as input in the input receiving unit together with the talk screen in the display unit.

5. The printing system according to claim 3, wherein when the message application server receives a message from an electronic terminal registered in the group that includes a mention specifying the chatbot server registered in the group, the chatbot server generates the reply message for the message, and the message application server sends the reply message to a plurality of electronic terminals registered as members of the group.

6. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein if the message application server receives a message from an electronic terminal registered in the group that includes a mention specifying all members registered in the group as the predetermined string, the chatbot server shall not generate the reply message for that message.

Images