JP4808166B2 - Image forming system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming system capable of preventing others from seeing a print result when printing a confidential document or an important document.

  Conventionally, when a confidential document or an important document is printed, in order to prevent a person other than the user from seeing the confidential document or the important document, an image forming apparatus is provided after transmitting job data related to printing from the information processing apparatus. There is an image forming system for inputting a password from the operation panel (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-235974

  However, in the image forming system as described above, a user who wants to print a confidential document or an important document must remember the password and input the password on the operation panel of the image forming apparatus. For this reason, the user is forced to enter the password in the image forming apparatus and to bear the burden of having to remember the password.

  Therefore, the image forming system of the present invention can print a confidential document or an important document only to the user without printing the password, even if the user does not input a password. An object is to provide an image forming system capable of providing important documents.

Therefore, an image forming system according to the present invention includes an information processing apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and a portable terminal, and forms an image with the image forming apparatus based on job data generated by the information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus requests job identification information corresponding to the job data to the image forming apparatus and acquires the job identification information generated by the image forming apparatus based on the request. A first identification information acquisition unit; an information output unit that outputs a job name corresponding to the job data and the job identification information to the portable terminal; and data that transmits the job data and the job identification information to the image forming apparatus. A transmission unit, and the portable terminal receives the job name and the job identification information output from the information output unit of the information processing apparatus. An information holding unit, a display unit for displaying the job name held in the information holding unit, a selection unit for selecting the job name displayed on the display unit, and a selection unit selected by the selection unit An identification information control unit that selects the job identification information corresponding to the job name, and the image forming apparatus responds to a request from the first identification information acquisition unit of the information processing apparatus. An identification information generation unit that generates the job identification information corresponding to the data, a data reception unit that receives the job data and the job identification information transmitted from the data transmission unit of the information processing device, and the mobile terminal A second identification information acquisition unit that acquires the job identification information selected by the identification information control unit; and the job data transmitted from the data transmission unit of the information processing apparatus. The identification information collating unit for collating the job identification information and the collation by the identification information collating unit so as to search for job data corresponding to the job identification information acquired by the second identification information acquiring unit. An image forming unit that forms an image based on the job data corresponding to the job identification information in the selected state that has been searched.

  The image forming system of the present invention generates job identification information corresponding to job data of an image to be output. Then, the job identification information is transmitted to the portable terminal owned by the user, and the job data and job identification information are transmitted to the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus to which the job data is transmitted is transmitted to the portable terminal and selected by the user using the job identification information, so that an image corresponding to the job data is formed. As described above, unless the user uses a portable terminal owned by the user, image formation corresponding to the job data is not performed. Therefore, there is no possibility that the image will be seen by other people, and confidential documents and important documents can be provided only to the user.

  The image forming system of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[Embodiment 1]
FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of an image forming system described in the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming system described in Embodiment 1 includes a host computer 101 as an information processing apparatus, a mobile phone 102 as a mobile terminal, a printer 103 as an image forming apparatus, and a network 104. It is configured.

  The host computer 101 and the printer 103 are connected via a network 104 such as Ethernet (registered trademark). The mobile phone 102 has a proximity-type non-contact IC card 402 described later, a non-contact IC card reader / writer 105 connected to the host computer 101, and a non-contact IC connected to the printer 103. Data can be transmitted and received via the card reader / writer 106.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a host computer of the image forming system described in the first embodiment. The host computer 101 includes an application program 201, a printer driver 202, a print job management unit 203, a non-contact IC card detection unit 204, a print job identification information acquisition unit 205 as a first identification information acquisition unit, and an information output An identification information output unit 206 as a copy unit, a print job data transmission unit 207 as a data transmission unit, a network I / F (interface) 208, and a USB (Universal Serial Bus) I / F 209.

  The host computer 101 is an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer, which converts the contents of a page to be printed into PDL (Page Description Language) data, and converts the converted PDL data to a printer via the network 104. 103.

  The network I / F 208 interprets a protocol located in a lower layer of the network 104 and transmits / receives data to / from other devices such as the printer 103 connected to the network 104. In the image forming system described in the first embodiment, HTTP (TCI / IP) (HyperText Transfer Protocol (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol)) is used as an upper layer protocol of the network.

  An application program 201 is a program for interpreting image data to be printed by the printer 103, and can create image data in an application format and read out the created image data. This application program 201 calls the printer driver 202 in response to an instruction to print image data by the user.

  The printer driver 202 is a program called from the application program 201 via the operating system when printing image data. The printer driver 202 converts image data in an application format that can be interpreted by the application program 201 into print job data that is print data that can be interpreted by the printer 103 that transmits the image data. When print job data is created, the print job name and the print job data transmission destination address which is the IP (Internet Protocol) address of the printer 103 which is the transmission destination of the print job data are associated with the print job data.

  The print job management unit 203 acquires print job data, a print job name, and a print job data transmission destination address from the printer driver 202. The acquired information is temporarily held and managed.

  A print job identification information acquisition unit 205 acquires print job identification information corresponding to the print job data from the printer 103. The print job identification information acquisition unit 205 acquires the print job data transmission destination address from the print job management unit 203 when acquiring the print job identification information. Then, an HTTP command is transmitted to the printer 103 corresponding to this address to request print job identification information for the job data to be transmitted, and the print job identification information generated by the print job identification information generation unit 302 of the printer 103 to be described later. To get.

  The print job data transmission unit 207 acquires the print job data and the print job data transmission destination address held by the print job management unit 203, and acquires the print job identification information acquired by the print job identification information acquisition unit 205. Then, the print job data transmission unit 207 transmits the acquired print job data and print job identification information as an HTTP command to the printer 103 corresponding to the acquired print job data transmission destination address.

  The USB I / F 209 interprets a protocol located in a lower layer of the USB, and transmits / receives data to / from the non-contact IC card reader / writer 105 connected to the host computer 101 by USB.

  The non-contact IC card detection unit 204 transmits a polling command to the non-contact IC card reader / writer 105 via the USB I / F 209 and confirms the presence or absence of a non-contact IC card close to the non-contact IC card reader / writer 105. Let

  The identification information output unit 206 acquires the print job name from the print job management unit 203 and the print job identification information from the print job identification information acquisition unit 205. Then, the identification information output unit 206 sends a command for writing the acquired print job name and print job identification information to the non-contact IC card 402 of the mobile phone 102 via the USB I / F 209 to the non-contact IC card reader / writer 105. Output.

  The non-contact IC card reader / writer 105 connected to the host computer 101 confirms that the mobile phone 102 on which the non-contact IC card 402 is mounted is present by the polling command received from the non-contact IC card detection unit 204. recognize. Then, the non-contact IC card reader / writer 105 can read data stored in the non-contact IC card 402 of the adjacent mobile phone 102 or write data to the non-contact IC card 402. In the first embodiment, the non-contact IC card reader / writer 105 writes the print job name and print job identification information transmitted from the identification information output unit 206 in the non-contact IC card 402.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer of the image forming system described in the first embodiment. The printer 103 includes an HTTP command interpretation unit 301, a print job identification information generation unit 302 as an identification information generation unit, a print job data reception unit 303 as a data reception unit, a print job holding unit 304, a non-contact IC card Detection unit 305, identification information acquisition unit 306 as a second identification information acquisition unit, print job identification information verification unit 307 as an identification information verification unit, image forming unit 308, network I / F 309, USB I / F 310 And have.

  The printer 103 is an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic printer or an ink jet printer. For example, the image forming unit 308 forms an image on a predetermined sheet based on print job data transmitted from the host computer 101 using an HTTP command. I do.

  The network I / F 309 interprets a protocol located in a lower layer of the network 104 and transmits / receives data to / from other devices such as the host computer 101 connected to the network 104. In the image forming system described in the first embodiment, HTTP (TCI / IP) (HyperText Transfer Protocol (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol)) is used as an upper layer protocol of the network.

  The HTTP command interpretation unit 301 interprets an HTTP command command transmitted from the host computer 101 via the network I / F 309. Then, the HTTP command interpreting unit 301 generates a print job identification information corresponding to the print job data in the print job identification information generating unit 302 according to the received HTTP command, and the print job holding unit 304 generates a print job identification. Specify the information as a path and perform processing to hold the print job data.

  The print job identification information generation unit 302 generates print job identification information according to an HTTP command received from the print job identification information acquisition unit 205 of the host computer 101 via the network I / F 309. The generated print job identification information is transmitted to the host computer 101 via the network I / F 309.

  The print job data reception unit 303 receives print job data and print job identification information corresponding to the print job data from the print job data transmission unit 207 of the host computer 101 via the network I / F 309.

  The print job holding unit 304 associates and holds the received print job data and the print job identification information in accordance with the HTTP command received from the print job data transmission unit 207 of the host computer 101 via the network I / F 309. .

  The USB I / F 310 interprets a protocol located in a lower layer of the USB, and transmits / receives data to / from the non-contact IC card reader / writer 106 connected to the printer 103 by USB.

  The non-contact IC card detection unit 305 transmits a polling command to the non-contact IC card reader / writer 106 via the USB I / F 310 and confirms the presence or absence of a non-contact IC card close to the non-contact IC card reader / writer 106. Let

  The identification information acquisition unit 306 transmits a print job identification information read command to the non-contact IC card reader / writer 106 via the USB I / F 310. Then, the identification information acquisition unit 306 causes the non-contact IC card reader / writer 106 to read the print job identification information in the selected state from the non-contact IC card 402 mounted on the nearby mobile phone 102. The identification information acquisition unit 306 acquires the print job identification information read by the non-contact IC card reader / writer 106 via the USB I / F 310.

  The print job identification information collation unit 307 collates the print job identification information corresponding to the print job data held in the print job holding unit 304 and the print job identification information acquired by the identification information acquisition unit 306. The print job identification information collating unit 307 acquires print job data corresponding to the collated print job identification information.

  The image forming unit 308 receives the print job data acquired by the print job identification information matching unit 307 and analyzes the received print job data. The image forming unit 308 forms an image on a predetermined sheet based on the analyzed print job data.

  The non-contact IC card reader / writer 106 connected to the printer 103 recognizes that the mobile phone 102 on which the non-contact IC card 402 is mounted is present by the polling command received from the non-contact IC card detection unit 305. To do. Then, the non-contact IC card reader / writer 106 can read data stored in the non-contact IC card 402 of the adjacent mobile phone 102 and write data to the non-contact IC card 402. In the first embodiment, the contactless IC card reader / writer 106 reads print job identification information held as a selected state from the contactless IC card 402 of the mobile phone 102.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the mobile phone of the image forming system described in the first embodiment. The mobile phone 102 is, for example, a mobile terminal having a call function and a packet communication function, and further includes a non-contact IC card 402. Furthermore, the mobile phone 102 can be equipped with control programs such as screen display and packet communication. This mobile phone 102 has a control program 401 and a non-contact IC card I / F 406.

  The non-contact IC card I / F 406 reads / writes data of the non-contact IC card 402 in accordance with processing by the control program 401 installed in the mobile phone 102.

  The non-contact IC card 402 holds data read / written by the non-contact IC card reader / writers 105 and 106 and the control program 401. Data including data changes is written into the non-contact IC card 402 by the non-contact IC card reader / writers 105 and 106 and the control program 401. The data held in the non-contact IC card 402 is read out by the non-contact IC card reader / writers 105 and 106 and the control program 401. In the first embodiment, the non-contact IC card 402 is assumed to hold a print job name and print job identification information in association with each other.

  The control program 401 is a control program installed in the mobile phone 102, and includes a print job list display unit 403 as a display unit, an identification information control unit 404, and a print job selection unit 405 as a selection unit. . The control program 401 controls the print job list display unit 403, the identification information control unit 404, and the print job selection unit 405, and is held in the non-contact IC card 402 via the non-contact IC card I / F 406. The print job name can be displayed on the display screen, or the print job identification information can be selected and held in the non-contact IC card 402 according to the operation of the user of the image forming system.

  The print job list display unit 403 reads the print job name held in the non-contact IC card 402 via the non-contact IC card I / F 406. The print job list display unit 403 displays the read print job name on a predetermined display screen, and allows the user to select a print job name corresponding to print job data to be printed by the printer 103.

  The print job selection unit 405 corresponds to print job data in which an image is output by the printer 103 in response to a key input of the user's mobile phone 102 among the print job names displayed by the print job list display unit 403. Select a print job name. At this time, the print job selection unit 405 reflects the selection of the print job name on the display screen.

  The identification information control unit 404 recognizes the print job name selected by the user in the print job selection unit 405. Then, the identification information control unit 404 selects the print job identification information corresponding to the recognized print job name, and the print job identification held in the non-contact IC card 402 via the non-contact IC card I / F 406. The information is changed to be in a selected state.

  The operation of the image forming system described in Embodiment 1 having such a configuration will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, a GET command and a POST command transmitted from the host computer 101 to the printer 103 will be described.

  In the image forming system of the first embodiment, HTTP (TCI / IP) is used as an upper layer protocol of the network. At this time, predetermined transmission / reception of data is performed by a combination of the HTTP command and the path designation. FIG. 5 shows a request based on a combination of an HTTP command and a path designation, and an arrangement of responses to this request. Here, an agreement regarding the acquisition request of print job identification information as a GET command from the host computer 101 to the printer 103 and the transmission of print job data as a POST command is shown.

  The GET command is a command with no path designation, and is a command for causing the print job identification information to be returned to the printer 103 as a response and for the print job identification information acquisition unit 205 to acquire the print job identification information. The POST command designates the print job identification information as a path, and uses this command to transmit the substance of the print job data as the transmission content from the print job data transmission unit 207. The printer 103 that has received the POST command interprets the POST command, and holds the print job data and the print job identification information in association with each other.

  Next, operations in the host computer 101 will be mainly described. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the flow of each process mainly in the host computer of the image forming system described in the first embodiment.

  First, the host computer 101 operates as follows when a user who uses the image forming system performs a printing operation of image data in the application format by the application program 201. First, the application program 201 interprets the image data and calls the printer driver 202 in step S101.

  The printer driver 202 called by the application program 201 is used by the application program 201 in step S102 to generate print job data. At this time, the printer 103 is selected as an image forming apparatus that outputs an image corresponding to the print job data to a predetermined sheet, and print job data that can be interpreted by the printer 103 is generated. Then, the printer driver 202 generates a print job name and a print job data transmission destination address so as to be associated with the print job data.

  After the print job data is generated, the print job management unit 203 acquires the print job data, the print job name, and the print job data transmission destination address (IP address of the printer 103) from the printer driver 202 in step S103. , Hold temporarily.

  Next, in step S104, the non-contact IC card detection unit 204 confirms the presence of the non-contact IC card 402 adjacent to the non-contact IC card reader / writer 105, that is, the mobile phone 102 on which the non-contact IC card 402 is mounted. . At this time, the user brings the mobile phone 102 loaded with the non-contact IC card 402 close to the non-contact IC card reader / writer 105.

  If the non-contact IC card detection unit 204 cannot confirm the presence of the non-contact IC card 402 in step S104, the process returns to step S104 in step S105, and the confirmation of the presence of the non-contact IC card 402 is continued. On the other hand, when the non-contact IC card detection unit 204 confirms the presence of the non-contact IC card 402 in step S104, the process proceeds to step S106 and notifies the print job identification information acquisition unit 205 of the fact.

  Upon receiving a notification from the non-contact IC card detection unit 204 that the presence of the non-contact IC card 402 has been confirmed, the print job identification information acquisition unit 205 is connected to the host computer 101 by the network I / F 208 in step S106. A GET command for acquiring print job identification information corresponding to the print job data is transmitted to the printer 103 corresponding to the print job data transmission destination address via the connected network 104.

  When a GET command is transmitted from the host computer 101, the printer 103 receives the GET command via the network I / F 309. In step S107, the HTTP command interpretation unit 301 receives the received command from the network I / F 309 and interprets the command. Then, the HTTP command interpretation unit 301 recognizes that the command is a GET command without path designation.

  When the HTTP command interpretation unit 301 receives the GET command, the print job identification information generation unit 302 generates print job identification information for managing print job data in accordance with the GET command. The print job identification information generated here is a value from 0 to 9999. At this time, the printer 103 increments the print job identification information by one increment in response to the print job identification information acquisition request. Generate information. In step S108, the print job identification information generation unit 302 returns the generated print job identification information as a response to the GET command to the host computer 101 via the network I / F 309.

  When print job identification information is returned from the printer 103 as a response to the GET command, the host computer 101 receives the print job identification information via the network I / F 208. In step S109, the print job identification information acquisition unit 205 receives the received print job identification information from the network I / F 208, and acquires print job identification information corresponding to the print job data. The print job identification information acquisition unit 205 temporarily holds the acquired print job identification information.

  When the print job identification information acquisition unit 205 acquires the print job identification information, the identification information output unit 206 displays the print job name temporarily held in the print job management unit 203 and the print job identification information acquisition unit 205 temporarily. Print job identification information that is held by the user. Then, the identification information output unit 206 transmits a command for writing the print job name and the print job identification information to the non-contact IC card 402 to the non-contact IC card reader / writer 105 via the USB I / F 209. In step S110, the non-contact IC card reader / writer 105 writes a print job name and print job identification information in the adjacent non-contact IC card 402 in accordance with the received command.

  Here, a holding format of the non-contact IC card 402 in which a print job name and print job identification information are written will be described. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the retention format of the print job name and the print job identification information in the non-contact IC card. For example, the non-contact IC card 402 has a flag area, a print job identification information area, and a print job name area, and writes up to five print job names and print job identification information in the registration frame in association with each other. Be able to. These five registration frames are managed by indexes 0 to 4.

  A numerical value of 0, 1, or −1 is held in the flag area. When the flag area is 0, it indicates that the print job name and the print job identification information are not registered in the frame. When the flag area is 1, it indicates that the print job name and the print job identification information are registered in the frame, and the print job name and the print job identification information are in a non-selected state. Further, when the flag area is -1, it indicates that the print job name and the print job identification information are registered in the frame, and that the print job name and the print job identification information are in the selected state.

  The print job identification information area holds print job identification information registered in the frame, and can take a numerical value from 0 to 9999. In the print job name area, the print job name registered in the frame is stored, and for example, a character string of up to 20 characters can be stored.

  FIG. 8 shows the holding format of the non-contact IC card before the print job name and the print job identification information are written, and FIG. 9 shows the non-contact IC card after the print job name and the print job identification information are written. Indicates the retention format. When the print job name and the print job identification information are written to the non-contact IC card 402 in step S110, the non-contact IC card reader / writer 105 first sets the frames 0 to 4 of the non-contact IC card 402. Of these, unregistered frames are detected. In FIG. 8, unregistered frames are frames 2 to 4 whose flag area is 0. The non-contact IC card reader / writer 105 writes a print job name and print job identification information in each area in an unregistered frame. Further, the non-contact IC card reader / writer 105 sets the flag area to 1 indicating registration and non-selection.

  Specifically, when registering the print job name of sample 5 and the print job identification information of 0050, the non-contact IC card reader / writer 105 detects two frames which are unregistered frames, and puts them in the two frames. When 0050 is written in the print job identification information area, sample 5 is written in the print job name area, and 1 is written in the flag area, the print job name and the print job identification information are registered in the frame 2 as shown in FIG.

  When the print job name and the print job identification information are written to the non-contact IC card 402, the print job data transmission unit 207 displays the print job data temporarily stored in the print job management unit 203 and the print job identification information. Print job identification information temporarily stored in the acquisition unit 205 is received. In step S111, the print job data transmission unit 207 specifies the print job identification information as a path via the network I / F 208, and transmits a POST command having the transmission content as the substance of the print job data to the printer 103. .

  When a POST command is transmitted from the host computer 101, the printer 103 receives the POST command via the network I / F 309. In step S112, the HTTP command interpretation unit 301 receives the received command from the network I / F 309 and interprets the command. Then, the HTTP command interpretation unit 301 recognizes that the command is a POST command that designates the print job identification information as a path. Then, the HTTP command interpretation unit 301 extracts the value specified for the path as print job identification information.

  When the HTTP command interpreting unit 301 receives the POST command, the print job data receiving unit 303 associates the print job identification information extracted by the HTTP command interpreting unit 301 with the received print job data. In step S113, the print job data receiving unit 303 causes the print job holding unit 304 to hold the print job data and the print job identification information. At this time, an image corresponding to the print job data transmitted to the printer 103 is not output.

  When the print job data is transmitted to the printer 103, the user operates the cellular phone 102 to output an image corresponding to the transmitted print job data, and is written in the non-contact IC card 402 in step S110. The selected print job identification information is selected. Hereinafter, selection of a print job name and print job identification information registered in the non-contact IC card 402 mounted on the mobile phone 102 possessed by the user will be described. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a flow of each process in the mobile phone of the image forming system described in the first embodiment.

  First, in step S121, the user inputs the key of the mobile phone 102, and the control program 401 of the mobile phone 102 is activated.

  When the control program 401 is activated, the print job list display unit 403 displays the value of the flag area and the print job name held in the non-contact IC card 402 via the non-contact IC card I / F 406 for each frame. get. In step S122, the print job list display unit 403 displays the print job name on the predetermined display screen from the acquired information.

  Here, a display screen of the mobile phone 102 that displays a print job name will be described. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a display screen on which a print job name is displayed.

  If the print job name and the print job identification information as shown in FIG. 9 are held in the non-contact IC card 402 mounted on the mobile phone 102 when the control program 401 is activated, A display screen as shown in FIG. 11 is displayed on the screen. This display screen is divided into five frames so as to correspond to the five frames 0 to 4 of the non-contact IC card 402. In each frame, a check box that can be switched between selection and non-selection by key input of the mobile phone 102 and a display area for a print job name corresponding to the frame index are arranged.

  In this display screen, the display of the frame differs according to the value of the flag area of the non-contact IC card 402 corresponding to each frame. When the value of the flag area of the non-contact IC card 402 is 1 (registered and non-selected), the print job list display unit 403 reads the character string of the print job name held in the frame and corresponds to the display screen. Display in the print job name display area in the frame. At this time, the check box in the frame is not selected.

  Further, when the value of the flag area of the non-contact IC card 402 is 0 (unregistered), the print job list display unit 403 displays an unregistered character string in the print job name display area of the corresponding frame on the display screen. In addition, the entire corresponding frame of the display area is set to the grayed out state. At this time, the check box of the frame cannot be selected.

  When the value of the flag area of the non-contact IC card 402 is −1 (registration and selection), the print job list display unit 403 reads the print job name character string held in the frame, and displays the display screen. Displayed in the print job name display area of the corresponding frame. At this time, the check box in the frame is in a selected state.

  In this way, when the display screen as shown in FIG. 11 is displayed on the screen of the mobile phone 102, the user can print from the list of print job names displayed on the display screen via key input. Select the name of the print job that outputs the image corresponding to the job data. The print job selection unit 405 determines the frame selected by the user's key input, and in step S123, the check box in the frame selected by the user's key input is checked and selected. An instruction is issued to the identification information control unit 404 as described above.

  Upon receipt of the instruction, the identification information control unit 404 updates the flag area of the frame of the corresponding non-contact IC card 402 to change from 1 to −1 as in step S124, and selects the selected print job. The print job identification information corresponding to the name is selected.

  For example, when the user selects the print job name of the sample 5 corresponding to the second frame of the display screen shown in FIG. 11, the print job selection unit 405 indicates that the sample 5 of the second frame of the display screen has been selected. Is determined. Then, the print job selection unit 405 issues an instruction to the identification information control unit 404 so that the check box of the sample 5 in the selected two frames is checked. Upon receiving the instruction, the identification information control unit 404 changes the flag area of the two frames of the non-contact IC card 402 corresponding to the selected two frames to −1 as shown in FIG. In response to the change of the flag area of the non-contact IC card 402, the print job list display unit 403 changes the display screen so that the check box of the second frame is checked as shown in FIG.

  As described above, when the print job name corresponding to the print job data to be output is selected by the mobile phone 102, the identification information control unit 404 is held in the non-contact IC card 402 mounted on the mobile phone 102. Change the print job identification information to be in the selected state. After the change, the user moves to the printer 103 that generated the selected print job identification information. Hereinafter, output of an image corresponding to print job data corresponding to the print job name selected by the user will be described. FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing each process in the printer of the image forming system described in the first embodiment.

  First, in step S131, the non-contact IC card detection unit 305 confirms the presence of the non-contact IC card 402 adjacent to the non-contact IC card reader / writer 106, that is, the mobile phone 102 on which the non-contact IC card 402 is mounted. At this time, the user brings the mobile phone 102 loaded with the non-contact IC card 402 close to the non-contact IC card reader / writer 106.

  If the non-contact IC card detection unit 305 cannot confirm the presence of the non-contact IC card 402 in step S131, the process returns to step S131 in step S132, and the confirmation of the presence of the non-contact IC card 402 is continued. On the other hand, when the non-contact IC card detection unit 305 confirms the presence of the non-contact IC card 402 in step S131, the process proceeds to step S133 and notifies the identification information acquisition unit 306 to that effect.

  When the notification that the presence of the non-contact IC card 402 is confirmed is received from the non-contact IC card detection unit 305, the identification information acquisition unit 306 is connected to the printer 103 by the USB I / F 310 in step S133. Via the non-contact IC card reader / writer 106, the print job identification information in the selected state is detected from the print job identification information of the non-contact IC card 402.

  If the identification information acquisition unit 306 cannot detect the selected print job identification information in step S133, the process is terminated in step S134 without performing the subsequent processes. On the other hand, when the print job identification information selected by the identification information acquisition unit 306 is detected in step S133, the identification information acquisition unit 306 displays the print job identification information detected by the non-contact IC card reader / writer 106 as non-printable. Read from the contact IC card 402. In step S135, the identification information acquisition unit 306 acquires the print job identification information read by the non-contact IC card reader / writer 106 via the USB I / F 310.

  A specific example will be described with reference to FIG. 12. First, the identification information acquisition unit 306 searches for a flag area of a frame from 0 to 4 of the non-contact IC card 402 and becomes −1 (registration and selection). Detect the frame that is. As shown in FIG. 12, since the flag area of the second frame is −1, the identification information acquisition unit 306 detects the print job identification information of the second frame as the selected state. The identification information acquisition unit 306 that has detected the selected print job identification information causes the non-contact IC card reader / writer 106 to read the print job identification information. The non-contact IC card reader / writer 106 reads the value 0050 of the print job identification information of the two frames of the non-contact IC card 402.

  When the identification information acquisition unit 306 acquires the print job identification information, the print job identification information matching unit 307 receives the print job identification information. In step S136, the print job identification information matching unit 307 searches the print job data held in the print job holding unit 304 for print job data corresponding to the received print job identification information. The print job identification information in the print job holding unit 304 is collated.

  After the collation is performed by the print job identification information collation unit 307, the image forming unit 308 receives the searched print job data from the print job identification information collation unit 307. In step S137, the image forming unit 308 forms an image corresponding to the searched print job data on a predetermined sheet, and forms an image.

  When the print job identification information matching unit 307 confirms that the image corresponding to the searched print job data has been output in the image forming unit 308, the print job identification information matching unit 307 performs image formation in step S138. The print job data used in the above is deleted from the print job holding unit 304.

  Then, in step S139, the identification information acquisition unit 306, among the print job name and the print job identification information held in the non-contact IC card 402, the print job name and the print job name corresponding to the print job data that has output the image. Delete print job identification information. Specifically, the identification information acquisition unit 306 updates the information of the non-contact IC card 402 so as to change the flag area of the frame detected in step S133 from −1 to 0. As a result, the non-contact IC card 402 has a holding format in which the flag area of the two frames is 0 as shown in FIG. 15, and the print job identification information and the print job name are not held.

  After the update of the non-contact IC card 402, the process proceeds to step S133, and the identification information acquisition unit 306 confirms whether there is any other selected print job identification information in the non-contact IC card 402. If there is identification information, the processing from step S133 to step S139 is repeated. If there is no selected identification information, this process is terminated.

  The image forming system described in the first embodiment generates print job identification information corresponding to print job data of an image to be output. Then, the print job identification information is transmitted to the mobile phone owned by the user, and the print job data and the print job identification information are transmitted to the printer. The printer to which the print job data is transmitted forms an image of the print job data corresponding to the print job identification information selected by the mobile phone. In this way, unless an image is selected using a mobile phone owned by the user, the image corresponding to the print job data is not output, so that there is no possibility that the image will be seen by others. That is, the image forming system described in the first embodiment can provide confidential documents and important documents only to users.

  In addition, read / write of print job identification information between the host computer 101 and the mobile phone 102 and between the host computer 101 and the printer 103 is performed by the non-contact IC card 402 and the non-contact IC card reader / writers 105 and 106. Between. As a result, the non-contact IC card 402 and the non-contact IC card reader / writers 105 and 106 must be in proximity to read and write print job identification information. Therefore, if the user who owns the mobile phone 102 equipped with the non-contact IC card 402 does not exist near the host computer 101 and the printer 103, the image corresponding to the print job data is not output. Therefore, leakage of confidential documents and important documents can be prevented.

  Further, by using the non-contact IC card 402, it is not necessary to use a communication line of a mobile phone. As a result, it is possible to select a print job without incurring communication costs of the mobile phone.

[Embodiment 2]
The image forming system described in the second embodiment includes a public packet communication line connectable from a mobile phone and an Internet connectable from a network to the image forming system of the first embodiment, and the public packet communication line from the mobile phone. And can be connected to a printer via the Internet. The image forming system will be described below, but the description of the same parts as those in the first embodiment will be omitted.

  FIG. 16 is a system configuration diagram of an image forming system described in the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 16, the image forming system described in Embodiment 2 includes a host computer 1601 as an information processing device, a mobile phone 1602 as a mobile terminal, a printer 1603 as an image forming device, a network 1604, A public packet communication line 1605 and the Internet 1606 are included.

  A network 1604 that connects the host computer 1601 and the printer 1603 is connected to the Internet 1606. The mobile phone 1602 can be connected to a public packet communication line 1605 and can be connected to the printer 1603 via the public packet communication line 1605 and the Internet 1606.

  FIG. 17 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a host computer of the image forming system described in the second embodiment. The host computer 1601 has the same configuration as the host computer described in Embodiment 1, but the operation of the identification information output unit 1701 is different.

  The identification information output unit 1701 acquires the print job name and the print job data transmission destination address from the print job management unit 203 and the print job identification information from the print job identification information acquisition unit 205. Then, the identification information output unit 1701 non-contacts a command for writing the acquired print job name, print job data transmission destination address, and print job identification information to the non-contact IC card 1902 of the mobile phone 1602 via the USB I / F 209. The data is output to the IC card reader / writer 105.

  The non-contact IC card reader / writer 105 connected to the host computer 1601 displays the print job name, the print job data transmission destination address, and the print job identification information in accordance with the command output from the identification information output unit 1701. Write to contact IC card 1902.

  FIG. 18 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer of the image forming system described in the second embodiment. A printer 1603 is configured by adding a print job control unit 1802 as a job deletion unit to the printer described in the first embodiment, and includes an HTTP command interpretation unit 1801 and an identification information acquisition unit 1803 as a second identification information acquisition unit. The operation is different.

  The print job control unit 1802 receives a delete command and print job identification information corresponding to print job data to be deleted via the network I / F 309. Then, the print job control unit 1802 deletes the print job data corresponding to the received print job identification information from the print job holding unit 304.

  In addition to the operations described in the first embodiment, the HTTP command interpretation unit 1801 is described later, which is transmitted from the mobile phone 1602 via the network I / F 309 via the public packet communication line 1605 and the Internet 1606. Interpret the DELETE command. Then, the HTTP command interpretation unit 1801 causes the print job control unit 1802 to delete the print job data from the print job holding unit 304.

  The identification information acquisition unit 1803 causes the non-contact IC card reader / writer 106 to read and write print job identification information via the USB I / F 310 as in the first embodiment. Access to the area where the print job data transmission destination address held in the IC card 1902 is held is not performed. As a result, an image corresponding to the print data can be output as in the first embodiment.

  FIG. 19 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a mobile phone of the image forming system described in the second embodiment. A cellular phone 1602 adds a network I / F 1905 to the cellular phone described in Embodiment 1, and a print job deletion event acquisition unit 1903 as a control program 1901 and a print job control command transmission unit 1904 as a print job deletion command transmission unit. It is the structure which added. The cellular phone 1602 is different in the holding format of the non-contact IC card 1902 and the operations of the print job list display unit 1906 and the identification information control unit 1907.

  A network I / F 1905 interprets a protocol located in a lower layer of the public packet communication line 1605 and transmits / receives data to / from a printer 1603 connected to the network 1604 via the public packet communication line 1605 and the Internet 1606. .

  The print job deletion event acquisition unit 1903 deletes the print job data corresponding to the print job name selected by the key input of the user's mobile phone 1602 from the print job names displayed by the print job list display unit 403. Get delete instruction.

  The print job control command transmission unit 1904 interprets the deletion command acquired by the print job deletion event acquisition unit 1903. Then, the print job control command transmission unit 1904 transmits a DELETE command to the printer 1603 as an HTTP command corresponding to the deletion command via the network I / F 1905. Also, the print job control command transmission unit 1904 recognizes the print job name to be deleted by the delete command, and prints the print job name corresponding to the recognized print job name and the print job name via the non-contact IC card I / F 406. Delete job identification information.

  The print job list display unit 1906 displays a print job name corresponding to the print job data to be deleted on the display screen having the read print job name and the delete button so that the user can select the print job data.

  The identification information control unit 1907 recognizes the print job name selected on the display screen having the delete button displayed by the print job list display unit 1906, and sets the print job identification information corresponding to the recognized print job name to the selected state. . Then, the identification information control unit 1907 changes the print job identification information held in the non-contact IC card 1902 to be in a selected state via the non-contact IC card I / F 406.

  The operation of the image forming system described in the second embodiment having such a configuration will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, a DELETE command transmitted from the mobile phone 1602 to the printer 1603 will be described.

  As in the first embodiment, the image forming system according to the second embodiment uses HTTP (TCI / IP) as a protocol for an upper layer of the network. FIG. 20 shows a request based on a combination of an HTTP command and a path designation, and a response arrangement for the request. Here, in addition to the agreement regarding the GET command and the POST command described in the first embodiment, the agreement regarding the DELETE command is shown.

  The DELETE command designates the print job identification information corresponding to the print job to be deleted as a path, and uses this command to delete the print job data held in the print job holding unit 304 of the printer 1603. Command. The printer 1603 interprets this DELETE command and deletes the print job data held in the print job holding unit 304.

  Next, operations in the host computer 1601 will be mainly described. FIG. 21 is a diagram showing the flow of each process mainly in the host computer of the image forming system described in the second embodiment.

  First, the host computer 1601 operates as follows when a user who uses the image forming system performs a printing operation of application-format image data in the application program 201. First, the application program 201 interprets image data and calls the printer driver 202 in step S201.

  The printer driver 202 called by the application program 201 is used by the application program 201 in step S202 to generate print job data. At this time, the printer 1603 is selected as an image forming apparatus that outputs an image corresponding to the print job data to a predetermined sheet, and print job data that can be interpreted by the printer 1603 is generated. Then, the printer driver 202 generates a print job name and a print job data transmission destination address so as to be associated with the print job data.

  After the print job data is generated, the print job management unit 203 acquires the print job data, the print job name, and the print job data transmission destination address (IP address of the printer 1603) from the printer driver 202 in step S203. , Hold temporarily.

  Next, in step S204, the non-contact IC card detection unit 204 confirms the presence of the non-contact IC card 1902 close to the non-contact IC card reader / writer 105, that is, the mobile phone 1602 on which the non-contact IC card 1902 is mounted. . At this time, the user brings the mobile phone 1602 loaded with the non-contact IC card 1902 close to the non-contact IC card reader / writer 105.

  If the non-contact IC card detection unit 204 cannot confirm the presence of the non-contact IC card 1902 in step S204, the process returns to step S204 in step S205, and the confirmation of the presence of the non-contact IC card 1902 is continued. On the other hand, when the non-contact IC card detection unit 204 confirms the presence of the non-contact IC card 1902 in step S204, the process proceeds to step S206 and notifies the print job identification information acquisition unit 205 of the fact.

  Upon receiving notification from the non-contact IC card detection unit 204 that the presence of the non-contact IC card 1902 has been confirmed, the print job identification information acquisition unit 205 transmits print job data via the network 1604 in step S206. A GET command for acquiring print job identification information corresponding to the print job data is transmitted to the printer 1603 corresponding to the destination address.

  When a GET command is transmitted from the host computer 1601, the printer 1603 receives the GET command via the network I / F 309. In step S207, the HTTP command interpretation unit 1801 receives the received command from the network I / F 309 and interprets the command. Then, the HTTP command interpretation unit 1801 recognizes that the command is a GET command without path designation.

  When the HTTP command interpretation unit 1801 receives the GET command, the print job identification information generation unit 302 generates print job identification information for managing print job data in accordance with the GET command. In step S208, the print job identification information generation unit 302 returns the generated print job identification information as a response to the GET command to the host computer 1601 via the network I / F 309.

  When print job identification information is returned from the printer 1603 as a response to the GET command, the host computer 1601 receives it via the network I / F 208. In step S209, the print job identification information acquisition unit 205 receives the received print job identification information from the network I / F 208, and acquires print job identification information corresponding to the print job data. The print job identification information acquisition unit 205 temporarily holds the acquired print job identification information.

  When the print job identification information acquisition unit 205 acquires the print job identification information, the identification information output unit 1701 displays the print job name and the print job data transmission destination address temporarily stored in the print job management unit 203, and the print job. The print job identification information temporarily stored in the identification information acquisition unit 205 is received. Then, the identification information output unit 1701 sends a command for writing the print job name, the print job data transmission destination address, and the print job identification information to the non-contact IC card 1902 via the USB I / F 209. Transmit to the writer 105. In step S210, the non-contact IC card reader / writer 105 writes the print job name, print job data transmission destination address, and print job identification information in the adjacent non-contact IC card 1902 in accordance with the received command.

  Here, the holding format of the non-contact IC card 1902 in which the print job name, the print job data transmission destination address, and the print job identification information are written will be described. FIG. 22 is a diagram for explaining a holding format of a print job name, print job identification information, and print job data transmission destination address in a non-contact IC card. The non-contact IC card 1902 is obtained by adding a print job data transmission destination address area to the non-contact IC card holding format described in the first embodiment, and is substantially the same as the non-contact IC card in the first embodiment. It is. Also in this print job data transmission destination address area, the print job data transmission destination address is written in association with the print job name and the print job identification information.

  FIG. 23 shows a non-contact IC card holding format before the print job name, print job data transmission destination address, and print job identification information are written. FIG. 24 shows the print job name, print job data transmission destination address, and print. The non-contact IC card holding format after the job identification information is written is shown. When the print job name, print job data transmission destination address, and print job identification information are written to the non-contact IC card 1902 in step S210, the non-contact IC card reader / writer 105 first stores the non-contact IC card 1902. An unregistered frame is detected from 0 to 4 frames. In FIG. 23, unregistered frames are frames 2 to 4 whose flag area is 0. The non-contact IC card reader / writer 105 writes the print job name, print job data transmission destination address, and print job identification information in each area in an unregistered frame. Further, the non-contact IC card reader / writer 105 sets the flag area to 1 indicating registration and non-selection.

  Specifically, when registering a print job name of sample 5, a print job data transmission destination address of 192.168.0.1, and print job identification information of 0050, the non-contact IC card reader / writer 105 An unregistered frame 2 is detected, the print job identification information area is 0050 in the 2 frame, the print job data destination address area is 192.168.0.1, the print job name area is sample 5, and the flag When 1 is written in the area, the print job name and the print job identification information are registered in the frame 2 as shown in FIG.

  When the print job name, the print job data transmission destination address, and the print job identification information are written in the non-contact IC card 1902, the print job data transmission unit 207 displays the print job temporarily stored in the print job management unit 203. Data and print job identification information temporarily stored in the print job identification information acquisition unit 205 are received. In step S211, the print job data transmission unit 207 transmits a POST command to the printer 1603 via the network I / F 208.

  When a POST command is transmitted from the host computer 1601, the printer 1603 receives the POST command via the network I / F 309. In step S212, the HTTP command interpretation unit 1801 receives the received command from the network I / F 309 and interprets the command. Then, the HTTP command interpretation unit 1801 recognizes that the command is a POST command that specifies the print job identification information as a path. Then, the HTTP command interpretation unit 1801 extracts the value specified for the path as print job identification information.

  When the HTTP command interpretation unit 1801 receives the POST command, the print job data reception unit 303 associates the print job identification information extracted by the HTTP command interpretation unit 1801 with the received print job data. In step S213, the print job data receiving unit 303 causes the print job holding unit 304 to hold the print job data and the print job identification information. At this time, the image corresponding to the print job data transmitted to the printer 1603 is not output.

  When the print job data is transmitted to the printer 1603, the user can operate the mobile phone 1602 and output an image corresponding to the transmitted print job data as in the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, print job data that no longer needs to be output can be deleted. Hereinafter, deletion of print job data that is no longer required to be output will be described. FIG. 25 is a diagram showing a flow of each process mainly in a mobile phone of the image forming system described in the second embodiment.

  First, in step S221, the user inputs the key of the mobile phone 1602, and the control program 1901 of the mobile phone 1602 is activated.

  When the control program 1901 is activated, the print job list display unit 1906 displays the value of the flag area and the print job name held in the non-contact IC card 1902 for each frame via the non-contact IC card I / F 406. get. In step S222, the print job list display unit 1906 displays the print job name on the predetermined display screen from the acquired information. At this time, the print job list display unit 1906 displays a delete button as shown in FIG. 26 on the display screen.

  Here, a display screen of the mobile phone 1602 that displays the print job name will be described. FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating a display screen on which a print job name is displayed.

  When the control program 1901 is activated, the non-contact IC card 1902 mounted on the mobile phone 1602 holds the print job name, print job data transmission destination address, and print job identification information as shown in FIG. If so, a display screen as shown in FIG. 26 is displayed on the screen of the mobile phone 1602. This display screen is the same as in the first embodiment, and check boxes and print job name display areas are arranged so as to correspond to the five frames of the non-contact IC card 1902. The delete button displayed together with the print job name is pressed by the user's key input so that the print job name, print job data transmission destination address, and print job identification information of the selected frame are not displayed. It is deleted from the contact IC card 1902.

  In this way, when the display screen as shown in FIG. 26 is displayed on the screen of the mobile phone 1602, the user deletes from the list of print job names displayed on the display screen via key input. The print job name corresponding to the print job data to be selected is selected. The print job selection unit 405 determines the frame selected by the user's key input, and in step S223, the check box in the frame selected by the user's key input is checked and selected. An instruction is issued to the identification information control unit 1907.

  Upon receiving the instruction, the identification information control unit 1907 updates the flag area of the frame of the corresponding non-contact IC card 1902 to change from 1 to −1 as in step S224, and selects the selected print job. The print job identification information corresponding to the name is selected.

  For example, when the user selects the print job name of the sample 5 corresponding to the second frame of the display screen shown in FIG. 26, the print job selection unit 405 indicates that the sample 5 of the second frame of the display screen has been selected. Is determined. Then, the print job selection unit 405 instructs the identification information control unit 1907 so that the check box of the sample 5 in the selected two frames is changed to a checked state. Upon receiving the instruction, the identification information control unit 1907 changes the flag area of the two frames of the non-contact IC card 1902 corresponding to the selected two frames to −1 as shown in FIG. In response to the change of the flag area of the non-contact IC card 1902, the print job list display unit 1906 changes the display screen so that the check box in the second frame is checked as shown in FIG.

  As described above, when the print job name corresponding to the print job data to be output is selected by the mobile phone 1602, the identification information control unit 1907 is held in the non-contact IC card 1902 mounted on the mobile phone 1602. Change the print job identification information to be in the selected state. After the change, when the user presses the delete button via key input, it is sent to the print job delete event acquisition unit 1903 as a delete command. In step S225, the print job deletion event acquisition unit 1903 sends a deletion command to the print job control command transmission unit 1904 to generate a DELETE command from the deletion command.

  Upon receiving the delete command, the print job control command transmission unit 1904 detects the print job selected from the non-contact IC card 1902 in step S226.

  If the print job control command transmission unit 1904 cannot detect the selected print job identification information in step S226, the process is terminated in step S227 without performing the subsequent processes. On the other hand, when the print job control command transmission unit 1904 detects the print job identification information selected in step S226, the print job control command transmission unit 1904 passes the non-contact IC card I / F 406 in step S228. Then, the print job data transmission destination address corresponding to the selected print job identification information is acquired from the non-contact IC card 1902. The print job control command transmission unit 1904 that has acquired the selected print job identification information and the print job data transmission destination address generates a DELETE command specifying the print job identification information as a path.

  In step S229, the print job control command transmission unit 1904 transmits the DELETE command to the print job data transmission destination address via the network I / F 1905.

  A specific example will be described with reference to FIG. 27. First, the print job control command transmission unit 1904 searches the flag area of the frame from 0 to 4 of the non-contact IC card 1902 and sets −1 (register and select). Detect the frame that is. As shown in FIG. 27, since the flag area of the second frame is −1, the print job control command transmission unit 1904 detects the print job identification information of the second frame as being in the selected state. Upon detecting the print job identification information in the selected state, the print job control command transmission unit 1904, via the non-contact IC card I / F 406, print job identification information 0050 and the corresponding print job data transmission destination address 192.168. Get 0.1. Then, the print job control command transmission unit 1904 generates a DELETE command specifying the print job identification information as a path. The print job control command transmission unit 1904 transmits the generated DELETE command to the printer 1603 corresponding to the print job data transmission destination address 192.168.0.1 via the network I / F 1905.

  When a DELETE command is transmitted from the mobile phone 1602, the printer 1603 receives the DELETE command via the network I / F 309. In step S230, the HTTP command interpretation unit 1801 receives the received command from the network I / F 309 and interprets the command. Then, the HTTP command interpretation unit 1801 recognizes that the command is a DELETE command that specifies print job identification information as a path. Then, the HTTP command interpretation unit 1801 extracts the value specified for the path as print job identification information.

  When the HTTP command interpretation unit 1801 receives the DELETE command, the print job control unit 1802 deletes the print job data corresponding to the print job identification information extracted by the HTTP command interpretation unit 1801 from the print job holding unit 304 in step S231. To do.

  In step S232, the print job control command transmission unit 1904 deletes the selected print job identification information from the information held in the non-contact IC card 1902. Specifically, the print job control command transmission unit 1904 updates the information of the non-contact IC card 1902 so as to change the flag area of the frame detected in step S226 from −1 to 0. As a result, the non-contact IC card 1902 has a holding format in which the flag area of the two frames is 0 as shown in FIG. 29, and the print job data transmission destination address, the print job identification information, and the print job name are not held. It becomes.

  After updating the non-contact IC card 1902, the process proceeds to step S226, and the print job control command transmission unit 1904 confirms whether there is other selected print job identification information in the non-contact IC card 1902 and selects it. If there is any print job identification information, the processing from step S226 to step S232 is repeated. If there is no selected identification information, this process is terminated.

  In the image forming system described in the second embodiment, the deletion of the print job data held in the non-contact IC card 1902 of the mobile phone 1602 and the print job holding unit 304 of the printer 1603 has been described. Similarly to 1, it is also possible to output an image corresponding to print job data. In this case, it is possible to output an image by performing the operations of FIGS. 6, 10, and 14 described in the first embodiment.

  Therefore, the image forming system described in Embodiment 2 is held by the non-contact IC card 1902 of the mobile phone 1602 in addition to the effect of preventing leakage of confidential documents and important documents described in Embodiment 1. By selecting the print job name corresponding to the print job data, the corresponding print job name, print job data transmission destination address and print job identification information held in the non-contact IC card 1902 and the print job holding of the printer 1603 are stored. Corresponding print job data and print job identification information held in the section 304 can be deleted. As a result, the image forming system described in Embodiment 2 can also delete print job data that no longer needs to be output from the host computer 1601. Further, since this delete command (DELETE command) is transmitted from the mobile phone 1602 to the printer 1603 via the public packet communication line 1605 and the Internet 1606, the user moves to the printer 1603 to delete the print job data. Can be done remotely. Therefore, convenience for the user is improved.

[Embodiment 3]
In the image forming system described in the third embodiment, a printer connected to the image forming system of the first embodiment via a network is added. The image forming system will be described below, but the description of the same parts as those in the first or second embodiment will be omitted.

  FIG. 30 is a system configuration diagram of an image forming system described in the third embodiment. As shown in FIG. 30, the image forming system described in the third embodiment includes a host computer 1601 similar to the host computer of the second embodiment, a mobile phone 3002 as a mobile terminal, and a printer 3003 as an image forming apparatus. The second image forming apparatus 3004 and the network 104 are configured.

  Similar to the second embodiment, the mobile phone 3002 has a non-contact IC card 1902, a non-contact IC card reader / writer 105 connected to the host computer 1601, and a non-contact IC card connected to the printer 3003. Data can be transmitted and received via the reader / writer 106 and the non-contact IC card reader / writer 3005 connected to the printer 3004.

  FIG. 31 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer of the image forming system described in the third embodiment. The printers 3003 and 3004 are configured by adding a transfer print job data acquisition unit 3103 as a job data acquisition unit and a print job data transfer unit 3104 as a job data transfer unit to the printer described in the first embodiment. The operations of the command interpretation unit 3101, the identification information acquisition unit 3102, and the image forming unit 3105 are different. The printer 3003 and the printer 3004 have substantially the same configuration. The non-contact IC card reader / writer 3005 performs the same operation as the non-contact IC card reader / writer 106.

  The print job data transfer unit 3104 receives a print job data transfer command and print job identification information corresponding to the print job data to be transferred via the network I / F 309. Then, the print job data transfer unit 3104 acquires the print job data corresponding to the received print job identification information from the print job holding unit 304, and transmits the acquired print job data to the transfer request source.

  The transfer print job data acquisition unit 3103 acquires the print job data transfer destination address from the identification information acquisition unit 3102. Then, the transfer print job data acquisition unit 3103 generates, as a transfer command, a GET command in which print job identification information (to be described later) is specified as a path to the other printer in order to acquire print job data held by the other printer. . The transfer print job data acquisition unit 3103 transmits a transfer command to the printer corresponding to the acquired print job data transfer destination address, and acquires print job data corresponding to the print job identification information.

  In addition to the operations described in the first embodiment, the HTTP command interpretation unit 3101 interprets a GET command in which print job identification information (described later) transmitted from another printer is specified as a path via the network I / F 309. To do. Then, the HTTP command interpretation unit 3101 causes the print job data transfer unit 3104 to transmit print job data to the transfer request source.

  The identification information acquisition unit 3102 transmits a read command of print job identification information and a print job data transmission destination address to the non-contact IC card reader / writer 106, 3005 via the USB I / F 310. Then, the identification information acquisition unit 3102 sends the print job identification information and print job data transmission destination selected from the non-contact IC card 1902 mounted on the mobile phone 3002 close to the non-contact IC card reader / writer 106, 3005. Read the address. The read print job identification information and print job data transmission destination address are sent to the identification information acquisition unit 3102. The identification information acquisition unit 3102 determines the print job data transmission address and operates either the print job identification information matching unit 307 or the transfer print job data acquisition unit 3103 according to the print job data transmission destination address.

  As in the first embodiment, the image forming unit 3105 not only receives print job data from the print job identification information matching unit 307 but also receives print job data from the transfer print job data acquisition unit 3103. Then, the image forming unit 3105 analyzes the received print job data, and forms an image on a predetermined sheet based on the analyzed print job data.

  FIG. 32 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a mobile phone of the image forming system described in the third embodiment. The mobile phone 3002 has the same configuration as the mobile phone described in Embodiment 1, but the holding format of the non-contact IC card 1902 is the same as the holding format of the non-contact IC card described in Embodiment 2.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the image forming system described in the third embodiment having such a configuration will be described with reference to the drawings.

  Regarding the operation of the image forming system described in the third embodiment, first, a GET command in which print job identification information transmitted to the printers 3003 and 3004 is designated as a path will be described.

  As in the first embodiment, the image forming system according to the third embodiment uses HTTP (TCI / IP) as a protocol for an upper layer of the network. FIG. 33 shows a request based on a combination of an HTTP command and a path specification, and a response arrangement for the request. Here, in addition to the agreement regarding the GET command and the POST command described in the first embodiment, the agreement regarding the GET command in which the print job identification information is specified in the path is shown.

  The GET command described here is different from the GET command without path specification described in the first embodiment, in which print job identification information is specified in the path, and print job data is received from another printer using the command. It is a command to do.

  The host computer 1601 of this image forming system operates in the same manner as in the first embodiment when a user performs an operation for printing image data in the application format by the application program 201. When the printer 3003 is selected as a transmission destination of print job data in this printing operation, print job identification information corresponding to the print job data is received from the printer 3003. The print job data and the print job identification information are transmitted to the printer 3003 and held in the print job holding unit 304 of the printer 3003. Also, the print job name corresponding to the print job data, the print job data transmission destination address (the IP address of the printer 3003), and the print job identification information are transmitted to the mobile phone 3002, and are implemented in the contactless IC card 1902 of the mobile phone 3002. It is held in association with the holding format described in the second mode.

  Next, the user operates the cellular phone 3002 to select the print job identification information written in the non-contact IC card 1902 in order to output an image corresponding to the transmitted print job data. Although the holding format of the non-contact IC card 1902 is different, the selection of print job identification information is the same as in the first embodiment.

  When the print job name corresponding to the print job data to be output is selected by the mobile phone 3002, the identification information control unit 404 prints print job identification information held in the non-contact IC card 1902 mounted on the mobile phone 3002. To be in the selected state. After the change, the user moves to the printer 3004 that has not generated the print job identification information in the selected state. Hereinafter, output of an image corresponding to print job data corresponding to the print job name selected by the user will be described. Here, the IP address of the printer 3003 is set to 192.168.0.1, and the IP address of the printer 3004 is set to 192.168.0.2. Further, the printer 3003 and the printer 3004 have the same configuration and the same operation. FIG. 34 is a flowchart showing each process in the printer of the image forming system described in the third embodiment.

  First, in step S301, the non-contact IC card detection unit 305 confirms the presence of the non-contact IC card 1902 close to the non-contact IC card reader / writer 3005, that is, the mobile phone 3002 on which the non-contact IC card 1902 is mounted. At this time, the user brings the mobile phone 3002 loaded with the non-contact IC card 1902 close to the non-contact IC card reader / writer 3005.

  If the non-contact IC card detection unit 305 cannot confirm the presence of the non-contact IC card 1902 in step S301, the process returns to step S301 in step S302, and the confirmation of the presence of the non-contact IC card 1902 is continued. On the other hand, when the non-contact IC card detection unit 305 confirms the presence of the non-contact IC card 1902 in step S301, the process proceeds to step S303 and notifies the identification information acquisition unit 3102 of that fact.

  Upon receiving a notification from the non-contact IC card detection unit 305 that the presence of the non-contact IC card 1902 has been confirmed, the identification information acquisition unit 3102 is connected to the printer 3004 via the USB I / F 310 in step S303. Via the non-contact IC card reader / writer 3005, the print job identification information in the selected state is detected from the print job identification information of the non-contact IC card 1902.

  If the identification information acquisition unit 3102 cannot detect the selected print job identification information in step S303, the process is terminated in step S304 without performing the subsequent processing. On the other hand, when the identification information acquisition unit 3102 detects the selected print job identification information in step S303, the identification information acquisition unit 3102 displays the print job identification information detected by the non-contact IC card reader / writer 3005 in a non-contact manner. Read from the IC card 1902. In step S305, the identification information acquisition unit 3102 acquires the print job identification information read by the non-contact IC card reader / writer 3005 via the USB I / F 310.

  After acquiring the print job identification information, the identification information acquisition unit 3102 causes the non-contact IC card reader / writer 3005 to read the print job data transmission destination address corresponding to the detected print job identification information from the non-contact IC card 1902. . In step S306, the identification information acquisition unit 3102 acquires the print job data transmission destination address read by the non-contact IC card reader / writer 3005 via the USB I / F 310.

  As a specific example, with reference to FIG. 27, first, the identification information acquisition unit 3102 searches the flag area of the frame from 0 to 4 of the non-contact IC card 1902 and becomes −1 (registration and selection). Detect the frame that is. As shown in FIG. 27, since the flag area of the second frame is -1, the identification information acquisition unit 3102 detects the print job identification information of the second frame as the selected state. The identification information acquisition unit 3102 that has detected the print job identification information in the selected state causes the non-contact IC card reader / writer 3005 to read the print job identification information. The non-contact IC card reader / writer 3005 reads the value 0050 of the print job identification information of the two frames of the non-contact IC card 1902. Next, the identification information acquisition unit 3102 causes the non-contact IC card reader / writer 3005 to read the print job data transmission destination address corresponding to the print job identification information. The non-contact IC card reader / writer 3005 reads 192.168.0.1 of the print job data transmission destination address of the two frames of the non-contact IC card 1902.

  After acquiring the print job data transmission destination address, the identification information acquisition unit 3102 confirms whether or not the acquired print job data transmission destination address is the IP address of its own printer 3004 in step S307.

  If the print job data transmission destination address is the IP address of its own printer 3004 in step S307, the print job identification information matching unit 307 receives the print job identification information. In step S315, the print job identification information matching unit 307 searches the print job data held in the print job holding unit 304 for print job data corresponding to the received print job identification information. The print job identification information in the print job holding unit 304 is collated.

  After collation is performed by the print job identification information collation unit 307, the image forming unit 3105 receives the searched print job data from the print job identification information collation unit 307. In step S316, the image forming unit 3105 forms an image corresponding to the retrieved print job data on a predetermined sheet, and performs image formation.

  When the print job identification information matching unit 307 confirms that the image corresponding to the searched print job data is output in the image forming unit 3105, the print job identification information matching unit 307 performs image formation in step S317. The print job data used in the above is deleted from the print job holding unit 304.

  On the other hand, if the print job data transmission destination address is not the IP address of its own printer 3004 in step S307, the transfer print job data acquisition unit 3103 receives the searched print job identification information and the print job data transmission destination address. The transfer print job data acquisition unit 3103 then replaces the print job data transmission destination address with the print job data transfer destination address, and further generates a GET command specifying the print job identification information as a path. The transfer print job data acquisition unit 3103 transmits a GET command as a transfer request for print job data corresponding to the acquired print job identification information to the printer 3003 corresponding to the print job data transfer destination address.

  Specifically, since the print job data transmission destination address acquired from the non-contact IC card 1902 is 192.168.0.1 that is the IP address of the printer 3003, 192.168.0.2 that is the IP address of the printer 3004. Is different. By this comparison, the identification information acquisition unit 3102 passes the print job identification information and the print job data transmission destination address to the transfer print job data acquisition unit 3103. Upon receiving the print job identification information and the print job data transmission destination address, the transfer print job data acquisition unit 3103 replaces the print job data transmission destination address with the print job data transmission destination address. Further, the transfer print job data acquisition unit 3103 generates a GET command using the print job identification information as a path. Then, the transfer print job data acquisition unit 3103 transmits the generated GET command to the printer 3003 corresponding to the print job data transfer destination address.

  When a GET command is transmitted from the printer 3004, the printer 3003 receives the GET command via the network I / F 309 of the printer 3003. In step S309, the HTTP command interpretation unit 3101 of the printer 3003 receives the received command from the network I / F 309 of the printer 3003, and interprets the command. Then, the HTTP command interpretation unit 3101 of the printer 3003 recognizes that the command is a GET command that designates the print job identification information as a path.

  When the HTTP command interpretation unit 3101 of the printer 3003 receives a GET command specifying the print job identification information as a path, the print job data transfer unit 3104 of the printer 3003 receives the print job identification information. In step S310, the print job data transfer unit 3104 of the printer 3003 searches the print job data held in the print job holding unit 304 for print job data corresponding to the received print job identification information.

  After the search is performed by the print job data transfer unit 3104 of the printer 3003, the searched print job data held in the print job holding unit 304 is acquired. In step S311, the print job data transfer unit 3104 of the printer 3003 returns the acquired print job data as a response to the GET command to the printer 3004 via the network I / F 309.

  When the print job data transfer unit 3104 of the printer 3003 returns the print job data as a response, the print job data transfer unit 3104 of the printer 3003 deletes the returned print job data from the print job holding unit 304 in step S312.

  When print job data is returned from the printer 3003 as a response to the GET command specifying the print job identification information as a path, the printer 3004 receives it via the network I / F 309. In step S313, the transfer print job data acquisition unit 3103 receives the received print job identification information from the network I / F 309, and acquires print job data corresponding to the print job identification information in the selected state.

  After acquiring the print job data, the image forming unit 3105 receives the acquired print job data from the transfer print job data acquiring unit 3103. In step S314, the image forming unit 3105 forms an image corresponding to the retrieved print job data on a predetermined sheet, and forms an image.

  After image formation is performed by the image forming unit 3105 in step S314 or step S317, the identification information acquisition unit 3102 receives the print job name and print job data transmission destination held in the non-contact IC card 1902 in step S318. Of the address and the print job identification information, the print job name, the print job data transmission destination address, and the print job identification information corresponding to the print job data from which the image is output are deleted. Specifically, the identification information acquisition unit 3102 updates the information of the non-contact IC card 1902 so as to change the flag area of the frame detected in step S303 from −1 to 0.

  Therefore, the image forming system described in the third embodiment has a non-contact IC card that a user has for output in addition to the effect of preventing leakage of confidential documents and important documents described in the first embodiment. By transferring the print job data held in the other printer 3003 to the printer 3004 in the vicinity of the mobile phone 3002 equipped with 1902, even if the printer 3004 does not hold the print job data, Output is possible. That is, print job identification information is generated and an image corresponding to the print job data can be output even by a printer other than the printer 3003 that holds the print job data, thereby improving the convenience for the user.

  In the present invention, the non-contact IC card is used as the communication means between the mobile phone, the printer, and the host computer, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, any communication means that can identify a communication terminal on a one-to-one basis, such as infrared communication, a non-contact IC card, and USB connection, can be applied to the present invention.

  In the present invention, information related to a print job is held in a non-contact IC card of a mobile phone, but information related to a print job such as a print job name, a print job data transmission destination address, and print job identification information is stored in the The information may be copied to a data holding area prepared for the application program and information relating to the print job may be held in the data holding area. In this case, the non-contact IC card may use only communication means. Specifically, when the mobile phone receives information about the print job from the host computer, the information about the print job acquired by the non-contact IC card may be held in the holding area of the mobile phone. When transmitting information related to a print job, information related to the print job may be passed from the holding area of the mobile phone to the non-contact IC card and transmitted from the holding area to the printer via the non-contact IC card.

1 is a diagram illustrating a system configuration diagram of an image forming system according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a host computer of the image forming system according to Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer of the image forming system according to the first embodiment. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a mobile phone of an image forming system according to a first embodiment. 3 is a diagram illustrating a command transmitted from a host computer of the image forming system according to the first embodiment to a printer. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing each process mainly in a host computer of the image forming system according to the first embodiment. 3 is a diagram for explaining a holding format of a non-contact IC card in the image forming system of Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a holding format before writing a print job name and print job identification information in the non-contact IC card of the image forming system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a holding format after a print job name and print job identification information are written in the non-contact IC card of the image forming system according to the first embodiment. 4 is a flowchart showing each process in the mobile phone of the image forming system according to the first embodiment. 3 is a diagram showing a display screen of a mobile phone before a print job name is selected in the image forming system of Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a non-contact IC card holding format after selecting print job identification information corresponding to a selected print job name in the image forming system according to the first embodiment. 6 is a diagram showing a display screen of a mobile phone after a print job name is selected in the image forming system of Embodiment 1. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating each process in the printer of the image forming system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a non-contact IC card holding format after an image corresponding to print job data corresponding to selected print job identification information is output in the image forming system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a system configuration diagram of an image forming system according to a second embodiment. FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a host computer of an image forming system according to a second embodiment. FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer of an image forming system according to a second embodiment. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a mobile phone of an image forming system according to a second embodiment. FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a command transmitted to the printer of the image forming system according to the second embodiment. 6 is a flowchart showing each process mainly in a host computer of the image forming system according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a holding format of a non-contact IC card in the image forming system according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a retention format before writing a print job name, a print job data transmission destination address, and print job identification information in the non-contact IC card of the image forming system according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a holding format after a print job name, a print job data transmission destination address, and print job identification information are written in a non-contact IC card of the image forming system according to the third embodiment. 6 is a flowchart showing each process mainly in a mobile phone of the image forming system of the second embodiment. 6 is a diagram showing a display screen of a mobile phone before a print job name is selected in the image forming system of Embodiment 2. FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a non-contact IC card holding format after selecting a print job data transmission destination address and print job identification information corresponding to a selected print job name in the image forming system according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a display screen of a mobile phone after a print job name is selected in the image forming system of the second embodiment. The non-contact IC card after deleting the print job name, the print job data transmission destination address, and the print job identification information corresponding to the print job data corresponding to the selected print job identification information in the image forming system of the second embodiment It is a figure which shows the holding | maintenance format. 5 is a diagram illustrating a system configuration diagram of an image forming system according to a third embodiment. FIG. FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer of an image forming system according to a third embodiment. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a mobile phone of an image forming system according to Embodiment 3. FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a command transmitted to the printer of the image forming system according to the third embodiment. 14 is a flowchart illustrating processing in a printer of the image forming system according to the third embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

101, 1601 Host computer 201 Application program 202 Printer driver 203 Print job management unit 204 Non-contact IC card detection unit 205 Print job identification information acquisition unit 206, 1701 Identification information output unit 207 Print job data transmission unit 208 Network I / F
209 USB I / F
102, 1602, 3002 Mobile phone 401, 1901 Control program 402, 1902 Non-contact IC card 403, 1906 Print job list display unit 404, 1907 Identification information control unit 405 Print job selection unit 406 Non-contact IC card I / F
1903 Print job deletion event acquisition unit 1904 Print job control command transmission unit 1905 Network I / F
103, 1603, 3003, 3004 Printer 301, 1801, 3101 HTTP command interpretation unit 302 Print job identification information generation unit 303 Print job data reception unit 304 Print job holding unit 305 Non-contact IC card detection unit 306, 1803, 3102 Acquisition of identification information Section 307 Print job identification information matching section 308 Image forming section 309 Network I / F
310 USB I / F
1802 Print job control unit 3103 Transfer print job data acquisition unit 3104 Print job data transfer unit 104, 1604 Network 105, 106, 3005 Non-contact IC card reader / writer 1605 Public packet communication line 1606 Internet

Claims (8)

An image forming system having an information processing device, an image forming device, and a portable terminal, and forming an image with the image forming device based on job data generated by the information processing device,
The information processing apparatus includes:
Requesting the image forming apparatus for job identification information corresponding to the job data, and acquiring the job identification information generated by the image forming apparatus based on the request ;
An information output unit for outputting a job name corresponding to the job data and the job identification information to the portable terminal;
A data transmission unit that transmits the job data and the job identification information to the image forming apparatus;
The portable terminal is
An information holding unit for holding the job name and the job identification information output from the information output unit of the information processing apparatus;
A display unit for displaying the job name held in the information holding unit;
A selection unit for selecting the job name displayed on the display unit;
An identification information control unit that selects the job identification information corresponding to the job name selected by the selection unit;
The image forming apparatus includes:
An identification information generation unit that generates the job identification information corresponding to the job data in response to a request from the first identification information acquisition unit of the information processing apparatus;
A data receiver that receives the job data and the job identification information transmitted from the data transmitter of the information processing apparatus;
A second identification information acquisition unit that acquires the job identification information selected by the identification information control unit of the portable terminal;
The job identification information is set so that job data corresponding to the job identification information acquired by the second identification information acquisition unit is searched from the job data transmitted from the data transmission unit of the information processing apparatus. An identification information verification unit to be verified;
An image forming system comprising: an image forming unit configured to form an image based on the job data corresponding to the job identification information in a selected state searched by collation by the identification information collating unit. The information holding unit of the portable terminal uses a non-contact IC card that can hold the job identification information,
2. The information processing apparatus is connected to a non-contact IC card reader / writer that writes the job identification information output from the information output unit so as to be held in the non-contact IC card. The image forming system described in 1. The information processing apparatus includes:
A non-contact IC card detection unit that detects the presence or absence of the non-contact IC card close to the non-contact IC card reader / writer;
The first identification information acquisition unit
3. The image forming system according to claim 2, wherein when the non-contact IC card is detected by the non-contact IC card detection unit, the job identification information is requested to the image forming apparatus. The information holding unit of the portable terminal uses a non-contact IC card that can hold the job identification information,
2. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is connected to a non-contact IC card reader / writer that reads the selected job identification information from the non-contact IC card. The portable terminal is
Deleting the job identification information selected by the identification information control unit and the job name corresponding to the job identification information from the job name and job identification information held by the information holding unit; A print job deletion command transmission unit that transmits a command to delete the job data corresponding to the job identification information to the forming apparatus;
The image forming apparatus includes:
In response to the command received from the print job deletion command transmission unit of the portable terminal, job data corresponding to the job identification information is selected from the job data transmitted from the data transmission unit of the information processing apparatus. The image forming system according to claim 1, further comprising a job deletion unit for deleting. The image forming system according to claim 5, wherein the print job deletion command transmission unit transmits a command to delete the job data corresponding to the job identification information to the image forming apparatus via a network. . The image forming system
A second identification information acquisition unit that acquires the job identification information selected by the identification information control unit of the portable terminal;
A job data acquisition unit for transmitting the job data corresponding to the job identification information acquired by the second identification information acquisition unit to the image forming apparatus via a network and acquiring the job data;
A second image forming apparatus having an image forming unit that forms an image based on job data acquired by the job data acquiring unit;
The image forming apparatus includes:
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a job data transfer unit that transfers the job data to the second image forming apparatus based on the transfer command transmitted from the job data acquisition unit of the second image forming apparatus. The image forming system described. The job data acquisition unit
When the device identifier on the network corresponding to the job identification information acquired by the second identification information acquisition unit is different from its own device identifier, a transfer command to be transferred to the image forming device is transmitted to acquire the job data The image forming system according to claim 7.