JP5602058B2 - Mobile printing system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a mobile printing system.

  In recent years, mobile terminal devices such as mobile phones and smartphones that have a mobile phone function and can be connected to a wireless local area network (LAN) have become widespread.

  Also, there is a printing system that uses a telephone carried by a user to identify a printer near the user and transmits a print job from the client PC to the printer (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-21860

  A mobile terminal device having a wireless LAN function such as a smartphone can cause an image forming apparatus such as a printer or a multifunction peripheral to execute a print job remotely via a network.

  An image forming apparatus having a user authentication function receives login information from a terminal device via a network, and executes a print job only when user authentication based on the login information is successful.

  For this reason, when a print job is executed from a mobile terminal device having a wireless LAN function such as a smartphone to an image forming apparatus having a user authentication function, the user can It is necessary to input login information such as a user ID and password. Compared with a normal personal computer or the like, the screen or the screen is small, or the input unit such as a keyboard is small. Therefore, the user interface of a mobile terminal device such as a smartphone is difficult for the user to use. For this reason, the input operation of the login information is a burden on the user.

  Further, such an image forming apparatus has a function (a setting change function such as a network setting) that cannot be executed by a general user but only by an administrator user. In order to execute such a function, the administrator user logs in to the image forming apparatus as an administrator or inputs a hidden command in advance.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a mobile printing system that can reduce a user's operation burden when executing a setting change permitted only to a specific user. To do.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is configured as follows.

A mobile printing system according to the present invention includes an image forming apparatus that executes a job specified by a job execution request, a card reader that reads login information from a user ID card, a mobile terminal device, and a user authentication process based on the login information An authentication server device that performs the above and a device setting management server device. The device setting management server device transmits a setting change request for a predetermined setting item of the image forming apparatus issued by the mobile terminal device to the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes a storage unit that associates and stores the authority information indicating whether to execute setting change and aircraft identifier that has been registered in advance, accepts the setting change request from the device setting management server apparatus, mobile terminal apparatus If change setting by the authorization information associated with the aircraft identifier is permitted to execute the setting change according to the setting change request, setting change by the authorization information associated with the aircraft identifier of mobile terminal apparatus is permitted If not, the setting change request is rejected. Then, the image forming apparatus uses (a) a card reader to acquire login information from the user's ID card, transmits the acquired login information to the authentication server apparatus, receives an authentication result from the authentication server apparatus, (B) When the machine identifier of the mobile terminal device is acquired, and when the acquired machine identifier is the same as the machine identifier registered in advance in the storage device, when it is determined based on the authentication result that the user authentication process is successful When the login information is transmitted to the portable terminal device and it is determined based on the authentication result that the user authentication process has failed, the login information is not transmitted to the portable terminal device. The portable terminal device (a) login information from the image forming device when the device identifier of the portable terminal device is the same as the device identifier registered in advance in the storage device of the image forming device and the user authentication process is successful. And (b) transmitting the stored login information to the authentication server device, and requesting job execution after successful user authentication processing based on the stored login information. Send. The authentication server device receives the setting change request from the mobile terminal device, and transmits the setting change request to the device setting management server device after the user authentication process based on the login information from the mobile terminal device is successful.

Thereby, since the authority information is automatically applied to the mobile terminal device carried by the user, it is possible to reduce the operation burden on the user when executing the setting change permitted only for the specific user. Furthermore, since it becomes possible to automatically log in using a mobile terminal device such as a smartphone carried by the user, it is possible to reduce an operation burden when the user logs in. Further, since the setting change can be executed only when the user authentication based on the login information is successful, the operation burden when the administrator user wants to execute the setting change can be reduced. Furthermore, registration of login information to the mobile terminal device by a person who is not a regular user can be prohibited.

The mobile printing system according to the present invention, in addition to the mobile printing system of, may be as follows. In this case, upon receiving a setting change request issued by the mobile terminal device, the device setting management server device acquires authority information associated with the machine identifier of the mobile terminal device from the image forming device in the image forming device, When the setting change is permitted by the authority information, the setting change request is transmitted to the image forming apparatus. When the setting change is not permitted by the authority information, the setting change request is not transmitted to the image forming apparatus.

  In addition to the mobile printing system described above, the mobile printing system according to the present invention may be as follows. In this case, among the authority information stored in the storage device of the image forming apparatus, the authority information associated with the machine identifier of the mobile terminal device used by the administrator user of the image forming apparatus indicates permission to change the setting. The authority information that has a value and is associated with the machine identifier of the mobile terminal device that is used by a user other than the administrator user has a value that indicates the rejection of the setting change.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the operation burden by the user at the time of making the setting change permitted only for a specific user in a mobile printing system can be eased.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a mobile printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image forming apparatus in FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the mobile terminal device in FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operations of the image forming apparatus and the portable terminal device relating to the storage of login information to the portable terminal device in the system shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram illustrating processing when the mobile terminal device causes the image forming apparatus to execute a print job after the mobile terminal device stores login information in the system illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram for explaining the operation of each apparatus when the setting of the image forming apparatus 1 is changed in the system shown in FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a mobile printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In the system shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of image forming apparatuses 1 such as printers and multifunction peripherals are connected to a network 2. A user of this system can use a user terminal device 3 such as a personal computer, and also carries a portable terminal device 11 and an ID card 12 as necessary.

  The image forming apparatus 1 has an operation panel and a network interface, and executes a job (print job, copy job, facsimile transmission job, etc.) according to a user operation on the operation panel, or executes a job received by the network interface. To do. Connected to the image forming apparatus 1 is a card reader 1 a that reads login information (such as a user ID and password pair) from the ID card 12. The image forming apparatus 1 executes a print job when the user authentication process based on the login information is successful.

  The network 2 may be a LAN or a WAN (Wide Area Network) such as the Internet. The wireless LAN base station 2a is connected to the network 2 and performs wireless communication with a terminal device in a communication area according to a predetermined wireless LAN protocol.

  The user terminal device 3 is connectable to the network 2 and registers a print job in the job management server device 4 via the network 2 according to a user operation. This print job has data in a format that can be processed by the image forming apparatus 1 such as PDL (Page Description Language) data, and registered user identification information (such as a user ID).

  The job management server device 4 is connected to the network 2 and receives and stores a user's print job via the network 2. When a job execution request is received via the network 2, the print job specified by the request Is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 1. Further, when the job management server apparatus 4 receives the job list request, the job management server apparatus 4 transmits, as a response, a list of print jobs registered at that time for the user specified by the job list request.

  The authentication server device 5 stores login information (such as a user ID and password pair) of a legitimate user, is connected to the network 2, and receives an authentication request via the network 2, and is designated by the authentication request. The user authentication process based on the logged-in information is performed, and the authentication result is transmitted as a response. When the user authentication is successful, the authentication server device 5 issues an authentication ticket with an expiration date. When making various requests after user authentication, the authentication ticket is attached to indicate that the request is from an authenticated user. The authentication server device 5 functions as a front-end server that accepts requests processed by other server devices (the job management server device 4 and the device setting management server device 6). For example, the authentication server device 5 receives a setting change request from the mobile terminal device 11 and transmits the setting change request to the device setting management server device 6 after the user authentication process based on the login information from the mobile terminal device 11 is successful. To do.

  The device setting management server device 6 manages setting value information (setting items to be managed and values of the setting items) of the image forming device 1 in the system, and specific settings in each image forming device 1. The initial value and current value of the item are held, and a setting change request for a predetermined setting item of the image forming apparatus 1 issued by the portable terminal device 11 is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 1. The device setting management server device 6 transmits the setting change request to the image forming apparatus 1 when receiving the setting change request after the user authentication process with the login information stored in the mobile terminal device 11 is successful. On the other hand, when the setting change request is received before the user authentication process with the login information stored in the mobile terminal device 11 is successful, the device setting management server device 6 rejects the setting change request.

  The mobile terminal device 11 can be connected to the network 2 via the wireless LAN base station 2a or a mobile phone network (not shown), and forms an image via the network 2 and / or using short-range communication described later. The apparatus 1 is caused to execute a print job. As the mobile terminal device 11, a high-function mobile phone such as a smartphone in which an application for executing a print job or the like is installed is used.

  The ID card 12 stores login information in advance, and when detected by the card reader 1a in contact or non-contact, sends the login information to the card reader 1a.

  In this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1 reads the login information from the ID card 12 using the card reader 1a, acquires the machine identifier of the mobile terminal apparatus 11, and the acquired machine identifier is registered in advance. If it is the same as the existing machine identifier, the login information is transmitted to the mobile terminal device 11. When receiving the login information from the image forming apparatus 1, the portable terminal device 11 stores the received login information and uses the stored login information for user authentication processing when executing a print job. The image forming apparatus 1 stores a flag indicating whether or not login information has been stored in the portable terminal device 11 of the machine identifier in association with the machine identifier, and the acquired machine body of the mobile terminal device 11. When the flag value for the identifier is a value indicating that the login information is not stored, the login information is transmitted. When the flag value is a value indicating that the login information is stored, the login information is not transmitted. The initial value of this flag is a value indicating that login information is not stored. Further, when the storage of the login information is completed, the mobile terminal device 11 transmits a storage completion notification to the image forming device 1. When the image forming device 1 receives the storage completion notification, the mobile terminal device 11 determines the machine identifier of the mobile terminal device 11. Is changed from a value indicating that the login information is not stored to a value indicating that the login information is stored.

  A MAC (Media Access Control) address or the like is used as the machine identifier of the mobile terminal device 11. When the mobile terminal device 11 is a mobile phone, the device identifier of the mobile terminal device 11 is a phone number unique to the device 11 in the mobile phone network, an e-mail address unique to the device 11 using the mobile phone network, or the like. May be used.

  For example, instead of logging in with the ID card 12a, the user can log in with the mobile terminal device 11 after storing the login information. In that case, the mobile terminal device 11 transmits the stored login information to the image forming apparatus 1 to perform login. When the image forming apparatus 1 receives login information from the portable terminal device 11 or the card reader 1a, the image forming apparatus 1 causes the authentication server apparatus 5 to execute user authentication processing based on the login information. Further, after storing the login information, the mobile terminal device 11 directly transmits the stored login information to the authentication server device 5 via the network 2, and performs user authentication processing based on the login information to the authentication server device 5. It can also be executed.

  Further, when the user authentication process based on the stored login information is successful, the mobile terminal device 11 causes the job management server device 4 to transmit a print job to the image forming device 1 via the authentication server device 5, and The print job can be executed by the image forming apparatus 1.

  Here, the configurations of the image forming apparatus 1 and the mobile terminal apparatus 11 will be described.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 in FIG.

  The image forming apparatus 1 includes a network interface 21, a short-range communication device 22, a storage device 23, an operation panel 24, an internal device 25, an arithmetic processing device 26, and the like.

  The network interface 21 is a communication device that connects to the network 2 and communicates with devices connected to the network 2.

  The short-range communication device 22 is a communication device that performs communication with peripheral devices using a peer-to-peer short-range wireless communication protocol such as Bluetooth or infrared communication.

  The storage device 23 is a nonvolatile storage device such as a hard disk drive or a nonvolatile memory, and stores a device registration table 31. The device registration table 31 has a machine identifier of one or a plurality of portable terminal devices 11 that are permitted as a transmission destination of login information. Furthermore, the device registration table 31 has authority information associated with the machine identifier of the mobile terminal device 11 registered in advance. This authority information indicates whether or not a value of a specific setting item such as network setting can be changed (that is, setting change).

  In this embodiment, the authority information stored in the device registration table 31 of the storage device 23 of the image forming apparatus 1 is associated with the machine identifier of the portable terminal device 11 used by the administrator user of the image forming apparatus 1. Authority information having a value indicating permission of setting change, and authority information associated with the body identifier of the mobile terminal device 11 used by a user (general user) other than the administrator user is refusal of setting change. It has the value which shows.

  The operation panel 24 includes a display device such as a liquid crystal display that displays various types of information to the user, and an input device such as a touch panel that accepts user operations.

  The internal device 25 is a device that implements various functions such as printing, image reading, and facsimile transmission / reception. For example, the internal device 25 includes a mechanism for printing an image on printing paper, a control circuit for controlling the mechanism, and the like.

  The arithmetic processing unit 26 is a computer having a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), etc., and loads a program stored in the storage device 23 or the ROM into the RAM. The various processing units are realized by being executed by the CPU. In this embodiment, a communication processing unit 41, an authentication processing unit 42, a short-range communication processing unit 43, and a control unit 44 are realized in the arithmetic processing unit 26.

  The communication processing unit 41 controls the network interface 21 to perform communication with devices connected to the network 2 using various protocols.

  The authentication processing unit 42 includes login information read from the ID card 12 by the card reader 1a, login information input to the operation panel 24, and the short-range communication processing unit 43 via the short-range communication devices 22 and 52. When the login information such as the login information received from the mobile terminal device 11 is received, the communication processing unit 41 is used to transmit the login information together with the authentication request to the authentication server device 5 and execute user authentication based on the login information. The authentication result and / or the authentication ticket is received.

  The short-range communication processing unit 43 controls the short-range communication device 22 to detect the mobile terminal device 11 existing in the communication area of the short-range communication device 22 and acquire the machine identifier of the mobile terminal device 11. If the acquired machine identifier is the same as one of the machine identifiers in the device registration table 31, the login information is transmitted to the mobile terminal device 11.

  The control unit 44 controls the internal device 25 to perform various operations such as printing. Further, the control unit 44 controls the card reader 1a and acquires login information read by the card reader 1a.

  When the control unit 44 receives a setting change request from the device management server device 6 via the network 2 using the communication processing unit 41, the machine identifier of the mobile terminal device 11 that is the issuer of the setting change request is stored in the storage device. If the setting change is permitted by the authority information associated with the device identifier of the mobile terminal device 11, the setting change is executed according to the setting change request. On the other hand, when the device identifier of the mobile terminal device 11 is not registered in the device registration table 31 or when the device identifier of the mobile terminal device 11 is registered in the device registration table 31, the control unit 44 If the setting change is not permitted by the authority information associated with the 11 machine identifier, the setting change request is rejected.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the mobile terminal device 11 in FIG.

  The mobile terminal device 11 includes a wireless network interface 51, a short-range communication device 52, a storage device 53, a display device 54, an input device 55, an arithmetic processing device 56, and the like.

  The wireless network interface 51 is a communication device that accesses the wireless LAN base station 2 a and communicates with a device connected to the network 2.

  The short-range communication device 52 is a communication device that performs communication with devices existing in the vicinity using a short-range wireless communication protocol such as Bluetooth or infrared communication. The near field communication device 52 performs communication using the same near field communication protocol as the near field communication device 22.

  The storage device 53 is a nonvolatile storage device such as a hard disk drive or a nonvolatile memory, and stores a program 61. The storage device 53 stores login information received from the image forming apparatus 1.

  The display device 54 displays various information to the user. For example, a liquid crystal display is used as the display device 54.

  The input device 55 receives a user operation and detects an electrical signal corresponding to the user operation. As the input device 55, for example, a touch panel, a key switch, or the like is used.

  The arithmetic processing unit 56 is a computer having a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like. The program 61 stored in the storage device 53 and the program stored in the ROM are loaded into the RAM and executed by the CPU. Implement various processing units. In this embodiment, in the arithmetic processing unit 56, a communication processing unit 71, a login processing unit 72, a login information storage unit 73, and a remote control unit 74 are realized.

  The communication processing unit 71 controls the wireless network interface 51 to perform communication with devices connected to the network 2 using various protocols.

  When login information is stored in the storage device 53, the login processing unit 72 uses the login information to execute user authentication processing when executing a print job without displaying a login screen. That is, when the remote control unit 74 transmits various requests according to a user operation, the login processing unit 72 automatically executes a user authentication process and acquires an authentication ticket before transmitting the request. In addition, since the login screen is not displayed on the mobile terminal device 11, another user cannot log in by inputting the user's login information to the mobile terminal device 11.

  The login information storage unit 73 controls the short-range communication device 52 to receive login information from the image forming apparatus 1 and stores the received login information in the storage device 53 in the mobile terminal device 11.

  After the user authentication is successful, the remote control unit 74 transmits various requests to the image forming apparatus 1 and the authentication server apparatus 5 to execute the process specified by the request. In this embodiment, the remote control unit 74 transmits a request such as an authentication request, a job list request, a job execution request, and a setting change request to the front-end authentication server device 5.

  Next, the operation of each device in the system will be described.

  First, operations of the image forming apparatus 1 and the portable terminal device 11 relating to storage of login information in the portable terminal device 11 will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operations of the image forming apparatus 1 and the portable terminal device 11 relating to storage of login information in the portable terminal device 11 in the system shown in FIG.

  When the login information is not stored in the mobile terminal device 11, the user logs in with the ID card 12 placed close to the card reader 1 a when using the image forming apparatus 1. At this time, when the card reader 1a detects the ID card 12, the card reader 1a reads the login information from the ID card 12 and transmits it to the control unit 44 of the image forming apparatus 1 (step S1).

  When the login information is received by the control unit 44, the authentication processing unit 42 uses the communication processing unit 41 to transmit the login information together with the authentication request to the authentication server device 5 via the network 2, thereby performing user authentication. Execute the process. And the authentication process part 42 will determine whether user authentication was successful, if a user authentication result is received from the authentication server apparatus 5 (step S2).

  When the user authentication is successful, the short-range communication processing unit 43 searches for the mobile terminal device 11 existing in the communication area of the short-range communication device 22 (step S3). When the short-range communication processing unit 43 finds the mobile terminal device 11, the short-range communication processing unit 43 acquires the machine identifier of the mobile terminal device 11 (in this embodiment, the MAC address of the short-range communication device 52) (step S <b> 4).

  The short-range communication processing unit 43 determines whether or not the acquired machine identifier is the same as any of the machine identifiers stored in the device registration table 31 (step S5).

  When the machine identifier acquired from the mobile terminal device 11 is the same as any of the machine identifiers stored in the device registration table 31, the short-range communication processing unit 43 reads the login information read from the ID card 12. Is transmitted to the portable terminal device 11 (step S6). Note that the confirmation number is notified to the authorized user in advance and is known to the authorized user. Further, in this embodiment, together with the login information, an apparatus identifier unique to the image forming apparatus 1 (MAC address, IP address, domain name, machine name, URI (Uniform Resource Identifier) of the network interface 21 or the short-range communication apparatus 22). And the like are transmitted to the mobile terminal device 11.

  At this time, the short-range communication processing unit 43 displays a confirmation number input screen on the mobile terminal device 11, and when the confirmation number input to the input screen matches a predetermined number, the ID card 12 When the read login information is transmitted to the mobile terminal device 11 and the confirmation number input on the input screen does not match the predetermined number, the login information read from the ID card 12 is You may make it complete | finish a process, without transmitting to the portable terminal device 11. FIG.

  On the other hand, if the user authentication fails in step S2, and if the machine identifier obtained from the mobile terminal device 11 in step S5 is not the same as any of the machine identifiers stored in the device registration table 31, the login information is This process ends without transmitting to the mobile terminal device 11.

  When the login information and the machine identifier of the image forming apparatus 1 are transmitted from the image forming apparatus 1, the login information storage unit 73 of the mobile terminal apparatus 1 controls the short-range communication device 52 to control the login information and The machine identifier of the image forming apparatus 1 is received (step S11).

  The login information storage unit 73 uses the communication processing unit 71 to transmit the login information together with the authentication request to the authentication server device 5 to execute user authentication processing. Then, when receiving the user authentication result from the authentication server device 5, the login information storage unit 73 determines whether the user authentication is successful (step S12). When the user authentication process is successful, the login information storage unit 73 stores the login information and the machine identifier of the image forming apparatus 1 in the storage device 53 in association with each other (step S13). On the other hand, if the user authentication process fails, the login information is discarded and this process ends.

  In this way, login information and the like are stored in the mobile terminal device 11. After the login information is stored, by using the stored login information, an authentication request to the authentication server device 5 and a login to the image forming apparatus 1 can be performed. When logging in to the image forming apparatus 1, the login processing unit 72 reads the login information from the storage device 53 and transmits it to the image forming apparatus 1 using the short-range communication device 52. The control unit 44 of the image forming apparatus 1 receives the login information using the short-range communication device 22 and the short-range communication processing unit 43. Thereby, the portable terminal device 11 can be used for login instead of the ID card 12.

  In this embodiment, the body identifier of the image forming apparatus 1 is transmitted from the image forming apparatus 1 to the mobile terminal apparatus 11 together with the login information. However, only the mobile terminal apparatus 11 whose setting change is permitted by the authority information. The login information is transmitted together with the machine identifier of the image forming apparatus 1, and login information is transmitted to the portable terminal device 11 whose setting change is not permitted by the authority information and the apparatus identifier of the image forming apparatus 1 is not transmitted. Good.

  Next, processing when the mobile terminal device 11 storing the login information causes the image forming apparatus 1 to execute a print job will be described. FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram illustrating processing when the mobile terminal device 11 causes the image forming apparatus 1 to execute a print job after the mobile terminal device 11 stores the login information in the system illustrated in FIG.

  First, the user operates the user terminal device 3 to store the print job in the job management server device 4. At this time, the user terminal device 3 transmits the print job to the job management server device 4 together with the user ID and the job storage request via the network 2 (step S21). Upon receiving the job storage request, the job management server device 4 stores the print job received together with the job storage request in association with the received user ID (step S22). When the storage of the print job is completed, the job management server device 4 transmits a storage completion notification to the user terminal device 3 as a response to the job storage request.

  In this way, the user's print job is stored in the job management server apparatus 4. In the job management server device 4, each of a plurality of users can store a plurality of print jobs.

  Thereafter, when the user wants the image forming apparatus 1 to execute a print job stored in the job management server apparatus 4 using the mobile terminal apparatus 11, first, a list of stored print jobs is displayed. Thereafter, a print job is selected from the list, and the selected print job is executed.

  At this time, when a user operation for displaying the job list is detected, first, the login processing unit 72 of the mobile terminal device 11 reads the stored login information and uses the communication processing unit 71 to log in the login information. Information is transmitted to the authentication server device 5 together with the authentication request (step S31). If login information is preserve | saved at this time, the portable terminal device 11 will transmit login information automatically, without displaying a login screen (input screen of login information). If the login information is not stored, the login processing unit 72 displays an error message on the display device 54 and ends this processing.

  When the authentication server device 5 receives the login information together with the authentication request, the authentication server device 5 executes user authentication processing based on the login information. When the user authentication is successful (step S32), the authentication server device 5 issues an authentication ticket and transmits it to the mobile terminal device 11. (Step S33). When receiving the authentication ticket, the login processing unit 72 of the mobile terminal device 11 stores the authentication ticket.

  Next, the remote control unit 74 uses the communication processing unit 71 to transmit a job list request together with the authentication ticket to the authentication server device 5 (step S34). The job list request includes the user ID of the user. Upon receiving the job list request and the authentication ticket, the authentication server device 5 determines the validity of the authentication ticket, and if the authentication ticket is valid, transmits the job list request to the job management server device 4. (Step S35). If the authentication ticket is not valid, the request is rejected. Upon receiving the job list request, the job management server device 4 generates a list of print jobs associated with the user ID included in the job list request, and transmits it to the authentication server device 5 as a response to the request. When receiving the print job list as a response to the request, the authentication server device 5 transmits it to the mobile terminal device 11 (step S36).

  When receiving the list, the remote control unit 74 of the mobile terminal device 11 displays the list on the display device 54 (step S37).

  The user confirms the list displayed on the display device 54 and performs an operation on the input device 55 for selecting one or more print jobs to be executed from the list.

  The remote control unit 74 of the mobile terminal device 11 specifies the print job selected by the operation received by the input device 55 (step S38), and specifies the specified print job using the communication processing unit 71. A job execution request is transmitted to the authentication server device 5 together with the above-described authentication ticket (step S39).

  Upon receiving the job execution request and the authentication ticket, the authentication server device 5 determines the validity of the authentication ticket, and if the authentication ticket is valid, transmits the job execution request to the job management server device 4. (Step S40). If the authentication ticket is not valid, the request is rejected. Upon receiving the job execution request, the job management server device 4 selects a print job designated by the job execution request (step S41), and transmits the selected print job to the image forming apparatus 1 (step S42). . The job management server device 4 deletes the transmitted print job immediately after transmission or after a certain period of time. When the communication processing unit 41 of the image forming apparatus 1 receives the print job, the control unit 44 performs image processing on the print job as necessary, and controls the internal device 25 to cope with the print job. The print image to be printed is printed (step S43).

  In this way, the print job is executed.

  Next, the operation of each device when the administrator user executes a predetermined function (setting change) will be described. FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram for explaining the operation of each apparatus when the setting of the image forming apparatus 1 is changed in the system shown in FIG.

  In this embodiment, when changing the setting of the image forming apparatus 1, the mobile terminal device 11 first reads and displays the setting value information from the device setting management server device 6, and then specifies the changed setting value. Send a setting change request.

  When a user operation for displaying the setting change screen is detected by the input device 55, first, the login processing unit 72 of the mobile terminal device 11 reads the stored login information and uses the communication processing unit 71. The login information is transmitted to the authentication server device 5 together with the authentication request (step S51). If login information is preserve | saved at this time, the portable terminal device 11 will transmit login information automatically, without displaying a login screen. If the login information is not stored, the login processing unit 72 displays an error message on the display device 54 and ends this processing.

  Upon receiving the login information together with the authentication request, the authentication server device 5 executes user authentication processing based on the login information. When the user authentication is successful (step S52), the authentication server device 5 issues an authentication ticket and transmits it to the mobile terminal device 11. (Step S53). When receiving the authentication ticket, the login processing unit 72 of the mobile terminal device 11 stores the authentication ticket.

  If the user authentication is successful, the remote control unit 74 uses the communication processing unit 71 and the wireless network interface 51 to transmit a setting value read request together with the authentication ticket and the machine identifier of the image forming apparatus 1 to the authentication server apparatus 5. (Step S54). The machine identifier of the image forming apparatus 1 is stored together with the login information. Upon receiving the setting value read request, the authentication ticket, and the machine identifier of the image forming apparatus 1, the authentication server device 5 determines the validity of the authentication ticket, and if the authentication ticket is valid, reads the setting value. The request and the machine identifier of the image forming apparatus 1 are transmitted to the device setting management server device 6 (step S55). If the authentication ticket is not valid, the request is rejected. Upon receiving the setting value reading request and the machine identifier of the image forming apparatus 1, the device setting management server device 6 specifies the image forming apparatus 1 that is the target of the setting value reading request from the machine identifier of the image forming apparatus 1. (Step S56), the setting value information of the identified image forming apparatus 1 (that is, the current value or initial value of the predetermined setting item) is transmitted to the authentication server apparatus 5 as a response to the request, and the authentication server apparatus 5 When the set value information is received as a response to the request, it is transmitted to the mobile terminal device 11 (step S57).

  When receiving the setting value information, the remote control unit 74 of the mobile terminal device 11 displays the setting value information on the setting change screen on the display device 54 (step S58).

  The user confirms the setting value displayed on the display device 54 and performs an operation on the input device 55 to input the changed setting value.

  The remote control unit 74 of the mobile terminal device 11 specifies the set value input by the operation received by the input device 55 (step S59), and after changing the specified set value using the communication processing unit 71 A setting change request designated as the value of the ID is transmitted to the authentication server device 5 together with the above-described authentication ticket, the machine identifier of the image forming apparatus 1 and the machine identifier of the portable terminal device 11 (step S61). The machine identifier of the image forming apparatus 1 is stored together with the login information.

  Upon receiving the setting change request, the authentication ticket, and the two machine identifiers, the authentication server device 5 determines the validity of the authentication ticket. If the authentication ticket is valid, the authentication server apparatus 5 sends the setting change request and the two machine bodies. The identifier is transmitted to the device setting management server device 6 (step S62). If the authentication ticket is not valid, the request is rejected. Upon receiving the setting change and the two machine identifiers, the device setting management server apparatus 6 identifies the image forming apparatus 1 that is the target of the setting change request from the machine identifier of the image forming apparatus 1 (step S63). The setting change request is transmitted to the identified image forming apparatus 1 together with the machine identifier of the portable terminal device 11 (step S64).

  When the control unit 44 of the image forming apparatus 1 receives the setting change request together with the machine identifier of the mobile terminal device 11 using the network interface 21 and the communication processing unit 41, the controller 44 associates the setting change request with the machine identifier in the device registration table 31. The authority information is read out, and it is determined whether or not the setting change designated by the setting change request is permitted (step S65).

  When the setting change specified by the setting change request is permitted, the control unit 44 sets the setting item specified by the setting change request among the setting item values stored in the image forming apparatus 1. Is changed to the value designated by the setting change request (step S66). When the setting change is completed, the control unit 44 transmits a completion notification to the device setting management server device 6 using the network interface 21 and the communication processing unit 41. Upon receiving the completion notification, the device setting management server device 6 transmits it to the authentication server device 5, and when receiving the completion notification, the authentication server device 5 transmits it to the mobile terminal device 11 (step S67). On the other hand, when the setting change designated by the setting change request is not permitted, the control unit 44 rejects the setting change request.

  As described above, according to the above-described embodiment, the device setting management server device 6 transmits to the image forming device 1 a setting change request for a predetermined setting item of the image forming device 1 issued by the mobile terminal device 11. . The image forming apparatus 1 includes a storage device 23 that stores a pre-registered machine identifier and authority information that indicates whether or not setting change can be performed, and receives a setting change request from the device setting management server device 6. When the device identifier of the terminal device 11 is stored in the storage device 23 and the setting change is permitted by the authority information associated with the device identifier of the mobile terminal device 11, the setting change is executed according to the setting change request. If the device identifier of the mobile terminal device 11 is not stored in the storage device 23 or the device identifier of the mobile terminal device 11 is stored in the storage device 23, the authority associated with the device identifier of the mobile terminal device 11 If the setting change is not permitted by the information, the setting change request is rejected.

  As a result, the authority information is automatically applied to the mobile terminal device 11 carried by each user, so that the operation burden on the user when executing a setting change that is permitted only to a specific user is executed. Can be reduced.

  The above-described embodiments are preferred examples of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to these, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. is there.

  For example, in the above embodiment, a print job may be registered from the mobile terminal device 11 to the job management server device 4 in the same manner as the user terminal device 3.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, when the some portable terminal device 11 is detected, you may make it select the nearest portable terminal device 11 and transmit login information to the selected portable terminal device 11. FIG. The nearest mobile terminal device 11 is specified as having a high electric field strength of a received radio wave of the short-range communication device 22, for example.

  In the above embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1 may transmit additional information together with the login information to the mobile terminal device 11.

  In the above-described embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1 transmits identification information unique to the image forming apparatus 1 (for example, the above-described machine identifier) together with the login information to the mobile terminal apparatus 11, and the mobile terminal apparatus 11 The identification information unique to the image forming apparatus 1 is stored together with the login information, the identification information unique to the image forming apparatus 1 is included in the job execution request, and the job management server apparatus 4 uses the identification information included in the job execution request. A print job may be transmitted to the designated image forming apparatus 1. Thereby, even if there are a plurality of image forming apparatuses 1 in the system, the image forming apparatus 1 that is the transmission destination of the print job can be specified.

  In the above-described embodiment, the mobile terminal device 11 searches for the image forming device 1 existing in the communication area of the short-range communication device 52 and finds the device identifier (for example, the short-range communication device) of the found image forming device 1. 22), the job management server apparatus 4 includes the machine identifier of the image forming apparatus 1 in the job execution request, and the job management server apparatus 4 sends the image forming apparatus 1 specified by the machine identifier included in the job execution request. A print job may be transmitted. In this case, the job management server apparatus 4 stores in advance the machine identifiers of one or more image forming apparatuses 1 in the system in association with address information (such as IP addresses) of the image forming apparatuses 1 on the network 2. . Thereby, even if there are a plurality of image forming apparatuses 1 in the system, the image forming apparatus 1 that is the transmission destination of the print job can be specified.

  In the above-described embodiment, the request is transmitted from the mobile terminal device 11 to the image forming apparatus 1 by the short-range communication using the short-range communication devices 22 and 52. Instead, the request is transmitted via the network 2. May be transmitted.

  In the above embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1 transmits the authority information together with the login information to the mobile terminal apparatus 11, and the mobile terminal apparatus 11 receives the authority information and controls the screen display based on the authority information. You may do it. For example, when the authority information indicates whether or not the value of a predetermined setting item can be changed, the portable terminal device 11 displays the value of the setting item in a changeable state on a predetermined input screen when the change is permitted. When the change is prohibited, the value of the setting item is displayed on the predetermined input screen with the change added (for example, grayed out).

  In the above embodiment, the machine identifier of the image forming apparatus 1 is transmitted from the image forming apparatus 1 to the portable terminal device 11 together with the login information. Instead, the machine identifier of the image forming apparatus 1 is also transmitted together with the login information. Without transmitting from the image forming apparatus 1 to the mobile terminal apparatus 11, the device setting management server apparatus 6 does not receive the machine identifier of the image forming apparatus 1 at the time of a setting change request, and does not receive the machine identifier and image formation of the mobile terminal apparatus 11. The image forming apparatus 1 associated with the portable terminal apparatus 11 that is the transmission source of the setting change request is identified and identified with reference to the table in advance in association with the machine identifier of the apparatus 1. The setting change request may be transmitted to the image forming apparatus 1.

  In the above-described embodiment, the device setting management server device 6 transmits the machine identifier of the mobile terminal device 11 to the image forming apparatus 1. Instead, the device setting management server device 6 replaces the mobile terminal device 11. Is received from the authentication server device 5, the authority information associated with the machine identifier of the mobile terminal device 11 is acquired from the image forming apparatus 1 in the image forming apparatus 1, and set by the authority information. When the change is permitted, the setting change request is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 1, and when the setting change is not permitted by the authority information, the setting change request is not transmitted to the image forming apparatus 1. Good.

  The present invention is applicable to network printing using a smartphone, for example.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 1a Card reader 2 Network 4 Job management server apparatus 5 Authentication server apparatus 6 Device setting management server apparatus 11 Portable terminal apparatus 12 ID card 23 Storage apparatus 44 Control part

Claims (3)

An image forming apparatus that executes a job specified by the job execution request ;
A card reader that reads login information from the user's ID card;
A mobile terminal device;
An authentication server device for performing user authentication processing based on the login information;
A device setting management server device,
The device setting management server device transmits a setting change request for a predetermined setting item of the image forming apparatus issued by the mobile terminal device to the image forming apparatus;
The image forming apparatus has a storage device for storing in association with authority information indicating whether to execute setting change and aircraft identifier that has been registered in advance, it accepts the setting change request from the device setting management server device, before wherein when the setting change is allowed, perform the setting change according to the setting change request is associated with airframe identifier before Symbol mobile terminal device by the authority information associated with airframe identifier of the serial portable terminal device If the setting change is not permitted by the authority information, the setting change request is rejected ,
The image forming apparatus acquires (a) the login information from the user's ID card using the card reader, transmits the acquired login information to the authentication server apparatus, and sends an authentication result to the authentication server. (B) acquiring a machine identifier of the mobile terminal device, and when the acquired machine identifier is the same as the machine identifier pre-registered in the storage device, the user authentication process is successful and the authentication When determining based on the result, the login information is transmitted to the portable terminal device, and when determining based on the authentication result that the user authentication process has failed, the login information is not transmitted to the portable terminal device,
When the mobile terminal device is (a) the device identifier of the mobile terminal device is the same as the device identifier registered in advance in the storage device of the image forming device, and the user authentication process is successful, the image The login information is received from the forming apparatus, the received login information is stored, (b) the stored login information is transmitted to the authentication server apparatus, and the user is based on the stored login information. After the authentication process is successful, send the job execution request,
The authentication server device receives the setting change request from the mobile terminal device, and transmits the setting change request to the device setting management server device after a user authentication process based on the login information from the mobile terminal device is successful. To do,
Mobile printing system featuring When the device setting management server device receives the setting change request issued by the mobile terminal device, the authority information associated with the machine identifier of the mobile terminal device in the image forming device is transmitted from the image forming device. If the setting change is permitted by the authority information, the setting change request is transmitted to the image forming apparatus. If the setting change is not permitted by the authority information, the setting change request is transmitted to the image forming apparatus. claim 1 Symbol placement mobile printing system is characterized in that it does not transmitted to the device. Of the authority information stored in the storage device of the image forming apparatus, the authority information associated with the machine identifier of the portable terminal device used by the administrator user of the image forming apparatus is permitted to change the setting. has a value that indicates, authorization information associated with the aircraft identifier of the portable terminal apparatus the administrator user other than the user's use is claim 1 Symbol mounting and having a value indicating a rejection of the setting change Mobile printing system.

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