JP2002244831A - Image forming system and image forming method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming system in which, when data of a device provided with a portable terminal, a PHS and the like are outputted to a nearest image forming unit, the operation for searching the nearest image forming unit from a location of the device is easy. SOLUTION: In the image forming system, when the data of the device provided with the portable terminal, the PHS and the like are outputted to the nearest image forming unit, the nearest image forming unit is automatically retrieved from the location of the device, and the image is outputted to the retrieved image forming unit.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information transfer technique between a computer connected to a network and an image forming apparatus when a network is not connected in a mobile environment.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus connected to a network, image output via the network has been generalized, and output result notification has also been used via the network. At the same time, there has been proposed a means for automatically searching for the nearest image forming apparatus when outputting an image from a network-connected computer to an image forming apparatus also connected to the network.

Further, when a user wants to receive image forming data in front of an image forming apparatus, the user sends data with a password and designates the already sent data on the image output apparatus. A method of outputting the image forming data by inputting a password has already been devised.

[0004]

However, in response to an output request from a device not connected to the network,
A method for searching for the nearest image forming apparatus as described above,
There is no way to report output results.

In such a case, there is no other way than to search for the image output device closest to the location by the user himself or to manually operate the search system.

[0006] Further, by using a personal identification number, when receiving data in front of the image output apparatus, it is necessary to input the personal identification number every time the user sends or receives data. There is a problem that a password input operation is complicated.

According to the present invention, an image forming system which can easily search for the nearest image forming apparatus from the location of the device when outputting data of a device including a portable terminal and a PHS to the nearest image forming apparatus. The purpose is to provide.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a portable terminal, P
When outputting data of a device including an HS or the like to the nearest image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus automatically searches for the nearest image forming apparatus from the location of the device and outputs an image to the searched image forming apparatus. System.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [First Embodiment] FIG. 1 shows an image forming system I according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
It is a block diagram showing F1.

The image forming system IF1 includes a network 50 and a GPS (Global Positioning System).
g System) 60, the mobile terminal 10, and the router 2
0, a coordinate management server 30, and an image forming apparatus 40.

The network 50 includes a coordinate management system,
A network for connecting devices such as a wireless LAN. GPS (Global Positioning)
System 60 is a global positioning system GPS that orbits a satellite orbit and receives a radio wave transmitted from an artificial satellite to obtain the position of a measurement point.

The portable terminal 10 includes a GPS receiving unit 11, a manager 12, a control system 13, and a radio communication unit 14.
And

The GPS receiving section 11 is a receiving section that receives information from the GPS 60 and acquires coordinate data as longitude and latitude. The manager 12 is a manager that receives coordinate information from the GPS receiver 11 and receives control from the control system 13 to communicate with the wireless communication unit 14. The control system 13 is a control system that controls a mobile terminal including the GPS receiving unit 11, the manager 12, and the wireless communication unit 14. The wireless communication unit 14 is a part that controls wireless communication of the mobile terminal 10.

The router 20 performs wireless communication with the portable terminal 10, manages communication with the network 50, and communicates with the network interface unit 21 and the manager 2 that performs communication control.
2 and a wireless communication unit 23.

The coordinate management server 30 has a network 50
A network interface unit 31, a manager 32 for managing the coordinate management server 30, a coordinate conversion unit 33 for converting a coordinate axis obtained from GPS and a coordinate axis of a device connected to the network. , A position coordinate management unit 34 for searching for coordinate data and coordinates registered in the server 30, and a coordinate database 35 managed by the position coordinate management unit 34.

The image forming apparatus 40 is an image forming apparatus existing on a network 50, and has a network interface unit 41 of the image forming apparatus 40 and an image forming unit 42.

Next, the operation of the image forming system IF1 will be described.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image forming system IF1.

When the user holds the portable terminal 10 not connected to the network 50 by wire and needs the image forming apparatus 40 while accessing from the outside, the portable terminal 10
The search for the image forming apparatus 40 located near the is started (S201). At this time, when the search is performed from the mobile terminal 10, the control system 13 requests the manager 12 to search for the image forming apparatus based on the position information of the mobile terminal 10 (S202). The manager 12 requests the GPS receiving unit 11 to acquire the coordinate data (S20).
3). The GPS receiving unit 11 generates coordinate data based on the information acquired from the GPS 60 (S204), and returns the coordinate data to the manager 12 (S205).

FIG. 3 shows the portable terminal 1 in the above embodiment.
0 is a diagram showing an example of coordinate data acquired from the GPS 60.

In the example shown in FIG. 3, the coordinate data acquired from the GPS 60 is 35.degree.
It is 5 degrees 00.100 minutes and the measurement time is 11:30 UTC.

Based on this information, the manager 12
A packet requesting a search for the image forming apparatus 40 is created (S206).

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of a packet in the above embodiment.

The search request packet shown in FIG. 4 is a destination address, a search command, the current coordinates of the user, and an object to be searched. In the above embodiment, the packet is constituted by information from the image forming apparatus 40 and the like.

The search request destination is the coordinate management server 30, and the destination is the network interface 31. After creating the packet, the manager 12 requests the wireless communication unit 14 for a wireless connection. Wireless communication unit 14
Makes a connection to the wireless communication unit 23 (S207). This wireless connection is one-to-one, regardless of the type of mobile phone, PHS, etc.
Any other wireless communication method can be used as long as the wireless communication method can be used.

After the connection of the wireless communication unit 14 is completed, the manager 12 transmits the generated packet (S208). After receiving the packet, the wireless communication unit 23 analyzes the destination of the packet, and transmits the packet to the destination (S209). That is, routing of the packet is executed.

The manager 32 sends a message from the manager 22
The packet is received via the network interfaces 21 and 31 (S210). Upon receiving the packet, the manager 32 analyzes the coordinate data (S211), and
Recognizing that the data is S data, the coordinate conversion unit 33 converts the coordinate axes (S212).

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a conversion table in the above embodiment.

In the above embodiment, conversion is performed using the conversion table shown in FIG. The seven-digit code after the conversion is a code along the postal code.

Based on the coordinates converted by the coordinate conversion unit 33, a request is made to the position coordinate management unit 34 to search for the image forming apparatus 40 (S213). The position coordinate management unit 34
The manager 32 searches for information from the coordinate database 35 according to rules registered in advance (S21).
4).

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a coordinate database in the image forming system IF1.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of conditions in the above embodiment.

The coordinate database 35 contains data as shown in FIG. In the above embodiment, it is assumed that conditions (rules) as shown in FIG. 8 are employed.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a packet in the above embodiment.

The position coordinate management unit 34 returns the search result to the manager 32 (S215), and the manager 32 creates a search response packet according to the search result (S21).
6). An example of this packet is shown in FIG. The manager 32 responds to the request source with the packet (S2
17).

The response packet is destined for the portable terminal 10 and transmitted to the wireless communication unit 14 through the network interface 21 and the wireless communication unit 23 (S2).
18). Upon receiving the response packet, the wireless communication unit 14 disconnects the wireless connection (S219). Manager 1
2 analyzes the acquired packet and returns a search result to the control system 13 (S220).

The search results include the nearest device,
Network address (URL address) of each device
And are included. The control system 13 displays the search result and waits for a user input. By designating one device, the user can send print data to that device.
You can find and use the nearest device from.

In the description of the above embodiment, connection and disconnection are exemplified as the line connection system in the line connection between the wireless communication unit 14 and the wireless communication unit 23. However, as in the packet switching system, the logical connection is established. It is also possible to exchange information by exchanging packets without making a connection.

In the above embodiment, the coordinate data is converted into the postal code. However, as another conversion method, a method of encoding information such as an address and using the code as a converted code is adopted. You may do so.

In the above embodiment, the zip code is used as a code when registering a device in the coordinate database 35. When a user sets a device, the code is used together with the device name, administrator, and location of the device. Enter and set the postal code as.

[Second Embodiment] FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing an image forming system IF2 according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

The image forming system IF2 includes a network 50, a GPS 60, a portable terminal 10, and a router 20.
And a coordinate management server 30a and an image forming apparatus 40a.

The coordinate management server 30a is obtained by removing the coordinate conversion unit 33 from the coordinate management server 30, and includes a network interface unit 31 and a manager 32
, A position coordinate management unit 34, and a coordinate database 35.

The image forming apparatus 40a includes the image forming apparatus 40
In addition, a manager 43 and a GPS receiving unit 44 are added to FIG. The manager 43 receives the coordinate information from the GPS receiving unit 44, controls the image forming unit 42 and the GPS receiving unit 44, and communicates with each device on the network 50.

Image forming system IF according to the first embodiment
1, when a device is registered in the coordinate database 35, a zip code is used as a code.
Enter and set the postal code as a code along with the location of the device.

Image Forming System IF of Second Embodiment
2, at the time of this user setting, coordinate data is acquired from the GPS receiving unit 44, and the acquired coordinate information is treated as a code as it is. Find the nearest device. In the second embodiment, the coordinate conversion by the coordinate conversion unit 33 which is required in the first embodiment is not required.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a coordinate database in the image forming system IF2. [Third Embodiment] FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing an image forming system IF3 according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

The image forming system IF3 includes a network 50, a GPS 60, a portable terminal 10, and a router 20.
And a coordinate management server 30 and an image forming apparatus 40b.

The image forming apparatus 40b includes a network 50
The image forming apparatus 40b
Network interface unit 41 and image forming unit 4
2, a code input unit 45, and a storage 45.

The storage 45 is a memory for storing jobs.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image forming system IF3.

In the first embodiment, as a result of the device search, the nearest device is displayed on the portable terminal 10. When one device is selected by the user (S
1201), the control system 13 creates print data and, through the manager 12, the wireless communication unit 14
The identification code is extracted from (step S1202). If the identification code is a mobile phone, the telephone number is used as the identification code. This code is attached to the print data to create a print job (S1203). When the user designates one of the searched devices, the print job is sent (S
1204).

When the job is received by the image forming apparatus 40b via the wireless communication unit 14, the wireless communication unit 23, and the network interface 21 (S1205), the image forming apparatus 40b determines whether the job has an identification code. It is determined whether or not there is (S1206). If it has the identification code, it is stored in the storage 46 (S1207).
The user operates the code input unit 45 to display a list of jobs held in the storage 46 (S120).
8). When the user designates the transferred own job (S1209), the user is prompted to enter an identification code (S121).
0). The user enters his or her mobile phone number (S
1211) and collation (S1212), and when they match, printing is performed (S1213).

According to the third embodiment, when searching for an image forming apparatus, the device having the position coordinates as the search source is P
If the device is a communicable device such as an HS or a mobile phone, a communication specific code adding means for adding a communication specific code of the device as an authentication code when transferring output image data; Is input, the output device has an image output control means for outputting an image. Therefore, when an output image is obtained from the image forming apparatus, it is necessary to input a communication specific code. I have.

In each of the above embodiments, when the user inputs a code, the method of directly inputting by the user is adopted.
An interface for outputting a code to a mobile terminal; an interface for inputting a code to a device, for example, Ir
By using DA or the like, it is possible to perform the operation without the intervention of the user.

In the case where the user's hand does not intervene, the serial number or the like held inside the portable terminal 10 can be used as the identification code.

Further, in the above embodiments, data exchange is all based on wireless communication, but a telephone public line generally used today may be used instead of the wireless communication unit.

[0058]

According to the first, second, fourth and fifth aspects of the present invention, data of a device including a portable terminal, a PHS, etc.
When outputting to the nearest image forming apparatus, it is easy to find the nearest image forming apparatus from the location of the device.

According to the third and sixth aspects of the present invention, when obtaining an output image from the image forming apparatus, it is necessary to input a specific code for communication, and therefore, it is effective in security. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image forming system IF1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the image forming system IF1.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a portable terminal 10 according to the embodiment;
It is a figure showing an example of coordinate data acquired from 0.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a packet structure in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a packet in the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a conversion table in the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a coordinate database in the image forming system IF1.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a condition example in the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of an image forming system IF2 according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a coordinate database in the image forming system IF2.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of an image forming system IF3 according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the image forming system IF3.

[Explanation of symbols]

 IF1, IF2, IF3: image forming system, 10: portable terminal, 11: GPS receiving unit, 12: manager, 13: control system, 14: wireless communication unit, 20: router, 21: network interface unit, 22: manager, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 30 ... Coordinate management server, 31 ... Network interface part, 32 ... Manager, 33 ... Coordinate conversion part, 34 ... Coordinate management part, 35 ... Coordinate database, 40 ... Image forming apparatus, 41 ... Network interface part, 42 ... Image forming part Reference numeral 43: Manager, 44: GPS receiving unit, 45: Code input unit, 46: Storage, 50: Network, 60: GPS.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A system for managing an environment in which image forming apparatuses located at various bases are connected to a network and position information of the image forming apparatuses connected to the network, wherein a current position is determined from a portable terminal or a GPS apparatus. Current position obtaining means for obtaining; position information converting means for converting position information of the image forming apparatus connected to the network into position information handled on the network; position information registration managing means for registering and managing the position information; An image forming apparatus searching means for searching for the nearest image forming apparatus based on predetermined position information; automatically searching for the nearest image forming apparatus from the location of the portable terminal; An image forming system for outputting an image to a forming apparatus. 2. A system for managing an environment in which image forming apparatuses located at various bases are connected to a network and position information of the image forming apparatuses connected to the network, wherein position coordinates of the image forming apparatuses are acquired. Position coordinate acquisition means for registering the acquired position coordinates in a system for managing position coordinates; and position coordinate acquisition for acquiring current position coordinates from a portable terminal or a device including a GPS device. Means for searching for the nearest image forming apparatus on the basis of predetermined position coordinates; and when an output request is issued by designating a device having the portable terminal and the PHS, An image forming system which automatically searches for an image forming apparatus and outputs an image. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when searching for the image forming apparatus, if a device having position coordinates as a search source is a communicable device, the output image data is transferred. In this case, the image forming apparatus includes: a communication specific code adding unit that adds a communication specific code of the device as an authentication code; and an image output unit that outputs an image when the communication specific code is input. An image forming system that requires the input of the communication specific code when acquiring an output image from the image forming apparatus. 4. A method for managing an environment in which image forming apparatuses located at various bases are connected to a network and position information of the image forming apparatuses connected to the network, wherein a current position is determined from a portable terminal or a GPS apparatus. A current position acquisition step for acquiring; a position information conversion step for converting position information of the image forming apparatus connected to the network into position information handled on the network; a position information registration management step for registering and managing the position information. An image forming apparatus searching step of searching for the nearest image forming apparatus based on predetermined position information; automatically searching for the nearest image forming apparatus from the location of the portable terminal; An image forming method, comprising outputting an image to a forming apparatus. 5. A method for managing an environment in which image forming apparatuses located at various bases are connected to a network and position information of the image forming apparatuses connected to the network, comprising: acquiring position coordinates of the image forming apparatuses. A position coordinate acquisition step of registering the acquired position coordinates in a position coordinate management system; and a position coordinate acquisition step of acquiring a current position coordinate from a portable terminal or a device including a GPS device. And an image forming apparatus search step of searching for the nearest image forming apparatus based on predetermined position coordinates. When an output request is issued by specifying a device including the portable terminal and the PHS, An image forming method which automatically searches for an image forming apparatus and outputs an image. 6. The output image data according to claim 4, wherein, when searching for the image forming apparatus, if a device having position coordinates as a search source is a communicable device. A communication specific code adding step of adding a communication specific code of the device as an authentication code; and an image output step of outputting an image when the communication specific code is input, the image forming apparatus comprising: An image forming method comprising: inputting the communication specific code when acquiring an output image from the image forming apparatus.