Patent ID: 7952739
Filing Date: 2011-05-31
Classification: G06F,G06Q

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus which executes data communication between a client terminal apparatus and a document management server that holds, as file update history information, files of updated versions and identification data to identify the files of updated versions, comprising: a reception unit configured to receive together, from the client terminal apparatus that enables a user to selectively set a plurality of print modes including a normal print mode, a latest version print mode, and an original version print mode, print data generated at the client terminal apparatus based on a file set at the client terminal apparatus as a candidate to be printed by the image forming apparatus, wherein the print data includes the file set at the client terminal apparatus, identification data of the file, and mode information indicating a print mode that has been set at the client terminal apparatus; a first determination unit configured to determine, based on the mode information included in the received print data, which print mode is set at the client terminal apparatus; an acquisition unit configured to acquire, from the document management server, identification data of the file of the latest version; a second determination unit configured to determine whether or not the identification data acquired by said acquisition unit matches the identification data included in the received print data; and a print control unit configured to automatically execute a print process by using the print data received from the client terminal apparatus by said reception unit without acquiring a file from the document management server if it is determined by the first determination unit that the latest version print mode or the original version print mode is set and it is determined by the second determination unit that the identification data acquired by said acquisition unit matches the identification data included in the received print data, and to acquire a file corresponding to the identification data acquired by said acquisition unit from the document management server and automatically execute a print process by using print data based on the acquired file if it is determined by the first determination unit that the latest version print mode or the original version print mode is set and it is determined by the second determination unit that the identification data acquired by said acquisition unit does not match the identification data included in the received print data; wherein, if it is determined by the first determination unit that a normal print mode is set, the acquisition unit is configured to not perform the acquisition of the identification data of the file of the latest version, the second determination unit is configured to not perform the determination of whether or not the identification data acquired by said acquisition unit matches the identification data included in the received print data, and the print control unit is configured to automatically execute a print process by using the print data received from the client terminal apparatus by said reception unit; and wherein if it is determined by the second determination unit that the identification data acquired by said acquisition unit does not match the identification data included in the received print data in the original version print mode, the print control unit is configured to determine that the file set at the client terminal apparatus is not the earliest and original version of the file set at the client terminal apparatus, but that the file acquired by said acquisition unit from the document management server is the earliest and original version of the file set at the client terminal apparatus.