Patent Publication Number: US-11647129-B2

Title: Image forming system equipped with interactive agent function, method of controlling same, and storage medium

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an image forming system equipped with an interactive agent function, a method of controlling the same, and a storage medium. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     There is known an MFP as a voice interaction apparatus equipped with an interactive agent function. This MFP receives voice uttered by a user as a job setting instruction, a job execution instruction, or the like, using the interactive agent function (see e.g. Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2014-222513). This enables the user to easily provide a job setting instruction, a job execution instruction, and so forth, only by uttering the content of the instruction without operating a console section of the MFP. 
     However, in the conventional technique, in a case where a user provides an instruction for executing a job which requires a plurality of types of settings to be set therefor, by using the interactive agent function, the user is required to utter the plurality of types of settings, which lowers the usability of the function. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an image forming system capable of improving the usability of an interactive agent function, a method of controlling the same, and a storage medium. 
     In a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided image forming system comprising an image forming device configured to form an image on a sheet, a microphone capable of receiving voice, and at least one controller configured to function as a first unit configured to associate at least one image formation setting acquired based on a first voice input via the microphone with identification information acquired based on a second voice input via the microphone, and a second unit configured to acquire the at least one image formation setting associated with the identification information, based on a third voice input via the microphone, and cause the image forming device to execute image formation at least based on the acquired at least one image formation setting. 
     In a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of controlling an image forming system including an image forming device configured to form an image on a sheet, and a microphone capable of acquiring voice, comprising associating at least one image formation setting acquired based on a first voice input via the microphone with identification information acquired based on a second voice input via the microphone, and acquiring the at least one image formation setting associated with the identification information, based on a third voice input via the microphone, and causing the image forming device to execute image formation at least based on the acquired at least one image formation setting. 
     In a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer-executable program for executing a method of controlling an image forming system including an image forming device configured to form an image on a sheet, and a microphone capable of acquiring voice, wherein the method comprises associating at least one image formation setting acquired based on a first voice input via the microphone with identification information acquired based on a second voice input via the microphone, and acquiring the at least one image formation setting associated with the identification information, based on a third voice input via the microphone, and causing the image forming device to execute image formation at least based on the acquired at least one image formation setting. 
     According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the usability of the interactive agent function. 
     Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments (with reference to the attached drawings). 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a diagram useful in explaining an interactive agent function equipped in an MFP as an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  2    is a schematic block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the MFP appearing in  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  3    is a sequence diagram of a voice identification information generation process performed by the MFP, a natural language-processing service, and a multifunction peripheral management service, appearing in  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  4    is a diagram illustrating interaction between a user and the MFP appearing in  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  5    is a flowchart of a job execution process performed by the MFP appearing in  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  6    is a diagram illustrating interaction between a user and the MFP appearing in  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  7    is a diagram illustrating interaction between a user and the MFP appearing in  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  8    is a diagram showing an example of function settings information which can be set by the MFP appearing in  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  9    is a diagram illustrating interaction between a user and the MFP, concerning execution of a FAX job. 
         FIG.  10    is a diagram showing an example of a notification from the MFP appearing in  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  11    is a diagram showing an example of a management table managed by the MFP appearing in  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  12    is a diagram illustrating interaction between a user and the MFP in a case where the function settings information used for execution of a job has already been registered. 
         FIGS.  13 A and  13 B  are diagrams useful in explaining an advance notification function equipped in the MFP appearing in  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  14    is a flowchart of a variation of the job execution process in  FIG.  5   . 
         FIG.  15    is a diagram illustrating interaction between a user and the MFP appearing in  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  16    is a functional block diagram of an MFP equipped with the natural language-processing service and the multifunction peripheral management service. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention will now be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings showing embodiments thereof. Although in an embodiment described hereafter, the present invention is applied to an MFP as an image forming system, the present invention is not limitedly applied to the MFP. For example, the present invention may be applied to an apparatus equipped with an interactive agent function, such as a smart speaker, a smart phone, a tablet terminal, and a PC. 
       FIG.  1    is a diagram useful in explaining the interactive agent function equipped in the MFP, denoted by reference numeral  101 , which is the image forming system according to the embodiment of the present invention. The MFP  101  as the image forming apparatus performs an image forming process. The MFP  101  is equipped with a plurality of functions for executing a job involving execution of the image forming process, such as a copy function, a scan function, and a FAX function. The MFP  101  is further equipped with the interactive agent function. By using the interactive agent function, a user can provide a job execution instruction and a job setting instruction only by uttering the content of the instruction. Upon receipt of voice uttered by the user, the MFP  101  transmits a user operation request expressed in a natural language by the received voice to a natural language-processing service  102 . The natural language-processing service  102  is a module as a component of a cloud  103 . Upon receipt of the user operation request from the MFP  101 , the natural language-processing service  102  performs natural language processing based on the received user operation request, and analyzes words and phrases included in the voice uttered by the user. Further, the natural language-processing service  102  transmits a result of the analysis to a multifunction peripheral management service  104 . Similar to the natural language processing service  102 , the multifunction peripheral management service  104  is a module as a component of the cloud  103 . The multifunction peripheral management service  104  generates, based on the analysis result received from the natural language-processing service  102 , voice identification information from which the MFP  101  can identify the voice, and transmits the generated voice identification information to the MFP  101 . The MFP  101  sets, based on the received voice identification information, for example, settings indicated by the voice received by the MFP  101 , as function settings information required to execute a job. 
       FIG.  2    is a schematic block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the MFP  101  appearing in  FIG.  1   . Referring to  FIG.  2   , the MFP  101  includes a CPU  201 , a ROM  202 , a RAM  203 , an eMMC  204 , a microphone and speaker  205 , a printer  206 , a scanner  207 , a console section  208 , and a network controller  209 . The CPU  201 , the ROM  202 , the RAM  203 , the eMMC  204 , the microphone and speaker  205 , the printer  206 , the scanner  207 , the console section  208 , and the network controller  209  are interconnected via a bus  210 . 
     The CPU  201  controls the overall operation of the MFP  101 . The CPU  201  performs various controls, such as scan control, print control, and transmission control, by loading programs stored in the ROM  202  or the eMMC  204  into the RAM  203 . The RAM  203  is a memory used as a work area and the like when the CPU  201  executes the programs. The eMMC  204  stores image data and various programs. The microphone and speaker  205  receives voice uttered by a user. Further, the microphone and speaker  205  outputs a response message to the voice received from the user as voice. 
     The printer  206  performs a print process based on image data transferred via the bus  210 . The scanner  207  reads a document placed thereon, and generates image data. The console section  208  includes a display section (not shown), hard keys (not shown), and so forth. The display section also operates as a touch panel which can be operated by a finger of a user. The network controller  209  includes an NIC (Network Interface Card), not shown, for connecting to a LAN  211 . 
       FIG.  3    is a sequence diagram of a voice identification information generation process performed by the MFP  101 , the natural language-processing service  102 , and the multifunction peripheral management service  104 , appearing in  FIG.  1   . The process in  FIG.  3    is executed when voice is received by the microphone and speaker  205 . 
     Referring to  FIG.  3   , when the MFP  101  receives voice via the microphone and speaker  205  (step S 301 ), the MFP  101  transmits a user operation request expressed in a natural language by the received voice to the natural language-processing service  102  (step S 302 ). The natural language-processing service  102  performs natural language processing based on the received user operation request, and analyzes words and phrases included in the voice received via the microphone and speaker  205  (step S 303 ). Then, the natural language-processing service  102  transmits a result of the analysis to the multifunction peripheral management service  104  (step S 304 ). The multifunction peripheral management service  104  generates voice identification information based on the received analysis result (step S 305 ), and transmits the generated voice identification information to the MFP  101  (step S 306 ). The MFP  101  identifies the instruction of the user based on the received voice identification information, and outputs a response message as a voice message to the identified instruction from the microphone and speaker  205 . Thus, in the present embodiment, by executing the process in  FIG.  3   , the MFP  101  can acquire, whenever voice is received via the microphone and speaker  205 , the voice identification information of the received voice from the multifunction peripheral management service  104 , and grasp the content of each voice received via the microphone and speaker  205  based on the acquired voice identification information. In the following description, explanation of operations of the process described with reference to  FIG.  3    is omitted, and the description is given assuming that when the MFP  101  receives voice via the microphone and speaker  205 , the MFP  101  acquires the voice identification information of the received voice from the multifunction peripheral management service  104 . 
     Next, interaction between a user and the MFP  101  performed when the user instructs execution of a job using the interactive agent function will be described. 
     Referring to  FIG.  4   , when the MFP  101  receives a voice message  401  including a predetermined voice input keyword for starting a voice input operation and a voice message  402  indicating use of the copy function via the microphone and speaker  205 , the MFP  101  outputs a voice message  403  for prompting the user to set function settings information of the copy job from the microphone and speaker  205 . The function settings information of the copy job is hereinafter referred to as the copy settings information. After that, upon receipt of voice messages  404  to  406  concerning the copy settings information via the microphone and speaker  205 , the MFP  101  sets “4in1”, “color”, “double-sided”, and “stapling” as the copy settings information, based on the voice messages  404  to  406 . The MFP  101  outputs a voice message  407  indicating the set settings from the microphone and speaker  205 . Further, the MFP  101  executes the copy job based on the set copy settings information. When execution of the copy job is completed, the MFP  101  outputs a voice message  408  to prompt the user to select whether or not to save the function settings information used in the executed copy job as presets. Upon receipt of a voice message  409  from the user to the effect that the used function settings information is to be saved via the microphone and speaker  205 , the MFP  101  outputs a message  410  for prompting the user to set a preset name for the presets from the microphone and speaker  205 . Then, upon receipt of a voice message  411  indicating a preset name from the user via the microphone and speaker  205 , the MFP  101  registers the received preset name in association with the above-mentioned function settings information. This enables the user, from next time on, to set the function settings information, which is associated with the preset name, for the MFP  101 , only by uttering the preset name. Note that the registered information is stored in the ROM  202  or the like. Further, the MFP  101  outputs a voice message  412  from the microphone and speaker  205 , to the effect that the user can call the function settings information by uttering the preset name from next time on. At this time, the MFP  101  outputs “4in1”, “color”, “double-sided”, and “stapling” as the specific values of the function settings information, and “meeting in team” as the preset name, from the microphone and speaker  205 . 
       FIG.  5    is a flowchart of a job execution process performed by the MFP  101  appearing in  FIG.  1   . The process in  FIG.  5    is performed by the CPU  201  that executes a program stored in the ROM  202  or the eMMC  204 . The process in  FIG.  5    is executed when the MFP  101  is started, for example. 
     Referring to  FIG.  5   , first, upon receipt of voice via the microphone and speaker  205 , the CPU  201  determines whether or not a predetermined voice input keyword is included in the received voice, based on the voice identification information of the received voice, which is received from the multifunction peripheral management service  104  (step S 501 ). If the predetermined voice input keyword is included in the received voice (YES to the step S 501 ), the CPU  201  starts the voice input operation (step S 502 ). Then, upon receipt of other voice via the microphone and speaker  205 , the CPU  201  identifies a function designated by the user based on the voice identification information of the received voice (step S 503 ). For example, in a case where a voice message  601  in  FIG.  6    is received, the CPU  201  identifies the function designated by the user as the copy function based on the voice identification information of the voice message  601 . Then, the CPU  201  outputs a voice message  602  in  FIG.  6    for prompting the user to set the function settings information of the job using the identified function from the microphone and speaker  205 . After that, upon receipt of other voice via the microphone and speaker  205 , the CPU  201  determines whether or not a preset name registered in advance is included in the received voice (step S 504 ). 
     If it is determined in the step S 504  that a preset name registered in advance is included in the received voice (see e.g. a voice message  603  in  FIG.  6   ), the CPU  201  sets the function settings information associated with the preset name. The function settings information includes a plurality of types of settings required to execute the job, such as the copy settings information included in the voice message  412  appearing in  FIG.  4   . Then, the CPU  201  executes the job based on the set function settings information (step S 505 ). Further, the CPU  201  outputs a voice message  604  to the effect that the job is being executed based on the function settings information associated with the preset name, followed by terminating the present process. 
     If it is determined in the step S 504  that no preset name registered in advance is included in the received voice (see e.g. a voice message  701  in  FIG.  7   ), the CPU  201  outputs a candidate list of preset names resembling words included in the received voice (step S 506 ). For example, in a case where the voice message  701  including words of “for meeting” is received via the microphone and speaker  205  in a state in which “4in1 for meeting” and “2in1 for meeting” have been registered in advance as the preset names, the CPU  201  outputs a voice message  702  in  FIG.  7   , including “4in1 for meeting” and “2in1 for meeting” from the microphone and speaker  205  as the candidate list of the preset names. After that, upon receipt of other voice via the microphone and speaker  205 , the CPU  201  determines whether or not one of the preset names is selected from the candidate list based on the voice identification information of the received voice (step S 507 ). 
     If it is determined in the step S 507  that one of the preset names is selected from the candidate list, the CPU  201  sets the function settings information associated with the selected preset name, and executes the step S 505 . 
     If it is determined in the step S 507  that none of the preset names are selected from the candidate list, the CPU  201  sets the function settings information without using a preset name. More specifically, as shown in  FIG.  4   , the CPU  201  interactively confirms settings required to execute the job, and sets a plurality of types of settings indicated by voice received via the microphone and speaker  205  as the function settings information. The CPU  201  executes the job based on the set function settings information (step S 508 ). Then, the CPU  201  outputs the voice message  408  from the microphone and speaker  205  to prompt the user to select whether or not to save the function settings information used in the job as presets. After that, upon receipt of other voice via the microphone and speaker  205 , the CPU  201  determines whether or not to save the function settings information used in the job as presets based on the voice identification information of the received voice (step S 509 ). 
     If it is determined in the step S 509  that the function settings information used in the job is not to be saved as presets, the CPU  201  terminates the present process. If it is determined in the step S 509  that the function settings information used in the job is to be saved as presets, the CPU  201  determines whether or not voice indicating a preset name to be associated with the function settings information used in the job has been received via the microphone and speaker  205  (step S 510 ). 
     If it is determined in the step S 510  that voice indicating a preset name to be associated with the function settings information has been received via the microphone and speaker  205 , the CPU  201  registers the preset name indicated by the received voice in association with the function settings information (step S 511 ). Then, the CPU  201  terminates the present process. 
     If it is determined in the step S 510  that voice indicating no preset name to be associated with the function settings information has been received via the microphone and speaker  205 , the CPU  201  determines whether or not a predetermined time period set in advance has elapsed after the last voice was received via the microphone and speaker  205  (step S 512 ). 
     If it is determined in the step S 512  that the predetermined time period has not elapsed after the last voice was received via the microphone and speaker  205 , the CPU  201  returns to the step S 510 . If it is determined in the step S 512  that the predetermined time period has elapsed after the last voice was received via the microphone and speaker  205 , the CPU  201  terminates the present process. 
     According to the above-described embodiment, in a case where a preset name is included in the received voice, a job is executed based on a plurality of types of settings registered in advance in association with the preset name. That is, when a user instructs execution of a job requiring setting of a plurality of types of settings by using the interactive agent function, the user is not required to utter the plurality of types of settings for the job. This makes it possible to reduce time and efforts required for the user to instruct execution of a job by using the interactive agent function, and thereby makes it possible to improve the usability of the interactive agent function. 
     Further, in the above-described embodiment, after execution of a job is completed, whether or not to register a preset name to be associated with the plurality of types of settings used for execution of the job is selected by the user. This makes it possible to reflect the user&#39;s intention with respect to registration of the preset name. 
     Further, in the above-described embodiment, when registering a preset name, the voice message  412  including all settings to be associated with the preset name to be registered is output from the microphone and speaker  205 . This enables, when registering a preset name, the user to grasp the settings to be associated with the preset name to be registered. 
     In the above-described embodiment, the plurality of settings are settings required to execute the image forming process. Therefore, it is possible to reduce time and efforts required for a user to instruct execution of a job involving execution of the image forming process by using the interactive agent function. 
     The present invention is described using the above-described embodiment, but is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, the function settings information associated with a preset name may be function settings information other than the copy settings information, i.e. function settings information of a job using any of functions equipped in the MFP  101  shown in  FIG.  8   , such as the copy function, the FAX function, a scan-and-transmission function, a scan-and-storage function, a function of using a stored file, a reception tray function, a secure print function, and a print function. For example, when a voice message  901  in  FIG.  9    to the effect that the function settings information used in a FAX job is to be saved as presets is received from a user via the microphone and speaker  205 , and then a voice message  902  indicating a preset name is received from the user via the microphone and speaker  205 , the MFP  101  registers the preset name indicated by the voice message  902  in association with the function settings information used in the FAX job. 
     Further, in the above-described embodiment, the MFP  101  may be equipped with an advance notification function. The advance notification function is a function for outputting, in a case where a preset name is included in voice received from a user as a response to a message for prompting the user to set the function settings information of a job, a plurality of types of settings registered in advance in association with the preset name from the microphone and speaker  205  before execution of the job. With this function, the user can confirm the function settings information set for job in the MFP  101  before execution of the job. 
     Further, in the above-described embodiment, in a case where the number of types of settings output from the microphone and speaker  205  by the advance notification function is larger than a predetermined number, the MFP  101  may display the settings on the console section  208  as shown in  FIG.  10    without outputting the settings in voice. Further, in this case, the settings may be displayed on the console section  208  while outputting the settings in voice from the microphone and speaker  205 . By displaying the settings on the console section  208  as mentioned above, even when the plurality of settings are associated with the preset name as the function settings information, the user can easily grasp the details of the function settings information. 
     In the above-described embodiment, the preset name and the function settings information may be managed by a management table  1100  shown in  FIG.  11   , on a user-by-user basis. The management table  1100  is stored in at least one of the MFP  101  and the cloud  103 . In the management table  1100 , preset names and function settings information are registered in association with each user. For example, even when the same preset name, such as “meeting in team” in  FIG.  11   , is registered for different users, a and c, items of the function settings information which have different contents are registered in association with the users a and c, respectively. In a case where a message indicating a preset name is received via the microphone and speaker  205 , the MFP  101  identifies a user based on login information used when the user logged in the MFP  101  or an authentication result of voiceprint authentication of the user. The MFP  101  identifies the function settings information in the management table  1100 , which is associated with the preset name indicated by the message received via the microphone and speaker  205  and is related to the identified user, and executes a job using the identified function settings information. By managing the function settings information, on a user-by-user basis, it is possible to improve the usability of the interactive agent function. 
     In the above-described embodiment, in a case where the function settings information used for execution of a job has already been stored as presets, the MFP  101  may output a message  1201  in  FIG.  12    from the microphone and speaker  205  to prompt the user to select whether or not to change the preset name associated with the function settings information. 
     Further, in the above-described embodiment, ON/OFF of the advance notification function may be caused to be set by a user. A setting indicative of ON or OFF of the advance notification function, which is set by the user, is stored in the ROM  202  or the like. In a case where the MFP  101  has the advance notification function set to ON, if a preset name is included in voice received from a user as a response to a message for prompting the user to set the function settings information of a job, the MFP  101  outputs e.g. a message  1301  in  FIG.  13 A  from the microphone and speaker  205  before execution of the job. The message  1301  includes the function settings information registered in association with the preset name included in the received voice. On the other hand, in a case where the MFP  101  has the advance notification function set to OFF, if a preset name is included in voice received from a user as a response to a message for prompting the user to set the function settings information of a job, for example, as shown in  FIG.  13 B , the MFP  101  executes the job without outputting a message requesting the user to confirm the function settings information registered in association with the preset name included in the received voice, from the microphone and speaker  205 . 
       FIG.  14    is a flowchart of a variation of the job execution process in  FIG.  5   . The process in  FIG.  14    is also performed by the CPU  201  that executes a program stored in the ROM  202  or the eMMC  204 . The process in  FIG.  14    is also executed when the MFP  101  is started, for example. 
     Referring to  FIG.  14   , the CPU  201  executes the steps S 501  to S 504 . If it is determined in the step S 504  that no preset name is included in the received voice, the CPU  201  executes the steps S 506  and S 507 . 
     If it is determined in the step S 507  that one of the preset names is selected from the candidate list, or if it is determined in the step S 504  that a preset name registered in advance is included in the received voice, the CPU  201  determines whether the advance notification function is set to ON or OFF (step S 1401 ). 
     If it is determined in the step S 1401  that the advance notification function is set to ON, the CPU  201  notifies the user of a message requesting the user to confirm the function settings information registered in advance in association with the preset name included in the received voice, for example, the message  1301  in  FIG.  13 A  (step S 1402 ). The notification in the step S 1402  is performed by at least one of the voice output from the microphone and speaker  205  and the message displayed on the console section  208 . Then, upon receipt of other voice via the microphone and speaker  205 , the CPU  201  determines whether or not to change the content of the function settings information based on the voice identification information of the received voice (step S 1403 ). 
     If it is determined in the step S 1403  that the content of the function settings information is not to be changed, or if it is determined in the step S 1401  that the advance notification function is set to OFF, the CPU  201  executes the step S 505  et seq. If it is determined in the step S 1403  that the content of the function settings information is to be changed, or if it is determined in the step S 507  that none of the preset names is selected from the candidate list, the CPU  201  executes the steps S 508  to S 510 . 
     If it is determined in the step S 510  that voice indicating a preset name associated with the function settings information used in the job has been received via the microphone and speaker  205 , the CPU  201  determines whether or not the same preset name as the preset name indicated by the received voice has been registered (step S 1404 ). 
     If it is determined in the step S 1404  that the same preset name as the preset name indicated by the received voice has not been registered, the CPU  201  executes the step S 511  et seq. If it is determined in the step S 1404  that the same preset name as the preset name indicated by the received voice has been registered, the CPU  201  outputs e.g. a message  1501  in  FIG.  15    from the microphone and speaker  205  to prompt the user to select whether or not to overwrite the information registered in association with the preset name (step S 1405 ). Overwriting of the information registered in association with the preset name refers to processing for updating the function settings information associated with the preset name in advance to the function settings information used in the step S 508 . 
     In the step S 1405 , when a message to the effect that the information registered in association with the preset name is to be overwritten is received from the user via the microphone and speaker  205 , the CPU  201  overwrites the information registered in association with the preset name (step S 1406 ), followed by terminating the present process. 
     In the step S 1405 , when a message to the effect that the information registered in association with the preset name is not to be overwritten is received from the user via the microphone and speaker  205 , the CPU  201  outputs e.g. a message  1502  in  FIG.  15    from the microphone and speaker  205  to notify the user of a candidate of the preset name (step S 1407 ). In the step S 1407 , the CPU  201  generates a candidate of the preset name, including a characteristic character string, based on a difference between the preset name indicated by the received voice and the preset name already registered, and notifies the user of the generated candidate of the preset name. The notification in the step S 1407  is performed by at least one of the voice output from the microphone and speaker  205  and the message displayed on the console section  208 . Then, the CPU  201  executes the step S 512 . 
     Although in the above-described embodiment, the description is given of the case where voice uttered by a user is received by the microphone and speaker  205  of the MFP  101 , voice uttered by the user may be received by a mobile terminal (not shown), such as a smart speaker. Upon receipt of voice uttered by the user, the mobile terminal transmits the user operation request to the MFP  101  e.g. via a wireless LAN router  212 . The MFP  101  transfers the received user operation request to the natural language-processing service  102  as the processing to be executed in the step S 302 . The natural language-processing service  102  executes the steps S 303  and S 304  based on the received user operation request, and the multifunction peripheral management service  104  executes the steps S 305  and S 306 , and transmits the voice identification information to the MFP  101 . 
     Alternatively, upon receipt of voice uttered by the user, the mobile terminal transmits the user operation request to the natural language-processing service  102  e.g. via the wireless LAN router  212 . The natural language-processing service  102  executes the steps S 303  and S 304  based on the received user operation request, and the multifunction peripheral management service  104  executes the steps S 305  and S 306 , and transmits the voice identification information to the MFP  101 . 
     Further, in the above-described embodiment, the MFP may be equipped with the functions of the natural language-processing service  102  and the multifunction peripheral management service  104 .  FIG.  16    is a functional block diagram of an MFP  1600  equipped with the natural language-processing service  102  and the multifunction peripheral management service  104 . 
     A voice input section  1601  transmits, upon receipt of voice uttered by a user, data related to the received voice (hereinafter referred to as the “voice data”) to a sound quality adjustment section  1602 . The sound quality adjustment section  1602  transmits the voice data having an adjusted sound quality to a natural language processor  1603  and a voiceprint determination section  1607 . The natural language processor  1603  converts the voice data having the adjusted sound quality to text data and transmits the text data to a lexical analysis section  1604 . The lexical analysis section  1604  converts the received text data to words and phrases and transmits the words and phrases to a command analysis section  1605 . The command analysis section  1605  analyzes the received words and phrases to identify an instruction indicated by the voice uttered by the user. The command analysis section  1605  stores command data indicating the identified instruction in a command DB  1606  and transmits the command data to a controller  1611 . The voiceprint determination section  1607  determines a voiceprint based on the voice data having the adjusted sound quality, generates information on the identified user (hereinafter referred to as the “user information”) based on a result of the voiceprint determination, and transmits the generated user information to a user identification section  1608 . The user identification section  1608  performs user authentication based on the user information received from the voiceprint determination section  1607  and user registration information registered in a user DB  1609  in advance. The user identification section  1608  transmits the user information and user identification information indicative of a result of the user authentication to the controller  1611 . A device state management section  1610  transmits device state information of the MFP  1600  to the controller  1611 . The controller  1611  transmits a response command to a voice output section  1612 , a setting command related to settings to be used to a setting section  1613 , and a function command indicative of a function to be used to an output section  1615 . The setting section  1613  transmits and receives information on presets to and from a preset DB  1614 , and transmits function settings information associated with a preset name indicated by voice received e.g. by the voice input section  1601  to the output section  1615 . The output section  1615  executes a job using the function settings information acquired from the setting section  1613  by the function indicated by the function command. For example, the output section  1615  transmits FAX data to an external apparatus using the function settings information acquired from the setting section  1613  by a FAX unit  1616  indicated by the function command. 
     Other Embodiments 
     Embodiment(s) of the present invention can also be realized by a computer of a system or apparatus that reads out and executes computer executable instructions (e.g., one or more programs) recorded on a storage medium (which may also be referred to more fully as a ‘non-transitory computer-readable storage medium’) to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/or that includes one or more circuits (e.g., application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)) for performing the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s), and by a method performed by the computer of the system or apparatus by, for example, reading out and executing the computer executable instructions from the storage medium to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/or controlling the one or more circuits to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s). The computer may comprise one or more processors (e.g., central processing unit (CPU), micro processing unit (MPU)) and may include a network of separate computers or separate processors to read out and execute the computer executable instructions. The computer executable instructions may be provided to the computer, for example, from a network or the storage medium. The storage medium may include, for example, one or more of a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a storage of distributed computing systems, an optical disk (such as a compact disc (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD), or Blu-ray Disc (BD)™), a flash memory device, a memory card, and the like. 
     While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions. 
     This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-165379 filed Sep. 4, 2018, and Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-121813 filed Jun. 28, 2019, which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.