Patent Publication Number: US-9405255-B2

Title: Image forming apparatus and image forming system that perform direct printing process using a cooperation application and direct printing method

Description:
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 
     This application is based on and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-144057 filed on Jul. 14, 2014, the contents of that are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure is related to an image forming apparatus, an image forming system, and an image formation method and is associated with the image forming apparatus, image forming system, and image formation method, for example, when performing an output process, executes processing in response to authentication of an authentication server on a network. 
     For image forming apparatuses, such as some printers and an MFP (Multi Functional Peripheral), printing is possible from a personal computer (henceforth “PC”) via a network. In this case, a typical technology that permits an output after authenticating processing by a specific authentication server. 
     Also, image forming apparatus may be equipped a solution platform for cooperation processing (the following, it is called “cooperation platform”) based on Internet standard technologies, such as JAVA (registered trademark) or a web browser. This cooperation platform realizes system extensibility of an image forming apparatus. Thereby, by an application that works on the cooperation platform cooperating with various apparatus is effectively-realizable as PC or a network is a center. 
     SUMMARY 
     An image forming apparatus related with a present disclosure is connected to an external authentication server via a network. The image forming apparatus has an application and a direct print port. The application works on a specific platform. The direct print port is virtually-provided in the application. The application receives the job of direct printing in the direct print port virtually-provided from an external terminal via the network. Then, the application instructs to authenticate to the authentication server based on certification information included in data of the job. The application, when authenticated, transmits print data to an actual direct print port. 
     An image forming system of the present disclosure is connected an external authentication server, an image forming apparatus, and an external terminal via the network. The image forming apparatus has application and a direct print port. An application works on a specific platform. A direct print port is virtually-provided in the application. The application receives a job of direct printing in the virtually-provided direct print port from the external terminal via the network. The application, in this time, instructs to authenticate to the authentication server based on certification information included in data of the job. The application, when authenticated, transmits print data to an actual direct print port. 
     An image formation method of the present disclosure is executed by an image forming apparatus connected to an external authentication server via a network. An application is worked on a specific platform. A direct print port is virtually-provided in the application. The application receives a job of direct printing in the virtually-provided direct print port from an external terminal via the network. The application, in this time, instructs to authenticate to the authentication server based on certification information included in data of the job. When authenticated, the application transmits print data to an actual direct print port. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a system configuration diagram illustrating an outline configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a functional block diagram of an image forming apparatus according to the embodiment; and 
         FIG. 3  is a chart figure illustrating a process at the time of performing direct printing by a cooperation platform according to the embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Hereinafter, a form for carrying out the present disclosure (henceforth an “embodiment”) is explained with reference to drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a functional block diagram illustrating schematic structure of image forming system  1  according to the present embodiment. As shown in the illustration, image forming system  1  includes image forming apparatus  10 , PC  60 , and authentication server  90 , which are mutually-connected via network  2 . 
     Image forming apparatus  10  has cooperation platform processing part  20  that realizes system extensibility. Image forming apparatus  10  can cooperate with various apparatus as PC  60  or the other networks is a center. 
     PC  60  has client driver  70  for using image forming apparatus  10 . Also, authentication server  90  performs authenticating process when there is access from PC  60  to image forming apparatus  10 . Generally, image forming apparatus  10  receives print data from client driver  70  in PC  60 . In this case, when a process is required to be authenticated, image forming apparatus  10  transmits user information included in the received print data to authentication server  90  with an authentication request. Authentication server  90  notifies an authentication notification to image forming apparatus  10  when the user information is registered as authentication possible. Image forming apparatus  10  that has received the authentication notification executes an output process of the print data from PC  60 . 
       FIG. 2  is a functional block diagram illustrating schematic structure of image forming apparatus  10 .  FIG. 2  is mainly indicated with paying attention to a direct printing process. For a configuration about other processes, illustration and explanation are omitted, suitably. 
     Image forming apparatus  10  is an MFP, for example. Image forming apparatus  10  includes control part  12 , operation part  14 , display part  16 , printing executive operation part  30 , image reading part  40 , and communication interface  50 . 
     Operation part  14  is a user interface having specific feature buttons, such as execution keys, numeric keypads, or the like. Display part  16  is configured with a liquid crystal panel, or the like, and displays an operating state, or the like. In addition, a touch key, which operation part  14  and display part  16  are combined and built, or the like, may be used. 
     Printing executive operation part  30  has general printing execution functions. Printing executive operation part  30  executes the print operation with an instruction from control part  12 . 
     Image reading part  40  is a general configuration that can read a manuscript with A3 size or A4 size, for example. Image reading part  40  includes a scanner, platen glass, a manuscript reading slit, a manuscript sheet feeding device, or the like. 
     Control part  12  is an information processing part including a non-transitory recording medium. Control part  12  performs various kinds of processes. Here, control part  12  has main control part  19  as a function to perform generalized processing in image forming apparatus  10 . Also, control part  12  has cooperation platform processing part  20  as a distinctive configuration in the present embodiment. 
     Cooperation platform processing part  20  includes cooperation platform  22  and cooperation application  23 . 
     Cooperation platform  22  is a solution platform based on internet standard technologies, such as a web browser and a web service. 
     Cooperation application  23  is application that works on cooperation platform  22 . Cooperation application  23  enables network cooperation with PC  60  or other apparatuses by using function of image forming apparatus  10 . 
     Cooperation platform processing part  20 , when a printing process from PC  60  is received, performs extended authentication as described later by using cooperation application  23 . In detail, virtual direct printing port  24  is used. Thereby, direct printing, what is called, is realized. In order to realize direct printing, cooperation application  23  has a virtual direct printing port (henceforth “virtual direct printing port  24 ”). When the print data that specified the virtual direct printing port  24  are received, print data are transmitted to actual direct printing port  54  after authentication by authentication server  90 . 
     Communication interface  50  is an interface for communicating with an external apparatus. Communication interface  50  includes a LAN interface, a USB interface for local connection, or the like. Here, it explains with assuming the LAN interface. 
     Communication interface  50  has printing interface  52  that receives data about printing from PC  60 , or the like. The data about printing is print data, printing instructions, or the like. Printing interface  52  has direct printing port  54 . Direct printing port  54  has RAW port  56  and IPP (Internet Printing Protocol) port  58 . 
     Generally, when direct printing is performed, direct submission of the print data is performed from client driver  70  in PC  60  to direct printing port  54  in image forming apparatus  10 . In this case, the RIP (Routing Information Protocol) component, which image forming apparatus  10  has, analyzes certification information included in printable data (the print data.) Then, the process, which a RIP component authenticates as needed, is executed. 
     However, it differs in the printing process by using cooperation application  23  in cooperation platform processing part  20 . In this case, cooperation application  23  bears duty of the authentication about access from PC  60  to image forming apparatus  10 . Therefore, the above-mentioned process, that is, the process that the RIP component analyzes certification information and authenticates, does not work. 
     Consequently, when executing direct printing in an environment where cooperation application  23  that performs extended authentication is worked, processing with authentication server  90  is performed as follows. Thereby, with authentication, direct printing becomes realizable. 
       FIG. 3  shows a chart figure illustrating process of a case where client driver  70  in PC  60  performs the direct printing process accompanied by authentication in the environment where cooperation application  23  is worked. 
     In the environment where cooperation application  23  is operated, client driver  70  in PC  60  starts the execution of the printing process. Then, client driver  70  calls authentication module  72  (authentication interface,) which is used in a case of requiring authenticating process to authentication server  90  (S 1 ). 
     Authentication module  72  requires authentication by using a web service to authentication server  90  (S 2 ). 
     When authentication is successful, client driver  70  transmits the print data for performing a print by using direct printing port  54  to cooperation platform  22  in image forming apparatus  10  (S 3 ). 
     Cooperation platform  22 , in detail, which is virtual direct printing port  24  in cooperation application  23 , transmits the received data. That is, cooperation application  23  transmits the received data to cooperation application  23  by using the web service, which acts as a host (S 4 ). 
     In the case, the job name in the print data is changed into a unique name. This is because of enabling pursuit of the job. The unique name is made by virtual direct printing port  24  generating a unique GUID (Globally Unique Identifier.) Also, the information of a login user name is acquired by the print data. This is for identifying who executes the job. 
     Next, virtual direct printing port  24  transmits set information (“data 1,”) which is the unique job name and the login user name, to authentication server  90  (S 5 ). 
     Cooperation application  23  transmits the received print data to direct printing port  54  (RAW port  56 , or the like,) internally (S 6 ). 
     At this time, certification information, such as the user name, is excluded in the print data. If the certification information is previously deleted by cooperation application  23 , the received print data is transmitted to direct printing port  54  as it is. If the certification information is included in the print data received from cooperation application  23 , cooperation application  23  performs process to exclude the certification information. This is, if the certification information is included in the print data, a same process as the authenticating process in a normal direct printing process is accomplished, uselessly. Supposing, if disqualified certification information in authentication of the normal direct printing process remains, authentication is not be performed. In order to avoid the situation, the certification information is deleted. Here, this is because ensuring security by internal process can be estimated. 
     In addition, as replacing with the process that excludes certification information, a process for rewriting or a process for adding another certification information may be accomplished. Another certification information is suitable certification information for the authenticating process used for direct printing port  54 . This can raise security. 
     Then, image forming apparatus  10  executes an event. That is, image forming apparatus  10  outputs the acquired print data from printing executive operation part  30 . 
     Cooperation application  23  receives event information (a start, an end, or the like) in the job (print job) performed in image forming apparatus  10 . Cooperation application  23  notifies event information with the job name to authentication server  90  (S 7 ). 
     Authentication server  90  compares above-mentioned data and the transmitted event. Authentication server  90  determines and records whose job it is (S 8 ). 
     As mentioned above, according to the present embodiment, extended authentication by using cooperation platform processing part  20  (cooperation platform  22 , cooperation application  23 ) is performed. In this environment, even if in a case where image forming apparatus  10  has a request of a direct printing process from PC  60 , the direct printing process that performs suitable authentication is realizable. 
     As explained in detail, in a typical case, a printout is performed from a driver for printing installed in PC to the image forming apparatus on a network. In this case, the direct printing that transmits print data to a RAW port, or the like, by using an interface by a standard TCP/IP port may be used. At this time, when the cooperation platform of the image forming apparatus performs extended authentication, an application on a cooperation platform authenticates by substituting authentication function to be primarily-implemented in the image forming apparatus. In this case, the problem is happened that direct printing by using an authentication server cannot be executed. 
     However, in the typical case, there is no technology supposing the cooperation platform, and another technology is required. 
     As compared with this, according to the present disclosure, even if in a case where it indicates to execute the job of direct printing to the application that works on a specific platform, in an image forming apparatus, direct printing including authentication can be executed, appropriately. 
     As the above, the present disclosure is explained based on the embodiment. This embodiment is an exemplification, and various modifications about the combination of each of those components are possible for it. Also, it is understood by the person skilled in the art that such a modification is also in the range of the present disclosure.