Patent Publication Number: US-2011063651-A1

Title: Job management system, information processing apparatus, and information processing method

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a job management system, an information processing apparatus, and an information processing method. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In recent years and continuing to the present, information processing systems, which are capable of communicating documents in various data formats between plural information processing apparatuses connected to a network with plural communication protocols, have been developed. 
     In such information processing systems, various application services based on the information processing apparatuses are provided. The information processing apparatuses manage the application services as jobs and execute them with predetermined timing. Examples of the application services include transmission of document images scanned by, e.g., a scanner and data items generated by the information processing apparatuses to designated addresses via e-mail and facsimile; transferring of such document images and data items between the information processing apparatuses in the form of files; printing and outputting of received facsimile images, attached file images of e-mail, etc.; transmission of such received facsimile images and attached file images to designated FAX machines; transferring of such facsimile images and attached file images between the information processing apparatuses in the form of files; and accumulating and managing of data for the information processing apparatuses. 
     Note that even if processing capable of being executed by the respective information processing apparatuses on the information processing system are different from each other, the application services can be executed based on a mutually dependent relationship between the information processing apparatuses. 
     For example, Patent Document 1 proposes a method in which an apparatus having no facsimile transmission function executes facsimile transmission by using another apparatus on a network having the facsimile transmission function. 
     However, the invention disclosed in Patent Document 1 cannot limit the apparatus which executes the processing for each user. Furthermore, in companies, it is likely that fees for processing and maintaining information processing apparatuses are settled for each department so as to enhance cost-consciousness. For example, with respect to facsimile transmission and reception, apparatuses and lines are specified for each department, and communication fees for the lines are charged to the corresponding department. Also, apparatuses used for printing and storing data are specified for each department, and fees for maintaining the used information processing apparatuses are settled for the corresponding department. 
     Moreover, in the case of e-mail transmission and file transmission, apparatuses capable of being connected to the Internet are limited. Therefore, e-mails and files may not be transmitted unless such apparatuses are used. 
     Thus, for example, if the plural information processing apparatuses are limited depending on users in the information processing system in which the information processing apparatuses are connected to one another on the network, the users are forced to consciously select one of the information processing apparatuses, which results in an increase in labor of the users. In addition, the users may wrongly select the information processing apparatus. 
     Patent Document 1: JP-A-2003-179718 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been made in view of the above points and may provide a job management system, an information processing apparatus, and an information processing method in which the user selects an information processing apparatus connected to a network based on predetermined conditions so as to execute a job without selecting the corresponding one of plural information processing apparatuses for executing the job. 
     According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a job management system having plural information processing apparatuses connected to each other via a network capable of transmitting and receiving information. The information processing apparatus includes a job control unit that selects one of the plural information processing apparatuses to execute a requested job based on user&#39;s registration information and equipment information recorded in the plural information processing apparatuses and causes the selected one of the plural information processing apparatuses to execute the requested job. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus connected to plural of the information processing apparatuses via a network capable of transmitting and receiving information. The information processing apparatus includes a job control unit that selects one of the plural information processing apparatuses to execute a requested job and causes the selected one of the plural information processing apparatuses to execute the job. 
     According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing method executed by a job management system having plural information processing apparatuses connected to each other via a network capable of transmitting and receiving information. The information processing method includes a selection step of selecting one of the plural information processing apparatuses to execute a requested job based on user&#39;s registration information and equipment information recorded in the plural information processing apparatuses; and a job control step of causing the one of the plural information processing apparatuses selected by the selection step to execute the requested job. 
     Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram showing the schematic configuration of a job management system according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is an external perspective view schematically showing a digital color multifunction peripheral according to the embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram showing electrical connections between the respective units of the digital color multifunction peripheral according to the embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is a block diagram showing the functions of the digital color multifunction peripheral according to the embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram showing an example of user information recorded in a registration information DB according to the embodiment; 
         FIGS. 6A and 6B  are diagrams showing an example of group information recorded in the registration information DB according to the embodiment; 
         FIG. 7  is a diagram showing an example of equipment information recorded in the equipment information DB according to the embodiment; 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram showing an example of image information recorded in the image information DB according to the embodiment; 
         FIG. 9  is a diagram showing an example of history information recorded in a history information DB according to the embodiment; 
         FIG. 10  is a flowchart showing the flow of job execution processing according to the embodiment; and 
         FIG. 11  is a flowchart showing the flow of the execution processing of a job control unit according to the embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention is described in detail. 
     (Schematic Configuration of Job Management System) 
     Referring first to  FIG. 1 , a description is made of the schematic configuration of a job management system according to the embodiment. FIG.  1  shows the schematic configuration of the job management system according to the embodiment. Note that the job management system  100  shown in  FIG. 1  shows a system configuration including equipment (information processing apparatus) such as a digital color multifunction peripheral as an example. 
     Note that the digital color multifunction peripheral refers to equipment that has, e.g., a copy function, a facsimile (FAX) function, a print function, a scanner function, and the function of distributing input images (document images scanned by the scanner function and images input by the printer function or the FAX function). 
     The job management system  100  shown in  FIG. 1  is configured to include digital color multifunction peripherals  1   a  through  1   c , a server computer  2 , client computers  3 , and a communications control unit  4 . 
     Further, the job management system  100  connects the plural digital color multifunction peripherals  1   a  through  1   c  (hereinafter collectively referred to as “digital color multifunction peripherals  1 ”) to the server computer  2  that executes various information processing programs and to the plural client computers  3  via a LAN (Local Area Network)  5  as a communications network. 
     Here, the job management system  100  develops an environment in which an image input function such as a scanner function, an image output function such as a print function, and an image processing function such as the function of accumulating images, provided in the respective digital color multifunction peripherals  1 , can be shared on the LAN  5 . 
     The server computer  2  supports, e.g., FTP and HTTP protocols and implements the functions of a Web server and a DNS (domain name server). 
     Further, the job management system  100  has a communications control unit  4 , is connected to an Internet network  6  via the communications control unit  4 , and configured to be capable of communicating data with an external environment via the Internet network  6 . 
     The communications control unit  4  refers to, e.g., a router, switching equipment, and a modem, and is capable of performing, e.g., TCP/IP communications. Note that the LAN  5  is not limited to one using wired communications but may be in other forms using wireless communications (such as infrared rays and electric waves) and optical fibers. 
     Further, the digital color multifunction peripherals  1  connected to the job management system  100  are connected to a public telephone network  21  via a PBX (Private Branch Exchange)  22  and can communicate with remote FAX machines via the public telephone network  21 . Examples of a facsimile line include G 3 - 1 , G 3 - 2 , and G 4 . 
     In the job management system  100  according to the embodiment, processing as instructed by the user is automatically executed by a previously-set apparatus regardless of which one of the digital color multifunction peripherals  1   a  through  1   c  he or she uses. 
     For example, in the job management system  100 , it is assumed that members belonging to a “group  1 ” are required to perform Fax transmission with the line G 3 - 1  of the digital color multifunction peripheral  1   b . In this case, even if a “user  1 ” belonging to the “group  1 ” performs FAX transmission with one of the digital color multifunction peripherals  1   a  through  1   c , the line G 3 - 1  of the digital color multifunction peripheral  1   b  is automatically used to perform FAX transmission. 
     As described above, the conditions, etc., of the equipment to be used are set in advance for each user in the job management system  100  according to the embodiment, whereby various processing jobs such as e-mail transmission, file transfer, print output, and data accumulation other than FAX transmission are executed by the specified equipment. 
     (Digital Color Multifunction Peripheral) 
     Referring next to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a description is made of the digital color multifunction peripheral  1 .  FIG. 2  is an external perspective view schematically showing the digital color multifunction peripheral.  FIG. 3  is a block diagram showing electrical connections between the respective units of the digital color multifunction peripheral. 
     The digital color multifunction peripheral  1  shown in  FIG. 2  is configured to mainly include a printing apparatus  7 , an image reading apparatus  8 , and an external media input/output apparatus  9 . Further, the digital color multifunction peripheral  1  shown in  FIG. 3  is configured to include an image processing unit section A and an information processing unit section B. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , in the digital color multifunction peripheral  1 , the image reading apparatus  8  that reads an image from a document is provided above the printing apparatus  7  as an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a medium such as a transfer sheet. Further, at the external surface of the image reading apparatus  8 , an operations panel P is provided to display information to the user and receive various inputs such as function settings from the user. 
     Moreover, under the operations panel P, the external media input/output apparatus  9  is provided. The external media input/output apparatus  9  reads program code, image data, etc., stored in a storage medium M such as an optical disk and a flexible disk described below, and writes the program code, image data, etc., in the storage medium M. Note that the external media input/output apparatus  9  has an insertion slot exposed externally to receive the storage medium M. 
     Further, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the electrical connections of the digital color multifunction peripheral  1  are roughly divided into the image processing unit section A and the information processing unit section B. The image processing unit section A includes the printing apparatus  7  and the image reading apparatus  8 , and the information processing unit section B includes the operations panel P and the external media input/output apparatus  9 . 
     Here, the image processing unit section A is described. The image processing unit section A includes an image processing control unit  10 , and the image processing control unit  10  controls all of the image processing in the image processing unit section A. 
     The image processing control unit  10  is composed of, e.g., a microcomputer, and has a CPU (Central Processing unit)  11 , a RAM (Random Access Memory)  12 , and a NVRAM (Nonvolatile Random Access Memory)  14 , all of which are connected to one another through a bus. Note that the CPU  11  serves as a main processor; the RAM  12  temporarily stores image data read from the image reading apparatus  8  so as to be subjected to image formation processing, etc., by the printing apparatus  7 ; the ROM  13  stores a control program, etc.; and the NVRAM  14  records system logs, system settings, log information, etc., and is capable of maintaining data even when power is turned off. 
     The image processing control unit  10  is connected to a printing control unit  15  that controls the printing apparatus  7  and to an image reading control unit  16  that controls the image reading apparatus  8 . 
     The printing control unit  15  outputs a printing instruction accompanying image data to the printing apparatus  7  in accordance with a request from the image processing control unit  10 , and the printing apparatus  7  forms an image on a medium such as a transfer sheet and outputs the same. Note that the printing apparatus  7  is capable of performing full-color printing. 
     The image reading control unit  16  drives the image reading apparatus  8  in accordance with a request from the image processing control unit  10 , and the image reading apparatus  8  condenses reflection light by lamp irradiation at the front surface of a document into a light receiving element through a mirror and a lens so as to be read. Thus, digital image data are generated. 
     Further, the image processing control unit  10  is connected to a HDD (Hard Disk Drive)  17  that serves to accumulate large amounts of image data and store job history, etc.; a LAN control unit  19  that connects the image processing unit section A to a LAN  5  through a HUB  18  as a line concentrator provided inside the digital color multifunction peripheral; and a FAX control unit  20  that performs FAX control. 
     The FAX control unit  20  is connected to the PBX  22  communicating with the public telephone network  21 . 
     Further, the image processing control unit  10  is connected to a display control unit  23  and an operations input control unit  24 . Under the control of the image processing control unit  10 , the display control unit  23  outputs an image display control signal to the information processing unit section B through a communication cable  26  connected to a control panel I/F  25 , thereby controlling the display of an image with respect to the operations panel P of the information processing unit section B. 
     Under the control of the image processing control unit  10 , the operations input control unit  24  receives an input control signal in accordance with function settings and input operations by the user from the operations panel P of the information processing unit section B through the communication cable  26  connected to the control panel I/F  25 . In other words, the image processing unit section A is configured to be capable of directly monitoring the operations panel P of the information processing unit section B through the communication cable  26 . 
     With this configuration, the image processing unit section A analyzes printing data as image information from an outside (the server computer  2 , the client computers  3 , a FAX machine, etc.) and a command to perform printing, and determines operations. 
     Further, the image processing unit section A can transfer printing data, document reading data, output image data obtained by processing the printing data and the document reading data for outputting, compression data obtained by compressing the printing data, the document reading data, and the output image data, all of which are stored in the RAM  12  and the HDD  17 , to the outside (the server computer  2 , the client computers  3 , the FAX machine, etc.). 
     Next, the information processing unit section B having the operations panel P is described. The information processing unit section B is composed of, e.g., a microcomputer controlled by a general-purpose OS (Operating System) used for an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer. 
     The information processing unit section B has a CPU  31  as a main processor. 
     The CPU  31  is connected to a memory unit  32  and a storage apparatus control unit  35  through a bus. Note that the memory unit  32  is configured to include a RAM as the work area of the CPU  31  and a ROM as a read only memory storing an activation program, etc. Further, the storage apparatus control unit  35  controls the input/output of data to/from a storage device  34  such as a HDD storing application programs. 
     Further, the CPU  31  is connected to a LAN control unit  33  as a communication interface used for connecting the information processing unit section B to the LAN  5  through the HUB  18 . Note that an IP address as a network address allocated to the LAN control unit  33  is different from that allocated to the LAN control unit  19  of the image processing unit section A. 
     In other words, the two IP addresses are allocated to the digital color multifunction peripheral  1  according to the embodiment, and the image processing unit section A and the information processing unit section B are connected to the LAN  5 . Thus, data exchange between the image processing unit section A and the information processing unit section B is made possible. 
     Further, the CPU  31  is connected to a display control unit  36  and an operations input control unit  37  to control the operations panel P. Further, the CPU  31  is connected to a control panel communication unit  39  connected to the control panel I/F  25  of the image processing unit section A through the communication cable  26 . 
     The control panel communication unit  39  receives an image display control signal output from the image processing unit section A, and transfers to the image processing unit section A the input control signal in accordance with function settings and input operations by the user from the operations panel P. 
     As described above, the storage device  34  stores the OS and the application programs executed by the CPU  31 . 
     In the job management system  100  according to the embodiment, by the system configuration including the digital color multifunction peripheral  1  described above, one of the plural digital color multifunction peripherals  1  is automatically selected depending on the user who uses a system to execute a job as instructed by the user. 
     Next, the details of the processing executed by the digital color multifunction peripheral  1  are described. 
     (Function Block of Digital Color Multifunction Peripheral) 
     Referring first to  FIG. 4 , a description is made of a function block diagram showing relationships between functions for implementing the processing of the digital color multifunction peripheral  1 .  FIG. 4  is the function block diagram of the digital color multifunction peripheral  1  according to the embodiment. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the digital color multifunction peripheral  1  is configured to include a display input control unit  51 , an authentication control unit  52 , an individual menu control unit  53 , an image acquisition unit  54 , a registration information control unit  55 , a registration information DB  56 , a job control unit  57 , an equipment information control unit  58 , an equipment information DB  59 , an image information control unit  67 , an image information DB  68 , a history information control unit  65 , and a history information DB  66 . 
     The display input control unit  51  controls various displays and inputs. For example, the display input control unit  51  displays a screen on the operations panel P, and receives operations by the user for setting conditions, such as inputting of authentication information using a user name, a password, etc., reading of a document image, and transmission, accumulation, and printing of a read image, etc. 
     The authentication control unit  52  compares authentication information acquired from the display input control unit  51  with user information acquired from the registration information control unit  55  to perform user authentication. When the user authentication by the authentication control unit  52  is successful, the individual menu control unit  53  then performs control. Note that when the user authentication fails, the authentication control unit  52  instructs the display input control unit  51  to display an authentication error message. 
     The individual menu control unit  53  maintains information for each login user and requests for displaying a screen and executing processing for the user. The individual menu control unit  53  acquires user information, group information, etc., as registration information of the login user from the registration information control unit  55 , and instructs the display input control unit  51  to display the screen dedicated to the user based on the acquired information. 
     Further, the individual menu control unit  53  acquires from the display input control unit  51  values for setting the conditions of the transmission, accumulation, printing, etc., of a document image input by the user, etc., requests the image acquisition unit  54  to acquire an image based on the set information, and requests the job control unit  57  to execute a job. 
     The image acquisition unit  54  reads an image from a scanner and acquires an image file from a medium. The image acquisition unit  54  causes the image information control unit  67  to store an acquired image in the HDD  17  of the digital color multifunction peripheral. The image acquisition unit  54  acquires image information such as a destination to store a file from the image information control unit  67  and outputs the acquired image information to the individual menu control unit  53 . 
     The registration information control unit  55  records user information, group information, etc., as user&#39;s registration information described below in the registration information DB  56 , and is instructed by the authentication information control unit  52  and the individual menu control unit  53  to acquire the user&#39;s registration information from the registration information DB  56  and output the same to each of the control units. Further, the registration information control unit  55  synchronizes the user&#39;s registration information recorded in the registration information DB  56  with those recorded in other multifunction peripherals existing on the network. Note that the control of synchronizing the user&#39;s registration information is described below. 
     The registration information DB  56  records the user&#39;s registration information. Further, upon receiving a notification from the registration information control unit  55 , the registration information DB  56  executes the acquisition, addition, change, deletion, etc., of the user information, group information, etc., as the user&#39;s registration information. 
     The job control unit  57  includes a FAX transmission unit  60 , an e-mail transmission unit  61 , a file transmission unit  62 , an accumulation unit  63 , and a printing unit  64 . Upon receiving an instruction from the individual menu control unit  53 , the job control unit  57  causes a requested job to be executed. 
     For example, when being connected through the network capable of transmitting and receiving information to and from plural information processing apparatuses, the job control unit  57  receives an instruction for executing a job requested by the user with the operations panel P of the own digital multifunction peripheral, the client computer  3 , etc., and selects one of the plural information processing apparatuses to execute the job based on the user&#39;s registration information and the equipment information of the plural information processing apparatuses. 
     On this occasion, the job control unit  57  acquires the user&#39;s registration information from the individual menu control unit  53  and determines whether any information processing apparatus for executing the job is specified based on the acquired user&#39;s registration information. When it is determined that the information processing apparatus for executing the job is specified, the job control unit  57  determines whether the specified information processing apparatus is available based on the equipment information acquired from the equipment information control unit  58 . When it is determined that the specified information processing apparatus is available, the job control unit  57  selects it as the information processing apparatus for executing the job. 
     Further, when it is determined that plural information processing apparatuses are specified and at least two of the specified plural information processing apparatuses are available, the job control unit  57  causes the user to select one of the information processing apparatuses for executing the job. Note here that when information for specifying equipment to be preferentially used is set for each user, the job control unit  57  may select the information processing apparatus for executing the job based on the set information for specifying the equipment. 
     Further, when executing the job with other multifunction peripherals existing on the network, the job control unit  57  instructs the job control units  57  of these other multifunction peripherals to execute the job. 
     As described above, since the information processing apparatus for executing the job is automatically selected, the user is not required to select one of the plural information processing apparatuses by himself or herself. Therefore, it is possible for the user to execute the job without wrongly selecting the apparatus to be used. 
     Note here that the equipment information refers to the various information items of the equipment including the information processing apparatus such as the multifunction peripheral, and is used for determining whether the job is capable of being executed based on the conditions of the equipment such as the availability of a FAX machine and the available lines for the corresponding equipment. 
     Further, the job control unit  57  acquires user&#39;s registration information from the individual menu control unit  53  and causes the information processing apparatus capable of being used by the user to execute the job based on the acquired user&#39;s registration information. Thus, it becomes possible to correctly select the equipment corresponding to the user and prevent unregistered persons from using the equipment. 
     The job control unit  57  acquires an image file required for executing the job from the image information control unit  67  based on image information supplied by the individual menu control unit  53 . Here, the image information refers to information such as a destination at which to store the image file. 
     The job control unit  57  instructs one of the e-mail transmission unit  60 , the FAX transmission unit  61 , the file transmission unit  62 , the accumulation unit  63 , and the printing unit  64  to execute the job in accordance with the details of the job to be processed. 
     Further, after executing the job, the job control unit  57  notifies the history information control unit  65  of an execution result. 
     The equipment information control unit  58  records the equipment information in the equipment information DB  59 . On the other hand, upon receiving a notification from the job control unit  57 , the equipment information control unit  58  acquires the equipment information from the equipment information DB  59  and outputs the same to the job control unit  57 . The equipment information control unit  58  synchronizes the equipment information items recorded in the equipment information DB  59  with those recorded in other multifunction peripherals existing on the network. Note that the control of synchronizing the equipment information is described below. 
     The equipment information DB  59  includes the equipment information. Upon receiving a notification from the equipment information control unit  58 , the equipment information DB  59  executes the acquisition, addition, change, deletion, etc., of the recorded equipment information. 
     The FAX transmission unit  60  transmits the image file by facsimile in accordance with an instruction from the job control unit  57  and notifies the job control unit  57  of a transmission result. 
     The e-mail transmission unit  61  transmits the image file by e-mail in accordance with an instruction from the job control unit  57  and notifies the job control unit  57  of a transmission result. 
     The file transmission unit  62  transfers the image file to an information processing apparatus in accordance with an instruction from the job control unit  57  and notifies the job control unit  57  of a transfer result. 
     The accumulation unit  63  accumulates the image file in the HDD  17  in accordance with an instruction from the job control unit  57  and notifies the job control unit  57  of an accumulation result. 
     The printing unit  64  prints the image file in accordance with an instruction from the job control unit  57  and notifies the job control unit  57  of a print result. 
     Upon receiving the notification of a job execution result from the job control unit  57 , the history information control unit  65  stores the job execution result in the history information DB  66 . 
     The history information DB  66  includes the execution history of the job. Upon receiving a notification from the history information control unit  65 , the history information DB  66  executes the acquisition, addition, change, deletion, etc., of history information. 
     Upon receiving the notification of acquiring the image file from the image acquisition unit  54 , the image information control unit  67  performs processing such as storage of the image file in the HDD  17  and storage of information on a destination to store in the image information DB  68 . Further, upon receiving a notification from the job control unit  57 , the image information control unit  67  acquires the image file used for executing the job and notifies the job control unit  57  of the same. 
     Further, the image information control unit  67  performs control for synchronizing image information with those of other multifunction peripherals existing on the network. Note that the control of synchronizing the image information is described below. 
     The image information DB  68  includes information on the image file. Upon receiving a notification from the image information control unit  68 , the image information DB  68  executes the acquisition, addition, change, deletion, etc., of the image information. 
     (Synchronization of Information Between Plural Multifunction Peripherals on Network) 
     Next, a description is made of a method for synchronizing the user&#39;s registration information, equipment information, image information, etc., described above between the plural multifunction peripherals on the network. 
     The synchronization of the respective information items is implemented by communications between the registration information control units  55 , the equipment information control units  58 , and the image information control units  67  of the respective multifunction peripherals. Here, as an example, a description is made of a case in which the registration information control units  55  synchronize the user&#39;s registration information among the respective multifunction peripherals on the network. For example, the registration information control units of the digital color multifunction peripherals  1   a  through  1   c  are referred to as registration information control units  55   a  through  55   c , respectively. 
     For example, when the user&#39;s registration information described above is changed in the digital color multifunction peripheral  1   a , the registration information control unit  55   a  notifies the network of the change in the user&#39;s registration information. When receiving the notification from the registration information control unit  55   a , the registration information control unit  55   b  of the multifunction peripheral  1   b  and the registration information control unit  55   c  of the multifunction peripheral  1   c  on the network request the registration information control unit  55   a  to transmit information on the change. 
     The registration information control unit  55   a  transmits the information on the change to the registration information control unit  55   b  and the registration information control unit  55   c.    
     When the registration information control unit  55   b  and the registration information control unit  55   c  reflect the information on the change in their user&#39;s registration information, the synchronization of the registration information held in the digital color multifunction peripherals  1   a  through  1   c  is made possible. 
     Note that the above method is an example of synchronizing the information between the plural multifunction peripherals. Alternatively, it may also be possible to provide a shared folder in the server computer  2  or the client computer  3  and store the newest information in the shared folder. In this case, the registration information control units  55   a  through  55   c  regularly access the shared folder for synchronization on the network. When the shared folder contains information newer than that contained in the registration information control units  55   a  through  55   c , the registration information control units  55   a  through  55   c  acquire the newer information and reflect the same in their information. Further, when the shared folder contains information older than that of the registration information control units  55   a  through  55   c , the registration information control units  55   a  through  55   c  update the information of the shared folder with their newer information. 
     Thus, sharing the newest information among the plural multifunction peripherals on the network is made possible. As a result, it is possible for the user to use the same service regardless of which one of the digital color multifunction peripherals on the network he or she uses. 
     Next, the information handled by the respective control units is described. 
     (Various Information Items) 
     Referring next to  FIG. 5 , a description is made of the user information recorded in the registration information DB  56  according to the embodiment.  FIG. 5  is a diagram showing an example of the user information recorded in the registration information DB according to the embodiment. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , “user IDs,” “display names,” “group names” “login user names,” “login passwords,” “group IDs,” etc., are recorded as the user information of the registration information DB  56 . 
     Here, the “display names” and the “group names” are, e.g., information displayed on the screen, and the “login user names” and the “login passwords” are information used for authentication. Further, the “group IDs” contain the IDs of groups to which users belong. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , when the “user ID” is, e.g., “10001,” “user  1 ” is displayed as the “display name” and “development  1 G” is displayed as the “group name.” Further, “Userl” as the “login user name” and “Passl” as the “login password” are used for authentication. Moreover, the “group ID” of the group to which the “user  1 ” belongs is “20001.” 
     Further, when the “user ID” is, e.g., “10003,” “user  3 ” is displayed as the “display name” and “development  1 G” is displayed as the “group name.” Further, “User 3 ” as the “login user name” and “Pass 3 ” as the “login password” are used for authentication. Moreover, the “group ID” of the group to which the “user  3 ” belongs includes “20001” and “20002.” 
     As described above, recording of the plural group IDs in the “group ID” makes it possible to select and record the plural groups in the user information. Note that according to the embodiment, the setting information of the groups to which the respective users belong is acquired by the use of the “group ID” described above. 
     Referring next to  FIGS. 6A and 6B , a description is made of the group information recorded in the registration information DB  56  according to the embodiment.  FIGS. 6A and 6B  are diagrams showing an example of the group information recorded in the registration information DB  56  according to the embodiment. 
     As an example of the group information of the registration information DB  56 ,  FIG. 6A  shows the display information of the groups, and  FIG. 6B  shows the equipment specification information of the groups. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6A , the display information of the groups is the information to be displayed on the screen for a login user. When the “group ID” is, e.g., “20001,” “group  1 ” is displayed as the “display name” and “development  1 G” is displayed as the “group name.” 
     Further, as shown in  FIG. 6B , the equipment specification information indicates information as to whether equipment to be used is specified for each processing, information as to which equipment is used if the equipment to be used is specified, etc. In the area of “equipment specification,” information as to whether equipment is specified, information on the specified equipment, etc., are recorded for each of the processing of “FAX transmission,” “e-mail transmission,” “accumulation,” “printing,” etc. 
     Specifically, as shown in  FIG. 6B , when the “group ID” is “20001,” it is recorded in the equipment specification that “equipment is specified” for the processing of “FAX transmission,” “e-mail transmission,” “accumulation,” and “printing,” while “equipment is not specified” for the processing of “file transmission.” Further, for the processing of “FAX transmission,” it is specified that equipment having an “equipment ID” of “30002” and a “line” of “G 3 - 1 ” is used. As described above, it is possible to specify the line as well as the equipment in, e. Fax transmission. 
     Referring next to  FIG. 7 , a description is made of the equipment information recorded in the equipment information DB  59  according to the embodiment.  FIG. 7  is a diagram showing an example of the equipment information recorded in the equipment information DB according to the embodiment. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , “equipment IDs,” “equipment names,” “network information,” “FAX machine information,” etc., are recorded as the equipment information recorded in the equipment information DB  59 . Further, it is possible to record “host names” and “IP addresses” as the “network information,” and the “presence or absence of FAX machine” and “available lines” as the “FAX machine information.” 
     Here, the “equipment names” are information displayed on the screen, and the “host names” and the “IP addresses” as the “network information” are information for specifying equipment on the network. Further, the “presence or absence of FAX machine” and the “available lines” are information used for determining whether a FAX transmission job is executable. 
     Specifically, as shown in  FIG. 7 , when the “equipment ID” is, e.g., “30002,” it is recorded that the “equipment name” is the “multifunction peripheral  1   b ,” the “host name” and the “IP address” as the “network information” are “Host 2 ” and “192.168.0.11,” respectively, and the “presence or absence of FAX machine” and the “available line” as the “FAX machine information” are “present” and “G 3 - 1 , G 3 - 2 ,” respectively. 
     Referring next to  FIG. 8 , a description is made of the image information recorded in the image information DB  68  according to the embodiment.  FIG. 8  is a diagram showing an example of the image information recorded in the image information DB according to the embodiment. 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , “image IDs,” “file names” of images, “equipment IDs” of equipment in which images are stored, “destinations to store” folders in which images are stored, etc., are recorded as the image information recorded in the image information DB  68 . 
     Specifically, as shown in  FIG. 8 , when the “image ID” is “50001,” it is recorded that the “file name” of an image is “IMG0001.jpg,” the image is stored in equipment having an “equipment ID” of “30001,” and the “destination to store” a folder in which the image is stored is “¥IMG¥20090707.” 
     Referring next to  FIG. 9 , a description is made of the history information recorded in the history information DB  66  according to the embodiment.  FIG. 9  is a diagram showing an example of the history information recorded in the history information DB according to the embodiment. 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , “starting dates and times” for executing jobs, “input types,” “output types,” “transmission destinations,” “subjects and document names,” “user names,” “execution equipment,” “ending dates and times,” “results,” etc., are recorded as the history information recorded in the history information DB  66 . 
     Here, the “input types” are information showing methods for acquiring, e.g., images. In other words, the “input types” show the information as to whether the images are read by a scanner, acquired from media, or acquired by FAX reception, e-mail reception, etc. The “output types” are information showing processing applied corresponding to the “input types.” In other words, the “output types” show the information as to which one of FAX transmission, e-mail transmission, accumulation, printing, etc., is applied to the corresponding input type. Further, the “user names” show the information of the users who executed the processing, and the “execution equipment” shows the information of the equipment which executed the processing. 
     (Job Execution Processing) 
     Referring next to  FIG. 10 , a description is made of the brief overview of processing in which the user logs into one of the digital color multifunction peripherals  1   a  through  1   c  to perform an operation for executing a job and then a previously specified digital color multifunction peripheral executes the job.  FIG. 10  is a flowchart showing the flow of the job execution processing according to the embodiment. 
       FIG. 10  describes the processing in which, e.g., the “user  1 ” logs into the digital color multifunction peripheral  1   a  to perform the operation for executing FAX transmission and then the line G 3 - 1  of the digital color multifunction peripheral  1   b  different from the digital color multifunction peripheral  1   a  which the user  1  is logged into is used to execute the FAX transmission. 
     Here, the “user  1 ” belongs to the “group  1 ,” and it is assumed that members belonging to the “group  1 ” are required to use the line G 3 - 1  of the multifunction peripheral  1   b  for FAX transmission. Further, it is assumed that the user&#39;s recording information and the equipment information are previously synchronized with each other between the digital color multifunction peripherals  1   a  and  1   b.    
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , the “user  1 ” first inputs authentication information for logging into the digital color multifunction peripheral  1   a  (in step S 10 ). 
     Here, as an authentication method, the user  1  inputs a “login user name,” a “login password,” etc. The authentication method is not limited to the above method. For example, the “user  1 ” may use information contained in an “IC card” allocated to himself or herself and put the same over the operations panel P, etc., of the digital color multifunction peripheral  1   a  to perform authentication. Further, the “user  1 ” may perform authentication by using biometrics such as vein authentication. 
     Next, in the processing of step S 10 , the display input control unit  51  notifies the authentication control unit  52  of the authentication information input by the “user  1 .” Then, the authentication control unit  52  acquires the user information from the registration information control unit  55  and performs user authentication based on the input authentication information to determine whether the user authentication is successful (in step S 11 ). Here, when the user information acquired from the registration information control unit  55  contains the user whose login user name and login password are the same as those of the input authentication information, the authentication control unit  52  determines that “the authentication is successful,” or otherwise determines that “the authentication fails.” 
     When the user authentication is successful (YES in step S 11 ), the “user  1 ” logs into the digital color multifunction peripheral  1   a . Then, the digital color multifunction peripheral  1   a  starts an individual menu dedicated to the “user  1 ” (in step S 12 ). When the user authentication fails (NO in step S 11 ), the processing is completed. 
     In the processing of step S 12 , the individual menu control unit  53  acquires the user information and the group information as the registration information of the “user  1 ” who has been successful in the authentication from the registration information control unit  55 , and then instructs the display input control unit  51  to display the screen dedicated to the “user  1 ” based on the acquired information. 
     Next, the “user  1 ” inputs conditions for executing the job on the individual menu screen (in step S 13 ). Here, the conditions for executing the job include the processing of reading a document by a scanner, using an image file contained in a medium, transmitting an acquired image by e-mail or FAX, accumulating the acquired image in the HDD  17 , printing the acquired image, or detailed conditions set for each of the processing steps. The display information control unit  51  notifies the individual menu control unit  53  of the information input in the processing of step S 13 . 
     Next, the individual menu control unit  53  notifies the job control unit  57  of the user information and the group information acquired in step S 12  and the conditions for executing the job of the “user  1 ” acquired by the processing of step S 13 , and then the job control unit  57  requests the digital color multifunction peripheral  1   b  to execute the job based on the acquired information. Thus, the digital color multifunction peripheral  1   b  existing on the network executes the job (in step S 14 ). Note that the processing of step S 14  is more specifically described with reference to  FIG. 11 . 
     When the execution of the job in step S 14  is completed, the “user  1 ” determines whether there is any job remaining to be executed (in step S 15 ). When it is determined that there is no job to be executed (NO in step S 15 ), logout processing for the “user  1 ” is executed (in step S 16 ) to complete the processing. On the other hand, when it is determined that there is any job to be executed (YES in step S 15 ), the flow returns to the processing of step S 13  to set conditions for executing the job again. Note here that when not instructed by the “user  1 ,” the individual menu control unit  53  may automatically execute the logout processing after a certain period of time. 
     (Execution Processing of Job Control Unit  57 ) 
     Referring next to  FIG. 11 , a description is made of the processing in which the job control unit  57  executes the job specified by the “user  1 .”  FIG. 11  is a flowchart showing the flow of the execution processing of the job control unit according to the embodiment. 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , the job control unit  57  determines whether equipment for executing the job is specified based on the user information and the group information as the user&#39;s registration information acquired from the individual menu control unit  53  (in step S 20 ). 
     For example, the user information shown in  FIG. 5  contains the “group ID” of the group to which the user belongs. Further, the group information shown in  FIG. 6B  contains the information as to whether any equipment for executing the job is specified in the “group” corresponding to the “group ID,” the information as to which equipment is used for executing the job, etc. 
     When determining that the equipment for executing the job is not specified (NO in step S 20 ), the job control unit  57  executes the processing with the equipment being operated by the user (in step S 21 ). In other words, the job control unit  57  executes the job specified by the user with the FAX transmission unit  60  and the e-mail transmission unit  61  of the equipment being operated by the user, and then proceeds to the processing of step S 30 . 
     On the other hand, when determining that the equipment for executing the job is specified (YES in step S 20 ), the job control unit  57  acquires the equipment information of the specified equipment (in step S 22 ). 
     For example, in the case of the “user  1 ,” the user information shown in  FIG. 5  stipulates that the “group ID” is “20001,” and the group information shown in  FIG. 6B  stipulates that the “equipment is specified” for FAX transmission when the “group ID” is “20001.” Further, it is stipulated that the specified equipment should have “30002” as the “equipment ID” and “G 3 - 1 ” as the “line.” Accordingly, in the case of the “user  1 ,” the job control unit  57  determines in the processing of step S 20  that the equipment for executing the job is specified, and then proceeds to the processing of step S 22 . 
     The job control unit  57  determines whether the specified equipment is available based on the equipment information acquired by the processing of step S 22  (in step S 23 ). Note that the equipment information is synchronized among the equipment sets connected on the network. As shown in  FIG. 7 , the equipment information contains not only the information of the own peripheral being operated by the user but also the information of other peripherals on the network. In addition, the equipment information contains the presence or absence of a FAX machine, available lines, etc. 
     Here, when the specified equipment cannot be used due to, e.g., the absence of a FAX machine (NO in step S 23 ), the job cannot be executed. Therefore, the job control unit  57  cancels the job and proceeds to the processing of step S 30 . 
     For example, in the case of the “user  1 ,” the job control unit  57  acquires the equipment information containing “30002” as the “equipment ID” and the “multifunction peripheral  1   b ” as the “equipment name” from the equipment information shown in  FIG. 7  in the processing of step S 22 . Since the “FAX machine is present” and the “line G 3 - 1  is available” in the “multifunction peripheral  1   b ” based on the acquired equipment information in the processing of step S 23 , the job control unit  57  determines that the specified equipment is available and then proceeds to the processing of step S 25 . 
     After determining that the specified equipment is available (YES in step S 23 ), the job control unit  57  then determines whether the specified equipment can be one of plural equipment sets (in step S 25 ). 
     For example, as shown in  FIGS. 5 ,  6 A, and  6 B, the “group ID” of the “user  3 ” includes&#39;“20001” and “20002” which belong to the “group  1 ” and the “group  2 ,” respectively. Accordingly, when the “user  3 ” performs FAX transmission, the user  3  can use both the digital color multifunction peripheral  1   a  and the digital color multifunction peripheral  1   b . Note that when the user belongs to plural groups, it is assumed that the user holds operations concurrently over plural departments. 
     As described above, when determining that the specified equipment can be one of the plural equipment sets (YES in step S 25 ), the job control unit  57  causes the user to select the equipment to be executed (in step S 26 ). 
     Here, the job control unit  57  notifies the individual menu control unit  53  of a list of the available equipment. The individual menu control unit  53  causes the display input control unit  51  to display the list of the equipment and the user to select the equipment to be used. A result selected by the user is sent from the display input control unit  51  to the individual menu control unit  53 , and then sent from the individual menu control unit  53  to the job control unit  57 . 
     Note that when any of the equipment to be preferentially used is determined in advance for each user instead of the selection by the user in the processing of step S 26 , the equipment may be automatically selected based on the determination. For example, the user information shown in  FIG. 5  can contain equipment specification information to be preferentially used for each user. 
     On the other hand, when there is only one equipment set available, the job control unit  57  determines that the specified equipment cannot be plural of the equipment sets (NO in step S 25 ), and then requests the specified equipment to execute the job (in step S 27 ). 
     For example, in the case of the “user  1 ,” since it is stipulated that the “user  1 ” belongs to only the “group  1 ,” the equipment used for FAX transmission is the “multifunction peripheral  1   b ,” and the line used is the “G 3 - 1 ,” the job control unit  57  determines in the processing of step S 25  that an operation by the user for selecting the equipment is unnecessary, i.e., the specified equipment cannot be plural of the equipment sets, and then proceeds to the processing of step S 27 . 
     Next, the job control unit  57  requests the job control unit  57  of the equipment specified in the processing of steps S 25  and S 26  to execute the job (in step S 27 ). Here, the job control unit  57  of the equipment being operated by the user transmits the conditions for executing the job specified by the user and the information of the image file used for the job to the job control unit  57  of the specified equipment via the network. 
     Note that the job control units and the image information control units of the digital color multifunction peripherals  1   a  and  1   b  are job control units  57   a  and  57   b  and image information control units  67   a  and  67   b , respectively. For example, the job control unit  57   a  of the digital color multifunction peripheral  1   a  being operated by the “user  1 ” transmits the conditions for FAX transmission and the information of the image file used for FAX transmission to the job control unit  57   b.    
     Next, the job control unit  57  of the specified equipment acquires the image file used for the job (in step S 28 ). First, the job control unit  57  of the specified equipment notifies the image information control unit  67  of the own equipment of the image information acquired by the processing of step S 27  and requests for the acquisition of the image file. 
     The image information control unit  67  determines whether the image file to be acquired is contained in other equipment from the acquired image information. When determining that the image file is contained in other equipment, the image information control unit  67  acquires the image file via the image information control unit  67  of the other equipment. The image information control unit  67  transmits the image file acquired from the image information control unit  67  of the other equipment to the job control unit of the own equipment. 
     For example, in the processing of step S 27 , the job control unit  57   b , which is requested by the job control unit  57   a  of the digital color multifunction peripheral  1   a  being operated by the “user  1 ” to perform FAX transmission, requests the image information control unit  67   b  to acquire the image file used for FAX transmission. 
     In the processing of step S 28 , the image information control unit  67   b  determines that the image file indicated by the image information to be acquired is contained in the digital color multifunction peripheral  1   a  based on the image information shown in  FIG. 8 , and requests the image information control unit  67   a  to transmit the image file via the network. Then, the image information control unit  67   a  transmits the requested image file to the image information control unit  67   b  via the network. After receiving the image file from the image information control unit  67   a , the image information control unit  67   b  transmits the image file to the job control unit  57   b . Thus, the job control unit  57   b  acquires the image from the equipment as a request source. 
     Next, the job control unit  57  of the specified equipment executes the job by using the FAX transmission unit  60  and the e-mail transmission unit (in step S 29 ). Further, the job control unit  57  of the specified equipment notifies the job control unit  57  as the request source of an execution result. 
     For example, the job control unit  57   b  of the specified equipment that executes the job of the “user  1 ” requests the FAX transmission unit  60   b  to perform FAX transmission, and the FAX transmission unit  60   b  executes FAX transmission. The FAX transmission unit  60   b  notifies the job control unit  57   b  of an execution result. The job control unit  57   b  notifies the job control unit  57   a  of the result. 
     Next, the job control unit  57  as the request source notifies the history information control unit  65  of the execution result, the history information control unit  65  stores the execution result information in the history information DB  66  (in step S 30 ), and the job control unit  57  completes the processing. Note that in this example, the result is stored in the history information DB  66  after the execution of the job. However, execution statuses may be stored at any time as the history information during the execution of the job. 
     As described above, when, e.g., the “user  1 ” logs into the digital color multifunction peripheral  1   a  and performs an operation for FAX transmission, the line “G 3 - 1 ” of the multifunction peripheral  1   b  different from the multifunction peripheral  1   a  being operated is automatically used. The equipment is selected and the processing is executed based on the previously-set user&#39;s registration information, etc., not only for the execution of the job of FAX transmission described above, but also for e-mail transmission, file transfer, print output, accumulation and management of image files, etc. 
     Further, the “user  1 ” can obtain the same result by using the digital color multifunction peripherals  1   b  and  1   c  other than the digital color multifunction peripheral  1   a.    
     Note that in order to use the same service with one of the digital color multifunction peripherals  1  connected to the job management system  100 , the user&#39;s registration information, equipment information, etc., may be recorded in the server computer  2  or the client computer  3  in the job management system  100 , other than recording the user&#39;s registration information, equipment information, etc., in the digital color multifunction peripherals  1  and synchronizing these information sets with each other. 
     In this case, when the “user  1 ” logs into one of the digital color multifunction peripherals  1 , the registration information control unit  55 , the equipment information control unit  58 , etc., of the digital color multifunction peripheral in which the “user  1 ” is logged into acquires the user&#39;s registration information, equipment information, etc., from the server computer  2  or the client computer  3  via the network. In this manner, the same effect as when the user&#39;s registration information, equipment information, etc., of plural digital color multifunction peripherals are synchronized with each other can be obtained. 
     Note that in this embodiment, the equipment specification information is configured to be recorded for each group. However, the equipment specification information may be recorded for each user. In this case, the equipment information is set as, e.g., the user information shown in  FIG. 5 , and the job control unit  57  selects the equipment for executing the job based on the set equipment specification information. 
     As described above, according to the embodiment, the user&#39;s registration information, equipment information, etc., are synchronized among the plural information processing apparatuses connected to the network. Therefore, when the user performs a login operation with one of the plural information processing apparatuses, the corresponding information processing apparatus for executing the job is automatically selected based on the predetermined conditions. Thus, it is possible for the user to save the labor of selecting an apparatus by himself or herself to execute the job and prevent the user from wrongly selecting the apparatus to be used. 
     Therefore, according to the embodiment, it is possible for the user to select one of plural information processing apparatuses based on predetermined conditions to execute a job without selecting an apparatus for executing the job from the plural information processing apparatuses connected to a network. 
     The present invention is not limited to the specifically disclosed embodiments, and variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     The present application is based on Japanese Priority Application No. 2009-213752 filed on Sep. 15, 2009, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.