Patent Publication Number: US-2023134951-A1

Title: Image information transmission method, information communication terminal, and image forming system

Description:
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 
     The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-176607, filed on Oct. 28, 2021. The contents of this application are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates to an image information transmission method, an information communication terminal, and an image information transmission system. 
     An image forming apparatus receives image information to form an image on a recording medium. For example, a plurality of information communication terminals are connected to the image forming apparatus and the image forming apparatus receives image information from the information communication terminals. 
     Upon receiving the image information from one of the information communication terminals, a printer as an example of the image forming apparatus connected to a network performs printing only when an operator of the information communication terminal is in a site where the printer is installed. This can allow the operator to quickly collect a printed material. Therefore, high security can be ensured with low possibility of theft of printed materials. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to an aspect of the present disclosure, an image information includes: receiving from an information communication terminal an instruction to transmit image information to an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium based on the image information; determining, upon execution of the receiving, whether or not an operator operating the information communication terminal is in a site where the image forming apparatus is installed by referencing information relating to a location of the operator, the information relating to the location of the operator being stored in storage; causing, when the operator is in the site where the image forming apparatus is installed, the information communication terminal to transmit the image information to the image forming apparatus; requesting, when the operator is not in the site where the image forming apparatus is installed, the operator to determine whether to cause the information communication terminal to transmit the image information to the image forming apparatus; causing in response to determination the information communication terminal to transmit the image information to the image forming apparatus, the determination being determination made by the operator to cause the information communication terminal to transmit the image information to the image forming apparatus; and cancelling the instruction to transmit the image information to the image forming apparatus in response to determination made by the operator not to cause the information communication terminal to transmit the image information to the image forming apparatus. 
     According to another aspect of the present disclosure, an information communication terminal includes an instruction receiving section, a determination section, a display section, a determination receiving section, and a transmission section. The instructing receiving section receives from an operator of the information communication terminal an instruction to transmit image information to an image forming apparatus. The determination section determines, in response to the instruction to transmit the image information, whether or not the operator is in a site where the information is installed by referencing information relating to a location of the operator. The information relating to the location of the operator is stored in storage. The display section displays, when the operator is not in the site where the image forming apparatus is installed, a message prompting the operator to determine whether to transmit the image information to the image forming apparatus. The determination receiving section receives an instruction based on determination made by the operator as to whether to transmit the image information in response to the message displayed on the display section. The transmission section transmits the image information. When the determination section determines that the operator is in the site where the image forming apparatus is installed or when the determination receiving section receives from the operator determination to transmit the image information, the transmission section transmits the image information to the image forming apparatus. 
     According to still another aspect of the present disclosure, an image information transmission system includes an image forming apparatus, the aforementioned information communication terminal, and storage. The image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording medium based on the image information. The storage stores therein the information relating to the location of the operator. The operator operates the information communication terminal. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    illustrates an image information transmission system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  2    illustrates an information communication terminal according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  3    illustrates storage according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  4    is a flowchart depicting processing performed by the image information transmission system according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following describes an image information transmission system  1  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure with reference to  FIG.  1   .  FIG.  1    illustrates the image information transmission system  1  according to the present embodiment of the present disclosure. Note that elements, blocks, or steps that are the same or equivalent are indicated by the same reference signs in the following description. The elements, functions, and steps to which the same reference sings are assigned are the same as one another. As such, detailed description of those to which the same reference signs are assigned is not repeated. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  1   , the image information transmission system  1  of the present disclosure includes an image forming apparatus  11  that forms an image on a recording medium based on image information, an information communication terminal  12  connected to the image forming apparatus  11  in a communicable manner, and storage  13  connected to the information communication terminal  12  in a communicable manner. In the present embodiment, communication connection between the image forming apparatus  11  and the information communication terminal  12  and communication connection between the information communication terminal  12  and the storage  13  are done via an external network  16 , a firewall  17 , and an internal network  18 . 
     The image forming apparatus  11  in the present embodiment is a device that receives image information from a specific device and forms an image on a recording medium based on the received image information. Examples of the image information includes information indicating a character, information indicating a figure, and information of a combination of information indicating a character and information indicating a figure. Examples of the recording medium on which an image is to be formed by the image forming apparatus  11  include a sheet of paper, a sheet of a disk, and a sheet of a label. 
     The information communication terminal  12  transmits and receives information to and from another information device by an operator of the information communication terminal  12  operating the information communication terminal  12 . Examples of the information communication terminal  12  include a computer and a mobile phone. Furthermore, a program for image information transmission to the image forming apparatus  11  is built in the information communication terminal  12 . In the following, the operator of the information communication terminal  12  will be referred to simply as “operator”. Also, the program that causes the information communication terminal  12  to transmit image information to the image forming apparatus  11  will be referred to as “image information transmission program”. 
     The storage  13  stores therein information input to the storage  13  and transmits the stored information to another information device. The storage  13  is a part of a computer, for example. Information input to the storage  13  is done by operation on the storage  13  or reception of information from another information device. The storage  13  constitutes an access control system or a time and attendance system, for example. 
     The access control system refers to a system that manages presence or absence of the operator in a target room. The access control system includes for example an input device that reads information of the operator, an information processing device connected to the input device in a communicable manner, and the storage  13  connected to the information processing device in a communicable manner. Examples of the input device include a card reader, a camera, a computer, and a mobile phone. The information processing device connected to the input device in a communicable manner is a server, for example. The server is constituted by a single or plurality of computers. The information processing device determines whether or not the operator is in the target room based on information that the operator inputs to the input device. In the following, a result of determination as to whether or not the operator is in the target room may be referred to as “room information”. The room information is transmitted from the information processing device to the storage  13  and input to the storage  13 . That is, the operator inputs the room information to the storage  13  via the input device and the information processing device. The room information input to the storage  13  is stored in the storage  13 . Note that although the above describes that the information processing device and the storage  13  are independently of each other, the storage  13  may be a part of the information processing device as long as information communication can be done between the information processing device and the storage  13 . 
     The time and attendance system refers to a system that manages presence or absence of the operator in a target office. The time and attendance system includes for example an input device, an information processing device connected to the input device in a communicable manner, and the storage  13  connected to the information processing device in a communicable manner. The information processing device determines whether or not the operator is working in the target office based on information input to the input device. In the following, a result of determination as to whether or not the operator is working in the target office may be referred to as “attendance information”. The attendance information is transmitted from the information processing device to the storage  13  and input to the storage  13 . That is, the operator inputs the attendance information to the storage  13  via the input device and the information processing device. The attendance information input to the storage  13  is stored in the storage  13 . 
     The external network  16  connected to the information communication terminal  12  is a communication network that transmits information transmitted by the information communication terminal  12  using for example electric signals. Here, the communication network refers to a network to which a plurality of information devices including information devices including the information communication terminal  12  are connected in a communicable manner using for example electric signals. Connection among the information devices via the network may be wired connection or wireless connection. The external network  16  is connected to the internal network  18  via the firewall  17 , for example. The firewall  17  is an information device with software embedded therein for monitoring transmitted information and screening out unfavorable information. The information screened out as unfavorable information is blocked by the firewall  17  and is not transmitted to the internal network  18 . The image forming apparatus  11  and the storage  13  are connected to the internal network  18 . 
     The storage  13 , the firewall  17 , and the internal network  18  are installed in a site  20  where the image forming apparatus  11  is installed. Here, the site  20  where the image forming apparatus  11  is installed refers to a region within which the operator can receive a recording medium (printed material) with an image formed thereon that the operator has caused the image forming apparatus  11  to form. Examples of the site  20  include a room, the inside of a building, and the interior of the premises at a business location. 
     The information communication terminal  12  of the present disclosure will be described next with reference to  FIG.  2   .  FIG.  2    illustrates the information communication terminal  12  according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  2   , the information communication terminal  12  includes an instruction receiving section  121 , a controller  122  in which the image information transmission program is embedded, a transmission section  123 , a receiving section  124 , a determination section  125 , a display section  126 , and a determination receiving section  127 . 
     The instruction receiving section  121  and the determination receiving section  127  receive an instruction from the operator of the information communication terminal  12  and output an operation signal indicating the instruction by the operator to the controller  122 . Examples of the instruction receiving section  121  include a keyboard, a mouse, a touch screen display provided in the information communication terminal  12 . 
     The controller  122  controls the transmission section  123 , the determination section  125 , and the display section  126  based on the instruction that the instruction receiving section  121  receives from the operator. For example, the controller  122  includes a combination of memory and a processor such as a central processing unit (CPU). The memory includes a main storage device such as semiconductor memory and an auxiliary storage device such as semiconductor memory, a solid state drive, or a hard disk drive, for example. The image information transmission program is stored in the memory. The CPU reads out the image information transmission program stored in the memory and executes processing described in the image information transmission program. 
     The transmission section  123  requests information relating to the operator location from the storage  13  connected to the information communication terminal  12  in a communicable manner. The information relating to the operator location include room information or attendance information, for example. The storage  13  transmits the information relating to the operator location stored in the storage  13  to the information communication terminal  12  in response to the request from the information communication terminal  12 . The receiving section  124  receives the information relating to the operator location transmitted from the storage  13 . The transmission section  123  also transmits the image information to the image forming apparatus  11 . The transmission section  123  and the receiving section  124  constitute a communication unit including a network interface controller (NIC) that performs communication in accordance with a specific communication protocol, for example. An example of the specific communication protocol is a transmission control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP). 
     The determination section  125  performs information processing based on the information relating to the operator location received from the storage  13  under control of the controller  122 . The determination section  125  includes a combination of a CPU and memory, for example. The memory includes a main storage device such as semiconductor memory and an auxiliary storage device such as semiconductor memory, a solid state drive, or a hard disk drive, for example. The memory stores therein a “determination program” that is a computer program for executing determination as to whether or not the operator is in the site  20  where the image forming apparatus  11  is installed based on the information relating to the operator location received from the storage  13 . The CPU reads out the determination program stored in the memory and executes processing described in the determination program. Note that the determination program may be a part of the image information transmission program. 
     The display section  126  displays under control of the controller  122  a message that prompts the operator to input an instruction. The display section  126  includes a display or a speaker provided in the information communication terminal  12 . For example, where the display section  126  is a display, the display displays a message that prompts the operator to input an instruction and that is in a language which the operator can understand. 
     The storage  13  of the present disclosure will be described next with reference to  FIG.  3   .  FIG.  3    illustrates the storage  13  according to the present disclosure. 
     The storage  13  of the present disclosure includes a receiving section  131 , a storage controller  132 , a storage section  133 , a request receiving section  134 , and an information transmission section  135 . 
     The receiving section  131  is a section to which the information relating to the operator location is input. The information relating to the operator location includes the room information or the attendance information. The receiving section  131  includes a communication device, for example, and receives the room information or the attendance information from the information processing device. 
     The storage controller  132  controls the storage section  133  and the information transmission section  135 . The storage controller  132  includes a combination of memory and a processor such as a CPU, for example. The memory includes a main storage device such as semiconductor memory and an auxiliary storage device such as semiconductor memory, a solid state drive, or a hard disk drive. The CPU reads out a computer program stored in the memory and executes processing described in the computer program. 
     The storage section  133  stores therein the information relating to the operator location input to the receiving section  131 . Examples of the storage section  133  include semiconductor memory, a solid state drive, and a hard disk drive. 
     The request receiving section  134  receives a request from the information communication terminal  12 . By contrast, the information transmission section  135  transmits the information relating to the operator location to the information communication terminal  12  in response to the request from the information communication terminal  12 . The request receiving section  134  and the information transmission section  135  constitute a communication unit including a NIC that performs communication in accordance with a specific communication protocol, for example. The specific communication protocol is a TCP/IP, for example. 
     Processing by the image information transmission system  1  of the present disclosure will be descried next with reference to  FIGS.  1  to  4   .  FIG.  4    is a flowchart depicting the processing by the image information transmission system  1  according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     As depicted in  FIG.  4   , processing by the storage  13  includes Steps S 11  to S 14 . Processing by the information communication terminal  12  includes Steps S 21  to S 28 . 
     In Step S 11 , the operator inputs the information relating to the operator location to the receiving section  131  of the storage  13  via the information communication terminal  12 . 
     Next in Step S 12 , the storage controller  132  controls the storage section  133  to store the information relating to the operator location. 
     By contrast, the instruction receiving section  121  of the information communication terminal  12  receives from the operator an instruction to transmit image information to the image forming apparatus  11  in Step  21 . The instruction receiving section  121  outputs an operation signal to the controller  122 . Note that Step S 21  corresponds to an example of “receiving”. 
     Next in step S 22 , the controller  122  that has received the operation signal from the instruction receiving section  121  controls the transmission section  123  to request the storage  13  to transmit the information relating to the operator location. The transmission section  123  requests the storage  13  to transmit the information relating to the operator location. 
     Next in step S 13 , the storage controller  132  of the storage  13  receives the request for the information relating to the operator location from the information communication terminal  12  via the request receiving section  134 . 
     Next in Step S 14 , the storage controller  132  reads out the information relating to the operator location from the storage section  133  in response to the request for the information relating to the operator location. The storage controller  132  controls the information transmission section  135  to transmit the information relating to the operator location to the information communication terminal  12 . The information transmission section  135  transmits the information relating to the operator location to the information communication terminal  12 . 
     Next in step S 23 , the controller  122  of the information communication terminal  12  receives the information relating to the operator location from the storage  13  via the receiving section  124 . 
     Next in Step S 24 , the controller  122  causes the determination section  125  to determine whether or not the operator is in the site  20  where the image forming apparatus  11  is installed based on the information relating to the operator location. If a negative determination is made in Step S 24  (No in Step S 24 ), the routine proceeds to Step S 25 . Note that Step S 24  corresponds to an example of “determining”. 
     Next in Step S 25 , the controller  122  controls the display section  126  to display a message prompting the operator to determine whether to transmit the image information to the image forming apparatus  11 . The display section  126  displays the massage prompting the operator to determine to transmit or not to transmit the image information to the image forming apparatus  11 . 
     Next in Step S 26 , the operator determines whether to transmit the image information to the image forming apparatus  11 . Upon receipt of determination by the operator, the determination receiving section  127  outputs an operation signal according to the determination to the controller  122 . If the operator determines to transmit the image information to the image forming apparatus  11  (Yes in Step  26 ), the routine proceeds to Step S 27 . Note that Step S 26  corresponds to an example of “requesting”. 
     If an affirmative determination is made in Step S 24  by contrast (Yes in Step S 24 ), the routine proceeds to Step S 27 . 
     In step S 27 , the controller  122  controls the transmission section  123  to transmit the image information to the image forming apparatus  11 . The transmission section  123  transmits the image information to the image forming apparatus  11 . Note that Step S 27  corresponds to an example of “causing” and “causing in response to determination”. 
     Next in Step S 31 , the image forming apparatus  11  receives the image information from the information communication terminal  12 . 
     Next in Step S 32 , the image forming apparatus  11  forms an image on a recording medium base on the received image information. 
     If a negative determination as to transmission of the image information to the image forming apparatus  11  is made in Step S 26  (No in Step S 26 ) by contrast, the processing proceeds to Step S 28 . 
     In Step S 28 , the controller  122  cancels the instruction to transmit the image information to the image forming apparatus  11 . Note that Step S 28  corresponds to an example of “cancelling”. 
     As described above with reference to  FIG.  4   , the information communication terminal  12  transmits the image information to the image forming apparatus  11  in the image information transmission system  1  in a situation in which the operator is in the site  20  where the image forming apparatus  11  is installed (Yes in Step S 24 ). As such, only when the operator is in the site  20  where the image forming apparatus  11  is installed, the image forming apparatus  11  forms an image on a recording medium based on the image information. Therefore, the operator can collect the recording medium with the image formed thereon without a long time after the image has been formed on the recording medium. As a result, high security can be ensured with low possibility of theft of printed materials. Furthermore, even in a situation in which the operator is not in the site  20  where the image forming apparatus  11  is installed (No in Step S 24 ), the information communication terminal  12  can transmit the image information to the image forming apparatus  11  when the operator determines to transmit the image information to the image forming apparatus  11  (Yes in Step S 26 ). Therefore, convenience for the operator is increased as compared with a case in which the image information is not transmitted to the image forming apparatus  11  in a situation in which the operator is not in the room in which the image forming apparatus  11  is installed. 
     An embodiment of the present disclosure has been described so far with reference to the drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiment and can be implemented in various forms within a scope not departing from the gist thereof. In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the storage  13 , the firewall  17 , and the internal network  18  are installed in the site  20 . However, the storage  13 , the firewall  17 , and the internal network  18  may be installed in a site other than the site  20 . 
     The image forming apparatus  11  and the storage  13  is connected to the information communication terminal  12  via the external network  16 , the firewall  17 , and the internal network  18  in the present disclosure. However, connection between the information communication terminal  12  and the image forming apparatus  11  may be any connection as long as the information communication terminal  12  and the image forming apparatus  11  are connected to each other in a communicable manner. For example, the information communication terminal  12  and the image forming apparatus  11  may be connected to each other not via the firewall  17 . That is, they may be connected to each other via a communication network in which the internal network  18  and the external network  16  are not defined by the firewall  17  as a boundary to be distinguishable.