Image forming apparatus, print system, and print method

• US 10,452,331 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2017
• Issued: 10/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Murata, Ryohji
• Primary Examiner(s): Bataille, Frantz
• Application Number:
  US15/648,523
• Publication Number:
  US 20180032298A1
• Time in Patent Office: 831 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1204 resulting in reduced user or operator actions, e.g. presetting, automatic actions, using hardware token storing data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1205 resulting in increased flexibility in print job configuration, e.g. job settings, print requirements, job tickets
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1226 Discovery of devices having required properties
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/126 Job scheduling, e.g. queuing, determine appropriate device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1267 Job repository, e.g. non-scheduled jobs, delay printing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1268 Job submission, e.g. submitting print job order or request not the print data itself
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1287 via internet
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1291 Pool of printer devices: self-managing printing devices in a network, e.g. without a server
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1292 Mobile client, e.g. wireless printing

Abstract

When a print service is used in a print system, a user terminal transmits, to an image forming apparatus configured to be a sub apparatus, enquiry information to enquire of an Internet protocol (IP) address of an image forming apparatus configured to be a main apparatus. In response to the enquiry information from the user terminal, the sub apparatus transmits to the user terminal the IP address of the main apparatus stored on a memory of the sub apparatus.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus configured to be a sub apparatus in a print system, the print system providing a print service and including a user terminal and a plurality of image forming apparatuses, connected to a network, the user terminal transmitting to an image forming apparatus configured to be a main apparatus a print job in accordance with identification information of the main apparatus from among the image forming apparatuses, the main apparatus storing the print job from the user terminal, the image forming apparatus configured to be the sub apparatus from among the image forming apparatuses performing the print job stored on the main apparatus, the image forming apparatus configured to be the sub apparatus, comprising:

an identification information configuration memory that stores the identification information of the main apparatus storing the print job from the user terminal; and

an identification information transmission control unit that transmits to the user terminal the identification information stored on the identification information configuration memory when the print service is used.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print job includes print data and user information to authenticate a user, and

wherein the image forming apparatus configured to be the sub apparatus, further comprises:

a print job acquisition control unit that, when the user inputs the user information, acquires from the main apparatus the print job in which the user information stored on the main apparatus matches the user information input by the user; and

a print data output control unit that outputs the print data if a print command is issued to perform the print job acquired from the main apparatus.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the identification information comprises an IP (Internet protocol) address of the main apparatus.

4. A print system providing a print service and including a user terminal and a plurality of image forming apparatuses, connected to a network, the user terminal transmitting to an image forming apparatus configured to be a main apparatus a print job in accordance with identification information of the main apparatus from among the image forming apparatuses, the main apparatus storing the print job from the user terminal, an image forming apparatus configured to be a sub apparatus from among the image forming apparatuses performing the print job stored on the main apparatuses, the sub apparatus comprising:

an identification information configuration memory that stores the identification information of the main apparatus storing the print job from the user terminal; and

an identification information transmission control unit that transmits to the user terminal the identification information stored on the identification information configuration memory when the print service is used.

5. The print system according to claim 4, wherein the user terminal comprises an enquiry information transmission control unit that transmits, to the sub apparatus, enquiry information to enquire of the identification information of the main apparatus when the print service is used, and

wherein the identification information transmission control unit in the sub apparatus transmits to the user terminal the identification information stored on the identification information configuration memory in response to the enquiry information from the user terminal.

6. The print system according to claim 4, wherein the print job includes print data and user information to authenticate a user, and

wherein the sub apparatus comprises:

a print job acquisition control unit that, when the user inputs the user information, acquires from the main apparatus the print job in which the user information stored on the main apparatus matches the user information input by the user; and

a print data output control unit that outputs the print data if a print command is issued to perform the print job acquired from the main apparatus.

7. The print system according claim 4, wherein the main apparatus comprises a print function configuration memory that stores the identification information and print function of the image forming apparatuses, and

wherein the sub apparatus further comprises a presentation control unit that presents the print function of the image forming apparatuses stored on the print function configuration memory of the main apparatus when the print job is acquired from the main apparatus.

8. The print system according to claim 4, wherein the identification information of the main apparatus comprises an IP (Internet protocol) address of the main apparatus.

9. The print system according claim 4, wherein the user terminal comprises:

a location memory that stores locations of the image forming apparatuses;

a location sensing unit that detects a location of the user terminal; and

a communication control unit that communicates with an image forming apparatus closest to the location of the user terminal from among the image forming apparatuses.

10. The print system according to claim 4, wherein the main apparatus is interchangeable with the sub apparatus.

11. A print method of a print system providing a print service and including a user terminal and a plurality of image forming apparatuses, connected to a network, the user terminal transmitting to an image forming apparatus configured to be a main apparatus a print job in accordance with identification information of the main apparatus from among the image forming apparatuses, the main apparatus storing the print job from the user terminal, an image forming apparatus configured to be a sub apparatus from among the image forming apparatuses performing the print job stored on the main apparatus, the print method, comprising:

storing the identification information of the main apparatus storing the print job from the user terminal; and

transmitting to the user terminal the stored identification information when the print service is used.