Image forming apparatus that updates a transaction history of electronic data based on printing, information terminal, methods of controlling image forming apparatus and information terminal, storage medium, and image forming

A method of controlling an image forming apparatus, the method comprising:

• causing a display unit to display a code image that includes authentication information of the image forming apparatus;
• receiving a job ticket that has been issued by making print settings on an information terminal which has read the code image displayed on the display unit;
• obtaining the job ticket related to printing from the information terminal, regarding electronic data for which an ownership is managed in a transaction of a blockchain network;
• obtaining the electronic data from a management server that manages the electronic data, using information that is included in the obtained job ticket and is related to a transaction for transferring or lending the ownership of the electronic data from the information terminal to the image forming apparatus;
• executing printing, using the obtained electronic data and information related to print settings of the job ticket;
• generating a transaction that contains history information related to the executed printing, using the information related to the transaction;
• and
• returning, based on execution of the printing, the ownership of the electronic data from the image forming apparatus to the information terminal,
• wherein the job ticket includes, in addition to the print settings, URI information indicating an obtainment source of the electronic data and a transaction ID obtained from the blockchain network by the information terminal issuing to the blockchain network the transaction for transferring or lending the ownership of the electronic data, and
• in the transaction for transferring or lending the ownership of the electronic data, an expiration date for transferring or lending the ownership of the electronic data is set.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute each step in a method of controlling an image forming apparatus, the method comprising:

• causing a display unit to display a code image that includes authentication information of the image forming apparatus;
• receiving a job ticket that has been issued by making print settings on an information terminal which has read the code image displayed on the display unit;
• obtaining the job ticket related to printing from the information terminal, regarding electronic data for which an ownership is managed in a transaction of a blockchain network;
• obtaining the electronic data from a management server that manages the electronic data, using information that is included in the obtained job ticket and is related to a transaction for transferring or lending the ownership of the electronic data from the information terminal to the image forming apparatus;
• executing printing, using the obtained electronic data and information related to print settings of the job ticket;
• generating a transaction that contains history information related to the executed printing, using the information related to the transaction;
• and
• returning, based on execution of the printing, the ownership of the electronic data from the image forming apparatus to the information terminal,
• wherein the job ticket includes, in addition to the print settings, URI information indicating an obtainment source of the electronic data and a transaction ID obtained from the blockchain network by the information terminal issuing to the blockchain network the transaction for transferring or lending the ownership of the electronic data, and
• in the transaction for transferring or lending the ownership of the electronic data, an expiration date for transferring or lending the ownership of the electronic data is set.

An image forming system that includes an information terminal, an image forming apparatus, and a management server,

• the information terminal comprising:
• at least one first memory device that stores a set of instructions;
• and
• at least one first processor that executes the set of instructions to:
• issue a transaction for transferring or lending the ownership to an image forming apparatus, regarding electronic data for which an ownership is managed in a transaction of a blockchain network;
• and
• generate a job ticket related to printing of the electronic data and transmit the job ticket to the image forming apparatus based on authentication information obtained from the image forming apparatus,
• the image forming apparatus comprising:
• at least one second memory device that stores a set of instructions;
• and
• at least one second processor that executes the set of instructions to:
• cause a display unit to display a code image that includes authentication information of the image forming apparatus;
• receive the job ticket that has been issued by making print settings on the information terminal which has read the code image displayed on the display unit;
• obtain the job ticket related to printing the electronic data from the information terminal;
• obtain the electronic data from a management server that manages the electronic data, using information that is included in the obtained job ticket and is related to a transaction for transferring or lending the ownership of the electronic data from the information terminal to the image forming apparatus;
• execute printing, using the obtained electronic data and information related to print settings of the job ticket;
• generate a transaction that contains history information related to the executed printing, using the information related to the transaction;
• and
• return, based on execution of the printing, the ownership of the electronic data from the image forming apparatus to the information terminal,
• wherein the job ticket includes, in addition to the print settings, URI information indicating an obtainment source of the electronic data and a transaction ID obtained from the blockchain network by the information terminal issuing to the blockchain network the transaction for transferring or lending the ownership of the electronic data, and
• in the transaction for transferring or lending the ownership of the electronic data, an expiration date for transferring or lending the ownership of the electronic data is set.