Management device, image forming apparatus, medium application system, management method, and computer-readable recording medium

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• an image formation data management unit configured to create a formation order indicating an order of forming an image corresponding to image formation data on a medium to be applied to an application target object;
• an image forming unit configured to form the image corresponding to the image formation data in accordance with the formation order;
• and
• an inspection unit configured to inspect whether the image formation data in accordance with the formation order matches with a read image obtained by reading the images formed on the medium, wherein
• the image formation data management unit transmits state information in which the formation order is associated with an image formation state based on at least one of an image formation result obtained by the image forming unit and an inspection result obtained by the inspection unit,
• the image formation data management unit comprises:
• an input reception unit configured to receive an input of the image formation data and number of pieces of the image formation data to be formed as images;
• a recording management unit configured to generate input information in which the image formation data is associated with the number of pieces of the image formation data to be formed as images, and record the input information in a storage unit;
• a formation order creation unit configured to create the formation order based on the image formation data and the number of pieces of the image formation data to be formed as images with reference to the input information;
• and
• a transmission unit configured to transmit the state information,
• the recording management unit generates the state information and records the generated state information in the storage unit.

A medium application system comprising:

• a management device;
• and
• a medium application device connected to the management device via a network, wherein
• the management device comprises:
• an image formation data management unit configured to create a formation order indicating an order of forming an image corresponding to image formation data on media to be respectively applied to application target objects;
• and
• an inspection unit configured to inspect whether the image formation data in accordance with the formation order matches with a read image obtained by reading the image formed on the media in accordance with the formation order, wherein
• the image formation data management unit transmits, to the medium application device, state information in which the forming order is associated with an image formation state based on at least one of an image formation result of the image formation data and an inspection result obtained by the inspection unit, and
• the medium application device comprises a medium application management unit configured to apply, to an application target object, a medium corresponding to a first inspection result indicating that the read image matches with the image formation data, and configured not to apply, to an application target object, a medium corresponding to a second inspection result indicating that the read image does not match with the image formation data, by referring to the state information received from the management device,
• the image formation data management unit comprises:
• an input reception unit configured to receive an input of the image formation data and number of pieces of the image formation data to be formed as images;
• a recording management unit configured to generate input information in which the image formation data is associated with the number of pieces of the image formation data to be formed as images, and record the input information in a storage unit;
• a formation order creation unit configured to create the formation order based on the image formation data and the number of pieces of the image formation data to be formed as images with reference to the input information;
• and
• a transmission unit configured to transmit the state information,
• the recording management unit generates the state information and records the generated state information in the storage unit.

A medium application system comprising:

• a management device;
• a roll control device connected to the management device via a network;
• and
• a medium application device connected to the roll control device via a network, wherein
• the management device comprises:
• an image formation data management unit configured to create a formation order indicating an order of forming an image corresponding to image formation data on a medium;
• and
• an inspection unit configured to inspect whether the image formation data in accordance with the formation order matches with a read image obtained by reading the image formed on the media in accordance with the formation order, wherein
• the image formation data management unit transmits, to the roll control device, state information in which the formation order is associated with an image formation state based on at least one of an image formation result of the image formation data and an inspection result obtained by the inspection unit,
• the roll control device comprises:
• a roll unit around which the media having the image formed thereon is wound to be held;
• and
• a roll management unit configured to receive the state information from the management device, and store, in a storage unit, the state information as roll information corresponding to a roll medium that is the media in a roll shape wound around the roll unit in a reverse formation order, and
• the medium application device comprises a medium application control unit configured to apply, to an application target object, a medium corresponding to a first inspection result indicating that the read image matches with the image formation data, and configured not to apply, to an application target object, a medium corresponding to a second inspection result indicating that the read image does not match with the image formation data, by referring to the roll information received from the roll control device in applying the medium to the application target object,
• the image formation data management unit comprises:
• an input reception unit configured to receive an input of the image formation data and number of pieces of the image formation data to be formed as images;
• a recording management unit configured to generate input information in which the image formation data is associated with the number of pieces of the image formation data to be formed as images, and record the input information in a storage unit;
• a formation order creation unit configured to create the formation order based on the image formation data and the number of pieces of the image formation data to be formed as images with reference to the input information;
• and
• a transmission unit configured to transmit the state information,
• the recording management unit generates the state information and records the generated state information in the storage unit.

A management method executed by a management device, the method comprising:

• creating a formation order indicating an order of forming an image corresponding to image formation data on a medium to be applied to an application target object;
• inspecting whether the image formation data in accordance with the formation order matches with a read image obtained by reading the image formed on the medium in accordance with the formation order;
• and
• transmitting state information in which the formation order is associated with an image formation state based on at least one of an image formation result of the image formation data and an inspection result obtained at the inspection, wherein
• the creating comprises:
• receiving an input of the image formation data and number of pieces of the image formation data to be formed as images;
• generating input information in which the image formation data is associated with the number of pieces of the image formation data to be formed as images;
• recording the input information in a storage unit;
• creating the formation order based on the image formation data and the number of pieces of the image formation data to be formed as images with reference to the input information;
• and
• transmitting the state information, and
• the recording comprises generating the state information and recording the generated state information in the storage unit.

A computer-readable recording medium that contain a computer program that causes a computer to execute:

• creating a formation order indicating an order of forming an image corresponding to image formation data on a medium to be applied to an application target object;
• inspecting whether the image formation data in accordance with the formation order matches with a read image obtained by reading the image formed on the medium in accordance with the formation order;
• and
• transmitting state information in which the formation order is associated with an image formation state based on at least one of an image formation result of the image formation data and an inspection result obtained at the inspecting, wherein
• the creating comprises:
• receiving an input of the image formation data and number of pieces of the image formation data to be formed as images;
• generating input information in which the image formation data is associated with the number of pieces of the image formation data to be formed as images;
• recording the input information in a storage unit;
• creating the formation order based on the image formation data and the number of pieces of the image formation data to be formed as images with reference to the input information;
• and
• transmitting the state information, and
• the recording comprises generating the state information and recording the generated state information in the storage unit.