Image forming apparatus performing function related to external apparatus
AssigneeKonica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
InventorTetsuya Sugimoto
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A USB memory stores, as function information, a function of processing a document and a place where the document is registered. An MFP includes a read unit for reading function information from the USB memory inserted into the MFP, a specifying unit for specifying required information from among the function information, an acquisition unit for accessing a server with the use of the specified information to acquire a target document to be processed, a setting unit for making a setting for performing a PullPrint function, which corresponds to the aforementioned function, with the use of the information, and a print control unit for executing a process for printing the acquired document on the basis of the setting made by the setting unit.
Claims9
An image forming apparatus comprising:
- a connection unit into and from which an external memory is inserted and removed, said external memory storing (i) function information including information regarding a document, (ii) history information containing information indicating a version of said document, (iii) information for specifying an external apparatus having said document registered therein, and (iv) information for specifying a function related to said external apparatus for processing said document, as well as parameters;
- a read unit to read said function information from said external memory;
- an execution unit to execute a process for said document, obtained from said external apparatus, with the use of said function on the basis of said function information;
- and
- a write unit to write a process history, which indicates a version of said document, to said external memory when said execution unit executes said process, wherein
- said execution unit, prior to executing said process, compares a version of said document contained in said history information with a version of said document registered in said external apparatus, and executes said process when the version of said document registered in said external apparatus is newer than the version of said document contained in said history information.
A method for controlling an image forming apparatus, comprising the steps of:
- detecting insertion of an external memory into said image forming apparatus, said external memory storing (i) function information including information regarding a document, (ii) history information containing information indicating a version of said document, (iii) information for specifying an external apparatus having said document registered therein, and (iv) information for specifying a function related to said external apparatus for processing said document, as well as parameters;
- reading said function information from said external memory;
- specifying said external apparatus and said document on the basis of said function information;
- comparing a version of said document contained in said history information with a version of said document registered in said external apparatus;
- executing a process for said document with the use of said function when the version of said document registered in said external apparatus is newer than the version of said document contained in said history information;
- and
- writing a process history to said external memory.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.